how to get rid of dragonrot

2 min read 17-01-2025

Dragonrot is a dreaded affliction in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This guide will walk you through how to manage and ultimately cure this persistent illness that plagues your journey. Understanding Dragonrot is key to success.

Understanding Dragonrot

Dragonrot is a debilitating disease caught by encountering afflicted enemies. It slowly depletes your health bar and can even lead to death if left unchecked. The severity increases with each infection. It's not simply a matter of "curing" it once; you'll need to actively manage it.

Symptoms of Dragonrot

Reduced Health: Your maximum health will decrease with each infection.
Increased Difficulty: Fighting becomes more challenging with less health.
Potential Death: If left unchecked, Dragonrot can become severe, ultimately killing you.

How to Prevent Dragonrot

Prevention is the best cure. While complete prevention is impossible, you can minimize the risk:

Careful Combat: Avoid getting hit by enemies. Parrying, deflecting, and using stealth can help significantly.
Identify Infected Enemies: Learn to recognize the telltale signs of infected enemies—usually a noticeable change in appearance or behavior. Often they cough and have visible sores.
Faster Combat: The quicker you defeat an enemy, the less time you have to get infected.
Healing Gourd: Use your healing gourd liberally in battle. This is good practice in general, but even more vital when facing infected enemies.

Treating Dragonrot

Unfortunately, there's no single cure for Dragonrot. However, you can significantly mitigate its effects:

1. Purchase "Dragon's Blood" Items: You can purchase a limited amount of medicine at the Sculptor's Idol. These items offer temporary relief and will reduce the number of afflicted NPCs.

2. Visit the Sculptor's Idol: Resting at a Sculptor's Idol will not cure Dragonrot. But, it is necessary to monitor your condition and use restorative items.

3. Treat Afflicted NPCs: Finding and treating afflicted NPCs will help reduce the spread of the disease, thus making it less likely to catch Dragonrot from future enemies. The treatment is unique for each afflicted person, and usually requires a specific item or completing a small task.

How to Cure Dragonrot: The Long Game

Ultimately, you can't simply "cure" Dragonrot. It's a persistent mechanic. But you can reduce and manage its effect by minimizing your infection rate and treating afflicted NPCs. Think of it as a game-wide challenge.

Reducing the Spread

Prioritize treating afflicted NPCs: This is crucial. As you reduce the number of afflicted NPCs, the chance of contracting Dragonrot goes down.
Careful Combat: Consistent and careful combat reduces your risk of becoming infected.

Conclusion

Dragonrot in Sekiro is a persistent challenge. Mastering effective combat, recognizing infected enemies, and diligently treating afflicted NPCs will significantly reduce its impact. While there's no quick cure, proactive measures are the key to managing this debilitating condition. Remember, staying aware and practicing good combat habits are the best ways to keep your character healthy and strong.