Sekiro guide: Evading the giant snake

Just past your fight against General Tenzen Yamauchi in Sekiro, you’ll encounter a gigantic snake. Luckily, this isn’t really a boss fight — you just have evade the snake for a little while.

This guide will get you from the Ashina Outskirts > Underbridge Valley Sculptor’s Idol, past the snake, and to the Ashina Outskirts > Ashina Castle Gate Fortress Sculptor’s Idol. We’ll even pick up some Snap Seeds along the way.

Evading the snake

Starting from the Underbridge Valley Sculptor’s Idol, walk forward and drop down to the area below. Follow the path forward, then jump and grapple to the branch below you, and drop to the next area.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

Turn to your right, then jump out into the middle of the valley. About halfway out, the grapple point on the branch across from you will become active. Grapple to that branch. Continue onto the ledge and to the left.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

When you run out of ledge, turn left again to spot a branch opposite you. Jump out and grapple across again. Quickly drop to the ground below you and crouch in the weeds. The snake will investigate, but it won’t spot you.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

When it stops looking for you and raises its head, stand up and grapple to the opposite side of the valley again. Turn left when you land and sprint for the tunnel ahead of you.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

At the end of the tunnel, drop down and turn to your left. If it feels like the snake is close, you can hug the wall on your left and peak out. When you see an opening, sprint out, jump the gap, and crouch in the bushes.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

Stay crouched in the bushes and start making your way slowly to the left. The snake will reappear and lay across your path. Wait for a few seconds until you see a gap open below its body on the right side of the path you’re on.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

Once you’re past, head up to the wall ahead of you and hug it. Start shimmying to the right. You’ll feel exposed here. Use the icicles for cover if you want to be extra careful.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

When you reach the end of the wall, wait a moment for the snake to slither past. When it’s clear, sprint toward the palanquin (it looks like a tiny hut) just past the wall. Interact with it to hide inside.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

The snake will come to investigate right after you climb inside. Don’t move. Just wait as it comes closer. A Deathblow point will appear on its eye just before it finds you.

Run away

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

Now that you’ve stabbed it in the eye, the snake is understandably upset and will begin thrashing around. You’ve got a couple seconds before you have to worry, though. Run to the left (back the way you came from) to the top of the wall you just hugged to grab some valuable Snap Seeds.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

Turn back to the right and start sprinting along the wall. You’ll run out of path, but there’s a grapple point ahead of you. Grapple across, then jump onto the ledge ahead of you. Keep moving because the snake is probably close behind you at this point.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

Jump and grapple again, then watch for one more grapple point at the mouth of a tunnel above you. Follow the tunnel and climb over any ledges you hit. This is a good chance to heal if you need it.

FromSoftware/Activision via Polygon

At the other end of the tunnel, jump across to the branch ahead of you, then grapple up the three ledges on your left. At the top, you’ll find some Gachiin’s Sugar and the Ashina Outskirts > Ashina Castle Gate Fortress Sculptor’s Idol.