Tips and Boss Tactics

1.Infinite Money and XP

After the first main boss, go to the "Gun Fort" sculptor's idol in Sunken Valley; stealth-kill the cannon enemy in the doorway from behind, return to the idol and rest, repeat. ~4 runs a minute, 12,000+ sen and 70,000+ XP an hour. No death risk.

2.Increasing Difficulty

• Demon Bell (Hard mode): Ring the Demon Bell at Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo. Enemies are harder but drop better loot; reversible via the item in your inventory.
• Kuro's Charm (NG+): In NG+, give away Kuro's Charm to add chip damage to all blocks; ~17% more money/XP. Reversible via the Old Sculptor.

3.Secret Great Serpent

From the Senpou Temple Mt. Kongo idol, drop down the cliff to the right, backstab the kite enemy and use the Puppeteer Ninjutsu (you must have beaten the Folding Screen Monkeys). Grapple the kite to the other area, grab branches down to the Sunken Valley Cavern idol; from the wooden beam, drop onto the snake's head to kill it instantly. Reward: Fresh Serpent Viscera and the "Great Serpent" trophy.

4.Early Boss Tactics

• General Naomori Kawarada: Sneak over the rooftops and take one life with a stealth deathblow; then R1 attack, block/counter his attacks with L1.
• Chained Ogre: Clear the small enemies; when he attacks, up + dodge twice to get behind him, land 2-3 hits, repeat.
• General Tenzen Yamauchi: Kill the small enemies first, break his line of sight, take one life from behind; then use the Naomori tactic. Upgrade your healing gourd with two Gourd Seeds.
• Gyoubu Oniwa (first main boss): Block his attacks (don't counter); after his heavy attack land 2 hits. When a green dot appears above his head, grapple with L2 and hit him. For his second life, jump (X) over his sweep (red) attack. Reward: Mechanical Barrel.