In Sifu, a martial arts action game, players are thrust into a story of revenge, relentlessly fighting through bosses who were responsible for the death of their character’s family. However, as players discover, there is a way to break the cycle of vengeance and unlock a more profound ending by sparing these bosses rather than killing them. Here’s how to do it.
Understanding the Game’s Structure Mechanic
To spare a boss in Sifu, you first need to grasp the concept of “Structure,” which is a key combat mechanic in the game. Each boss, like your character, has a Structure bar. This bar fills up as you successfully parry their attacks or land hits, especially with weapons. Once the bar maxes out, the boss’s posture breaks, giving you an opportunity to take them down. However, sparing a boss involves a more deliberate approach.
How to Spare a Boss
- Reach Phase Two: Each boss fight in Sifu is divided into two phases. The first phase ends once you break the boss’s Structure for the first time. Instead of using the available finishing move, you should hold off and allow the boss to recover slightly. At this point, the game moves into the second phase.
- Break Their Structure Again: In the second phase, you will need to once again fill the boss’s Structure bar by parrying and attacking. However, avoid lowering their health bar to zero, as this will automatically trigger a finishing move, eliminating the boss instead of sparing them.
- Choose to Spare: When the Structure bar fills for the second time, the game will give you the option to spare the boss rather than finish them off. This option appears as a dialogue choice or a specific prompt, usually involving a button press (e.g., Left on the D-Pad or Arrow keys). Selecting this option allows you to spare them and proceed to the next part of the story.
Why Spare the Bosses?
Spare all five of the game’s main bosses, and you unlock the “true” ending. Each spared boss grants a unique talisman representing the five elements: Wood, Fire, Water, Metal, and Earth. These Talismans are a significant reward, symbolizing your mastery of martial arts and spiritual enlightenment. In practical terms, sparing the bosses leads to trophies or achievements, depending on your platform, but the most coveted reward is the alternate, secret ending of the game. This ending suggests that the cycle of violence has been broken, offering a more peaceful resolution to the story.
Which Bosses Can You Spare?
Here’s a list of the five bosses you must spare to unlock the true ending:
- Fajar (The Squats) – Unlocks the Wood Talisman
- Sean (The Club) – Unlocks the Fire Talisman
- Kuroki (The Museum) – Unlocks the Water Talisman
- Jinfeng (The Tower) – Unlocks the Metal Talisman
- Yang (The Sanctuary) – Unlocks the Earth Talisman and the legendary Wuxing Talismans
Tips for Successfully Sparing Bosses
- Patience and Precision: Sparing bosses is more challenging than simply defeating them because you need to be patient. Focus on parrying their attacks, rather than aggressively lowering their health. Use weapons whenever possible, as they help fill up the Structure bar faster.
- Manage Health and Structure Bars: Balancing the boss’s Structure and health bars is essential. The key is to avoid depleting their health too quickly while keeping up enough pressure to fill their Structure bar.
- Practice Makes Perfect: If you’re struggling to spare a particular boss, don’t hesitate to replay levels to get the hang of their attack patterns. The game rewards practice, and each boss follows a predictable combat style.
Unlocking Enlightenment
The decision to spare the bosses carries deeper implications within the narrative of Sifu. By showing mercy, you allow your character to break free from the endless cycle of violence. This unlocks the path of “Wude,” a philosophy that emphasizes moral conduct and self-discipline, themes that resonate with traditional martial arts.
The post-credits scene in the true ending gives players a reflective moment, suggesting that vengeance isn’t the only path. Instead, enlightenment and inner peace are attainable when you choose compassion over retribution.
