The Immortal Soldier is a stationary NPC found at the Dilapidated Temple, serving as a crucial training partner for Sekiro. Interacting with him allows players to practice combat mechanics, test new skills, and refine their understanding of the game's intricate combat system without the risk of losing resources.
Location and Purpose
The Immortal Soldier is located within the Dilapidated Temple, the game's initial hub area. He is a non-hostile NPC who, due to his immortality, can be used by Sekiro to practice his combat skills indefinitely. He is the first readily available training dummy in the game, making him invaluable for new players.
Combat Training
By speaking to the Immortal Soldier and selecting the option to train, Sekiro can engage in various combat drills. This includes:
- Basic Combat Practice: Learn and practice fundamental swordplay, including attacking, deflecting, and dodging.
- Prosthetic Tool Usage: Test out different Shinobi Prosthetic Tools and learn their attack patterns and effectiveness against a stationary target.
- Combat Art Testing: Experiment with various Combat Arts unlocked throughout the game to understand their range, damage, and utility.
- Posture Management: Practice breaking an enemy's posture through sustained offense and well-timed deflections.
- Perilous Attack Training: While the Immortal Soldier doesn't perform perilous attacks himself, you can practice your responses to different attack types, preparing you for real encounters.
Benefits of Training
Training with the Immortal Soldier offers several key benefits:
- Risk-Free Practice: You do not lose Sen or Dragon Blood upon dying during training sessions.
- Skill Refinement: It allows you to hone your reflexes and timing for deflecting and countering.
- Exploration of Mechanics: You can freely experiment with different combat strategies and prosthetic tools without consequence.
- Understanding Enemy Types: While he is a basic enemy, practicing against him helps build a foundation for facing more complex foes.
Progression and Availability
The Immortal Soldier is available from the very beginning of the game, shortly after you gain control of Sekiro. He remains a constant resource throughout your playthrough, allowing you to revisit him at any time to practice new skills or reinforce your understanding of the combat system.