Blackhat Badger

## Description

**Blackhat Badger** (黒笠のムジナ) is a merchant hiding inside an house near the Old Grave of Ashina Castle.

He will later appear in Senpou Temple, where he'll employ Wolf's help to fly a kite so that he could cross the valley. He'll be then found in the Sunken Valley Cavern, mourning over the tomb of his child.

He will be last found back in Ashina Castle, after the final invasion of the Central Forces: fatally wounded while defending a kid from the invaders, he'll gift Sekiro his precious Mibu Pilgrimage Balloon.

## Location

* Old Grave: on the second floor of the building just below the Sculptor's Idol.
* Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo: on the cliff overlooking the Senpou Assassin guarding the kite machinery.
* Sunken Valley Cavern: just before the Sculptor's Idol.
* Old Grave: a few feet away from the building where he was initially found, laying against a tree.

## Progression #1

### Ashina Castle (Upper Tower - Ashina Dojo)

Climb to the top of the castle and defeat Genichiro.

### Ashina Castle (Upper Tower - Kuro's Room)

Exhaust Kuro's dialogues until he'll task Sekiro with interrogating Isshin about the Mortal Blade and proceed as requested.

### Ashina Castle (Old Grave)

Purchase the Iron Fortress.

* Be mindful that once this item is bought, upon reloading the area he will stop acting as a merchant for the rest of the playthrough.

### Senpou Temple (Main Hall)

Interact with the Illusive Hall Bell and fight the Folding Screen Monkeys to obtain the Puppeteer Ninjutsu.

### Senpou Temple (Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo)

Equip the Puppeteer Ninjutsu and perform a Backstab Deathblow on the Assassin guarding the kite machinery to take control of him: he'll run up to the machinery and fly the kite higher.

Grapple onto the kite to cross the valley and reach the Sunken Valley Cavern.

### Ashina Castle (Old Grave)

After defeating the Divine Dragon, Badger will be found nearly dead before the gate to the bridge where the Ashina Soldiers and Central Force Agents are fighting: speak to him and then collect the Mibu Pilgrimage Balloon from his corpse.

## Progression #2

### Fountainhead Palace (Fountainhead Palace)

Upon defeating the Corrupted Monk, the Dragon's Tally Board she drops will unlock new items at every merchant.

* Since Badger won't be a merchant anymore by the time this progression is achievable, it will only apply from New Game Plus onward.

## Progression #3

### Ashina Outskirts (Outskirts Wall - Stairway)

Complete Anayama's questline (see his page for in depth info) to acquire the Promissory Note, which will discount by 10% the cost of every item sold by merchants.

* Since Badger won't be a merchant anymore by the time this progression is achievable, it will only apply from New Game Plus onward.

## Behaviour and Tactics

* **Perilous Grab**:: jumps up then attempts to catch Wolf. If it connects, he jumps at Wolf and twists his head back, dealing a great amount of damage.
* **Poison Splash**:: empties a satchel of poison in front of himself creating a pool on the ground.
* **Chasing Slice**: moves to the side with a wide slash.
* **Chasing Stab**: moves forward swiftly with a stab of his dagger.
* **Dart**: rolls sideway and then spits a splinter.
* **Evasive Somersault**: rolls to either side, evading attacks.
* **Evasive Spin**: spins in the air to the side.
* **Jumping Stab**: jumps towards his target with a stab.
* **Jumping Uppercut**: jumps up, slashing his dagger upwards.
* **Slash**: slices with his dagger horizontally, sometimes twice.

Fights like a Rat.

* Ashina Castle, Old Grave
* Senpou Temple
* Sunken Valley Cavern
* Ashina Castle (Final Invasion)

**Wolf**: Did you take care of your business?
**Badger**: That I did, all thanks to you.
**Wolf**: Whose grave is this...?
**Badger**: This? It's ah... It belongs to my kid.
**Wolf**: I see...
**Badger**: After the little runt passed away... All the grunt work I used to do just didn't cut it. Experiments with rejuvenation, kidnapping, the responsibilities of a Blackhat... Everything to do with this temple was just rubbing me the wrong way.
**Wolf**: So that's why you quit?
 **Attacked** | **Badger**:
* Whoa!
* Gyaa!

* Damn you!
 **First encounter when infected with Dragonrot** | **Badger**: (Wheeze... Wheeze...) Look who it is.
**Wolf**: You're ill...
**Badger**: (Wheeze... Wheeze...) (Heheh.) Damn... Things have taken a bad turn...

**Badger**: (Wheeze... Wheeze...) Look who it is.
**Wolf**: Dragonrot...?
 **Leaving when infected with Dragonrot** | **Badger**:
* (Wheezing)
 **"Take coughed up blood sample"** | **Wolf**: I'm taking a blood sample.
**Badger**: (Wheeze... Wheeze... Cough, cough.)
**Wolf**: ... Now to bring this to Lady Emma.

**Wolf**: Badger...
**Badger**: Look who it is... I couldn't take it. Too many rats. Swarming in out of the woodwork... Isshin must've terrified 'em.
**Wolf**: ...
**Badger**: That's why... I gone and done something a little out of character.
**Wolf**: What happened?
**Badger**: Those mangy rats... They were closing in on a little kid... Heh... So... So I saved him.. Now look at me. Guess the great Blackhat Badger's story ends here...
**Wolf**: .........
**Badger**: *(Heheh)* I gotta thank ya... Take what you want...when I'm gone... Heheh... I would give it to ya now...but...but....

## Notes

* Even if not talked to, he'll leave the Old Grave for Senpou Temple once the first invasion of Ashina Castle is triggered, leaving behind the Iron Fortress in his original spot and unlocking the Anti-air Deathblow Text for 2200 2200 in the Offering Box near Hanbei.
* If Badger is killed prior to its purchase, the Iron Fortress will become available for 2400 2400 in the Offering Box near Hanbei.
* If Badger is killed prior to its purchase, the Anti-air Deathblow Text will become available for 2200 2200 in the Offering Box near Hanbei once the first invasion of Ashina Castle is triggered.
* He's the only merchant to sell Yashariku's Sugar alongside Anayama.
* Unlike other endgame items, his Mibu Pilgrimage Balloon works like a regular consumable and as such can only be used once.
* Can't be harmed while affected by Dragonrot or at the end of his questline.

## Cut Content

* It is revealed through some text files in the game that there was going to be another way to cure Dragonrot, that involved Wolf giving the cure, a medicinal drink, to those affected by the disease:

 **"Give Dragonrot Pellet"** | **Wolf**: Drink...
**Badger**: (Gulps) (Sigh of relief...)
**Wolf**: You should feel better soon.
 **Cured of Dragonrot** | **Badger**: Well, if it isn't my favourite customer. I appreciate what you did for me before. That rot put me out for a spell... But thanks to you, I couldn't be better.

Gallery
Badger and KiteConcept art