One of Sekiro:  Shadows Die Twice's most exciting features is the Shinobi Prosthetic, a replacement arm for Sekiro's protagonist. The arm can be switched out, with each arm offering a unique range of abilities and upgrades. Some of these Shinobi Prosthetics will be earned by the player just through progressing naturally through the game. Others, in true Dark Souls fashion, can be missed with relative ease.

The Firecracker Shinobi Prosthetic is one example of an arm that can be missed, but is an especially important item to acquire. Not only is the Firecracker a strong Shinobi Prosthetic, distracting one or many enemies and allowing for follow-up attacks, but it's a barrier for upgrade progress. Half of the Prosthetic Tool Upgrades tree is blocked in its entirety unless the player owns the Firecracker, making it a high priority to discover.

The Firecracker can, as is currently known, be acquired at two different locations. The first is more of a challenge to find, but can be acquired earlier in the game. The second is much easier to find, but can only be accessed after completing a few boss fights where it's extremely useful. Either way, it's worth picking up due to its usefulness in a variety of different situations.

Specifically, the Firecracker is acquired from certain Memorial Mob merchants within Sekiro and can be bought for 500 Sen. 500 Sen requires just a bit of farming and shouldn't be too much trouble, but finding the Memorial Mob is another matter entirely.

sekiro firecracker screenshot

Crow's Bed Memorial Mob

From the Outskirts Wall - Stairway Sculptor's Idol, located just prior to the fight with the Chained Ogre, turn around and move away from the Chained Ogre's stairway. First, leap to the next snowy plateau and kill the bird and then grapple onto the gateway's top. From here, the Memorial Mob merchant's tent should be seen relatively near on top of another plateau. The merchant's camp will have a number of crows camped on top of it.

Move towards the base of the plateau sneakily, as there are ranged enemies nearby that may spot the player. After getting close to the plateau, such as in the tall grass below the cliff, look upward to find a series of grapple points that will take the player to the top. The Memorial Mob member will offer a variety of goods, but it's Robert's Firecrackers that the player is looking for. They can be purchased for 500 Sen.

Ashina Castle Gate Memorial Mob

sekiro how to get firecracker

Having defeated the horseback boss Gyoubu Oniwa, also known as Gyoubu the Demon, players should find the Ashina Castle Gate Sculptor's Idol on one side of the battlefield. To get to the Memorial Mob merchant from the Ashina Castle Gate Sculptor's Idol, turn around and run across the now-empty battlefield and up the stairs on the other side. There will be a dead purple shinobi at the top of the stairs. Turn around this corner to see the entrance to a building.

Instead of entering the building, continue past the entrance towards a large tree and then turn left. After turning left, another set of stairs will be in front of the player. Climb these stairs to find the Memorial Mob merchant huffing and puffing, selling their wares. Talk to the merchant, select "Purchase Items," and scroll to the bottom of the list to find "Robert's Firecrackers" available for 500 Sen.

Dilapidated Temple

Once Robert's Firecrackers have been purchased from either the Crow's Bed or Castle Gate Memorial Mob merchant, head back to the Dilapidated Temple. Talk to the Sculptor and choose to "Present Shinobi Prosthetic." The Sculptor will be able to take the Robert's Firecrackers item and turn it into the Shinobi Firecracker arm tool, which the player can equip and use to distract foes at close range.

The Sculptor will also be able to upgrade the Shinobi Firecracker once the upgrade system has been unlocked. One of the first upgrades available is the Spring-load Firecracker, which scatters firecrackers in all directions if the player holds down the activation button instead of simply pressing it. Further upgrades for the Shinobi Firecracker can be unlocked with more upgrade investment.

With the Firecracker in hand, or perhaps in-arm, players should be all the better fit to tackle the challenges of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice than before. Firecrackers can only do so much, however. Sekiro doesn't give anyone an easy ride.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.