Speculation on how many times Sekiro "canonically" died to each boss

[Daddy Kaneki]

(Mandatory main bosses only)

Key: Resurrection is getting up after you die, remanifestation is respawning at a Sculptor's Idol.

Sekiro is touted as a challenging game - and it is - but that's because we are in the shoes of Sekiro and most people don't utilize his full potential or play him with the mindset of the character. Which is fine, that's not a rip on those people, but it is important to know this for my writeup, because I'm speculating off of the basis of Sekiro being...well...Sekiro, and not being played by someone that doesn't have a full understanding of his capabilities, mindset, and approach to combat.

So I'm trying to get this as close to "canonical" as it can be.

Gyoubu: He has slow and wide attacks, which would be a tendency of the opponent that would be noticed immediately for a highly trained and skilled ninja. His movements are predictable and his mount adds less of an advantage than it adds just an alternate dimension to the battle. I think Sekiro would not die a single time to Gyoubu.

Lady Butterfly: Butterfly is a ninja, she and Owl trained Sekiro in the ways of said discipline. Many of their abilities are shared amongst each other, such as the dash-slash after throwing a shuriken. Fights against Butterfly and Owl will come down to shared technique against two people that can recognize the other's tactics at a glance with trained eyes. Sekiro would need to remanifest once against Lady Butterfly, meaning two deaths before figuring out her path to defeat.

Genichiro: This is exactly the type of fight Sekiro excels in, one on one against a bladesman who isn't trained in Sekiro's arts. The catch here is that Genichiro is equally as skilled in the ways of the samurai as Sekiro is in the ways of the ninja. Sekiro would die once after Genichiro starts using the Way of Tomoe, but would defeat him after resurrecting, without needing to remanifest.

Guardian Ape: Sekiro has never fought an enemy like this before. He has no idea how to deal with it and must rely on his ability to adapt to his opponent and figure them out. None of what Sekiro has been taught will help him against beasts, aside from learning how to figure out patterns and tendencies in his opponent and exploiting them. It says a lot that the fight becomes so much easier in the Ape's second phase where it tries to use a blade against you - clumsily so - because now Sekiro has the upper hand. He's beaten extremely skilled humans like Genichiro, so what can a untrained headless ape with a sword do? The second phase of the fight was made easier for exactly this reason. Sekiro would die four times (so, two remanifestations) in the first phase of the Guardian Ape, but defeat the second phase without dying once.

Mist Noble: 😏

Corrupted Monk: Sekiro is trained against blade users, but the Monk's fighting style from the Fountainhead Palace is truly alien to him. Fighting Fountainhead warriors is like dancing with them, but you die if you don't take the lead. The Monk is the premier example of this. Sekiro would die once before figuring out the rhythm.

Great Shinobi Owl: He is the most famous ninja for a reason, and was one of Sekiro's two ninja teachers. He is skilled, intelligent, and tricky - but so is Sekiro. What Owl hid from Sekiro's training, Sekiro found out by himself - and gained tricks of his own, too. Sekiro would need to remanifest once against Owl.

Isshin Ashina: Isshin's swordmagic would be almost entirely new to Sekiro, although Isshin is noticeably slower in his old age. Sekiro would quickly realize that he will lose only if he stays back and allows Isshin to use his powers, i.e. hesitating. Sekiro would die only once.

True Corrupted Monk: Same as the illusion, but with new tricks up her sleeve and three whole health bars, Sekiro's endurance will be put to the test more than his skill. Sekiro would die once.

Hirata Estate Owl: This is Owl at full force, but having more tricks doesn't make it much harder for Sekiro to figure him out. Sekiro would remanifest once.

Divine Dragon: It's a puzzle boss, requiring observation and timing. Sekiro would not die a single time.

Sword Saint Isshin Ashina: Few can achieve the title of Kensei, still fewer can match Kensei Isshin Ashina in his prime. Sekiro would die four times before defeating him.