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In Sifu, you need both defenses: parry to deflect a strike and create an opening, or avoid it by ducking or jumping out of its path. Against a boss, watch the attack pattern first, defend through it, and counter when you see a clear opening. Getting older does not make your character weaker, but repeated deaths make each subsequent death cost more years.
Parry or avoid: which defense should you use?
Sloclap describes both Parry and Avoid as essential defensive skills. Neither is the universal answer: choose according to the incoming attack, your timing confidence, and whether you want to create a chance to counter or simply get clear. The exact button prompts depend on your platform and control settings, so check the in-game controls rather than relying on a generic button mapping.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Sifu Switch | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sifu (PS5) | $32.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Sifu: Vengeance Edition (PS4) | $51.61 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Sifu: Redemption Set | $99.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Defense | What it does | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Parry | A timed deflection. A successful parry can disrupt an opponent’s balance or Structure and open an opportunity to counter or throw them. | Use it when you can read the strike’s timing and want to interrupt the opponent or create a counter opportunity. |
| Avoid | Moves your character out of the strike’s path, typically by ducking under or jumping over it. | Use it when moving clear is the safer response to the attack or you are not confident you can time a parry. |
Parry is not the same as holding block: its value depends on timing. Avoiding is about clearing the line of the attack. Sloclap’s combat overview explains how parries interact with Structure, while its beginner tips recommend training both defensive moves.
How to learn a boss’s attack patterns
Do not rush to trade attacks with a boss. Your first objective is to learn what the boss does and when a sequence ends. Use defense to make that observation safer, then attack during a clear recovery or opening.
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- Your enemies don’t wait their turn, and they don’t broadcast their intent. Dodge, parry, strike, use combos and be like water making its way through captivating environments. Learn how to master your art, whether by fighting through the underbelly of a nightclub, scrambling through a refined gallery to avoid getting surrounded, or vertically navigating a towering office building.
- Careful positioning and clever use of the environment to your advantage are key to your survival. Use everything at your disposal: throwable objects, makeshift weapons, windows and ledges... The odds are stacked against you, and you will be offered no mercy.
- Kung Fu is mastery through practice, a path for both the body and the mind. Learn from your errors, unlock unique skills, and find the strength to master the devastating techniques of Pak Mei Kung Fu.
- Watch the sequence. Give yourself time to see how the boss telegraphs and strings attacks together.
- Defend before counterattacking. Parry or avoid the moves you can read; do not force a counter while the pattern is still active.
- Look for the end of the pattern. When the boss has finished the sequence and is exposed, use that opening to respond.
- Repeat and adjust. If a defense is mistimed, observe what happened and try a different timing or the other defensive option.
Sloclap’s guidance is to begin by observing, blocking, and avoiding boss attacks, then look for an opening at the end of a pattern. Treat that as a way to learn the encounter, not a promise that every attack should be handled identically.
What happens to your age when you die?
Your character begins at age 20. Death adds years according to the death counter: the first death adds one year, the second adds two, and the third adds three. That escalating counter—not an automatic age penalty for every mistake—makes repeated deaths increasingly costly.
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- On the path of vengeance: The hunt for enemies will take you through hidden corners of the city, from gang-ridden suburbs to cold hallways of corporate towers; You’ve got one day, and countless enemies; For every mistake, time will be the price to pay
- Adaptation is the way: Careful positioning and clever use of the environment are key to survival; Use everything at your disposal: throwable objects, makeshift weapons, windows, ledges... The odds are stacked against you, and you’ll be offered no mercy
- Training never ends: Kung Fu is mastery through practice, a path for both the body and the mind; Learn from your errors, unlock unique skills, and find the strength within yourself to master the devastating techniques of Pak-Mei Kung-Fu
- All the fights have been choregraphed by a real Kung Fu master
- A unique graphic style and a game filled with epic levels and unforgettable backgrounds
At shrines, and by defeating certain enemies such as chapter bosses, you can lower or reset the death counter. Finishing a chapter also resets the counter, but your character keeps the age they have reached. There is no way to become younger. These mechanics are detailed by Sloclap in its explanation of Sifu’s death and aging systems.
Does being old make the game harder?
Age does not weaken your character’s abilities. Sloclap Community Manager Felix Garczynski wrote, “getting older has no drawbacks on your abilities and you will be able to complete the game at any age.” The danger is that death can push your age beyond the pendant’s ability to revive you, causing a game over—not that an older character is inherently less capable.
Rank #3
- Sifu: Vengeance Edition Includes - Steelbook, 3 Lithographs, The Art of Sifu - 48-page artbook and Digital Soundtrack
- On the path of vengeance: The hunt for enemies will take you through hidden corners of the city, from gang-ridden suburbs to cold hallways of corporate towers; You've got one day, and countless enemies; For every mistake, time will be the price to pay
- Adaptation is the way: Careful positioning and clever use of the environment are key to survival; Use everything at your disposal: throwable objects, makeshift weapons, windows, ledges... The odds are stacked against you, and you'll be offered no mercy
- Training never ends: Kung Fu is mastery through practice, a path for both the body and the mind; Learn from your errors, unlock unique skills, and find the strength within yourself to master the devastating techniques of Pak-Mei Kung-Fu
- All the fights have been choregraphed by a real Kung Fu master; A unique graphic style and a game filled with epic levels and unforgettable backgrounds
Keep going even after a rough run. Sloclap’s beginner advice notes that continued play can help you unlock skills and discover secret paths. Training and progression help, but they do not replace learning the combat: as Garczynski put it, “These features will help you on your quest of revenge, but they will not replace training and practice.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What carries over, and when should you replay a hideout?
Completing a chapter creates a save point at the age you reached. You can proceed from there or replay a completed hideout to try for a better finishing age. A chapter completion resets the death counter, not the character’s age.
Rank #4
- Redemption Set will include: 3 Lithographs, Tenacity Pendant, Figurine, and Behind the Art of Sifu – Developers Diary (160 pg.)
- Intended for the numerous players who already own the game on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 or PC
- The SIFU: Redemption Set does NOT include a copy of the SIFU game
Keep run state separate from lasting progress: Sloclap says unlocked skills and upgrades are lost at game over, while permanently unlocked skills and detective-board information persist. The developer’s account of the aging and progression systems describes these distinctions.
Where to practice
If you want a controlled way to work on timing, Sifu’s official news materials describe an advanced training mode for practicing against enemy types. The official update announcement also lists training and difficulty features. Because menus and options can depend on the installed version and settings, check your game’s current interface for the available training options rather than assuming every version presents them identically. See the official Sifu news page.
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