Veteran "Sekiro" player GroeneWolf420 posted on Reddit that he beat "Kensei Isshin" by doing the unthinkable: using abilities instead of "walk, run, jump, and Mikiri counter". To be clear, this means going up against one of FromSoft's most fearsome bosses and somehow managing to parry even thrust attacks that cannot be parried in the traditional way (via GamesRadar).

You can watch the entire fight, which lasts just under five minutes, and frankly, it's rough. By using attacks and abilities to single-mindedly close the gap and deflect attacks at precisely the right time without resorting to thrusting Mikiri counters, you can inflict a large amount of posture damage on your opponent. Several times during the match, GroeneWolf420 found himself on the back foot, but he somehow managed to win on his 45th attempt, defeating Isshin.

However, it appears that this battle was only the beginning. In the thread below, GroeneWolf420 asks, "Are there any other bosses you would like to see fought like this?" He asks. Someone suggests that the next opponent should be an inner single mind with all the constraints of the first fight. Nevertheless, it seems we will have to wait a little longer to see the outcome of this fight.

Another player asks, "What is the best way to get the most out of the game?

Another player suggests that the great ninja owl would make a worthy opponent: "I'm thinking of fighting the owl. I know that owls have gaps where they can thrust, so it would be a learning experience for me."

Some other onlookers offered tips and tricks for future fights. Several recommended making good use of iframes (invincible frames). One player said, "At the beginning of phase two, when Isshin takes the spear from the ground, if you use the iframe at the very moment he steps on the floor, you can dodge it." While jumping is not allowed in combat, grappling and dashing can give you some leeway.

Despite the fact that it has been just over five years since "Sekiro" was released, there has been no DLC or story expansion. That's probably one of the reasons why seasoned players consider this a brutal and impressive way to take on the game's bosses, as even GroeneWolf420 admits: "We really need DLC."

So far, the Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, seems to be the closest thing to an expansion for "Sekiro" players. This may seem odd, but Hidetaka Miyazaki has actually said that "Sekiro" was a major turning point for FromSoft's games, and many subsequent games have drawn inspiration from its combat system. Shadow of the Erdtree's bosses fight in much the same way as in SEKIRO, in that they are more aggressive and less forgiving; Shadow of the Erdtree even has a Sekiro-like leveling system to keep players from rehashing DLC.