This Genichiro boss guide shows how to beat one of Sekiro’s hardest early walls with posture pressure, clean deflects, Mikiri counters and lightning reversal. Genichiro Ashina punishes long dodges, panic healing and random attacks. Stay close and make the duel about rhythm.
Key points
- Genichiro Ashina is best handled through posture pressure, deflects and Mikiri Counter.
- The Way of Tomoe phase introduces lightning attacks that can be reversed by jumping and attacking before landing.
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice released for PS4, Xbox One and Windows in March 2019.
- The Game of the Year update added boss rematch features.
If you keep running, he uses the bow and resets the pace. Your goal is to keep the fight active, answer perilous attacks correctly and reach the final phase with enough healing left. For more practical coverage, check our feature section, gaming news and the latest posts.
Genichiro boss guide: key takeaways
- Stay close to build Genichiro’s posture.
- Unlock Mikiri Counter before the fight.
- After his vertical jump, wait for the landing.
- Heal only after a confirmed punish or safe gap.
- In the lightning phase, jump, receive the hit in the air, then attack before landing.
Prepare for the Genichiro boss fight in Sekiro
You do not need a strange setup to win. You need the fundamentals. Bring upgraded healing, a few pellets if available and Mikiri Counter from the Shinobi Arts tree.
Prosthetic tools can help, but they should not become the plan. Shuriken can close distance. Firecrackers may buy a moment. The sword duel still decides the fight.
| Item or skill | Priority | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mikiri Counter | Very high | Turns thrust attacks into heavy posture damage. |
| Healing Gourd upgrades | High | Gives you room to learn without ending every attempt early. |
| Pellets | Medium | Useful slow healing when a safe window appears. |
| Shuriken | Optional | Can help at range, but deflects matter more. |
Phase 1: break posture without backing off
The first phase teaches the rhythm. Start forward, hit once or twice, then be ready to deflect. Do not dodge every string.
A reliable rule works well. Attack until he clearly blocks or deflects. Then switch to active defense.
- Open with one or two normal attacks.
- Deflect his sword string while staying locked on.
- Use Mikiri Counter on thrust perilous attacks.
- Jump over sweeps and press jump again to stomp him.
- After every punish, attack once or twice.
Phase 2: read the jump and stop panic healing
The second health bar is mostly the same fight. Player fatigue causes many mistakes. His jump is the main trap.
Do not react to the red warning alone. Watch the weapon after he lands. Thrust means Mikiri. Sweep means jump. Normal hit means deflect.
Your healing must also be disciplined. Heal after a successful Mikiri, after a long deflected combo or after a heavy move misses.
Genichiro boss guide for Way of Tomoe lightning
The final phase looks dangerous, but it can end quickly. Genichiro becomes more aggressive and uses electric attacks. Do not run away.
When lightning comes, jump before impact. Let it hit you in the air, then attack before touching the ground. If you land first, you take the shock.
Common mistakes that cost the fight
The biggest mistake is treating Genichiro like a dodge boss. Sekiro rewards deflection and pressure. If you circle too much, his posture drops.
Another common mistake is overattacking after a punish. One or two hits are usually enough. The next input should be ready for defense.
- Do not heal in open space while he can use the bow.
- Do not answer every red warning with the same input.
- Do not let his posture recover after a successful Mikiri.
- Do not try to reverse lightning from the ground.
A 20-minute practice plan
If you are stuck, stop playing full attempts with no goal. Break the fight into drills.
Spend five minutes only looking for Mikiri. Spend five minutes trying not to heal before phase two. Then practice lightning reversal, even if the attempt fails.
The Game of the Year update added ways to replay defeated bosses. For official media and platform details, use the Sekiro official gallery, the FromSoftware page and the Steam page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level should I be for Genichiro Ashina?Sekiro has no traditional level requirement. Aim for several Prayer Bead upgrades, improved healing and Mikiri Counter.
No, but it makes the fight much easier by turning thrusts into posture damage.
You are likely backing away too much. Stay close, deflect his strings and punish perilous attacks.
Heal after a confirmed punish, such as Mikiri or a long deflected combo, rather than in open space.
Wait for the landing and read the weapon. Thrust means Mikiri, sweep means jump, normal hit means deflect.
Jump before impact, receive the lightning in the air and attack before landing.
Use them only to support your swordplay. Shuriken or firecrackers can help, but deflects and Mikiri decide the duel.
Use the official gallery, the PlayStation page and the Steam page.
Verified sources
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