Central Force Agent

## Red Guard (Dual Kodachi)

### Description

The **Red Guard (Dual Kodachi)** is an elite soldier of the Central Forces, the army of the Interior Ministry.

Alongside the Lone Shadows and Red Guard Assassins, they're the vanguard sent to invade Ashina Castle at twilight.

They come equipped with a pair of shortswords (小太刀, Kodachi), which they swing in unison with quick and agile techniques.

They're mostly found hiding behind some wall, ready to ambush unususpecting Ashina Soldiers, or patrolling in groups.

### Location

* Ashina Castle (Shinobi Raid):
	+ Abandoned Dungeon Entrance: on the bridge leading to the dungeon courtyard, chasing a fleeting Ashina Soldier.
	+ Ashina Castle:
		- Hiding behind a wall in the alleyway to the left past the Sculptor's Idol, waiting to ambush an Ashina Soldier.
		- Three coming out of the front gate of the castle, following a scared Ashina Soldier.
		- Attacking Ashina Soldiers in the alleyway to the right past the Sculptor's Idol.

		- Two guard the exit on the first floor of the castle.
		- Hiding behind a wall right outside the castle, on the path to the Old Grave.

		- Hiding behind a wall, past the first troop of Red Guards (Firebomb).
		- Hiding in the tall grass on the wall to the right of Shigekichi of the Red Guard.
	+ Outskirts Wall - Stairway:
		- One patrols the path to the Timid Maid's house and another is hiding behind the gate.
		- To the side before the gate leading to the Sculptor's Idol that allows Wolf to reach the Demon of Hatred.

### Moveset

* **Leaping Double Slash:** leaps foward and performs a slash with both swords. Followed by a *Double Crossed Slash*.
* **Double Crossed Slash**: lunges into two cross-shaped dual sword slashes. Sometimes telegraphed by striking sparks and assuming a stance. Can be followed up by two rising slashes into *Dual Sword Thrust*.
* **Sparking Sword Flurry**: strikes sparks with swords then launches into a 4-hit series of fast slashes. Followed-up by *Double Crossed Slash* if target is in range, or cancelled into *Leaping Double Slash* if not.
* **Dual Sword Thrust**: leans back and winds up a thrust using both swords.

### Strategy

Due to the quick multi-hits attacks this enemy relies on, it's recommended to use Gokan's Sugar or Gokan's Spiritfall to keep Posture in check and avoid being guard-broken half-way through one of his long combos.

The Loaded Umbrella (or any other spinning variation) is ideal to safely deflect the fast consecutive hits of this enemy.

Like the rest of the Red Guard, this enemy has very low Poison resistance, a few swings of the Sabimaru will be enough to proc it.

### Drops

* Ashina Castle (Shinobi Raid)
* Ashina Castle (Ministry Raid)
* Ashina Outskirts (Ministry Raid)

## Red Guard (Dual Uchigatana/Firebomb)

### Description

The **Red Guard (Dual Uchigatana/Firebomb)** is an elite soldier of the Central Forces, the army of the Interior Ministry.

As the night falls on Ashina, the Interior Ministry sets siege for one last time to the Castle and Outskirts, bringing these new troops alongside the previous Red Guard (Dual Kodachi) and Lone Shadows.

They fight dual-wielding uchigatana, attacking with slow yet heavy swings, and are occasionaly equipped with a rifle that fires incendiary projectiles.

They're always found in groups, decimating the few Ashina Soldiers left or patrolling a conquered area.

### Location

* Ashina Castle (Ministry Raid):
	+ Ashina Castle: a large group is found fighting Ashina forces on the staircase to the castle entrance.

		- A large group is found fighting Ashina forces on the bridge that conntects the Outskirts and the Castle.
		- One patrols the area in front of Shigekichi of the Red Guard.
	+ Outskirts Wall - Stairway: one patrols the staircase behind Shigekichi of the Red Guard, alongside a Red Guard (Flamethrower).
		- One guards the staircase from the bottom.
		- One overwatches the staircase on a turret.
		- One hides among the tall grass below the turret.
		- One is found beneath the gate past Anayama the Peddler.
		- One overwatches the area from each of the three turrets.
		- One is found below a turret, at the bottom of a staircase close to an explosive supply box.
		- Two patrols the area before the gate leading to the Sculptor's Idol that allows Wolf to reach the Demon of Hatred.

### Moveset

* **Overhead Smash**: raises only one of his swords and strikes down. Can either follow it up with another *Overhead Strike* using the other sword or chain into a *Shoulder Dash Combo*.
* **Shoulder Dash Combo**: crouches down and shoulder barges fowards, chaining immediately two horizontal slashes and ends with a *Dual Sword Thrust*.
* **Double Crossed Slash**: lunges into two cross-shaped dual sword slashes.
* **Incendiary Rifle Shot**: fires a slow rocket-propelled incendiary shot that deals Fire damage and inflicts Burn build-up.
* **Dual Sword Thrust**: leans back and winds up a thrust using both swords.

### Strategy

Like the rest of the Red Guard, this enemy has very low Poison resistance, a few swings of the Sabimaru will be enough to proc it.

### Drops

* Ashina Castle (Ministry Raid)
* Ashina Outskirts (Ministry Raid)

## Red Guard (Flamethrower)

### Description

The **Red Guard (Flamethrower)** is an elite soldier of the Central Forces, the army of the Interior Ministry.

As the night falls on Ashina, the Interior Ministry sets siege for one last time to the Castle and Outskirts, bringing these new troops alongside the previous Red Guard (Dual Kodachi) and Lone Shadows.

They serve as backrow support for the other soldiers, continuously firing their flamethrowers all over the battlefield.

### Location

* Ashina Castle (Ministry Raid):
	+ Ashina Castle: one is found among the large group fighting Ashina forces on the staircase to the castle entrance.

		- One patrols the staircase behind Shigekichi of the Red Guard, alongside a Red Guard (Dual Uchigatana/Firebomb).
		- One is found below the turret overlooking the area patrolled by the Chained Ogre.

### Moveset

* **Wide Swing**: swings the flamethrower sideways.
* **Heavy Smash**: raises the flamethrower, then strikes it down.
* **Fire Stream**: holds up the flamethrower to load it, then redirects the stream of fire bursting out towards Wolf. Continues the fire stream until fuel runs out, then needs to reload.

### Strategy

Lacking any Super Armor, this enemy poses no treath at close range, as continuosly attacking will prevent him from using his few melee attacks or to fire his weapon.

### Drops

* Ashina Castle (Ministry Raid)
* Ashina Outskirts (Ministry Raid)

## Red Guard (Dual Uchigatana)

The **Red Guard (Dual Uchigatana)** is an elite soldier of the Central Forces, the army of the Interior Ministry.

As the night falls on Ashina, the Interior Ministry sets siege for one last time to the Castle and Outskirts, bringing these new troops alongside the previous Red Guard (Dual Kodachi) and Lone Shadows.

### Location

* Ashina Castle (Ministry Raid):
	+ Ashina Castle: one is found fighting a Samurai General in the alleyway leading to Ashina Reservoir.

* Ashina Outskirts (Ministry Raid):
	+ Underbridge Valley: one is found guarding the side path to the cave with the Headless.
	+ Outskirts Wall - Stairway: one is found guarding the gate leading to the Sculptor's Idol that allows Wolf to reach the Demon of Hatred

### Moveset

* **Overhead Smash**: raises only one of his swords and strikes down. Can either follow it up with another *Overhead Strike* using the other sword or chain into a *Shoulder Dash Combo*.
* **Shoulder Dash Combo**: crouches down and shoulder barges fowards, chaining immediately two horizontal slashes and ends with a *Dual Sword Thrust*.
* **Double Crossed Slash**: lunges into two cross-shaped dual sword slashes.
* **Double Overhead Smash**: raises both swords and strikes down. Then recoils and strikes a second time.
* **Dual Sword Thrust**: leans back and winds up a thrust using both swords.

### Strategy

Like the rest of the Red Guard, this enemy has very low Poison resistance, a few swings of the Sabimaru will be enough to proc it.

### Drops

* Ashina Castle (Ministry Raid)
* Ashina Outskirts (Ministry Raid)

## Red Guard Assassin

The **Red Guard Assassin** is a former Senpou Assassin, who now dons the armor of the Central Forces.

Alongside the Lone Shadows and Red Guard (Dual Kodachi), they're the vanguard sent to invade Ashina Castle at twilight.

As the night falls on Ashina, some will also join the invasion of the Outskirts.

### Location

* Ashina Castle (Shinobi Raid):
	+ Ashina Castle: four are found scattered atop the rooftops to the right side of the castle entrance.

		- Two are found hiding in the tall grass on the cliff past the gate beyond Anayama the Peddler.
		- Two are found in the house of the Timid Maid.

### Moveset

* **Evasive Spin**: spins in the air to the side.
* **Evasive Somersault**: rolls to either side, evading attacks.
* **Jumping Stab**: jumps towards his target with a stab.
* **Chasing Slice**: moves to the side with a wide slash.
* **Chasing Stab**: moves forward swiftly with a stab of his dagger.
* **Slash**: slices with his dagger horizontally, sometimes twice.
* **Jumping Uppercut**: jumps up, slashing his dagger upwards.
* **Poison Dart**: shoots a Poison dart at Wolf that fills up one third of the Poison status effect bar.
* **Poison Splash**: empties a satchel of poison in front of himself in a pool that remains in the area.
* **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.

### Drops

* Ashina Castle (Shinobi Raid)
* Ashina Outskirts (Ministry Raid)