Sekiro guide: Vitality and Posture

Enemies in Sekiro have two bars above their head. The reddish one at the top is represents Vitality. The yellow one at the bottom represents Posture. In this guide, we’ll show you what they mean and how to exploit them.

Vitality and Posture are interrelated status. The current status of one has an effect on the other.

Vitality

Vitality is health. When that meter drains to empty, your enemy is dead.

The lower Vitality is, the slower Posture recovers.

Posture

Posture is a little more complicated. Its meter builds up, not down. It also means and does two things:

• Governs the ability to block. That’s why it’s called Posture. You can hold your (blocking) posture as long as your meter doesn’t fill up.
• When your enemy’s posture meter fills up, the next unblocked attack will automatically become a one-hit kill Deathblow.

Deflecting (blocking an enemy’s attack just before it lands) decimates enemy Posture.

Posture recovers faster when blocking.

How it works in practice

Blocking enemy: Posture damage

Unblocking enemy: Vitality and Posture damage.

Deathblow: Vitality damage