Sekiro’s Seven Ashina Spears Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi miniboss takes you back to the prologue area of FromSoftware’s Japan-inspired RPG. There’s no time to get nostalgic, however, as you’ll now find a sturdy great general there who can prove rather tough to topple. You can find him guarding the Moon Tower in Ashina Reservoir – use the Ashina Reservoir Sculptor’s Idol to travel there.
Before you head over, you’ll want to have the Mikiri Counter skill unlocked as Yamauchi is a spear-based foe – as I’m sure you’ll have noticed – and this will make it easier to get some blocks in. You’ll also want to have the Firecracker Prosthetic unlocked to stun him, and the Ichimonji: Double combat art skill to pair it with. If you need to practise with any of these skills, you can get to grips with them at the Dilapidated Temple.
This miniboss is optional, and there are other ways to beat him. However, this is the way that worked best for us, and you do get a Prayer Bead for your efforts. If you’ve got all the above and are ready to go, here’s how to beat Seven Ashina Spears Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi.
How to beat Seven Ashina Spears Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi
Perfect your route past the goons
Unfortunately, there are 13 enemies between you and Seven Ashina Spears Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi, which can become very tiresome as you’ll inevitably fall on the general’s spear and have to redo this bit a fair amount of times.
How many enemies you take out is up to you, as you can creep past a few of them. But there are a few enemies we would recommend removing from the equation. When spawning in on the Sculptor’s Idol, turn left right away and walk to the cliff in front of you and grapple to the branch below a little to your right. After that, grapple to the branch coming out of the wall. If you climb over the fence you’ll find a sentry that will alert everyone to your position by yelling and wholloping a pot. Yes, it’s as annoying as it sounds – take him out with a stealth attack.
The rest is down to personal preference, but taking out any enemy who is hanging around the Moon Tower is a decent idea as they may join in the fight with Seven Ashina Spears Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi.
How to beat Seven Ashina Spears Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi
Once you find your way back to the Moon Tower, you’ll see the General standing atop the stairs in front of it. Unless you want seven shades of spear spiked through you, take a swift detour to your left at the bottom of the stairs. You should recognise this as the route you used to reach Lord Kuro in the prologue, follow it in the same way and you’ll reach the same hole in the building. Once you’re in, sneak behind Seven Spears and take your free deathblow to start the fight.
Yamauchi has a few attacks you’ll need to be wary of, such as a thrust and sweep that act as perilous attacks. He also has two other moves that are relatively easy to spot, but hurt nonetheless – such as a jumping overhead slash and a drag move with a pause that can throw some players off.
More Sekiro Shadows Die Twice guides to chop through:
Sekiro bosses
Sekiro Shinobi Hunter Enshin of Misen guide
Sekiro Lapis Lazuli guide
As to how you beat this boss, you’ll be on the defensive for most of the fight. Using the Mikiri Counter, you should be able to carve yourself a few openings during his relentless attacking – do be wary though that even after some counters he’ll keep pressing ahead with other attacks. When you’re not using the Mikiri Counter, you’ll want to be side-stepping to take advantage of other openings. Once you find an opportunity, use the Firecracker Prosthetic to stun Seven Ashina Spears Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi and then follow up with the Ichimonji: Double attack to put in some posture damage. Keep doing this, and you’ll eventually break his posture and win the fight.
And there you go, how to defeat Seven Spears. One of the most significant eureka moments you’ll come across in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’s early game is that it’s about being aggressive with your openings rather than hiding and playing defensively.