Katrina Rosales
Before burning the Fountainhead Incense in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, players must obtain three major items: the Flower, the Stone, and the Aromatic Branch. The Flower can be obtained by defeating the Guardian Ape, the Stone from defeating the Corrupted Monk, and the Branch by defeating the Owl. Players must also possess the Mortal Blade, which can be acquired by completing specific missions. Additionally, to avoid missing the Purification ending, players should obtain Father's Bell from Emma before facing the boss in Fountainhead Palace and make certain dialogue choices after defeating the final boss. Burning the incense itself does not lock players out of any content or affect the ending, as long as the necessary prerequisites are met.
What to do before burning Fountainhead Incense:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Get Father's Bell from Emma | Needed before the boss in Fountainhead Palace |
| Get the ingredients | Flower, Stone, and Branch |
| Get the Mortal Blade | Complete missions |
| Defeat Owl | To get the Aromatic Branch |
| Speak with Great Shinobi Owl | Choose to abandon the Iron Code and stay loyal to Kuro |
| Kill Great Shinobi Owl | To get the Aromatic Branch |
| Talk to Lord Kuro | Report to him during the quest |
| Speak with Emma | Found in the room where Isshin is found at the start of the Mortal Blade quest line |
| Speak with Lord Kuro again | --- |
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What You'll Learn
Get the Flower by defeating the Guardian Ape
To get the Flower, one of the three major items required to make the Fountainhead Incense, you need to defeat the Guardian Ape. The Guardian Ape is an immortal, undying ape with white fur and a red scar running vertically from the top of its head to its left cheek through its left eye. It guards the Lotus of the Palace, a flower whose aroma attracts female apes.
The Guardian Ape is a required boss in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and has a large moveset, including a body slam attack, a hand swipe grab, and a deadly unblockable grab and slam move. It can even survive decapitation, revealing a second vitality bar and gaining new attacks, such as the ability to wield the sword used to decapitate it.
To defeat the Guardian Ape, you should try to bait it into attacking, as most of its attacks can be blocked. You can also use items like the explosive Prosthetic attachment to stun it and get some hits in. You will need to perform multiple Deathblows to defeat it, which can be achieved by filling its Posture Gauge or depleting its health. Decreasing its health will also cause its Posture Gauge to refill more slowly.
Once you have defeated the Guardian Ape, you will unlock the Headless Ape boss fight in the Ashina Depths. This boss will only spawn after defeating the Guardian Ape in the Sunken Valley Passage.
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Earn the Stone by defeating the Corrupted Monk
The Corrupted Monk is a recurring enemy in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. You will face the Corrupted Monk twice in the game, once in the Ashina Depths and once in the Fountainhead Palace. The second fight is harder than the first, as the Monk requires three death blows. Here are some tips for defeating the Corrupted Monk and earning the Shelter Stone:
Ashina Depths
The Corrupted Monk will be guarding the entrance to the Wedding Cave at the very end of Mibu Village. This version of the Corrupted Monk is an illusion, so items like Snap Seed, Fistful of Ash, and Lazulite Axe can be used to stun her. The Phantom Kunai with the swarming upgrade can also deal a lot of damage. The Corrupted Monk has a lot of health and takes very little posture damage, so the best strategy is to chip away at her health by attacking when she is wide open, usually after her many swipe attacks.
Fountainhead Palace
The fight against the True Corrupted Monk in the Fountainhead Palace may be skipped, depending on the player's choices throughout the game. This version of the Corrupted Monk is more dangerous, as it adds poison to its attacks. The Monk has powerful sweeping attacks, so it is best to keep your distance and only attack after it has tried to attack you. You can also bait the Monk into jumping at you, which you can then slide under and attack when it lands. To deal with the Monk's phantoms, jump to the trees on the side of the bridge and land a deathblow on the Monk when you jump down.
General Tips
- Use Firecrackers to stun the Monk and attack it twice, repeating this strategy until it is defeated.
- Use items that boost your vitality or posture meter, such as Gokan's or Ako's Sugar.
- Focus on deflecting the Monk's attacks and dealing posture damage rather than trying to deplete its health.
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Obtain the Aromatic Branch by defeating the Owl
To obtain the Aromatic Branch, you will need to defeat the Owl. This is the final step in obtaining the ingredients for the Fountainhead Incense.
Firstly, you must choose to break the Iron Code and remain loyal to Kuro. This will lead to a confrontation with your father, the Owl, who will ask you to side with him. If you refuse, you will be forced into a fight.
The Owl is a challenging opponent, and it is recommended to advance in the plot and kill other bosses to gain more attack power before attempting this battle. However, it is not necessary to defeat the Owl before facing the final boss of the game.
Once you have defeated the Owl, you will obtain the Aromatic Branch, which is one of the incense ingredients sought after by the Divine Heir. The branch is said to be from the Sakura tree or the Everblossom tree, and its flowers are believed to be from the Divine Realm.
With the Aromatic Branch in your possession, you can now create the Fountainhead Incense and unlock a new area to explore.
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Get the Mortal Blade by completing missions
To get the Mortal Blade, players need to complete a series of missions and boss fights in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Firstly, players need to defeat Genichiro in the second boss fight, which takes place in Ashina Castle. It is important to note that the first boss fight with Genichiro does not yield the same results, and players will need to defeat him a second time to progress.
After defeating Genichiro, players must head to the Abandoned Dungeon Entrance in Ashina Castle and make their way to the Senpou Temple Main Hall. In the Main Hall, they will find a Buddha statue that transports them to the Hall of Illusions.
Once inside the Hall of Illusions, players will encounter a unique boss fight against the Folding Screen Monkeys. Defeating them is crucial, as it unlocks the next step in the mission.
After the Folding Screen Monkeys boss fight, players need to locate and speak with the Divine Child. This character will reward the players with the Mortal Blade upon successful completion of the previous steps.
The Mortal Blade is not just a sword but a new Combat Art that must be equipped through the menu. It is a powerful tool that can make certain boss fights much easier, such as the Great Serpent, and is required for progressing in the game and unlocking specific endings.
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Choose to stay loyal to Kuro
If you want to stay loyal to Kuro in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, you'll need to gather the necessary ingredients for the Fountainhead Incense, which plays a crucial role in this questline. These ingredients include the Flower, obtained by defeating the Guardian Ape, the Stone, obtained by defeating the Corrupted Monk, and the Aromatic Branch, obtained by defeating the Owl.
When you encounter your father, the Owl, he will ask you to side with him. It is at this point that you must refuse and stay loyal to Kuro. If you choose to abandon the Iron Code and maintain your loyalty to Kuro, you will be forced into a fight with the Owl. Defeating him will earn you the Aromatic Branch, which is the final ingredient for the Fountainhead Incense.
After defeating the Owl, make your way back to Lord Kuro. 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, who can be found in the room where Isshin is located during the Mortal Blade questline. Return to Kuro, speak with Emma again, and then continue your dialogue with Kuro.
It is important to note that the order in which you do things does not matter as long as you complete them before facing the final boss. Burning the incense itself will not lock you out of anything, so you can proceed without worry. However, to obtain the Purification ending, you must not only obtain Father's Bell from Emma before the boss in Fountainhead Palace but also choose the correct ending after defeating the final boss.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you need to kill the Owl Father to get the Aromatic Branch, which is one of the ingredients for the Fountainhead Incense.
No, burning the incense does not lock you out of anything. However, you will need to have the Mortal Blade, which can be earned by completing certain missions.
Speak to Lord Kuro and Emma.
