Memories are key items in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice that can be used to increase your Attack Power. These items are dropped by most major area/plot bosses. How many you are able to obtain is impacted by which of the game's Endings you are en route for, but the vast majority will be obtained regardless of ending.
Memory Information
Uses
- Can be consumed at an idol to increase Attack Power, raising vitality damage and posture damage dealt.
- Amount of memories held can be seen as the numerator in the Memory category in the idol menu.
- Memories' item descriptions contain lore about their related boss in the game.
- When a memory is consumed, a new item is given in its place that cannot be used again, but preserves the lore in your inventory.
Bosses that drop Memories
- Gyoubu the Demon in Ashina Outskirts
- Genichiro Ashina in Ashina Castle (not the prologue fight)
- Lady Butterfly in the Hirata Estate
- The Folding Screen Monkeys in Senpou Temple
- The Guardian Ape in the Sunken Valley
- The Headless Ape in Ashina Depths
- The Corrupted Monk in Ashina Depths
- Great Shinobi Owl in Ashina Castle (Any non-Shura ending)
- The True Corrupted Monk in Fountainhead Palace (Any non-Shura ending)
- The Divine Dragon in Fountainhead Palace (Any non-Shura ending)
- The Demon of Hatred in Ashina Outskirts (Any non-Shura ending)
- Isshin, the Sword Saint (Any non-Shura ending)
- Great Shinobi Owl's refight in the Hirata Estate (must progress the Purification ending until you fight this boss)
- Lord Isshin Ashina (Shura Ending only)

Name |
Description |
Use |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
|
The battle memory of an extraordinary foe. | Commune with a Sculptor's Idol and confront memories of battle to permanently increase attack power. |
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Does anyone else think that Sekiro's lack of retention and his use of memories as upgrades, the Hirata Estates and his ability to see remnants of past events hints at a supernatural power involving memory? Emma also implies that he is in pain but refuses to speak about it in her Ashina Sake dialogue. I guess that maybe Wolf carries a form of personal trauma, perhaps due to his shinobi training, that he has manifested as a dissociative amnesia. I'm just speculating but I imagine that Sekiro takes after Berserk, the manga, in such a manner of storytelling and plot device.
Anyone else think the descriptions should’ve given like a two word summary of who they were? Like, instead of “The Battle Memory of an Extraordinary Foe,” it could be like “The Battle Memory of an Old Soldier” for Isshin Ashina or “The Battle Memory of a Desperate Warrior” for Genichiro
- Anonymous
Wolf's lack of personal memory makes me think the boss memories are more important than simple upgrade items. Has anyone gotten them all without consuming them and seen what happens? Just curious and don't have the skills to beat the game with 1 AP.
- Anonymous
New game plus allows you to gain additional memories from each bosses. 13 per run if going purification ending. new game plus goes up to ng+7. attack goes up to 99 (starting at 1) so capped at +98 attack. so 8 runs needed to max but can also use dancing dragon mask to add sttack power by giving 5 skill points. also giving kuro charm to kuro will increase experience per kill on top of the new game plus increase in experience.
- Anonymous
My friends forgot to use memories, does anyone know what happens when you stack them?
- Anonymous
The Owl refight is NOT Purification ending only. You can do it for any non Shura ending. I know, because I did it, and then still got the Return ending. After the final boss you can still choose which items to give Kuro which allows you to choose your ending. In other words, while it is required to do the second Owl fight if you want the Purification ending, it is not necessary to choose the Purification ending just because you did the second Owl fight. Just don't give Kuro the Aromatic Flower.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Can anyone confirm if there actually is a Memory for Emma, the Gentle Blade?
- Anonymous
There is one Memory Missing u can get in your 2nd time visitting Hirata Estate (earsdrop on Isshin before u fight 1st Owl) and defeating Owl again. If u dont chose Shura ending u can get that way up to 13 Memory's per Playthrough.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Memories are earned from main bosses in the game, each memory increases your atk number by 1 which is pretty significant on the scale of the game.
- Anonymous
so once you go into a memory but dont complete it then go into another memory does the previous memory world still exist or is it deleted?
What about the Saint Isshin memory
6
+15
-1