FromSoftware titles are renowned for their brutal difficulty, intricate world-building, and, of course, their challenging achievement lists. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, released in 2019, is no exception. This masterpiece of samurai action demands precision, patience, and a deep understanding of its unique combat system. Achieving 100% completion in Sekiro is a badge of honor, a testament to your mastery of the Shinobi Arts and your unwavering resolve against the forces threatening Ashina. This guide will meticulously break down every trophy, offering strategies, tips, and a clear roadmap to help you conquer all 34 achievements by 2026, ensuring no challenge remains undefeated.
The Path of the Shinobi: Understanding Sekiro's Achievements
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice features a trophy list that, while challenging, is surprisingly straightforward compared to some other FromSoftware games. There are no obscure online components or overly grindy collectibles that require hundreds of hours. Instead, the achievements focus on core gameplay loops: defeating bosses, upgrading skills, finding items, and experiencing all major endings.
Most players will require at least 2-3 playthroughs to unlock every achievement. This is primarily due to the game's branching narrative paths and the requirement to max out all skills. Expect to spend anywhere from 60-100 hours for a full completionist run, depending on your skill level and familiarity with the game's mechanics.
Key Achievement Categories:
- Boss Defeats: Many trophies are tied to overcoming the game's formidable bosses, both mandatory and optional.
- Skill Acquisition: Maxing out all Prosthetic Tool upgrades and acquiring all skills are significant time sinks.
- Endings: There are four distinct endings, each requiring specific actions and choices throughout your playthroughs.
- Collectibles: Finding all Gourd Seeds, Prayer Beads, and Prosthetic Tools.
"Hesitation is defeat." – Isshin Ashina. This quote perfectly encapsulates the mindset needed for Sekiro's combat and its achievement hunt.
Mastering Combat: Boss Trophies & Strategies
Defeating Sekiro's bosses is arguably the most satisfying part of the game and a major component of the achievement list. There are 14 primary boss-related trophies, including mini-bosses that grant Prayer Beads. Each boss demands a unique approach, focusing on parrying, dodging, and exploiting weaknesses.
Essential Boss-Fighting Tips:
- Learn Attack Patterns: Every boss has distinct attack strings. Observe, learn, and react.
- Master Deflection: This is the core of Sekiro's combat. Perfect deflections build posture damage rapidly.
- Utilize Prosthetic Tools: The Shinobi Prosthetic is not just for utility; it's crucial for boss fights. For instance, the Loaded Axe breaks shields, the Fire Vent stuns red-eyed enemies, and the Mist Raven allows for quick escapes.
- Exploit Weaknesses: Some bosses are vulnerable to specific items or tools. The Loaded Umbrella is fantastic against perilous attacks, while Divine Confetti and Ako's Sugar boost attack power.
- Be Aggressive, But Patient: Maintain pressure to build posture, but know when to retreat and heal.
Notable Boss Trophies:
- Ashina Cross: Defeat Genichiro Ashina at Ashina Castle.
- Immortal Severance: Defeat the Divine Dragon.
- Shinobi of the Divine Heir: Defeat Isshin, the Sword Saint.
- Great Serpent: Defeat the Great Serpent (requires specific environmental kills).
Remember, many bosses have multiple phases. Don't get complacent after the first deathblow!
The Long Grind: Skills, Upgrades, and Collectibles
Beyond boss fights, a significant portion of your time will be spent acquiring skills, upgrading your Shinobi Prosthetic, and collecting vital items. These achievements often require multiple playthroughs and careful exploration.
All Prosthetic Tools Acquired
There are 10 unique Prosthetic Tools to find across Ashina. Many are found in hidden areas or dropped by specific mini-bosses. Make sure to thoroughly explore every corner. Upgrading them all requires a substantial amount of Scrap Iron, Gunpowder, Fulgurite, and other rare materials, which are primarily found by defeating enemies and exploring.
- Loaded Axe: Dropped by the Blazing Bull in Ashina Castle.
- Flame Vent: Found in Hirata Estate.
- Mist Raven: Found in Hirata Estate.
- Loaded Umbrella: Purchased from the Blackhat Badger in Ashina Castle.
- Divine Abduction: Found in the Sunken Valley.
All Skills Acquired
This is typically the last achievement players unlock. There are 6 skill trees in Sekiro: Shinobi Arts, Prosthetic Arts, Ashina Arts, Temple Arts, Mushin Arts, and Esoteric Text: Anti-air Deathblow. To unlock all skills, you will need a massive amount of skill points, which are earned by defeating enemies. This will almost certainly require entering New Game+ (NG+) and potentially New Game++ (NG++).
- Grind Location: The best place to farm skill points is often late-game areas in NG+ cycles, such as the Ashina Outskirts – Stairway or Ashina Castle – Antechamber, where enemies give more experience.
- XP Scaling: Enemies in NG+ cycles grant significantly more experience, making the grind less arduous than trying to do it all in a single playthrough.
All Prayer Beads & Gourd Seeds
- Prayer Beads: There are 40 Prayer Beads in total. Collecting four beads increases your maximum health and posture. Most are dropped by mini-bosses, but some are hidden in the environment or sold by merchants. You'll need all 40 for the "Peak Physical Strength" trophy.
- Gourd Seeds: There are 9 Gourd Seeds that increase the number of uses for your Healing Gourd. These are often found in chests or dropped by specific enemies. The "Ultimate Healing Gourd" trophy requires all of them.
The Weight of Choice: Achieving All Endings
Sekiro features four distinct endings, each requiring specific actions and decisions throughout your playthrough. This is the primary reason multiple playthroughs are necessary for 100% completion. You cannot achieve all endings in a single run.
1. Immortal Severance (Standard Ending)
- Requirements: Follow the main story path. After defeating the Divine Dragon, choose to obey the Iron Code and side with Kuro.
- Trophy: Immortal Severance
2. Purification (Secret Ending)
- Requirements: This is the most complex ending. It involves eavesdropping on Kuro multiple times, speaking with Emma and Isshin, and obtaining specific key items like the Father's Bell Charm and Aromatic Branch.
- Key Steps: Eavesdrop on Kuro after defeating Genichiro. Speak to Emma about Kuro. Eavesdrop on Kuro again. Rest. Speak to Emma. Find the Father's Bell Charm in Kuro's room. Go to Hirata Estate (memory) and defeat Owl (Father).
- Trophy: Purification
3. Return (True Ending)
- Requirements: Focuses on the Divine Child of the Rejuvenating Dragon. You need to feed her Persimmon fruits, obtain the Frozen Tear and Divine Dragon's Homecoming items.
- Key Steps: Give the Divine Child two Persimmons. Give her the Holy Chapter: Infested (from the Great Serpent Shrine) and Holy Chapter: Dragon's Return (from the Temple).
- Trophy: Dragon's Homecoming
4. Shura (Bad Ending)
- Requirements: At the critical juncture after defeating the Divine Dragon, when Owl asks you to obey the Iron Code, choose to forsake Kuro.
- Consequence: This locks you out of the final areas and bosses of the other endings. You will fight Owl (Great Shinobi) and Isshin Ashina (Sword Saint) in rapid succession.
- Trophy: Shura
Pro Tip: Plan your endings. Many players recommend doing Shura first, as it's the shortest path and allows you to experience the full game in subsequent runs. Alternatively, save it for last to avoid missing content.
New Game+ and Beyond: The Grind for Glory
Once you complete your first playthrough, New Game+ (NG+) awaits. This is not just a difficulty increase; it's an essential part of the 100% journey. Enemies hit harder, have more health, and give increased experience and sen. This makes skill point farming much more efficient.
What Carries Over in NG+?
- Skill Points: All acquired skills remain unlocked.
- Prosthetic Tools & Upgrades: All tools and their upgrades are retained.
- Prayer Beads & Gourd Seeds: Your health, posture, and gourd uses carry over.
- Spirit Emblems: Any unspent emblems carry over.
- Key Items: Most non-story critical key items, like sugars and confetti.
What Resets in NG+?
- Story Progress: All bosses, mini-bosses, and story events reset.
- Sculptor's Idols: All idols need to be reactivated.
- Key Story Items: Items like the Mortal Blade, Kusabimaru, and specific quest items.
For the "All Skills Acquired" trophy, you will likely need to reach NG+2 or even NG+3. Don't be intimidated; by then, your mastery of Sekiro's combat will be profound. The increased difficulty becomes less of a hurdle and more of an opportunity to showcase your improved skills.
Final Thoughts
Achieving 100% completion in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a monumental task, but an incredibly rewarding one. It requires dedication, a willingness to learn from every defeat, and a deep appreciation for its challenging yet fair combat system. By following this guide, planning your playthroughs, and embracing the shinobi's path of perseverance, you will undoubtedly conquer every challenge Ashina throws at you.
Remember to take breaks, stay patient, and most importantly, have fun. The journey to becoming the ultimate Shinobi is as important as the destination. Good luck, Wolf! May your blade be sharp and your resolve unyielding.
