Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Best Combat Arts

Sekiro allows the players to use a wide variety of combat art which can change the tide of battle in their favor. The more you know how or when to use these combat arts depends on how good you are at the game. In this guide, we’re going to list down the Best Combat Arts in Sekiro (in our opinion)

From Software went back to the basics in Sekrio. They replaced the RPG elements of Bloodborne and made one of the most fluent and responsive combat systems in recent memory.

Best Combat Arts

Here is a summary table for all the Combat Arts in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice:

No.	Weapons	Emblem Cost	SP Required	Skill Tree
1	Whirlwind Slash	0	1	Shinobi Arts
2	Double Ichimonji	0	3	Ashina Arts
3	Shadowrush	2	6	Shinobi Arts
4	Praying Strikes	0	2	Temple Arts
5	High Monk	0	4	Temple Arts
6	Nightjar Slash Reversal	0	3	Prosthetic Arts
7	Floating Passage	0	0	-
8	Mortal Draw	3	0	-
9	Empowered Mortal Draw	3	5	Mushin Arts
10	Dragon Flash	2	0	-

Types of Combat Arts 

Combat arts are powerful moves that can give you an advantage in battle. Here are the types of combat arts available:

1. Offensive Combat Arts: Designed to deal damage to enemies and disrupt their attacks. Examples include Whirlwind Slash and Shinobi Firecracker.

2. Defensive Combat Arts: Help you defend yourself and counter enemy attacks. Examples include Mikiri Counter and Floating Passage.

3. Support Combat Arts: Provide utility effects like healing or buffing your character. Examples include Aromatic Flower (restores health) and Pacifying Agent (temporarily pacifies enemies).

4. Prosthetic Combat Arts: Allow you to use prosthetic tools attached to your prosthetic arm in combat. Examples include Loaded Spear and Loaded Shuriken.

These combat arts can be unlocked by spending skill points earned through gameplay and triggered during combat with specific button combinations. Mastering these techniques is essential for success in Sekiro, allowing you to adapt to different situations and playstyles.

How To Equip Combat Arts 

To equip Combat Arts follow these steps:

1. Unlock Combat Arts: Acquire Combat Arts by spending skill points at the Sculptor Idol in the “Acquire Skills” menu.

2. Access Equipment Menu: Pause the game and navigate to the “Equipment” section.

3. Select Combat Arts: Within the Equipment menu, locate the “Combat Arts” option next to “Prosthetic Tools” and select it.

4. Choose Preferred Combat Art: In the Combat Arts menu, you’ll see a list of all available Combat Arts that you have unlocked. Select your preferred Combat Art from this list.

5. Equip the Combat Art: Once you’ve selected your desired Combat Art, it will be officially equipped, allowing you to use it in battle. Press the two assigned shoulder buttons simultaneously to activate the Combat Art during combat.

Best Combat Arts Detailed

The best combat arts in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice depend on your personal playstyle and the situation you are facing. Some combat arts may be more effective in certain situations than others, and you may find that certain combat arts suit your playstyle better than others. That being said, some combat arts that many players have found to be particularly useful include:

1. Whirlwind Slash

Emblem Cost	0
SP Required	1
Effect	A Spinning attack that can hit several enemies at once
Skill Type	Combat Arts
Skill Tree	Shinobi Arts

Whirlwind Slash allows you to spin and attack multiple enemies at once, making it very useful for dealing with groups of enemies. It’s a solid pick, especially for how early in the game you can obtain it.

 However, in the later game it isn’t as powerful or viable as before so consider changing it when you come across a better option.

2. Double Ichimonji

Emblem Cost	0
SP Required	3
Effect	Adds a follow-up overhead sword strike to ichimonji
Skill Type	Combat Arts Skill
Skill Tree	Ashina Arts

Ichimonji: Double has a sluggish windup, but it pays off with exceptionally high posture damage and a powerful strike that will stun many foes. Even better, it costs no Spirit Emblems to use. It’s not good at clearing out hordes of enemies, but it’s going to come in very handy against the toughest of bosses.

3. Shadowrush

Emblem Cost	2
SP Required	6
Effect	Unleash a long- range ,powerful thrust.
Skill Type	Combat Arts
Skill Tree	Shinobi Arts

Shadow rush, one of the priciest final Combat Arts, is excellent for closing the gap on common foes and leaping into the skies for an aerial finisher. The cost in this case is the Spirit Emblem, even if it’s a strong move that frequently launches you into the air and out of attack range. One of the greatest finishing arts and one that is enjoyable to utilize is definitely Shadow Rush.

4. Praying Strikes

Emblem Cost	0
SP Required	2
Effect	Unleash a flurry of quick attacks that inflict damage while preventing a counter attack.
Skill Type	Combat Arts
Skill Tree	Temple Arts

This combat art causes Sekiro to put his sword away and constantly hit individuals with his hands, delivering significant posture damage with blows that cannot be parried, all at a cost of 0 spirit emblems. These fast hits can be used to interrupt most enemies and open up room for follow-up attacks. You’ll need to make it all the way through Senpou Temple to get it though.

Keep in mind you need to be smart about how you use this skill, It is to be used against enemies with hyper armor attacks, though it does not disrupt the hyper armor and you can still get hit.

5. High Monk

Emblem Cost	0
SP Required	4
Effect	Adds swords slashes and additional kicks to Senpou Leaping Kick
Skill Type	Combat Arts
Skill Tree	Temple Arts

It is a move that allows Sekiro to jump high up and land with a ground kick, followed by even more kicks that deal posture damage. Basically, just use it like Mikiri Counter except for sweeps rather than thrusts. Tons of posture damage, leaving most enemies open for a death blow. It’s also absolutely free. But it can be disorienting if not cam locked.

6. Nightjar Slash Reversal

Emblem Cost	0
SP Required	3
Effect	Perform a spinning leap attack in any direction.
Skill Type	Combat Arts
Skill Tree	Prosthetic Arts

Nightjar is a nice mobility tool for getting in and out during the fight while doing a bit of damage and potentially creating openings. It’s also free. But it does only tiny amounts of damage for the time it takes to land a blow still, the damage is not the main use of this art. Mobility is.

7. Floating Passage

Emblem Cost	0
SP Required	0
Effect	Unleash repeated attacks ,overwhelming enemies with flowing, dance-like movements.
Skill Type	Combat Arts

This skill deals fast hits that penetrate an enemy’s defense, great against regular humanoid foes but can be interrupted by heavy blows.

Originally weak, it improved with pre-launch buffs. Pair with Flame Vent and Living Force for a powerful combo. Effective against lighter foes but not heavy, unstaggered enemies.

8. Mortal Draw

Emblem Cost	3
SP Required	0
Effect	Draw the Mortal Blade and cut through enemies with an extended range sword attack.
Skill Type	Combat Arts Skills

Mortal Draw is a one-hit kill move. Approach an enemy, press attack when prompted, and if successful, you’ll kill them. Costs 3 Spirit Emblems per slice, 6 for both.

Tips:

1. Get behind the enemy for better success.
2. Maintain some distance to execute it effectively.
3. Avoid using it on surrounded enemies for safety.

9. Empowered Mortal Draw

Emblem Cost	3
SP Required	5
Effect	Draw additional power ,resulting in a longer-ranged ,, more powerful slash attack.
Skill Type	Combat Arts Skills
Skill Tree	Mushin Arts

The Empowered Mortal Draw is a special version of Mortal Draw. Fill your posture gauge by deflecting attacks, then press attack and guard together to use it. It instantly kills enemies. Limitations:

1. Only usable with a full posture gauge.
2. Gauge resets after use.
3. Harder to execute than regular Mortal Draw.
4. Longer animation, making you vulnerable if you miss. Costs 3 Emblems.

10. Dragon Flash

Emblem Cost	2
SP Required	0
Effect	Perform a high-speed cut from a sheathed stance.
Skill Type	Combat Arts Skills

After eliminating the game’s last boss, the player can acquire the game’s only ranged combat art. Sekiro sheathes his weapon before charging up a wind slash that emerges from the sheath.

This is a fantastic technique for dealing with weaker, more aggressive foes since it enables you to do effective damage to them from a distance rather than engaging them head-on. The fact that it costs two spirit emblems and is only accessible after eliminating the game’s very last boss is where it falls short. Without the ranged slash, it may still be utilized with 0 spirit emblems as a reliable physical attack.

That about does it for the Sekiro Best Combat Art. Go ahead and give them a try and see which one suits your style best. Leave a comment below telling us about your favorite combat art and which one you thought worked out best for you or didn’t. Do check out more of our guides here written by our talented writers. See you all at the next one.