Yasaka Pagoda Rift
Quick answer
From the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Mirror, go through the adjacent temple gate and climb the leaf-covered stone stairs to the bone-strewn courtyard. Defeat the Genma and Byakue, then hold L2 at Absorb Rift until the floating sphere breaks apart. The rift rewards appear after absorption; return down the same stairs to the mirror.
In this guide
Route at a glance
- Start
- Reach the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Mirror in Eastern Kyoto with the upper courtyard rift still present.
- End
- Defeat the courtyard's enemies, absorb the rift and collect its rewards.
Step-by-step route
Climb to the upper courtyard
Prepare at the Yasaka Pagoda mirror, pass through the gate beside it and climb the stone stairs covered in red leaves.
Check: A red rift hangs above the courtyard strewn with bones.
Defeat Byakue and the nearby Genma
Clear the smaller enemies while keeping Byakue in view. Avoid his blade combinations and jumping landing area, counter after an opening and use Square when his weak point is exposed.
Check: Byakue falls and his Talisman reward appears.
Absorb the remaining rift
Approach the floating sphere and hold L2 at Absorb Rift until it breaks apart. Return down the entrance stairs to the mirror.
Check: The sphere disappears and Malicite rewards appear.
This route covers the rift in the upper courtyard at Yasaka Pagoda, from the nearby Spirit Mirror to the completed absorption. It includes the Byakue — Hundred Defilements encounter there. Inputs use PlayStation labels.
Find the rift above the Spirit Mirror
Prepare at the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Mirror, beside the temple entrance. Go through the gate immediately beside the mirror, then climb the broad stone stairs covered with red leaves.
Select the image for a larger view.
At the top, enter the courtyard littered with bones and bodies. A red floating rift hangs over the open space. Byakue appears with smaller Genma around him.
Fight Byakue without losing track of the smaller enemies
Deal with nearby smaller enemies when an opening lets you do so, keeping Byakue in view. Fighting a small enemy with your back to his blades can leave you exposed to his next approach.
Byakue uses wide blade sweeps, advancing combinations and jumping attacks. Keep enough room to see the beginning of the motion. Circle (○) away from a jumping attack's landing area and leave the red-lit ground around it. Let a blade combination finish before returning for a short sword attack.
Hold L1 to guard ordinary blade strikes. Avoid a long stationary combination while Byakue is winding up again. His attacks can continue after the first swing, so wait for a visible pause before committing.
When the Square (□) weak-point prompt appears, approach and press Square for the follow-up. This can deal substantial damage, but the fight may continue afterward. Keep fighting until Byakue falls and Byakue's Talisman × 2 appears.
Select the image for a larger view.
Hold L2 to close the rift
After the enemies are defeated, the floating sphere remains. Walk toward it until Absorb Rift appears, then hold L2. Keep absorbing through the sphere's shrinking and breaking animation until it disappears.
Select the image for a larger view.
The absorption awards Malicite × 4 and Malicite Mass × 2. Those rewards and the vanished sphere confirm the rift is closed. Return through the entrance and down the stone stairs to the Spirit Mirror.
If you are tracking Pale Lights in a Night Sky, that request has its own courtyard and return-to-the-woman objective. Continue to its bamboo courtyard and report back to the woman afterward; closing this rift does not complete her request.
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