Ashina Samurai

## Location

* Old Grave: just before the Sculptor's Idol, on the bridge to the Great Serpent Shrine, talking with an Ashina Rifleman about the lack of salt.

After the first invasion of the Central Forces:

* Old Grave: by the back door of Ashina Castle.
* Old Grave: guarding the entrance to the Great Serpent Shrine along with an Ashina Spear-Bearer.

After the final invasion of Ashina Castle and Outskirts:

* Ashina Castle: to the left of the Sculptor's Idol, battling a Central Force Swordsman.
* Ashina Castle: to the right of the Sculptor's Idol, facing a Central Force Flametrooper.
* Ashina Reservoir: guarding the place with Seven Ashina Spear Shume Masaji Oniwa.

## Behaviour and Tactics

* **Perilous Grab**: This attack is almost always performed when Sekiro's Posture is broken and he falls to his knees. Performing a safety roll backward is the best way to avoid this attack.
* **Perilous Low Wide Swing**: a wide sweeping attack across the ground. As with all unblockable sweeps, this cannot be parried, but can only be countered by a jump-kick.
* **Perilous Thrust**: a well telegraphed thrust attack. As with all unblockable thrusts, this attack can be parried, but only with a perfect deflection. Performing a Mikiri Counter is the safest and most effective method of dealing with this attack.
* **Perilous Thrust Combo**: two vertical slashes and a *Perilous Thrust*.
* **Chasing Slice**: the Samurai sheathes his weapon, entering a crouched stance, and will then rush forwards with a vertical slice.
* **Jab and Kick**: hits his target with the hilt of his sword, following up with a kick. He may follow up with *Perilous Low Wide Swing.* The kick deals no vitality damage and will simply knock the player over if it connects.
* **Jump Slash**: leaps into the air and follows up with a downward overhead slash. Can be avoided horizontally.
* **Overhead Swing**: a single overhead swing. This attack has a greater amount of recovery frames and fewer follow-ups than most of his attacks, and as such, is a safe attack to retaliate after. Can also be avoided by dashing to the sides.
* **Recover**: the Samurai jumps backwards and during the charge becomes engulfed in a bright aura, that will restore his Posture significantly. Being interrupted at any point before the end of this move will prevent any Posture regeneration.
* **Shoulder Check and Slash**: the Samurai leads with a blunt shoulder check attack and follows up with a horizontal swipe. Unlike the kick, this shoulder check does vitality damage if not blocked or deflected.

* **Two-swing Slash**: consecutive swings side by side.

Eavesdropping on the first one will reveal the information that Anayama needed to expand his business.

Fights exactly like a Samurai General Mini-Boss.

Keeping constant pressure on him will fill his Posture Bar fast: after 3 or 4 hits, he'll perform a deflection and will follow it up mostly with either an *Overhead Swing* or a *Jump Slash*. Note that, while the latter can be interrupted by landing enough attacks in time, the former can't.

When far away from the player, he often starts charging up a *Chasing Slice* while approaching the player: this can be interrupted with a properly timed katana swing or a Shuriken.

Dodge his swipes backward and his overhead swings to the left.

When his Posture Bar is nearly full, he'll dash backward and attempt to peform his *Recover* ability to restore his Posture, so it's important to always be ready to interrupt him by either catching up to him or by using Shurikens.

* Ashina Castle
* Ashina Castle (After Invasion)
* Ashina Castle (Second Invasion)

**Soldier**: Yes, sir... We use it for cooking, of course... But we also use it on wounds and for purifying the dead...
**Samurai**: So at the rate people are dying... we're out, then?
**Soldier**: Yes, sir... That's why many on the battlefield are falling ill...
**Samurai**: I see... We'll need to find a way to get some salt then...

## Notes

* The first samurai will disappear as the second invasion arrives at Ashina and it won't be possible to eavesdrop on his conversation for the rest of the playthrough.
* A non-hostile Ashina Samurai named Jinzaemon Kumano can be found in the Ashina Reservoir, just atop the well where Wolf woke up from in the prologue.

Gallery