The Mortal Blade is one of the most enigmatic and significant weapons in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. More than just a tool for cutting down enemies, it embodies themes of death, resurrection, and permanence that run throughout the game. This cursed red blade can sever immortality, making it critical not only for lore but for progressing the story itself.
Here’s a breakdown of the Mortal Blade’s uses, ranked in reverse order from least to most impactful.
Watch: Mortal Blade cutscene:
6. Combat Utility in Regular Fights
While the Mortal Blade has a visually striking animation and can kill with finality, its use in normal combat is limited. It is not a traditional combat weapon like the Kusabimaru. You cannot use it to chain combos or deflect attacks. Instead, it’s summoned for specific actions. Though it can kill certain enemies with a single blow, its role is situational rather than central to combat rhythm.
5. Executing Red-Eyed Enemies
The Mortal Blade is particularly effective against certain red-eyed foes, such as the Demon of Hatred and some mini-bosses. These enemies resist normal deathblows due to their demonic or corrupted nature. The blade’s ability to deal true death makes it one of the few ways to permanently dispatch them. This reinforces its lore function but only comes into play in a handful of encounters.
4. Unlocking Combat Arts
Once the Mortal Blade is acquired, you gain access to the Mortal Draw Combat Art. This skill allows Wolf to unsheathe the blade in a sweeping arc, dealing heavy damage and bypassing certain defences. The follow-up attack can catch multiple enemies and deal damage even through blocks. It’s an energy-draining move that requires Spirit Emblems, but it adds a cinematic, high-impact option for skilled players.
3. Removing Centipede Parasites
Some enemies in Sekiro—notably the headless monks and the Interior Ministry’s centipede-hosting elite—won’t stay dead with normal deathblows. They regenerate unless the Mortal Blade is used immediately afterward. This gameplay mechanic draws directly from the lore: these enemies have achieved pseudo-immortality through parasitic infestation. Only the blade forged to kill the undying can sever them fully.
2. Story Progression and Character Fates
The Mortal Blade is key to advancing multiple storylines. It plays a crucial role in executing permanent death for key characters, including the Divine Dragon’s heir and, depending on your chosen ending, Emma or even Kuro himself. This isn’t just symbolic. The blade is essential to fulfilling certain endings like the Purification or Return, where the player must carry out irreversible acts of death.
1. Killing the Undying and Shaping Sekiro’s World
At the top of the list is the blade’s core function: killing the undying. This goes beyond individual enemies. The Mortal Blade is a narrative instrument that allows Sekiro’s world to restore the natural cycle of life and death. It is the solution to the central curse binding so many characters in limbo. Whether it’s putting an end to the Sculptor’s torment or granting peace to the children of the rejuvenating waters, the Mortal Blade is the key to releasing the world from unnatural stasis.
In the hands of the Wolf, the Mortal Blade is an answer to the game’s lingering question: what does it mean to truly die in a world that rejects death? Whether you use it in combat or as a narrative tool, it remains one of the most potent items in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Use it carefully. Its edge cuts more than flesh.
