Sekiro Resurrection: Game Mechanics & Mod Guide

Sekiro Resurrection is both a core game mechanic allowing players to revive after death and a popular mod that increases difficulty with new enemy moves and mechanics.

Understanding Resurrection in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Resurrection in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a fundamental gameplay mechanic that sets it apart from other FromSoftware titles. This ability allows Wolf, the main character, to come back to life immediately after dying instead of respawning at the last checkpoint. The resurrection system adds a strategic layer to the game, giving players a second chance in difficult encounters without having to restart from the beginning.

How Resurrection Works

When you die in Sekiro, you’re given the option to resurrect on the spot where you were defeated. This ability isn’t unlimited and operates through a charge-based system:

• The first resurrection node (with a snowflake-like icon) is restored automatically when resting at a Sculptor’s Idol.
• The second resurrection node can only be charged and unlocked by defeating enemies.
• A third resurrection node becomes available after obtaining the Sakura Droplet from Lady Butterfly and giving it to Kuro after defeating Genichiro.

After using resurrection once, the second node becomes temporarily locked with a black smear to prevent overuse. To remove this lock, you need to perform deathblows on enemies or use specific items.

Recharging Resurrection Power

There are several ways to recharge your resurrection ability:

1. Defeating Enemies: Performing deathblows on enemies gradually restores your resurrection power.
2. Resting at Sculptor’s Idols: This restores one charge of resurrective power.
3. Using Items: Special items like Bundled Jizo Statue, Jinza’s Jizo Statue, and Dragon’s Blood Droplet can restore resurrection nodes.

For boss fights, the black smear is removed after performing a deathblow against them. Against regular enemies, you might need to defeat several to restore your resurrection ability.

Dragonrot and Resurrection

An important aspect of the resurrection system is its connection to Dragonrot, a sickness that affects NPCs in the game world:

• Using resurrection at the location of death does not cause Dragonrot.
• Dying completely (true death) and respawning at a Sculptor’s Idol causes Dragonrot to spread.
• As more NPCs become afflicted with Dragonrot, your chance of receiving Unseen Aid decreases.

Unseen Aid is a mechanic that gives you a chance (base 30%) to keep your experience points and sen (money) when you experience true death. Managing when to resurrect and when to accept death becomes a strategic decision, especially if you want to preserve NPC questlines.

The Sekiro Resurrection Mod

The Sekiro Resurrection mod is a popular modification for the base game that significantly alters the gameplay experience. Created by modders and available on Nexus Mods, this overhaul aims to provide veterans with a fresh and more challenging experience.

What the Mod Changes

The Sekiro Resurrection mod makes several significant changes to the base game:

1. Increased Difficulty: Bosses and standard enemies become more challenging with added moves and abilities.
2. Reworked Mini-bosses: Existing mini-bosses have been redesigned to be more interesting, and new mini-bosses have been added throughout the game.
3. New Mechanics: The mod introduces new gameplay mechanics like Recoil Counter and Clashes.
4. Modified Combat Arts: Combat arts like Mortal Draw, Ashina Cross, and Ichimonji have been rebalanced and given new properties.
5. Environmental Changes: New enemy placements, hidden areas, and decorative elements have been added to various regions.

New Mechanics in the Mod

Recoil Counter

One of the standout additions in the Sekiro Resurrection mod is the Recoil Counter mechanic:

• Allows for faster follow-up attacks after successful execution
• Different variants exist, including blocked variants that will break the player’s guard
• Enables quicker use of prosthetics and combat arts when queued after a Recoil Counter
• Perfect Recoil Counter (triggered by pressing R1 at the perfect time) provides additional options and faster attacks

Clashes

The mod introduces a clash system that triggers when using the same combat art as an enemy at the same time:

• Currently works with Ichimonji and Ashina Cross against Ashina Elites
• For Ashina Cross clashes, only works with their Empowered variant
• Clashing with One Mind creates visual effects around the enemy
• After a clash, the player gains Recoil Counter-like effects

Run and Slide Changes

The mod also modifies the run and slide mechanics:

• Adds 9 i-frames (same as forward dodge)
• Allows canceling into a jump during slide
• Cannot dodge sweeps or mikiri thrusts
• R1 attacks queued after sliding are quicker
• Features unique R1 animations instead of default variants
• Increases turn rate for better follow-up attacks

Installation Guide for Sekiro Resurrection Mod

If you’re interested in trying the Sekiro Resurrection mod, here’s how to install it properly:

Requirements

Before installing the mod, make sure you have:

• A legitimate copy of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
• Sekiro Mod Engine installed
• A backup of your game files and saves

Installation Steps

1. Download and install Sekiro Mod Engine from Nexus Mods and extract its files to your game’s main directory (the folder containing Sekiro.exe).
2. Create a folder named ‘mods’ in your game directory.
3. Download the Sekiro Resurrection mod from Nexus Mods and extract its contents to the mods folder you created.
4. Start the game. If the installation was successful, you should notice the changes immediately.

If you encounter any issues during installation, check the mod page on Nexus Mods for troubleshooting help.

Combat Strategies for Sekiro Resurrection

Whether you’re playing the base game or the Resurrection mod, mastering combat is essential for success. Here are some strategies to help you survive and thrive:

Base Game Strategies

1. Perfect Deflection: Focus on timing your deflections perfectly to build up enemy posture damage without breaking your own.
2. Strategic Resurrection: Save your resurrection charges for boss fights or difficult encounters.
3. Mikiri Counter: Master this technique to counter thrust attacks and deal significant posture damage.
4. Manage Posture: Keep an eye on your posture meter and create distance to recover when needed.
5. Use Prosthetic Tools: Different prosthetic tools are effective against different enemy types.

Resurrection Mod Strategies

The Resurrection mod significantly increases the difficulty, requiring adjusted strategies:

1. Master Recoil Counter: Learn the timing for Perfect Recoil Counter to gain advantages in combat.
2. Adapt to New Patterns: Enemies have new moves and increased aggression, so learn their patterns.
3. Use Enhanced Combat Arts: Take advantage of the modified combat arts that are faster after Recoil Counters.
4. Be More Defensive: With increased enemy damage, prioritize defense and perfect deflections.
5. Explore Thoroughly: The mod adds new items and paths that can help you progress.

Players have reported that the mod significantly increases difficulty, with some getting stuck at early areas like Hirata Estate due to the enhanced Lone Swordsmen who can one-shot players with their attacks.

Healing and Resurrection Items

Various items in Sekiro can help with healing and resurrection, which become even more valuable when playing with the Resurrection mod:

Healing Items

1. Healing Gourd: Your primary healing item that refills when resting at Sculptor’s Idols.
2. Pellets: Secondary healing items that can be found and purchased throughout the game.
3. Divine Grass: A rare item that fully restores HP and cures all status abnormalities.

Resurrection Items

1. Dragon’s Blood Droplet: Clears the black smear locking your resurrection and slightly restores Resurrective Power.
2. Bundled Jizo Statue: Restores one node of Resurrective Power.
3. Jinza’s Jizo Statue: Another rare item that restores Resurrective Power.

In the lore, Divine Grass is particularly interesting as it’s described as a “secret medicine of the ancient times” made from plants where “small nameless gods gathered” in the old Ashina lands.

Endings and Progression in Sekiro

Understanding the game’s progression and endings is important for players of both the base game and the Resurrection mod:

Main Endings

Sekiro has multiple endings, with the Dragon’s Return (Return) ending being one of the most complex to achieve:

To get the Return ending, you need to:

1. Progress the story to where you choose to serve Kuro and defeat Owl.
2. Obtain the Holy Chapter: Infested and give it to the Divine Child.
3. Talk to the Divine Child at the Illusory Hall after she moves there.
4. Retrieve the Holy Chapter: Dragon’s Return from a cave near the Main Hall at Senpou Temple.
5. Give the Divine Child both Fresh Serpent Viscera and Dried Serpent Viscera.
6. Obtain Frozen Tears from the Divine Child.
7. After defeating the final boss, give Kuro both the Divine Dragon’s Tears and Frozen Tears.

In this ending, the Divine Child helps Sekiro and Kuro return the Divine Dragon to its place of origin, somewhere west of Japan.

Mattingly’s Ex-Wife

Progression Through the Resurrection Mod

The Resurrection mod changes various areas of the game:

1. Tutorial Area: Reworked enemy placements, added Shinobi Hunter for optional rewards, and included a Recoil Counter tutorial.
2. Ashina Elite: Reworked Jinsuke Saze, added new hidden shinobi doors, new enemy types, and decorated several areas.
3. Gyoubu Fight: Modified to remove unintended moves and make Mikiri more lenient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sekiro Resurrection mod too difficult?

Some players find the Sekiro Resurrection mod extremely challenging, especially if they weren’t able to master perfect guarding in the base game. The mod increases enemy aggression and adds new attacks that can one-shot players if not perfectly deflected.

How do I know when my resurrection ability will be available again?

You can see how filled the resurrection circle is, which indicates the percentage toward the next resurrection. Usually, performing a deathblow on a boss restores one resurrection charge completely.

Does using Bite Down affect resurrection mechanics?

Bite Down allows you to resurrect once more if you use it instead of dying to an enemy. This can be a strategic way to manage your resurrection charges in difficult fights.

Can I cure Dragonrot in the game?

Yes, you can cure Dragonrot by collecting a blood sample from an infected NPC, giving it to Emma to create a cure, and then using the Dragon’s Blood Droplet at a Sculptor’s Idol to perform Dragonrot Restoration.

How many resurrection nodes can I have in total?

You can have up to three resurrection nodes: one that restores when resting at a Sculptor’s Idol, one that fills by defeating enemies, and a third obtained by giving the Sakura Droplet from Lady Butterfly to Kuro after defeating Genichiro.

Samantha Yates

Samantha Yates is a creative writer and journalist with expertise in content creation and editing. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and brings professional experience from Lionbridge, where she developed engaging content for leading technology companies