Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
Nioh 3 shogun in plate armor helmet
Action RPGs 15 years after Dark Souls, Nioh 3 faced the exact same problem and "people felt that the game was a little bit easier"
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 screenshot of Henry washing his face at a trough
Action RPGs 11 Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 tips and tricks to help you serf on
Best Ps5 games
Games Best PS5 games: The 25 greatest PlayStation 5 games in 2026, ranked
Up close shot of a character from Echoes of Aincrad
Action RPGs New Bandai Namco Sword Art Online action RPG is "not a Soulslike," dev says, but it's still "very easy to die"
Weapons in Nioh 3
RPGs Best Nioh 3 weapons and tier list
Elden Ring
Games The 10 best FromSoftware games for those craving crushing defeats
Best action games - God of War screenshot of Kratos facing off with a giant white dragon, holding a human head in one hand
Action Games The 25 Best Action Games to Play in 2026
Monster Hunter Rise Khezu weakness
Monster Hunter Monster Hunter Rise Khezu weakness, tactics, and strengths
Ghost of Yotei Legends
Open World Games "Mark my words. You cannot win without 4 players," Ghost of Yotei multiplayer lead warns of Legends' "hardcore content"
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 protagonist sighs into his hand
Action RPGs Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 drove me to madness until I started to embrace its world, not fight it - learn from my mistakes
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
Monster Hunter Baffling Capcom once again, Monster Hunter Stories 3 players are taking down superbosses despite the demo's level 10 cap
Arc Raiders Queen
Third Person Shooters How to kill the Arc Raiders Queen
Lords of the Fallen 2 knight in thorned helmet
Action RPGs "I'm not slamming FromSoftware," says Lords of the Fallen 2 dev, but CI Games' RPG has "more drives to experiment"
Arc Raiders Matriarch
Third Person Shooters How to beat the Arc Raiders Matriarch
Macduff running from a monster during the upcoming PS5 game, Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert is "not a Soulslike," Pearl Abyss says, but "does that mean the game's easy? Hell no"
  1. Games
  2. Action
  3. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro Ashina Elite boss guide: How to defeat the rapid swordsman

Guides
By Jason Coles published 14 February 2020

The Sekiro Ashina Elite boss is one of the fastest you'll fight in the game, and we know how to beat him

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Sekiro Ashina Elite boss
Image credit: PowerPyx/YouTube (Image credit: PowerPyx/YouTube)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

The Sekiro Ashina Elite boss fight is basically make or break for your parrying skills in Sekiro. His fast flurry of attacks can ruin you quickly if you can't learn the tells and deflect the incoming blows. If you can get the timing down, what initially appears like an impossible fight can be over in barely minutes. 

You'll meet the Sekiro Ashina Elite boss in Ashina Castle after a tough enough fight across the rooftops to get the. It's not exactly the break you might be hoping for but with our guidance you should be able to face down the Ashina Elite easily.

How to kill the Sekiro Ashina Elite boss

Sekiro Ashina Elite boss guide

The fight is intense, fast-paced, and seems almost insurmountable. It is also one of the moments that really demands you learn how to parry effectively. If you can’t parry this lightning-fast swordsman than you are doomed to be cut into several small pieces and left to die on the floor. 

You may like
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead Gustave faces a gommage Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's director was "surprised" that someone managed to beat the RPG's most infamous boss without cheesing
  • Four warriors fighting in a grassy field in Ghost of Yotei 13 Ghost of Yotei tips and tricks to defeat the Yotei Six
  • Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot I loved Assassin's Creed Shadows but I wish I knew how overwhelmingly huge it was before starting

If you can parry, then this fight is an absolute doddle. The key to this fight is in paying close attention to the Ashina Elite’s sheath on his hip. It is at this point that the Elite will dash forward and loose to sword strikes in quick succession. If you can parry these successfully you will deal a monstrous amount of posture damage. 

If you can do this around three times then the Elite will be vulnerable to a deathblow and will fall. There are other attacks to parry as well, but this double-strike is by far and away the best chance to trash his posture and take him down. In between these attacks if you try to get in close and hit him once or twice you can literally end this fight in under a minute. 

Sekiro Blazing Bull boss | Sekiro Chained Ogre boss | Sekiro Lady Butterfly boss guide | Sekiro Genichiro Ashina boss | Sekiro Headless boss | Sekiro Juzou the Drunkard boss | Sekiro Guardian Ape boss | Sekiro Folding Screen Monkey boss | Sekiro Gyoubu Oniwa boss | Sekiro Lone Shadow Longswordsman boss | Sekiro Isshin Ashina boss | Sekiro Armored Warrior boss | Sekiro Isshin the Sword Saint boss | Sekiro Ashina Elite boss | Sekiro Corrupted Monk boss | Sekiro Genichiro Way of Tomoe boss | Sekiro Great Shiobi Owl boss | Sekiro Seven Ashina Spears boss | Sekiro True Corrupted Monk boss | Sekiro Emma the Gentle Blade boss | Sekiro Demon of Hatred boss | Sekiro Divine Dragon boss

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
Xbox One PS4 PC Gaming Platforms Xbox PlayStation
Jason Coles
Jason Coles
Social Links Navigation
Freelance Writer

Jason Coles is a freelance writer and editor, covering gaming, tech, and fitness. Jason has written guides for GamesRadar+ and PC Gamer, reviews for Play magazine, and a host of other content for the likes of Eurogamer, Dicebreaker, and PCGamesN. Jason also served as the editor of The Indie Game Website and is passionate about helping new writers break into the industry with his Word Count Mentoring initiative.

Read more
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead Gustave faces a gommage
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's director was "surprised" that someone managed to beat the RPG's most infamous boss without cheesing
 
 
Four warriors fighting in a grassy field in Ghost of Yotei
13 Ghost of Yotei tips and tricks to defeat the Yotei Six
 
 
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
I loved Assassin's Creed Shadows but I wish I knew how overwhelmingly huge it was before starting
 
 
A pudgy cat stands on the player's arm in Nioh 3 and emits a warm glow, with a rickety wooden bridge in the background, cropped
Nioh 3 review: "Brutal clashes across wide maps avoid retreading Elden Ring – this is all demon killer, no filler"
 
 
Bloodedge Demon and Revenant in Nioh 3
Nioh 3 Revenant Malice and Bloodedge Demon explained
 
 
Ghost of Yotei weapons
All weapons in Ghost of Yotei and where to get them
 
 
Latest in Action
Bizarre Lineage codes
Bizarre Lineage codes (March 2026) for free Stat Point Essence, Rare Chests, and more
 
 
Kratos approaches Aphrodite's bedchamber in God of War 3
"The God of War sex mini-games were designed by women," which is why Aphrodite's bed looks "like a labia"
 
 
GTA 6
Some of GTA 6's big ideas are likely hiding in GTA 5, ex-Rockstar dev predicts – and you can look at GTA 4 to see why
 
 
Screenshot from Ratcheteer DX, showing a GBC-style cave with four pixelated characters finding warmth around a fire.
The Legend of Zelda-esque game mimics the GameBoy to GameBoy Color transition, goes from retro handheld to PC and Switch
 
 
Musashi examines the oni gauntlet with a confused expression in Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Not content with stopping the avalanche of AAA games Capcom teases even more unannounced games before April 2027
 
 
A crop of the MindsEye key art for a review header
"Overwhelming evidence of organized espionage": MindsEye CEO blames launch on "corporate sabotage" amid more layoffs
 
 
Latest in Guides
Hoppip at the till in the Pokemon Centre in Pokopia
How to access the Pokopia Limited Event and get Hoppip
 
 
Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi agent Nona weaveworm
Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi contract walkthrough and how to find the Necrotic Sample and scan your shell
 
 
Ghost of Yotei Legends
How to start Ghost of Yotei Legends online co-op
 
 
A ditto takes a selfie when visiting the Pokopia developer island
How to visit the Pokopia developer island
 
 
Marathon introducing Traxus contract player fighting UESC commander
Marathon Introducing Traxus contract guide and UESC terminal locations for Intersection, Complex, and Bio-Research
 
 
A ditto who looks like a human smiles for a selfie in front of the Pokopia area map.
How many areas there are in Pokemon Pokopia?
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Virtual Boy for Switch 2 sitting on coffee table with TV in backdrop displaying Wario Land gameplay.
    1
    I respect the Virtual Boy as a collectable Switch 2 gadget, but it’s not exactly a retro console remake
  2. 2
    Bizarre Lineage codes (March 2026) for free Stat Point Essence, Rare Chests, and more
  3. 3
    The Thrustmaster T248R is making me question where a sim racing wheel with no direct drive and no modular wheelbase fits in the market in 2026
  4. 4
    These Mario Day-inspired Switch 2 accessories will power up your console more than a super star
  5. 5
    Pokemon fan artist alleges new Palworld clone Pickmon "stole one of my designs," saying "they didn't even try to change something and make it a bit less obvious"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...