
In the 2019 action-adventure game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, players can create the Fountainhead Incense by obtaining three key items: the Shelter Stone, the Fragrant Flower (Lotus of the Palace), and the Mortal Blade. The stone and flower can be obtained by defeating the Corrupted Monk and the Guardian Ape, respectively, while the blade is earned by completing specific missions. After defeating the Owl, players receive the Aromatic Branch, which is used in the Incense Burner to create the incense. This triggers a new area to explore. The process of lighting the incense does not lock players out of any content or affect the ending, except for the Purification ending, which can be missed by not obtaining Father's Bell before the Fountainhead Palace boss.
How to Light the Incense in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of ingredients required | 3 |
| Ingredients | Flower, Stone, Branch |
| Alternative names for ingredients | Fragrant Flower/Lotus of the Palace, Shelter Stone, Aromatic Branch |
| Additional item required | Mortal Blade |
| Enemies to defeat to obtain ingredients | Guardian Ape, Corrupted Monk, Owl |
| Location of the Owl | Abandoned Dungeon |
| Choice to make after obtaining ingredients | Abandon the Iron Code and stay loyal to Kuro or trigger the Shuro ending |
| Consequence of choosing to stay loyal to Kuro | Must kill the Great Shinobi Owl |
| Reward for killing the Great Shinobi Owl | Aromatic Branch |
| Reward for lighting the incense | Access to a new area |
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What You'll Learn

You need three items: Shelter Stone, Fragrant Flower, and Mortal Blade
To light the incense in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you need three key items: the Shelter Stone, the Fragrant Flower, and the Mortal Blade.
The Shelter Stone (お宿り石, Oyadoriishi, or Honorable Abiding Stone) is an incense ingredient sought by the Divine Heir for Immortal Severance. You can find it in the Wedding Cave in Mibu Village after defeating the (Fake) Corrupted Monk. If you already have the Lotus of the Palace item from the cave behind the Guardian Ape encounter, picking up the Shelter Stone will change the game's world state.
The Fragrant Flower, or Aromatic Flower, is another key item in the game. You can obtain this special item by completing a quest to achieve the Purification Ending.
The Mortal Blade, or Fushigiri in Japanese, is a powerful Odachi capable of slaying the undying. It is a twin blade to the Black Mortal Blade, "Kaimon," and its true name is "Gracious Gift of Tears" (Japanese: 拝涙 "Hairui," or "Gracious Tears"). The blade is given to you by the Divine Child of Rejuvenation once you reach the Inner Sanctum of Senpou Temple, Mt. It is tied to story progression and does not carry over into New Game Plus, so you must reacquire it.
With these three items, you should be able to light the incense and progress in the game.
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Defeat the Corrupted Monk to obtain the Shelter Stone
To light the incense in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you must first obtain the three major ingredients for the Fountainhead Incense: the Flower, the Stone, and the Branch.
The Stone, or the Shelter Stone, can be obtained by defeating the Corrupted Monk in Mibu Village of the Ashina Depths. This is the illusion version of the Corrupted Monk, who has only one health bar. The player must defeat this boss to collect the Shelter Stone and proceed through the story.
The Corrupted Monk is a formidable opponent with a large health bar and resistance to posture damage. She can be stunned using Snap Seeds, Fistful of Ash, and/or Lazulite Axe, allowing players to perform stunlocks and prevent counterattacks. The Phantom Kunai with the swarming upgrade can also deal significant damage. It is recommended to chip away at her health by attacking when she is wide open, usually after her many swipe attacks.
Additionally, there is a strategy that involves luring the Monk towards one of the two monoliths on the boss stage. By using a firecracker to stun her or baiting her into a jump attack, players can jump towards the monolith and perform an aerial deathblow.
Once you have defeated the Corrupted Monk and obtained the Shelter Stone, you can continue your journey to light the incense and explore a new area.
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The Lotus of the Palace is another name for the Fragrant Flower
In the game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, players can obtain the Lotus of the Palace, also known as the Fragrant Flower or the Fragrant Lotus. This flower is one of the three ingredients required to make the Fountainhead Incense, along with the Shelter Stone and the Mortal Blade.
The Lotus of the Palace is a significant item in the game, and its acquisition can trigger a change in the world state. If players pick the lotus and the stone, Ashina Castle will be overrun with shinobi, and all of its idols, except the Abandoned Dungeon Entrance, will become unavailable until the player rediscovers them.
The flower can be handed to Lord Kuro, who will use it to make sweet rice balls. It is not necessary to eat the rice ball to progress in the game.
The Fragrant Flower is just one of the names for this item, and it is also referred to as the Lotus of the Palace or the Fragrant Lotus in different sources. This may be due to translation choices, as the original name in Japanese, "kaguwashi suiren," can mean "sweet-smelling, fragrant" or simply refer to something beautiful.
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The Aromatic Branch is obtained by defeating the Owl
To light the Fountainhead Incense in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you need to obtain three items: The Shelter Stone, the Fragrant Flower (also known as the Lotus of the Palace), and the Mortal Blade. The Aromatic Branch is the final ingredient for the Sekiro Fountainhead Incense and is obtained by defeating the Great Shinobi Owl.
To get the Aromatic Branch, you must defeat the Great Shinobi Owl atop Ashina Castle. When prompted, choose to break the Iron Code and remain loyal to Kuro; otherwise, you will trigger the Shuro ending, and the quest will end. After defeating Owl, you will receive the Aromatic Branch, as well as a Memory of the battle.
Once you have obtained the Aromatic Branch, you can continue the quest by speaking with Lord Kuro. If you have not reported to him during this quest, you may need to speak with him several times to deliver all the items. At some point, Kuro will ask you to speak with Emma, whom you will find in the room where you first met Isshin during the Mortal Blade quest line.
After speaking with Emma, return to Kuro and speak with him again. He will then concoct the Sekiro Fountainhead Incense. It is worth noting that some players have reported encountering bugs or glitches during this questline, particularly after obtaining the Mortal Blade without first speaking with Isshin.
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You need to get the Mortal Blade to light the incense
To light the incense in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you need to get your hands on the Mortal Blade, also known as Fushigiri or the "Undying Slayer". This blade is a key item in the game and is required to progress in the quest.
The Mortal Blade is a twin blade to the Black Mortal Blade "Kaimon", and its true name is "Gracious Gift of Tears" or "Gracious Tears". It is an Odachi capable of slaying the undying and can be used to land deathblows on undying foes like Hanbei the Undying and the Headless Ape. Obtaining the Mortal Blade also unlocks a unique combat art: Mortal Draw, which can be used in combat against tough bosses and minibosses.
To acquire the Mortal Blade, you will need to progress through the game and reach the Inner Sanctum of Senpou Temple, Mt. It is given to the player by the Divine Child of Rejuvenation once they reach this location. However, some players have reported issues with obtaining the blade without first speaking to Isshin about it, which may cause a bug in the questline.
In addition to the Mortal Blade, you will also need to gather the other ingredients required to light the incense. These ingredients include the Shelter Stone, the Fragrant Flower (also known as the Lotus of the Palace), and Kuro's blood. With all the necessary items, you can then proceed to light the incense and continue on your quest.
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Frequently asked questions
To light the incense in Sekiro, you need to obtain three items: The Shelter Stone, the Fragrant Flower (Lotus of the Palace), and the Mortal Blade. The stone and flower can be obtained by defeating the Corrupted Monk and the Guardian Ape, respectively. The Mortal Blade can be earned by completing certain missions.
The final ingredient, the Aromatic Branch, can be obtained by defeating the Owl.
The Owl is your character's father. He will ask you to side with him, and if you refuse, you will be forced to fight him.
No, there are no specific actions that need to be taken before lighting the incense. However, it is important to note that your choices in the game will impact the ending you get.











































