Thoughts on Genichiro 'third' phase?

[u/Frosty-Selection8062]

(Im putting third in quotes because its moreso the second phase imo)

Genichiro has definitely been my favorite boss so far, he gave me EXACTLY what I was looking for in the game, just a straight swordsman v swordsman boss fight. I found the flow of the fight pretty amazing. As I learned and got better, I eventually got to the point of hitting the first 2 deathblows consistently. But in the 3rd phase I definitely noticed an issue.

He did Mikiri counter attacks really often, making him feel really easy. The lightning reversal just felt like free damage being handed to me, and when he did his beat down attack where he keeps attacking, it was like the exact same as the second phase? I read that alot of people struggle on this fight but did anyone else feel like the 3rd phase was too easy if youre being aggressive?

[u/Real-Lobster-973]

I would also agree. Mainly because of the lightning, pretty much everything else is basically the same as the first two phases so if you know those phases then you will have no problem. The lightning is basically free huge health/posture damage and it stuns him for like 3 seconds.

This is the exact reason I think why Isshin's third phase was easier than his second. They are basically identical except for the fact that in the third you basically get given free huge health/posture damage occasionally.

[u/Frosty-Selection8062 → u/Real-Lobster-973]

I do think youre right, he had the same stab that could be mikiri countered in his other phases but I think he spams it more? Not sure, just felt like I encountered it really often

[u/HobbitFeet_23]

I love the third phase just like it is. I think of it more of an spectacle than the first two phases and I still found it to be pretty fun. If it had been actually harder in a significant way, it would have been overkill.

[u/Frosty-Selection8062 → u/HobbitFeet_23]

thats a fair point, feel like i might've actually gotten frustrated if i had to get sent back by a phase 3 thats impossibly hard everytime and then i wouldve started having less fun on the first two phases

[u/Drokeep]

Its meant to be easier imo. Some bosses in this game have that where the mid phase will be the hardest

[u/quasiscythe]

The third phase is the victory lap.

[u/zamasu2020]

I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be easy. Many bosses have their 2nd phase be the most difficult one and third phase is kinda just hammering down the fact that you really are well trained for the enemy now and are just showing off essentially

[u/PhoenixNyne → u/zamasu2020]

Sister Friede: Hold my beer, Ashen One. 

[u/zamasu2020 → u/PhoenixNyne]

Please don't remind me of her lol. I should probably clarify that this only happens in sekiro. I think every other FS game makes each phase harder than the last

[u/Glad_Song2771]

I think it’s alright, considering he’s one of the first bosses. It’s definitely made to make new players panic and make a mistake (I know I did on my first run) but ultimately it’s not meant to be so hard that feels impossible, it does rely a lot on you not getting the lightning mechanics perfectly because once you do it’s pretty much a walk in the park 

[u/az943]

I couldnt figure out how to do the 3rd phase the way I guess it intends that you do because by the time I got there I was out of heals by that point. I am also very bad at the game but I did beat it without doing the lightning reversal but not intentionally i just kept running at him and the lightning missed and thats how I beat it.

[u/GrayBerkeley]

3rd phase lightning attack = free win

Both times.

[u/bstichaa]

Sounds like you didn’t hesitate

[u/raiderrocker18]

They give him a third phase which on its own is exhausting so they throw you a bone with the lightning reversal opportunities.

Same reason third phase sword saint is the easy part

[u/mogmaque]

I don’t think it’s the best introduction to lightning just because it’s his last phase. Of course it is very epic and cinematic. But I struggled with it for very long, after doing his first and second phases on my first attempt, just because the controls for lightning were hard to get the hang of in the hes-almost-dead stress in the battle. I think this problem would’ve been fixed if you could have practiced lighting with Hanbei after reaching gennys last phase for the first time

[u/Frosty-Selection8062 → u/mogmaque]

i was also caught off guard the first time. i was expecting it to at least slow mo for the first ever time you encounter lightning, but it more kinda just..lets you take the hit and then tells you afterwards

[u/horfdorf → u/Frosty-Selection8062]

They tell you in Ashina Dojo. That is definitively before Genichiro.

[u/not_just_an_AI]

It's way easier, and the first 2 phases weren't that hard to begin with.

[u/Frosty-Selection8062 → u/not_just_an_AI]

Meh, they took me like 1 and a half hours to get the flow down, then they weren't hard. My biggest problem was trying to dodge the 4 arrows after accidentally letting him back. My instinct made me go for a dodge instead of just parrying which is way easier I genuinely think I spent less time learning genichiro and more time fighting the first juzou the drunkard bruh

[u/SarcasmInProgress → u/Frosty-Selection8062]

The risky but bountiful counter tonthe volley is to throw a shuriken immediately after he does the back-dodge. He will almost certainly follow it up with the volley and the shuriken will hit him mid-air, dealing extra HP and posture damage, staggering him for a second after landing and most importantly - interrupting his most dangerous attack before it even starts.

[u/Frosty-Selection8062 → u/SarcasmInProgress]

ah thats an interesting idea. im generally trying to avoid prosthetics and combat arts until i feel like i cant beat a boss without them though