How to Kill the Snake in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

As you explore Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you will come across a giant snake that obstructs your path and complicates some platforming sections. In true FromSoftware fashion, this formidable creature can be killed. This guide will walk you through the process of defeating the snake in Sekiro, step by step.

Important Note: The snake will not appear at the location described below unless you have already encountered it in the Sunken Valley after it breaks the bridge. Make sure you’ve progressed enough in the story to trigger this event.

1. Progress the Story to Unlock the Mortal Blade

To kill the snake, you need to first acquire the Mortal Blade. Here’s how to unlock it:

1. Defeat Genichiro atop Ashina Castle. This is a major story progression point.
2. Defeat the Screen Monkeys in the Hall of Illusions. This unlocks the Inner Sanctum.
3. Obtain the Mortal Blade and the Puppeteer Ninjutsu skill. You’ll be able to equip the Puppeteer Ninjutsu skill by pressing Start > Ninjutsu.

Once you’ve acquired these, head to the Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo Sculptor’s Idol to begin your next steps.

2. Raise the Kite to Access a New Area

To reach the area where the snake resides, follow these steps:

1. From the Senpou Temple Sculptor’s Idol, exit through the door and head down the mountain.
2. You’ll spot a monkey on a bridge to your right. Continue down to find a “rat” enemy controlling the kite.
3. Sneak up behind the rat and backstab it. Then press R1 (PS4)/RB (Xbox) to use the Puppeteer Ninjutsu, turning the rat into a puppet. The rat will now raise the kite permanently.

3. Use the Kite to Reach the Snake

With the kite raised, follow these steps to reach the area where the snake awaits:

1. Climb to the first temple where three monks are praying to a corpse inside. Exit through the open window and spot a massive tree in the center.
2. Use your grappling hook to climb to the top of the tree. From here, you’ll be able to hookshot to the kite and be slung across the valley.
3. Once across, travel along the cliffside, utilizing a combination of jumping and hookshotting. Eventually, you’ll reach a platform with a cave and a Sculptor’s Idol.
4. Enter the cave and exit onto a ledge that is positioned above the snake.

How to Kill the Snake

This boss fight is similar to mechanics you’ve seen in Dark Souls 3:

1. From the ledge above, perform a plunge attack onto the snake.
2. Follow up with a second deathblow to defeat the snake.

It’s a straightforward fight once you’ve set yourself up correctly.

What Do You Get for Killing the Snake?

Defeating the snake rewards you with the Fresh Serpent Viscera and a Trophy/Achievement. The item description reads:

“The persimmon-like heart of a Great Serpent. The Great Serpent is considered to be a god of the land, and the heart is believed to be where one’s spirit resides. While its shape bears similarity to a persimmon, in fact, this is the red viscera of a god. It is safe to assume that eating it would be poisonous to one’s health.”

With the snake defeated, you can now explore the area freely without the looming threat of the giant serpent.

Now that you’ve successfully killed the snake, you can continue your journey through Sekiro without any interruptions from this giant creature. Whether you’re exploring or tackling more difficult challenges, the path is yours to walk freely.

Thoughts on our guide to killing the snake in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice? Drop them in the comments below!