Poise | Sekiro Shadows Die Twice Wiki

Poise is hidden value in Sekiro for bigger enemies (Ape, Ogre ,Hatred Demon, Taros) that allows them to not get stunned when taking a single attack. Once this invisible value has been depleted, the enemy will get interrupted for a few seconds, allowing you to attack them dealing some free extra damage.

NOTE: Do not confuse it with Posture, this one is the Sekiro's stamina inside the game datas, while Poise is called SuperArmor.

HOW POISE WORKS?

You and most enemies (humans) have 0 Poise Health, thus getting stunned with every taken hit unless by attacking with Hyperarmor; some other bigger enemies instead,  have a certain amount of Poise Health granting them a "perma-Hyperarmor" even when in idle. 

By attacking, you reduce their Poise Health meter by a fixed value and once it reached 0 the enemies will get stunned for a few second, and if they are attacking they will  always get  interrupted.

However, once you start depleting any Poise Health bar, a timer of  25 or 7 second will begins and if reaches 0 the Poise Health value of that enemy will be reset to full, to avoid this just hit them with another attack and the timer will begin again, DEFLECTION OR DODGES DON'T RESET TIMER, nor inflict any POISE DAMAGE.

Firecracker stun or Burn stun have nothing to do with poise damage, they are another separate mechanic.

If the enemy wears a "protect-belly" you won't inflict any POISE DAMAGE unless you remove it with a spear.

Sekiro can reduce stuns and flinch by eating a Red Lump, at the cost of his resurrection.

Like in DS3 or Elden Ring POISE DAMAGE in NG+7 is  REDUCED TO 60%, fortunately the REFLECTION FIGHTS are NOT AFFECTED.

Bosses & Enemies Poise and Timer reset

GUARDIAN APE                    400 /25s  (6x, 4.5x or 3.375x of poise damage multiplier while stunned, can do 3 times in a row, then it escapes)
GUARDIAN APE (nohead)     520 /25s  (it is immune to poisedamage when laid down)
DEMON OF HATRED            640 /25s
GYOBU ONIWA                     360 /25s
SHIMIKEN WARRIOR          160 /25s (confetti needed)
HEADLESS WARRIOR         400 /25s (confetti needed)
OGREs                                   400 /7s
TAROs                                    240 /25s
MIBU's TAROs                       320 /25s
HEADLESS APE                    320 /25s  (it is immune to poisedamage when KO)
APE'S LOVER                        140 /25s  (6x, 4.5x or 3.375x of poise damage multiplier while stunned, can do 3 times in a row, then it escapes)
BULLs                                     200 /25s  (x1.2 head, x0.4 body)
SUMOs                                    200 /7s
ARMORED WARROIR          200 /7S 

Attacks' Poise damage 

ATTACK TYPE                 PRESS    HOLD
R1 ATTACKs                        40            80
SHURIKENs                         20            90
CERAMIC  TOSS                10
DUST/OIL  TOSS                 0
MORTAL BLADE                240         480 (480 in air) / no mp     80 160 (160 in air)
SAKURA DANCE               150                                   / no mp      75
ATTACK AFTER HOOK     40 x hit
HI MONK                            120 (400 full combo)
RAVEN MIST                       80 (fire explosion +80)
FIRECRACKER                   0             0
FLAME VENT                     40         100 (20 x tick)
SABIMARU                         20 (240 full combo)
LIVING FORCE                  60
LOADED SPEAR                60           120
MOTH KUNAI                    20           90
SEN THROW(max)            100         200  
UMBRELLA ATTACK       100
CHASING SLICE                60