Hidden Bosses & Mini-Bosses
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice features numerous challenging bosses and mini-bosses that demand unique strategies. These encounters are often intimidating, requiring players to learn new tactics for victory. Some mini-bosses can be approached with stealth to remove a health bar before direct combat, making the fight more manageable.
Mini-bosses, such as the general encountered early in the game, are tough. A common strategy for mini-bosses is to use stealth to perform a critical hit from behind, instantly depleting their first health bar. This leaves only one health bar to contend with. Depending on the mini-boss, you might also be able to climb to a higher position and perform another critical hit, potentially defeating them without a direct fight. It is crucial to eliminate any nearby enemy orders before engaging a mini-boss to avoid being overwhelmed.
An example of a challenging boss is Lady Butterfly. After using the Hidden Temple Key to unlock a large burning Buddha hall, a cutscene will play, and Lady Butterfly will appear. She is a difficult boss. When her first health bar is depleted, she will disappear and respawn. Defeating her grants 1,500 XP, Memory: Lady Butterfly, and Sakura Droplet. A cutscene will then reveal the possible source of your Dragon Heritage powers, and you'll be teleported to the Dilapidated Temple.
Some alternate paths in the game may lead to hidden chests and shopkeepers, but others might surprise you with a mini-boss encounter. Exploration is often rewarded, but also comes with the risk of encountering these challenging foes.