Combat in Sekiro is a dance of aggression and defense, centered around the posture system. Instead of depleting an enemy's health bar, the primary goal is to break their posture, leaving them vulnerable to a Deathblow. This is achieved through a combination of perfectly timed deflections (parries) and direct attacks. A successful deflection not only negates damage but also increases the enemy's posture gauge. Conversely, a mistimed deflection will result in taking chip damage and a significant increase to your own posture gauge, making you vulnerable to a counter-attack.
Aggression is key to breaking an enemy's posture. Constantly attacking will chip away at their posture, but it also fills your own. The true mastery lies in knowing when to attack and when to defend. Certain enemy attacks, indicated by a red Kanji symbol, cannot be deflected and must be avoided or countered with specific actions. For example, a sweep attack can be jumped over, while a grab attack requires a well-timed dodge. Utilizing your Shinobi Prosthetic tools can also create openings. The Loaded Axe, for instance, can stagger enemies and deal significant posture damage, while the Firecrackers can briefly stun them, allowing for a few free hits. Combat Arts, learned through skill progression, offer powerful special moves that can further enhance your offensive capabilities.
The interplay between your posture and the enemy's posture is paramount. If your posture gauge fills completely, you will be staggered, leaving you defenseless. This can be mitigated by holding the block button to recover posture faster, but it's generally better to avoid reaching this state. Learning the rhythm of each enemy's attacks is essential. Observe their wind-ups, their attack chains, and their recovery animations. The goal is to find the sweet spot where you can land a few hits, deflect their counter-attack, and then repeat the cycle. Mastering this flow will allow you to efficiently break enemy posture and deliver devastating Deathblows, even against formidable foes like the Blazing Bull.