Despite its status as an early-game Sekiro boss, the Blazing Bull can be one tough cookie. Its charging attacks and flaming horns combine to create a seemingly impenetrable offense. However, as Dark Souls veterans know very well, no boss is unbeatable. The Blazing Bull can be felled, you just need to know how and when to properly strike.
Sekiro: Defeating The Blazing Bull
One item which can really help when fighting the Blazing Bull is the Fireworks tool for your Shinobi Prosthetic. You can buy the Fireworks tool from a tent merchant shortly before the Chained Ogre boss for 500 Sen. Using the Fireworks near the Blazing Bull causes it to rear up in panic, letting you score some hits. The bad news is that the Fireworks have a very short range so using them can be risky.
Even without the Fireworks there are ways to reliably damage the Blazing Bull. Even if you have a supply of Dousing Powder you shouldn’t try to block or deflect the bull’s attacks. Since the bull’s attacks inflict burn damage they’ll still deal some damage even if you block/deflect them. Worse, if the burn status gauge fills up you’ll take damage over time.
What you want to do instead is try to keep pace with the bull by dodging and sprinting. When the bull sticks a horn in the ground to quick-turn, sprint over to its side for a quick attack. If you move to the bull’s side as its turning for a charge it will miss you entirely. Its flank will also be exposed while it’s turning, allowing you to score one or two quick hits.
Once the Blazing Bull’s vitality is depleted enough it will stop recovering its posture. Keep up with the turning-charge attacks and the bull’s posture will eventually break, leaving it open to a finisher deathblow. You only need one deathblow to kill the beast so don’t let its seemingly unstoppable momentum intimidate you.
If the Sekiro boss Juzou the Drunkard is also giving you trouble, we’ve got a guide for him as well.