The core timing for vanishing comes down to precise smoke bomb deployment and shadow mechanics. When spotted immediately ready your smoke bomb by holding lt and position yourself near existing shadows or destructible light sources since timing here is crucial. Release rt right as enemies enter attack range which creates that perfect window to disappear. The recovery animation after throwing takes exactly 0.8 seconds, so use that moment to either drop prone or initiate an escape strike with the legendary tanto which gives you 1.2 seconds of slow-motion.

What's really interesting about the shadow system is that it operates on a gradient detection scale - full darkness grants 100% invisibility while partial shadows reduce visibility by 40-60% depending on your gear loadout. The robe of the enraged specifically adds another 25% shadow bonus making instant vanishes much more reliable even in questionable lighting.

For optimal escape timing, you'll want to chain your actions in this sequence: smoke bomb (0.8s) > sprint-slide towards shadows (0.5s) > prone or escape strike (0.3s). Keep an eye on the enemy alert indicators during this sequence, as breaking line of sight during the yellow warning phase prevents full detection. The shinobi bell has a 2-second guard distraction duration which pairs perfectly with this timing window letting you create distance before they return to patrol patterns.