SEKIRO | How To Beat Guardian Ape: Boss Fight Guide

Find out how to defeat the Guardian Ape boss in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice in this guide. This includes his battle moves, gameplay and combat tips.

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Table of Contents

Guardian Ape Location
Recommended Prosthetic Tools & Items
Guardian Ape Combat Tips
Guardian Ape Attacks

Guardian Ape Location

Location	Guardian Ape Watering Hole Sunken Valley

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Rewards

Memory: Guardian Ape	Permanently increase Attack Power
Slender Finger	The slender finger or a young woman. Can be fitted to the Shinobi Prosthetic to create a Prosthetic Tool

Recommended Prosthetic Tools & Items

Firecracker

Since the Guardian Ape is a beast, the Firecracker is extremely effective in stunning it. Do note that once it enters its 2nd phase, the Firecracker cannot be used on it anymore.

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Guardian Ape Boss Fight Tips

General Tips

Lower Guardian Ape's Vitality to Break its Posture

Defeating the Guardian Ape will require you to both lower its Vitality and its Posture enough to deal a Deathblow. The lower the Guardian Ape's Vitality is, the slower its Posture Recovery will be.

Kite Guardian Ape for Openings

Staying near the Guardian Ape puts you at risk of being hit by its numerous melee attacks. Kite around the Ape and wait for openings where you can come near it and strike.

Attack Guardian from Back or Sides

Most of the Guardian Ape's attacks are frontal ones, leaving its back and side open for attacks. Use your dodge to escape its attacks and position yourself behind or to its side.

Use Trees to Grapple Away from the Guardian Ape

There will be multiple trees around the watering hole that you can use to escape the Guardian Ape if you're being pressed. The trees can be destroyed by the Guardian Ape so they won't always be there.

1st Phase - Tips

Close Gap to Guardian Ape by Grappling to its Sword

The sword in the Guardian Ape's throat is a grapple point that you can use to close the distance between you. When landing, you can also do a few sword strikes.

2nd Phase - Tips

Guardian Ape will have Longer Reach, New Moves

In its 2nd Phase, the Guadian Ape will start using its discarded sword, giving it a longer reach and new moves. The fight with the Guardian Ape dramatically changes thanks to this.

Guardian Ape - Boss Moves & Abilities

1st Phase - Moves & Tips

Attack	Description
Ground Flail	The Guardian Ape will lie on its back and flail around
Poop throw	Throws a ball of poop that damages and poison upon hit
Fart Escape	Farts that will add to the Poison meter then runs away
Perilous Swipe Grab	An unblockable grab that starts with a swing of its arm
Perilous Jump Grab	An unblockable grab that starts with its jumping high in the air

Attack Guardian Ape at the End of Ground Flail

After the Guardian Ape has finished its Ground Flail, it will be vulnerable for a few seconds as it stands back up again. You can take this moment to get behind it and start hacking away.

Run Towards Guardian Ape During Poop Throw

When the Guardian Ape does its poop throw, run towards it to get out of range of its poop. Alternatively, you can get behind a tree for the poop to hit it instead.

Jump to Dodge Perilous Swipe Grab

The Swipe Grab can easily be escaped by jumping up. While doing so, you're free to attack the Guardian Ape as you're going down.

Run Back to Escape Perilous Jump Grab

The Perilous Jump Grab has a wide range and can easily get you when dodging to the side. Instead, you can run ahead and jump up to escape it.

2nd Phase - Moves & Tips

Attack	Description
Leaping Sword Strike	Leaps forward that ends with a sword strike
Perilous Sword Sweep	An unblockable horizontal sword sweep
Perilous Roar	Roars that deals terrors if caught within its circular range
Perilous Jumping Sword Sweep	An unblockable sword sweep that starts with the Guardian Ape jumping up high in the air

Jump Forward and Attack During Leaping Sword Strike

The Guardian Ape is vulnerable during its leaping sword strike. When it leaps forward, jump towards it and start hacking away. Just make sure to have enough time to run as the Guardian Ape could do its Perilous Roar.

Run Away Immediately during Perilous Roar

Run Away Immediately when Guardian Ape Puts its Head Near its Neck

When you see the Guardian Ape placing its decapitated head near its neck, run away quickly as it's about to do its Perilous Roar attack. The attack deals terror and if it fills up the bar, Sekiro will immediately die.