Ashina Outskirts: The Road to Ashina Castle

Your guide to Ashina Outskirts in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Learn enemy locations, item drops, and strategies to overcome the challenges on the road to Ashina Castle.

Alright, we're pushing forward into Ashina Castle! We'll be starting from the Sculptor's Idol: Ashina Castle Gate. Let's get moving through that gate and into the castle grounds.

Straight ahead, you'll spot a lone gunman. Don't overthink it – rush him, deflect his shot if you can, and take him down. Now, we need to get up onto the wall ahead. You'll see two guys chatting up there. We can't quite jump straight to them for a stealth kill, but you can sneak up behind one of them for a quick deathblow. Then, it's just you and the other guy. After you've dealt with them, watch out for a patrolling gunman near the door up ahead. There are also enemies down the steps, so be mindful if you aggro them. While you're around here, grab the Ceramic Shard tucked away in the corner.

Before we press on, let's backtrack a little. Head down the steps to your left. There's a guard here with three hounds. Your best bet is to take out the hounds first, since they're around the corner and won't interfere. Once they're down, rush the guard. Now, go up the stairs near him to a field area. You'll see two small enemies near a tree, but hold up! There's a third one watching them off to the left. Sneak up and take him out first. Once he's down, you can eavesdrop on the other two. They're talking about a 'Badger,' huh? Weird. Anyway, after that, deal with them. These little guys are tricky – they have 'Shield Hats' that make them tough to hit from the front, and they love to spread poison. Make sure you get out of the poison clouds quickly. Using your Axe Tool can help break their guard. They'll drop some Black Gunpowder for you.

After you've dealt with those THREE enemies, it's time for a quick detour. Head back to the Sculptor's Idol in the PREVIOUS area, the one right before you fought the Horseman Boss. Kill the small enemy near that idol, then report back to the Tengu Man. This completes the