Best Strategy to Defeat Genichiro Ashina in Sekiro

Core Strategy Overview

The best strategy to defeat Genichiro Ashina is to stay aggressive while focusing on deflecting his attacks to build his posture. Using the Mikiri Counter against his perilous thrusts is essential. In the final phase, you can reverse his lightning attack by jumping and pressing the attack button mid-air, stunning him for a follow-up.

General Strategy for Combat

• Stay aggressive: Keep attacking to build his posture gauge. The faster you pressure him, the less chance he has to recover.
• Master deflection: Listen for the parry sound to time your deflects correctly and build posture damage.
• Be wary of perilous attacks: Recognize attacks with a red kanji symbol and counter them appropriately.
• Thrust attacks: Use the Mikiri Counter for perilous thrusts to break posture and create openings.
• Sweep attacks: Jump over his wide sweeping attacks to avoid damage.
• Grab attacks: Dodge or jump away to prevent heavy damage.
• Heal strategically: Heal only after dodging to the side or after creating distance. Always hold block when drinking, as Genichiro will often shoot an arrow during healing.

Phase-Specific Strategies

• Phase 1 and 2
  During the first two phases, stay close to Genichiro to limit his use of ranged attacks and make his sword patterns more predictable. Focus on deflecting his sword flurries and use Mikiri Counter against thrust attacks. Constant pressure prevents him from recovering posture and reduces the duration of prolonged combos.
• Phase 3 (Way of Tomoe)
  In the final phase, Genichiro gains a lightning attack. When he jumps into the air and starts channeling lightning, jump to avoid it. While in mid-air, press the attack button to reverse the lightning back at him. This will stun him briefly, giving you an opportunity to land multiple hits safely.

Positioning and Movement Tips

Proper positioning is crucial. Move laterally instead of backward to avoid being caught by sweeping attacks. Staying close to him during phases 1 and 2 can help predict his combos, but always be ready to sidestep or jump to avoid damage.

Do not corner yourself near walls, as it limits movement options. Keep adjusting your distance and angle to maintain control while minimizing the risk of surprise attacks.

Health Management and Die Twice Mechanic

Upgrade your Healing Gourd before the fight and use it strategically. Only heal when you have a safe window after dodging attacks or creating distance. Holding the block button while drinking prevents arrow shots from interrupting healing.

The Die Twice mechanic offers a second chance, but should not be relied upon. Use it to learn patterns and adjust strategy for the next attempt, rather than as a safety net to play recklessly.

Using Prosthetic Tools Against Genichiro

Prosthetic tools can help in key moments. Firecracker can interrupt jump attacks, providing a short window to strike safely. Shuriken can be used to create distance or deal minor posture damage, complementing aggressive melee tactics.

Do not overuse tools; rely primarily on deflection and Mikiri Counter, using prosthetics to create openings rather than replacing skillful play.

Step-by-Step Combat Sequence

• Observe his patterns at the start and identify safe openings.
• Deflect normal sword combos to build posture.
• Use Mikiri Counter on thrust attacks to punish him safely.
• Jump over sweeping attacks and avoid grabs.
• Heal strategically when there is a clear safe window.
• In phase 3, reverse the lightning attack to stun and follow up with multiple hits.

Improving Through Practice

Genichiro’s fight requires learning from repeated attempts. Each failure teaches attack timings, movement, and deflection windows. Observing his patterns carefully allows you to refine your strategy for faster victories.

Consistent practice combined with patience ensures that you can defeat Genichiro Ashina reliably, advancing further in Sekiro with greater confidence.

Check this out: Hidden Easter Eggs in Left 4 Dead 2