Sekiro beginner guide: deflection, posture, Mikiri and resurrection
Learn the distinction between blocking and deflecting, answer perilous attacks and understand the early resource system.
Edition covered
The original 2019 single-player campaign in the PC Game of the Year Edition. The guides use unchanged publisher campaign screenshots. Gauntlets of Strength, Inner boss variants, mods and the separate anime adaptation are outside the scope.
Deflect to turn defense into posture damage
A timed guard just before impact deflects a normal weapon strike. Attacking and deflecting build the opponent’s posture toward a Deathblow. If their posture recovers too quickly, look for safe opportunities to lower vitality first. Lock on and learn one enemy’s rhythm before engaging a whole group.
Read the attack behind the red warning
The perilous-attack warning tells you that an ordinary block is not enough; it does not choose the response for you. Watch whether the attack is a thrust, low sweep or grab. Unlock Mikiri Counter and practise it with Hanbei so the input becomes deliberate.
| Incoming attack | Response | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Normal sword strike | Timed deflection | Press guard close to impact |
| Perilous thrust | Mikiri Counter | Acquire the skill and step into the thrust |
| Perilous sweep | Jump over it | A follow-up jump kick can add posture damage |
| Perilous grab | Evade or leave its reach | Do not rely on ordinary guard |
Spend resources with a purpose
Sen, skill experience and Spirit Emblems serve different systems. Buy or save for a specific upgrade instead of treating every pickup as a character level. Fully earned skill points are retained on death, while partial progress toward the next point is vulnerable.
| Resource | Used for | Death consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Sen | Merchants and upgrade costs | Normally lose half on full death |
| Unbanked skill experience | Progress toward the next skill point | Normally lose half on full death |
| Earned skill points | Skills at an idol | Already earned points are retained |
| Spirit Emblems | Prosthetic tools and some techniques | Check stock before a tool-heavy attempt |
Use stealth and resurrection to regain control
Remove isolated guards before fighting a named enemy, then take a moment to recover your position. Resurrection is a limited second opportunity; availability depends on the nodes and current lockout. When fully defeated, there is no recoverable bloodstain to collect on the next attempt.
Unseen Aid can prevent the normal sen and experience loss; do not plan a difficult attempt around receiving it.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Activision Support: Sekiro game mechanics | support.activision.com |
| Activision on PlayStation Blog: how to survive Sekiro | blog.playstation.com |
| Digital Trends: Sekiro beginner systems | www.digitaltrends.com |
| Activision / FromSoftware: Sekiro on Steam | store.steampowered.com |