Wolf first encounters “rats” in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice as small, fast assassins tied to the Tengu of Ashina’s side quest. These are not literal rodents.
If you are asking what the rats in Sekiro are, they are enemies given a nickname by the Tengu. Defeating them opens up one of the game’s earliest useful rewards.
The Tengu of Ashina calls these stealthy assassins “rats.” Clearing them is a simple quest that gives you an important combat text early in the game.
Many guides point new players to this task because it is easy to miss and easy to complete once you know where to look.
Who The Tengu Means By “Rats”
The Tengu of Ashina refers to human enemies, not animals.
In the game’s lore, these “rats” are small, agile intruders, described as assassins with wide hats and dirty, ragged appearances.
They feel more like covert infiltrators than regular soldiers.
The Tengu points you toward a specific group of enemies tied to hidden movement and infiltration around Ashina.
Why They Are Called Assassins From Senpou Temple
The enemies often appear in Senpou Temple and other areas around Ashina.
The Tengu’s wording suggests they are trained infiltrators rather than ordinary bandits.
They fight like stealth units, using poison and evasive movements.
This fits the idea of assassins slipping through dangerous territory.
How To Recognize Them By Their Rat Description
The rat description you receive helps you identify them quickly.
Look for small enemies wearing oversized hats, moving in a skittish way, and using poison darts or erratic dodges.
Where To Find The Targets Near Ashina Castle Gate
You can reach this quest right after you open up the Ashina Castle side of the game.
The target area sits near the castle gate fortress path, close to the battlefield approach and the routes leading into the wider Ashina Outskirts.
How To Reach The Temple After Gyoubu Oniwa
After you defeat Gyoubu Oniwa, move toward the Ashina Castle Gate area.
Continue past the Ashina Castle Gate Sculptor’s Idol, then head up the path and look near the tree and upper ledges, where the three quest targets gather.
If you are trying to get oriented, the route is a short climb from the gate into a higher zone.
Which Enemy Counts For The Quest Completion
You only need to kill the specific three rats the Tengu asks for near the gate area.
Once you defeat all three, return to him to finish the quest.
Other nearby foes in Ashina Castle do not count toward this task.
How To Fight Them Efficiently
These enemies are fragile, evasive, and dangerous mainly because of poison and hit-and-run attacks.
Stay aggressive, keep your camera on them, and punish their recovery frames before they attack again.
What To Watch For In Their Poison Attacks
Their most annoying move is the poison dart, which builds the status bar quickly and can force you to back off.
They can also splash poison on the ground, so avoid standing still in tight spaces and do not chase blindly into a puddle.
Best Tools For Breaking Their Defense
The loaded axe works extremely well, since it lands heavy posture damage and can set up a deathblow fast.
A clean deathblow ends the fight early, and the axe is especially useful when their evasive spins make normal sword swings less reliable.
Reward And Why This Quest Matters
This quest gives you early access to a major combat upgrade and adds world flavor to Ashina’s opening hours.
How The Ashina Esoteric Text Is Unlocked
Once you report back after killing the rats, the Tengu gives you the Ashina Esoteric Text.
This unlocks the Ashina Arts skill tree, which provides more options for sword play and early combat growth.
Why This Early Side Objective Is Worth Doing
You gain a strong midgame foundation long before many players expect to expand their moveset.
The objective also connects to Ashina’s lore in a neat way. The Tengu’s request feels like a trial that tests your strength, awareness, and willingness to chase hidden threats.
