Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice definitely has some big shoes to fill. After all, this game was created by the same people who made the Dark Souls franchise, and we all know how popular those games were. Players were expecting something similar from Sekiro - if not in tone, at least in difficulty level. Dark Souls was many things, but easy wasn’t one of them. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is definitely a new direction from the legendary developers. With a much more polished look and an all new Japanese focus, it’s an entirely new game. But make no mistake, it’s still just as challenging as its spiritual predecessors.
Not only is this game extremely difficult, but it’s also filled with all kinds of secrets and hidden items. In many cases, these hidden items are pretty much mandatory if you want to have any level of success in this game. Most of the time, games throw in a couple easter eggs and hidden passages for fun. You don’t have to find any of them - and if you do, it’s just a moral victory. But in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you’re not just encouraged to find the various hidden prosthetics, prayer beads, and other hidden items. You’re basically forced to hunt them down. Since this game is so hard, you need every advantage you can get. And that’s why you should be searching for these 20 Hidden Things Everyone Completely Missed In Sekiro.
The Great Colored Carp Achievement
The great colored carp is one of the coolest little details hidden in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and it’s also something that a lot of people miss. This is also a very complicated achievement to get, and it involves a few different things.
But the short version is simple: Ring the feeding bell, then head over to the river, and feed the great colored card some “Truly Precious Bait.” This is a unique item that you’ll have to find. After feeding the fish, he will swim away. After that, seek him out at the Guardian Ape’s Watering Hole. You’ll find the fish’s carcass, and you can take his whiskers.
The Demon Of Hatred Secret Boss Fight
There are tons of optional bosses in this game, but few are actually hidden. And perhaps one of the most hidden and secret bosses of all is the Demon Of Hatred. If you manage to find this titan, you’ll realize that you’ve stumbled onto a seriously powerful enemy.
You’ll find this boss at the Ashina Castle Grounds, but you’ll only be able to access him after using the Sculpture’s Idol. This boss is completely optional, but it comes with its own unique rewards, including an achievement, a special memory, and 2 lapis lazuli. This is a boss that few people have found, and it’s pretty epic.
The Mortal Blade
The mortal blade is actually a very important item to find in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This is because you’ll need the Mortal Blade in order to find a few other secrets and hidden items later on in the game. The mortal blade is a legendary weapon that defeats undead creatures. But it also comes at a price…
In order to get the blade, you have to complete a few challenges in the Senpou Temple Area. A lot of players get confused about the Mortal Blade, because it’s not actually a new sword for you to use. Instead, it’s more of an upgrade for your sword. Specifically, it’s a Combat Art.
Ring The Demon Bell For Increased Difficulty (And Better Drops)
One of the coolest features of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is its difficulty level. This game is seriously challenging, although that’s hardly a surprise given the fact that it was made by the creators of the legendary Dark Souls franchise. Believe it or not, there’s a way to make Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice even more difficult…
This is the Demon Bell. It’s located just past the Sculpture’s idol, and you have to physically ring this giant bell to activate it. After you take this drastic action, the game’s difficulty rises significantly. But there’s one important silver lining - item drops become much better as well. It’s an interesting risk you can take.
You Can Set Your Sword On Fire
Intricate games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice allow you to get seriously creative with your attacks. You can combine different status effects, combos and equipment to great effect. One of the most simple ways to do this is to simply set your sword on fire. With your katana ablaze, you deal additional burning damage in spectacular fashion.
You can accomplish this by simply waving your sword around over a fire. The blade should catch fire, and you’ll have that effect for a short duration. It’s definitely a cool way to give yourself a much needed edge in combat when the going gets tough.
How To Actually Use Sake
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice doesn’t shy away from the realities of feudal Japan. In those days, people were always willing to partake in a few refreshing drinks to lighten the mood of this dark time, and that’s where Sake comes into play. Sake is actually an item in this game, but a few players seem unsure what to do with it.
Sake is best used on other people. Share your Sake with random NPCs, and they’ll immediately become much more open about things, sharing details, and secrets that they might otherwise stay silent about. This is a great way to learn new things, and get clues about hidden secrets.
Could A Corrupted Form Of Buddhism Be Responsible For The Undying?
You only need to play Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice for a few minutes before you realize that the Undead or “Undying” play a big role in this game. It seems like everywhere you turn, there’s some kind of undead creature or warrior who is intent on dragging you down into the depths of the underworld.
But where did this all come from? One of the most interesting fan theories states that the undead presence actually stems from a corrupted form of Buddhism. According to the theory, it has its root in the Buddhist desire for Nirvana, or life beyond death. Perhaps some of the practitioners took things a little too far in their quest for everlasting life. Interestingly, there is evidence for this theory scattered throughout the game.
The Mushin Esoteric Text
The Mushin Esoteric Text isn’t really a secret per se, but it’s definitely one of the hardest things to get in this game. It’s so hard in fact, that many people aren’t even aware of its existence… At least not yet, anyway. In order to obtain the Mushin Esoteric Text, you need to master the final skill in any of the skill trees.
Once you’ve done this, simply talk to Tengu and he’ll give you the precious Mushin Esoteric Text. Why is this such a big deal? The Mushin Arts are basically the key to beating the toughest enemies in the game. The Mushin Arts unlock deadly ultimate attacks - although you’ll have to master at least two final skills of any tree to unlock them.
Hidden Tooth Item
One of the most bizarre items in the game is the Hidden Tooth Item. This is essentially a game over pill hidden inside your own tooth. You guessed it - you use this to end your life in battle. Why would you want to do this? Basically, you get to resurrect more than once while in battle, if you use this item correctly.
How do you get it? All you need to do is defeat Hanbei the Undying. Of course, the only way to do this is to use the Mortal Blade. You need to be sure that you’re ready to fight him, because he will be removed from the game. He drops the Hidden Tooth Item.
The Secret Treasure Chests
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is filled with all kinds of awesome treasure chests that contain some very good loot. It’s always a smart idea to search out there various treasure chests, because they contain things like prayer beads, gourd seeds, and even things like prosthetic tools. Because this game is so challenging, it’s almost mandatory to find all of the hidden treasure chests, in order to give yourself a slight advantage over the enemies.
Treasure chests are hidden all over the lands. Sometimes, you’ll have to use your grappling hook to cross otherwise impassable areas. Sometimes, you’ll have to use your own intelligence and wit. And sometimes, you’ll have to find secret passages…
Secret Passages
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is filled with all kinds of hidden passages, and these are often very important to locate throughout the game. Usually, they’ll contain hidden items and treasure chests. Sometimes, they’ll lead the way to even more thrilling and interesting secrets. For the most part, secret passages are hidden in different areas throughout the lands.
But one of the best ways to find hidden passages is to “hug walls,” especially when you see eye-level paintings on these walls. These are usually false doors, and when you lean on them, they’ll flip open to reveal the secret passage. This is a topic that is getting a lot of attention on Reddit right now.
The Loaded Shuriken Prosthetic
The Loaded Shuriken Prosthetic Tool is actually one of the most important items you’ll use in the game. It’s extremely effective for dealing with all kinds of enemies, especially those who have airborne attacks. Certain bosses are almost impossible to beat without the Loaded Shuriken Prosthetic. But funnily enough, a lot of people forget all about this tool - or they simply never find it.
In order to unlock this tool, you’ll need to find the Shuriken Wheel, located around the Outskirts Wall. Bring it to the Sculptor, and he’ll build the Loaded Shuriken Prosthetic Tool for you. This is a great weapon - especially in its upgraded form.
You Can Practice Your Skills With Hanbei The Undying
Hanbei The Undying is actually one of the best additions to the game. Why? Because he offers you a great opportunity to practice your skills, again and again. Hanbei is no slouch in combat either. He’ll really push you to your limits - even when you’re pretty advanced. The best part about Hanbei the Undying is he never dies (duh.)
This means you can keep coming back, again and again, testing your new skills and trying out new combos and techniques. A lot of players forget about Hanbei, but he’s one of the best ways to get good at this game. So if you’re going to defeat him with the Mortal Blade, think long and hard before making that decision.
There’s No Real Fall Damage
Throughout your experience with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you’ll be spending a lot of time flying through the air. To excel in this game, you need to think vertically. Climb every wall. Leap over every chasm. And when you’re going to strike, do so from above. This is an age old Ninjitsu approach to combat, and it’s very important in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
But a lot of players might not have noticed that there’s virtually no fall damage in this game. No matter what distance you fall from, you’re extremely unlikely to die from fall damage alone. And even if you do fall down a deep, seemingly bottomless cliff, you’ll usually just respawn - as long as you’re not in combat.
Always Eavesdrop On Enemy Conversations
Eavesdropping is a great way to learn new secrets. If you’ve ever played a game with stealth elements before, you already know that it’s probably a good idea to lurk in the shadows and listen in on your enemy’s conversations. Doing so will probably reveal interesting ways to win battles, or new routes to take.
But perhaps the most valuable information you can learn from eavesdropping is the location of secret items. This is something a lot of players forget, and sometimes the locations of certain prosthetics can only be learned by listening in on conversations. If you’re looking for hidden details, always eavesdrop.
Finger Whistle Prosthetic
One of the most basic elements in most stealth games is the ability to “signal” to enemies. In the past, we’ve seen different games do this in different ways. You might throw a coin, or purposely knock over a vase. In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you do this with a Finger Whistle Prosthetic.
With this whistle, you can get the attention of enemies and isolate them from a crowd. To get this tool, you need to find the slender finger crafting item, and then return it to the Sculptor. You can upgrade this item even further with the ring of malcontent, which is a detail that a lot of people miss.
The Hitboxes Are Seriously On Point
This isn’t really a hidden, secret item or anything, but it’s a detail that a lot of people will miss. Those who know anything about gaming will immediately see that the hitboxes in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice are seriously on point. What are hitboxes? They are the areas around the character model that “register” a hit.
When hitboxes are badly implemented, you might get hit by the swing of a sword that seems like it was miles away from your head. But in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you’ll notice blades just barely missing your face and body, and no hit is registered. This is truly the mark of a great game.
How To Make Lord Kuro’s Incense
Some of our readers might be aware that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a choice driven game with multiple endings. This is definitely one of the best features of the game, and it makes us want to go back and replay the game again with different choices. But if you make certain choices within this game, you’ll actually be forced to find Lord Kuro’s incense.
This is a very tricky item to find, although you’ll need to find it no matter what. First, you’ll need to find a special stone - located in Mibu village. You’ll also need a special flower and Kuro’s blood. In order to obtain all of these items, you’ll also need the Mortal Blade. It’s an extremely difficult quest.
Treasure Carp Scales
After playing this game for a little while, it immediately becomes obvious that the main currency is Sen. But there’s also another kind of currency - a type of secret currency that only experts will be able to find. These are Treasure Carp Scales, and you’ll only be able to harvest them from a certain type of fish.
Most players describe these fish as dolphin-like, and somewhat pink in color. These fish are scattered throughout the world, and it’s definitely a huge challenge to find them all. In addition, you’ll be selling your hard-earned treasure carp scales to a crazy monk stuck in a pot, floating down the river!
How To Farm Sen In Sekiro
While treasure carp scales are important, the normal currency is also pretty mandatory. A lot of players struggle to earn enough Sen in the game, but there are actually a few different ways to farm Sen quickly without too much effort. A lot of gamers have exposed this hack, and it’s actually very effective.
All you need to do is head to the Ashina Castle Gate, and find two creatures wearing large hats. Basically, you just need to defeat these creatures as fast as possible. Use stealth, prosthetics, special moves - whatever. Once you jump over the gate, the enemies behind you reset. Keep defeating them, and you should be able to earn thousands of Sen over a short period of time.
References: gameplay.tips, attackofthefanboy.com, gamesradar.com
