Sculptor's Idol | Sekiro Shadows Die Twice Wiki

Sculptor's Idol
Idols crafted by The Sculptor, found across the land. They provide a moment's respite even in a hostile environment

Sculptor's Idols（鬼仏，Demonic Buddha） are the Checkpoints of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Much like Bonfires worked in Dark Souls and Lamps in Bloodborne, idols are found and unlocked throughout the world. Resting at a Sculptors's Idol will replenish the player's White Spirit Emblem inventory up to their Spirit Emblem Cap (15, at the start of the game) if they have any in storage.

Sculptor's Idols in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

"Sculptor's Idols serve as a checkpoint and can be found throughout Ashina. Resting at a Sculptor's Idol will completely replenish vitality and restore one use of Resurrection. Additionally, Quick Items and Spirit Emblems in your storage will be added to your current inventory.

With some exceptions, resting will also revive defeated enemies."

Idol Usage

• Commune with a sculptor's idol to Rest. The last Sculptor's Idol you rested at acts as a checkpoint.
• Sit at the idol to activate it and restore your health.
• As you are restored, any Spirit Emblems you have in storage will be returned to your inventory, up to your Spirit Emblem Cap. 
• Travel: Warp to other Sculptor's Idols.
• Acquire Skills: Use Skill points to unlock Skills and Skill Trees.
• Enhance Physical Attributes: Upgrade your Vitality and Posture Gauges with Prayer Beads
• Enhance Attack Power with Memory.
• Enhance Attack Power with skill points. (after acquiring all pieces of the Dancing Dragon Mask, can be carried over to NG+ and beyond)
• Cure Dragonrot for all NPCs(require completing Emma's quest line, have to redo for every NG+ cycle)

Locations of the Idols

 Trivia

• The Sculptor’s Idols were all carved and by The Sculptor (his name in Japanese, Busshi, literally means “Sculptor of Buddhas”). In his workshop at the Dilapidated Temple, you can see dozens of malformed, unfinished, or discarded Sculptor’s Idols.
• In Japanese, the Sculptor’s Idols are labeled 鬼仏，meaning “Demonic Buddha”. Talking to The Sculptor reveals that he finds himself only able to carve “Buddhas that are an incarnation of wrath.” Note that "the Buddha" in this sense does not necessarily refer to Gautama, the founder of Buddhism (he himself is rarely depicted with more than two arms) but includes other figures in the Buddhist mythology.
  • A common theme for Buddhistic statues is Ashura (originated from Asura in Hinduism and Ahura in Zoroastrianism), often shortened to Shura. In the context of the Buddhist mythology, the Ashura are demonic gods which have six arms and were initially wrathful and violent against Gautama the Buddha. They were later persuaded by Gautama and became one of the Eight Deities to protect the faith of Buddhism. Ashura's wrathful faces represent their constant battles against the enemies of the Buddha, so they are technically benevolent gods after the meeting with Gautama.
  • Nevertheless, in the daily language, the term Ashura (especially its shortened form Shura) often indicates burning malevolence and simple violence (as in Sekiro). Every Sculptor’s Idol has six arms, indicating that they are likely depictions not of the Buddha but of a Shura, foreshadowing events later in the game.
• Wooden-Buddha-idols-everywhere is likely based on the activity by Enku, a sculptor-monk in the 17th century. Enku's idols are poor in aesthetic quality but nevertheless his idols are highly revered because during his lifetime pilgrimage, he carved out more than 120,000 idols so that even impoverished people can get Buddha idols. On the other hand, in stark contrast to the Sculptor's work in Sekiro, almost all idols carved by Enku are smiling.