How to beat the Chained Ogre in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

If you’re just starting out Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, chances are one of the first boss fights you come across is the Chained Ogre – here’s how to take him down.

FromSoftware’s latest title is arguably their hardest yet, carrying on from the notoriously difficult boss battles in series like Dark Souls and Bloodbourne.

In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, there is very little hand holding either, with the only really useful tips coming by way of ‘eavesdropping’ on nearby guards.

The Chained Ogre might be one of the earliest bosses, but he’s far from the easiest.

This is the case with the Chained Ogre too. The two guards at the bottom of the steps will advise that the Ogre is afraid of fire if you eavesdrop on them.

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However, you are unlikely to have the tool needed to create fire on your Shinobi prosthetic arm, and having it will make taking down the Chained Ogre much easier.

For this, you’ll need the Flame Vent tool. In the area before you reach the ogre, you wil find an old woman ringing a bell. Approach her, and receive the bell, then return to the dilapidated temple and pray to the buddha. You will travel to Hirata Estate – complete this level to unlock the Flame Vent.

Avoiding the Ogre’s grabs is key to success.

Once you have the Flame Vent equipped, use it while fighting the Ogre. You can get a headstart on him but going behind him while he breaks free from his shackles and deliver a deathblow, immediately removing one of his ‘lives’.

Make sure you dodge his grabs especially – all his attacks will deal serious damage, but if he manages to grab and toss you down, you’re almost certainly done for. You can use the various grapple points near the bottom of the steps if you’re in a tight spot.

When the green arrow appears on the Ogre, use the grapple to latch onto him, giving you a free strike – but only strike once, anymore than that and he will have time to recover and slam you down.

Surprisingly, you can also deflect all of the Ogre’s attacks, but this is riskier, because it requires you to get the timing just right.