From Software is known for making some of the most satisfying games in the industry. Their games force players to master gameplay mechanics to become better. Dark Souls does this incredibly well and so does Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Sekiro is much more focused on combat than Dark Souls. Playing too defensively or missing parry timings can lead to a swift death, which can be further punished with Dragonrot. While this disease can't kill NPCs outright, it makes them nigh-useless and is a severe punishment for repeatedly dying. With that said, there is a way to cure it relatively early on in the game. Here is how to cure Dragonrot in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, alongside 7 facts about the disease. Spoilers ahead!
8 How To Cure Dragonrot
Curing Dragonrot for the first time requires players to be patient and go on a miniature quest for Emma.
After obtaining Rot Essence for the first time, talk to Emma to have her begin research on the disease. The next time the player meets with Emma, she will ask for a blood sample from another infected NPC. Once obtained, Emma will grant a Dragon's Blood Droplet the next time players talk to her. Simply use this Droplet at a Sculptor's Idol to cure every infected NPC.
7 Prevents Quest Progression
While NPCs are infected with the Dragonrot disease, they will have a hard speaking to the player. This will halt any quest that NPC has until the player cures them of Dragonrot. For example, Inosuke Nogami's Mother will not grant the player the bell needed to enter Hirata Estate if she is suffering from Dragonrot. NPCs won't die while inflicted with Dragonrot, but they're practically useless until the disease is cured.
6 Only Occurs When The Player Truly Dies
Sekiro's rather strange revive system might cause newer players to panic when they die. Death is punished severely in Sekiro, but only if the player truly dies.
The first death players receive after each rest will allow them to resurrect themselves on the spot. These resurrections do not inflict Dragonrot nor increase the chance of it appearing. Only dying with no option to resurrect will give the disease a chance to spawn.
5 Dragonrot Chance Increases With Repeated Deaths
For such a crippling mechanic, the game does a rather poor job of explaining how it occurs. True deaths give it a chance to spawn, but it isn't guaranteed. The chance of Rot Essences spawning in the player's inventory increases as they repeatedly die. It is unlikely to occur on the player's first true death. Most players receive Rot Essences on an average of 10 deaths, meaning that skilled or cautious players will rarely have to deal with Dragonrot.
4 Explains Resurrections
Emma's research into the Dragonrot disease reveals an interesting explanation as to why this occurs. In typical From Software fashion, it's the player's fault that these NPCs get sick.
Dying in Sekiro allows players to resurrect using the Divine Heir's blood. When that energy is used and they die again, the blood stagnates. The resurrection still occurs, however. That is because the energy is being taken from other people instead of the blood that Sekiro has. This results in those NPCs getting deathly ill and why Dragon's Blood Droplets cure the disease.
3 Rot Essences Show Who's Infected
Nearly every NPC in Sekiro can become infected with Dragonrot. Since there are so many NPCs, it can become difficult to track who's infected.
Thankfully, the game has a way of showing who is currently affected by the disease. The inventory screen will display Rot Essences as a key item. Each Rot Essence is named after an NPC who has the disease alongside a red and black icon of what they look like. Players can also view the description of the item to get a vague idea of where they are located, although players do not need to be near the NPC to cure them when using a Dragon's Blood Droplet at a Sculptor's Idol.
2 Originally Cured NPCs With Dragonrot Pellets
Dragonrot went through many changes during development. Originally, players would need to visit every infected NPC to cure them.
This worked by talking to Emma and having her drain the resurrection power from Sekiro and infusing it into a pellet. These Dragonrot Pellets could then be given to infected NPCs in order to cure them. Unique dialogue still exists in the game around this mechanic, but it was all cut before the game launched. From Software likely cut Dragonrot Pellets out of Sekiro to make curing NPCs less tedious and replaced them with Dragon's Blood Droplets.
1 Merchants Restock Dragon's Blood Droplets
Only 17 Dragon's Blood Droplets can be found organically in each playthrough of Sekiro. Some are found in the world, while others are purchased, but some merchants actually restock on the valuable item.
After using a Droplet, Fujioka the Info Broker, as well as both Memorial Mob merchants, will restock on Droplets. This allows players to obtain a near-infinite number of Dragon's Blood Droplets for relatively cheap to easily counter the effects of Dragonrot. Alternatively, they can be used to grant an additional resurrection before Sekiro truly dies.