Sekiro & Elden Ring Dungeons: Your Burning Questions Answered (and Maybe a Few You Didn’t Ask)
Diving into FromSoftware’s works, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Elden Ring? Great choice! Let’s tackle some questions players ask. This is a straightforward guide. No flowery prose needed. We’re here for answers, not poems.
Sekiro’s Abandoned Dungeon: Not Just a Place to Throw Out Old Swords
First, the Abandoned Dungeon in Sekiro. It has a grim name, a grim atmosphere, and some grim enemies. Surprise, surprise.
Is there a boss lurking in the Abandoned Dungeon?
You bet. Meet the Shichimen Warrior. This spectral foe is more of a mini-boss. Don’t let that fool you. He can still take you down.
Where do I find this Shichimen Warrior, exactly?
Find him in Ashina Depths, the Abandoned Dungeon, and Fountainhead Palace. Quite the travel plan for a ghost!
Tips for slapping around the Shichimen Warrior?
Pay attention. He uses glowing spirit balls that inflict Terror. No one enjoys Terror build-up. Use Divine Confetti to make him vulnerable. Dodge those projectiles like your life depends on it—because it does.
Pro-tip: Teleport to the Abandoned Dungeon – Bottomless Hole Idol. Ambush him before he launches ranged attacks. Be aggressive.
What goodies do I get for exorcising this spirit?
Defeating the Shichimen Warrior gives you some valuable rewards:
- XP (around 1960 XP in NG). This increases in NG+.
- Deathblow Markers (always useful).
- The Ceremonial Tanto (sacrifice health for Spirit Emblems).
- The Malcontent’s Ring (great for Prosthetic Tool upgrades).
- And maybe Lapis Lazuli (rare crafting material).
Quickest route to the Abandoned Dungeon boss?
You know the drill. Warp to the Abandoned Dungeon – Bottomless Hole Idol. It’s just a teleport away from the Shichimen Warrior.
Luring in Sekiro: When Side Quests Get… Weird
Sekiro is not all swordplay. It involves moral decisions like luring others to suspicious characters. Let’s discuss Doujun, Kotaro, and Jinzaemon.
Doujun: Friend or Foe (or Just Plain Creepy)?
Is Doujun evil? He’s morally flexible. Doujun is a minor antagonist involved in unsettling experiments. For his best moments, check out Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying. Spoilers: centipedes and immortality. Lovely.
Who are the lucky candidates for Doujun’s… attention?
Kotaro and Jinzaemon may receive Doujun’s… hospitality. Good or bad? That’s debatable.
How do I convince Kotaro to visit Doujun?
Poor, crying Kotaro needs guidance. Find the Red and White Pinwheel near the Armored Warrior. Give it to him and suggest Doujun can help. Be direct.
Kotaro’s Crossroads: Pinwheels and Paths
What’s the best option for Kotaro? It depends on your view of “best.” For a “happy” ending (Sekiro-style, still pretty bleak), give him the White Pinwheel. It connects to the Return ending. For adventure, use the Red and White Pinwheel for deeper side quests, possibly with Doujun and Anayama.
Spiriting Away Kotaro: Monk-napped and Rewarded?
What if I “spirit away” Kotaro? Give him the White Pinwheel and use your Divine Abduction Prosthetic Tool. This teleports him to the Hall of Illusions. Visit him there for a Taro Persimmon. A sweet reward for spiritual kidnapping!
Why won’t Kotaro go see Anayama?
Can’t send Kotaro to Anayama? Giving him the Red and White Pinwheel prevents a visit. No pinwheel, no peddler. The White Pinwheel blocks the Anayama questline.
Jinzaemon Kumano: The Melancholy Musician
Who is Jinzaemon Kumano? He’s a brooding, black-clad samurai. And yes, he is the prominent black character in Sekiro. Representation matters in feudal Japan.
Should Jinzaemon meet Doujun?
You can encourage Jinzaemon to be a… volunteer… at Doujun’s research facility. The option exists for morally ambiguous players.
Jinza’s Jizo Statue: A Musician’s Memento
How to snag Jinza’s Jizo Statue? Plan ahead. Talk to Jinzaemon in specific areas before fighting O’Rin of the Water. After defeating O’Rin, return to him in Mibu Village. He’ll reward you with Jinza’s Jizo Statue. Timing is crucial!
Elden Ring’s Fire Giant: Big, Fiery, and Mandatory
Now, let’s discuss Elden Ring and the massive Fire Giant. Hope you brought fireproof gear.
Remembrance of the Fire Giant: Souvenir or Power Source?
What to do with the Remembrance of the Fire Giant? You can consume it for 30,000 Runes. Or trade it at Enia in the Roundtable Hold. Choose between a Giant’s Red Braid or the Burn, O Flame! incantation. Your choice.
Is the Fire Giant fight optional?
Optional boss? Nope. The Fire Giant is necessary to progress. Prepare for a tough battle.
Rune Reward for Giant Slaying?
How many Runes from the Fire Giant? A solid 30,000 Runes if you consume the Remembrance. Not bad for defeating a fiery giant!
Grace After the Giant? Thank the Erdtree!
Grace site after Fire Giant? Yes! Look for it near the Forge of the Giants. Cross the chain and head around the rim to find it. Rest up, you deserve it.
O’Rin of the Water: More Than Just a Sad Song
Back to Sekiro and O’Rin of the Water. This ghostly figure is more than she appears.
O’Rin: Specter or Just Sad?
Is O’Rin a ghost? She’s an apparition. This weakens her to Divine Confetti. No Terror from her, but her nature is haunting.
Must I Duel with O’Rin?
Required fight? No, she is optional. You can sneak by her if you choose… or be efficient. But where’s the fun in that?
O’Rin’s Haunting Grounds
Where to find O’Rin? In Mibu Village, after the Large Blossom Tree. From the Water Mill Sculptor’s Idol, head right and listen for her singing.
Exploiting O’Rin’s Weakness
O’Rin’s vulnerabilities? Besides Divine Confetti, she is weak to Poison. Load up on poison kunai or use Sabimaru to increase her suffering.
Sekiro Endings: Choose Your Own (Bleak) Adventure
Sekiro endings are not happy, but some are less miserable. Let’s discuss the Dragon’s Return.
The Dragon’s Return: A Guide to (Slightly Less) Despair
How to get the Dragon’s Return ending? Be prepared for a lengthy quest. Befriend the Divine Child of Rejuvenation. Give her Rice repetitively. Then follow her questline involving rice for Kuro, obtaining Frozen Tears, and giving them to Kuro along with the Divine.
Dragon’s Tears during the final boss fight. This will be crucial. Remember it when the battle gets tough.
Is Dragon’s Return Actually “Best”?
Best Sekiro ending? Many view the Dragon’s Homecoming (Return) as the “true” or “best” ending. “Best” is subjective in Sekiro. It’s arguably the most optimistic ending, if you consider any FromSoftware conclusion optimistic.
Hardest Ending to Achieve? Probably.
Hardest ending to get? Dragon’s Homecoming again. This ending is long and complicated. You must complete specific actions, especially the Divine Child of Rejuvenation’s side quest. Prepare for backtracking and item hunting.
Sekiro General Gameplay: Random Bits of Wisdom
Let’s speed through some Sekiro gameplay questions. Why not?
Final Boss Face-Off
Sekiro’s final boss? Prepare for Isshin the Sword Saint. He waits for you in Ashina Castle. You’ve finished with the Divine Dragon? It won’t be easy.
The Real Bad Guy? Surprise!
True villain of Sekiro? It’s arguably Genichiro Ashina. He’s the grandson of Isshin. He causes most of the conflict. He has that edgy vibe, too.
Immortal Training Dummy?
Unkillable enemy? That enemy is Hanbei the Undying. He is there to help you train. His immortality comes from a centipede, as shown in the Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying manga. Centipedes grant… immortality.
Who’s God in Sekiro? Deep Lore Dive!
God figure in Sekiro? In a loose way, Kuro, the Divine Heir, could be considered god-like because of his Dragon Heritage and immortality powers. But he is just a kid who often gets kidnapped.
Dying: Just a Minor Setback?
Is dying bad in Sekiro? Yes, it is not beneficial. Dying halves your progress towards your next skill point. Try not to die. It’s easier said than done, I know.
Optional Demonic Rage
Demon of Hatred optional? Yes, the Demon of Hatred in Ashina Outskirts is absolutely optional. He is difficult. Maybe skip him during your first playthrough for your sanity.
Hidden Estate of Horrors
Hirata Estate optional? Surprisingly, Hirata Estate is also optional. You might miss this entire area. You would miss some cool backstory and challenging fights with Owl, who is definitely not friendly.
Red Eyes: Fashion Statement or Something Sinister?
Red eyes meaning in Sekiro? Red eyes show enemies mutated by Doujun. They were exposed to Rejuvenating Waters. This makes them stronger and resistant to pain but also terrified of fire. Use firecrackers against red-eyed foes.
Dungeon Delving in General: Beyond FromSoftware
Let’s explore dungeons beyond Sekiro and Elden Ring.
MTG Dungeon Completion: Venture Forth and Finish!
Venture into the dungeon (MTG)? In Magic: The Gathering, if you venture into the dungeon and your marker is at the bottom, you remove the dungeon card from the game. That means you completed it. Congratulations on navigating cardboard corridors!
Darkest Dungeon Quest Abandonment: Stress City
Abandon quest in Darkest Dungeon? Get ready for stress! Abandoning a quest guarantees 20 stress on your heroes. Because quitting is for quitters. They get stressed out, it seems.
Leaving Darkest Dungeon: Escape at a Price
Leave a dungeon in Darkest Dungeon? Yes, but there are consequences. Retreating can be risky. If you retreat during the Darkest Dungeon or the Wolves at the Door mission, you might need to sacrifice one party member for everyone else to escape safely.
Darkest Dungeon Ending: Heart of Darkness, Heart of Victory
Ending to Darkest Dungeon? Yes, there is one! Defeat the Heart of Darkness at the bottom of the Darkest Dungeon for a cinematic epilogue. You… win? If surviving counts as winning.
Redoing Abandoned Quests: Second Chances Abound
Redo abandoned quest? In many games, yes. Including some Blizzard titles. If you accidentally abandon a quest, just go back to the quest giver. Usually, your progress is saved, and you can continue from where you left off. Thank your forgiving quest givers!
Scarlet Rot Avoidance 101: Wall Hugging Edition
Avoid Scarlet Rot in Abandoned Cave (Elden Ring)? It’s simple: hug the wall. Specifically, hug the wall with the broken Abductor Virgin beside it. There is a safe dirt patch from Rot build-up. Follow the Rot-free tunnel. Wall-hugging can work.
Dungeon Guardian Down: Not Quite Dungeon Access
Killing the Dungeon Guardian (Terraria)? It drops Hearts and Stars, just like any common enemy. However, defeating the Dungeon Guardian does not grant access to the Dungeon itself. You still need to defeat Skeletron. The Guardian is more like a bouncer.
Dungeon Item Conversion: Stat Boost Bonanza
Converting to a dungeon item (Hypixel SkyBlock)? Dungeon items gain stat buffs based on your Dungeon level. You can upgrade them with Essence, adding stars. Each star boosts stats inside and outside dungeons. Dungeon gear isn’t just for dungeons now!
Darkest Dungeon Ambushes: Safe Nights (Relatively)
Ambushes in Darkest Dungeon? No, there are no nighttime ambushes in the Darkest Dungeon or Farmstead. You can use those powerful skills for once. Small favors in a dark world.
Your dungeon-related questions are hopefully answered with dry wit and useful information. Now, get back in there and explore those digital depths, brave adventurer!
