Ranking the Best Combat Arts in Sekiro from Worst to Best

As a passionate Sekiro gamer and content creator, I‘ve tested out every combat art extensively to determine which ones really give you the edge in battle. Here I‘ll be counting down the combat arts from worst to best, along with precise explanations why I‘ve ranked them as such.

From my experience, the most critical factors separating a great combat art from an average one are:

• Damage & posture damage inflicted
• Speed of the attack animation
• Emblem cost (or lack thereof)
• Range & area-of-effect potential

I‘ll also assess how useful they are against regular foes vs tougher enemies and bosses. A balanced combat art excels in all situations.

Now, without further ado, let‘s begin the countdown!

10. Dragon Flash

Dragon Flash just barely makes the list at #10. Yes, it‘s the only ranged combat art allowing you to slice enemies from a distance. But its short range, limited uses, and low power hold it back.

Damage: Low

Posture Damage: Low

Emblem Cost: 2 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 0

Strengths:

• Extremely fast execution
• Unexpected ranged attack

Weaknesses:

• Very short range
• Low damage & posture damage
• Costs 2 emblems

I mostly use Dragon Flash to initiate combat before quickly swapping to a more powerful combat art. It can pick off weak, unsuspecting enemies but struggles against tougher foes.

9. Empowered Mortal Draw

The powered-up version of Mortal Draw cracks the top 10. It absolutely wrecks posture when it connects, but the high cost and risky nature balances its insane potential.

Damage: Massive

Posture Damage: Massive

Emblem Cost: 3 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 5

Strengths:

• Destroys posture
• Increased range & power

Weaknesses:

• Requires full posture gauge
• Miss and get punished badly
• Very costly at 3 emblems

I save this combat art exclusively for enemy openings that guarantee I‘ll land the blow. The payoff is huge but mistiming this attack against formidable foes can get you killed. High risk, high reward.

8. Mortal Draw

Mortal Draw light version beats out its supercharged counterpart by virtue of lower emblem cost and execution risk. It still hits like a truck if you create the right openings.

Damage: Extremely High

Posture Damage: Very High

Emblem Cost: 3 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 0

Strengths:

• Destructive damage
• Fast speed for power

Weaknesses:

• Leaves you vulnerable
• Very expensive at 3 emblems

The lower cost and faster speed gives regular Mortal Draw more flexibility than Empowered. But it‘s still best used sparingly to turn the tables in challenging one-on-one duels.

7. High Monk

High Monk excels at countering the dangerous sweep perilous attacks most enemies and bosses like to overuse against you. It delivers justice.

Damage: High

Posture Damage: Extremely High

Emblem Cost: 0 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 4

Strengths:

• Massive posture damage
• Perfect anti-sweep tool
• Looks awesome

Weaknesses:

• Short range
• Slow recovery

I mainly utilize High Monk as my go-to solution for sweep attacks. Nothing else eliminates them as reliably while damaging posture. But it lacks versatility compared to others on this list.

6. Praying Strikes: Exorcism

Praying Strikes may seem underwhelming at first glance due to low damage. But once you try it out, the insane speed at which it accumulates posture damage reveals its hidden potential.

Damage: Very Low

Posture Damage: Very High

Emblem Cost: 0 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 2

Strengths:

• Extremely fast animation
• Rapid posture buildup
• 0 emblem cost

Weaknesses:

• Low damage
• Short range

Against weaker enemies that rely on posture for defense, Praying Strikes puts them down swiftly once their structure ruptures. And it costs nothing to fuel this machine gun beatdown.

5. Floating Passage

Whip out Floating Passage to carve through less durable foes at lightning speed. If they lack hyperarmor on attacks, you‘ll shred them rapidly with this thousand cut quickdraw technique.

Damage: Low

Posture Damage: Very High

Emblem Cost: 0 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 0

Strengths:

• Extremely fast
• Rapid posture damage
• 0 emblem cost

Weaknesses:

• Struggles vs hyperarmor
• Low damage

I throw out Floating Passage against weaker enemies I know can‘t withstand my assault. Let the dance of death commence as I chop ‘em up with grace! But against stronger enemies it lacks impact.

4. Nightjar Slash Reversal

This highly mobile combat art enhances your ability to reposition using aerial flips and slides to get behind targets or escape harm‘s way.

Damage: Very Low

Posture Damage: Low

Emblem Cost: 0 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 3

Strengths:

• Extreme mobility
• Invincibility frames
• 0 emblem cost

Weaknesses:

• Minimal damage
• Mostly utility

Nightjar Slash Reversal works best as a supplemental tool to expand your options and adaptability during intense fights. It won‘t kill things directly but can open new angles of attack.

3. Shadowrush

Shadowrush rockets you forward for a lethal stab. It‘s pricey at 2 emblems but provides outstanding burst potential after closing distances in the blink of an eye.

Damage: Very High

Posture Damage: High

Emblem Cost: 2 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 6

Strengths:

• Extreme speed
• High damage & posture damage
• Super armor

Weaknesses:

• Costly at 2 emblems

This combat art enhances your approach game tremendously. Foes won‘t know what sliced them since you blinked from existence only to reappear impaled on Wolf‘s sword. Well worth the emblem expenditure.

2. Ichimonji: Double

Ichimnoji: Double vigorously pummels enemies with crushing overhead sword strikes unmatched in raw posture shredding might. And it costs nothing!

Damage: High

Posture Damage: Extremely High

Emblem Cost: 0 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 3

Strengths:

• Extreme posture damage
• Huge sweep range
• 0 emblem cost

Weaknesses:

• Slow speed

The broad sweep and sheer power behind each sword swing of Ichimonji: Double make it my go-to combat art for slaying tough enemies and bosses. It reliably chews through posture while sending lighter foes flying. Highly recommended!

And now…the best combat art in Sekiro is…

1. Whirlwind Slash

Whirlwind Slash stands above the rest as the most universally lethal combat art that excels in all situations. It serves as both offense and defense by striking all enemies around you for massive posture damage.

Damage: Very High

Posture Damage: Very High

Emblem Cost: 0 Spirit Emblems

Skill Point Cost: 1

Strengths:

• Strikes all nearby enemies
• Extremely fast speed
• High damage & posture
• 0 emblem cost

Weaknesses:

• Short range

No matter the circumstances, having Whirlwind Slash equipped allows you to spin your way to victory when surrounded while killing weaker enemies instantly.

It‘s the secret weapon that will carry you through the toughest gauntlets. And the best part? It‘s practically free!

The unmatched crowd control, speed, and raw power cements Whirlwind Slash as the #1 combat art in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. It never leaves my quick item slot!

I hope these Sekiro combat art impressions and rankings help you demolish enemies more effectively. Let me know your thoughts and personal favorites in the comments! I‘m happy to offer more pros/cons for any arts you‘re contemplating.

Now get out there, equip the best tools for the task, and give ‘em hell Wolf!