BOSS STRATEGIES

Gyoubu Masataka Oniwa Easy

Location: Ashina Outskirts | Reward: Memory, Mechanical Barrel

• Grapple Hook: When he charges, look for the green grapple icon. Zip to him for free hits.
• Deflect his combos: His spear attacks are slow and telegraphed. Deflect the last hit for posture damage.
• Firecrackers: Stun his horse mid-charge for a free combo.
• Tip: Stay aggressive. His posture breaks quickly if you keep pressure.

Lady Butterfly Medium

Location: Hirata Estate | Reward: Memory, Sakura Droplet

• Phase 1: Deflect her shuriken + dive kick combo. Attack after her 3-hit string.
• Illusions (Phase 2): She summons phantom soldiers. Use Snap Seeds to dispel them, or run in circles until they disappear.
• Shuriken when she jumps: She loves jumping on wires. Throw a shuriken to knock her down.
• Tip: Don't use snap seeds on the illusions unless overwhelmed. Just focus on Butterfly.

Genichiro Ashina (Ashina Castle) Medium

Location: Ashina Castle Rooftop | Reward: Memory, Bloodsmoke Ninjutsu

• Phase 1: He's a deflection tutorial. Learn his 5-hit combo and deflect the last strike.
• Phase 2: Adds lightning attacks. Jump + R1 to reverse lightning back at him.
• Mikiri Counter: His thrust attack is heavily telegraphed. Mikiri for massive posture damage.
• Tip: This fight teaches you the core combat loop. Master it here and the rest of the game becomes manageable.

Guardian Ape Hard

Location: Sunken Valley | Reward: Memory, Slender Finger

• Phase 1: He's a beast — cannot be deflected normally. Use Firecrackers to stun, then hit 2-3 times.
• Dodge, don't block: His swipes deal terror buildup through guard. Stay mobile.
• Phase 2 (Sword): Now he uses a sword. Deflect his overhead slam — it staggers him for 5+ seconds.
• Scream: His terror scream is unblockable. Run away immediately when he raises his head.
• Tip: Loaded Spear (Corkscrew) can pull the centipede out of his neck for huge posture damage.

→ Read the complete Guardian Ape strategy guide

Folding Screen Monkeys Easy

Location: Senpou Temple | Reward: Memory, Puppeteer Ninjutsu

• Green Monkey (Sight): Use the bell to stun him, then chase down.
• Purple Monkey (Sound): Sneak up from behind for a deathblow.
• Orange Monkey (Smell): Lure him into the room with the waterfall.
• White Monkey (Touch): Invisible. Look for footprints and attack the air.
• Tip: This is a puzzle fight, not a combat fight. No need to fight them head-on.

Great Shinobi Owl Hard

Location: Ashina Castle (Top of Castle) | Reward: Memory, Aromatic Branch

• Anti-heal bombs: He throws bombs that prevent healing for 30 seconds. Run away before using gourd.
• Phase 2: He uses poison smoke and firecrackers. Stay mobile and don't get cornered.
• Mikiri his thrust: He has a slow thrust after his combo. Free posture damage.
• Tip: Firecrackers work on him. Use them to interrupt his combos.

Isshin, the Sword Saint Very Hard

Location: Ashina Reservoir (Final Boss) | Reward: Memory, One of the endings

• Phase 1 (Genichiro): Warm-up. Lightning reverse his jumping attack. Deathblow him quickly.
• Phase 2 (Isshin Sword): Stay close. His gun combos are deadly at range. Deflect his 4-hit string and counter.
• Phase 3 (Isshin Spear + Sword): Massive range. Umbrella prosthetic blocks his wind attacks. Mikiri his spear thrusts.
• Phase 4 (Lightning): Same as Phase 3 but adds lightning. Jump + R1 to reverse lightning — this is your biggest damage window.
• Tip: Ichimonji Double is amazing here. It recovers your posture while dealing massive damage to his.

→ Read the complete Isshin strategy guide

Demon of Hatred Hard

Location: Ashina Outskirts (Late Game) | Reward: Memory, Lapis Lazuli

• He's a Souls boss in Sekiro: Treat him like Dark Souls — dodge through attacks, don't deflect.
• Fire umbrella: Loaded Umbrella (Phoenix) blocks all fire attacks completely.
• Malcontent: Finger whistle stuns him for 3-4 seconds. Use it 3 times total.
• Tip: Stay under his legs. Most of his attacks miss if you're directly beneath him.