In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the “rats” are not literal rodents. They are small, agile assassins in oversized hats, and the Tengu of Ashina sends you after them as part of a short quest that rewards you with the Ashina Esoteric Text.
If you want to know who the rats are in Sekiro, they are stealthy enemy mobs tied to Tengu’s hunt. You only need to defeat the specific quest target to finish the request.
Their role is easy to miss. The quest opens up a key combat art path early in the game.
What The Rats Actually Are
The “rats” are really assassins, small humanoid enemies that move quickly, use poison, and hide under large hats. You first hear about them through the Tengu of Ashina, who uses the term “rats” as a nickname.
How Tengu Of Ashina Describes Them
Tengu of Ashina sees them as sneaky intruders who have spread through Ashina. This matches their behavior, since they fight dirty, dart in and out, and punish careless movement.
How To Recognize A Rat On Sight
You can spot a rat by its short stature, bulky hat, light armor, and fast evasive movement. They also rely on poison darts, poison splashes, and quick sidesteps to stay alive.
Why They Are Linked To Senpou Temple
You find them in multiple regions, including the Ashina Outskirts and Senpou Temple. Their presence in temple paths and hidden walkways shows they are infiltrators, scavengers, or hired assassins moving through key routes.
Where To Find The Quest Targets
The hunt starts early enough that you can clear it soon after a major boss fight. The main target sits close to Ashina Castle’s gate area.
You will also see other rats in nearby fortress paths and temple zones.
When The Hunt Opens After Gyoubu Oniwa
You unlock the request after you defeat Gyoubu Oniwa and move toward Ashina Castle Gate. This timing matches guides such as the Tengu of Ashina quest walkthrough, which place the encounter right after the boss progression point.
Path From Ashina Castle Gate To The Clearing
From the Ashina Castle Gate Sculptor’s Idol, head into the fortress area and look for the clearing near the tree line. The rat tied to the quest is usually found near the Ashina Castle Gate fortress path.
Other Rat Spawn Points You May See
You can run into similar enemies near the Ashina Castle Gate Fortress Sculptor’s Idol, the Ashina Outskirts, and later around Senpou Temple paths. Groups also appear near the Shugendo route and Temple Grounds, which can distract you from the single quest target.
How To Finish Tengu’s Request
You only need to kill the correct rat for quest progress, then return to Tengu for your reward. The rest of the enemy group is optional.
Which Rat Counts For Quest Progress
The target that matters is the rat hiding near the tree by the Ashina Castle Gate area. A player discussion on Reddit notes that killing the quest-specific rat advances the dialogue.
Combat Tips Against Poison And Evasive Moves
Stay aggressive, because rats punish hesitation with poison darts and side rolls. The Loaded Axe works especially well against them, and strong posture pressure can set up quick deathblows.
What You Get For Reporting Back
Return to Tengu after you finish the kill, and he gives you the Ashina Esoteric Text. That unlocks new combat arts and gives your build more flexibility early in the game.
Why This Quest Matters Later
The reward is useful right away. If you keep following Tengu’s story, you gain access to more advanced martial knowledge later on.
How The Reward Helps Your Build
The Ashina arts are a strong early toolkit for players who want reliable offense and better posture damage. They give you more ways to handle tough enemies before your Shinobi tools and late-game options fully come online.
Tengu’s Identity And Isshin Ashina
Tengu’s identity ties directly into Isshin Ashina. That reveal adds context to the strange encounter at Ashina Castle and gives the “rats” hunt extra story weight.
When The Mushin Esoteric Text Becomes Available
When you progress far enough in the game and continue with Isshin-related events, you can obtain the Mushin Esoteric Text later.
This text serves as the next step for players who invest in the Ashina combat arts path.
