Complete Ghost of Yotei Beginner's Guide: Essential Tips for Starting Atsu's Journey

Ghost of Yotei, released on October 2, 2025, marks Sucker Punch Productions' latest masterpiece in their acclaimed samurai action series. Set in 1603 during the early Edo period in Hokkaido, you step into the role of Atsu, a warrior seeking revenge against the formidable Yotei Six. This comprehensive beginner's guide will help you navigate the harsh world of Ezo, where strategic combat meets deep exploration in an open-world format.

Unlike its predecessor, Ghost of Yotei introduces a refined combat system that relies on weapon matchups rather than traditional stances, creating a fresh challenge for both series veterans and newcomers alike. As you begin your journey, remember that success comes from mastering timing-based combat, understanding environmental navigation, and strategically building your character's abilities through the game's extensive progression systems.

Mastering Combat Fundamentals

Perfect Parry Timing and Execution

To perform a parry, press L1 just before an enemy's attack lands. Timing is critical and you cannot hold the button. Perfect Parry Timing: Tap block exactly when the enemy's weapon hits you, not during the colorful glint animation.

A successful perfect parry triggers a slow-motion window that stuns the enemy and leaves them completely vulnerable for counter-attacks. Blue glints telegraph these parry windows, while red glints indicate unblockable attacks that must be dodged instead.

Custom Difficulty: You can adjust parry timing windows by setting gameplay difficulty to Custom. This unlocks independent control over dodge/parry timing to better match your reflexes.

Weapon types have specific counter weapons. Using the right weapon against an enemy's weapon type is essential for effective parrying and counter-attacks. Perfect parry counters combined with proper weapon matchups are primary methods for dealing significant damage to bosses.

Parry Build: A parry-focused build makes parries easier and allows you to counter enemies with three hard-hitting strikes after successful parries, maximizing your damage output.

Dodging Unblockable Attacks

Red glint attacks are unblockable and unparryable. They must be dodged using the Circle button to avoid significant damage. The red glint appears at the beginning of the attack animation, but the actual dodge window requires timing based on the enemy's weapon swing rather than reacting immediately to the glint.

For combo attacks signaled by red glints, keep dodging repeatedly until the enemy stops swinging. This avoids all hits in multi-strike sequences. Perfect dodge timing is very tight and can feel inconsistent, especially for dual-wielding enemies.

Cross-Shaped Red Glint: You can also dash or roll to avoid damage from unblockable attacks identified by this specific indicator. Successfully dodging an unblockable attack creates an opening for counter-attacks, though sometimes even perfect dodges and counters can be interrupted by enemy follow-up attacks.

Understanding Attack Indicators

Combat in Ghost of Yotei uses a color-coded system to signal attack types:

• Blue glint: Parry-able attacks requiring L1 timing
• Red glint: Unblockable/unparryable attacks requiring Circle dodges
• Yellow glint: Attacks interruptible with heavy R2 attacks
• Cross-shaped red glint: Unblockable attacks avoidable through dashing/rolling

Mastering these visual cues is essential for survival. Perfect parries stun enemies, dodges create counter opportunities, and heavy attacks break enemy stances. Each color requires a specific response, and timing becomes crucial as you face more challenging opponents.

Essential Exploration and Navigation

Using the Wind as Your Guide

Swipe up on the touchpad to summon the wind, which will blow in the direction of your current objective or marked location on the map. This wind system replaces traditional waypoints and minimaps, providing a more immersive navigation experience that blends with the game's natural environment.

Gust Wind: A navigation mechanic that dynamically changes direction based on your current objective, always pointing toward your next destination without cluttering the screen with UI elements.

You can use the wind to find hidden locations, points of interest, and collectibles by observing how it interacts with the environment like blowing through grass and trees. The wind mechanic works in conjunction with environmental cues like golden birds that lead to points of interest, creating multiple natural navigation options.

Discovering Landmarks and Fast Travel

Fast travel becomes available early in the main story after the opening sequence when you gain access to the open world on your horse. To unlock fast travel points, you must first visit locations on foot or horseback - once you physically arrive at a significant location, it becomes a fast travel point.

Fast Travel: Open the map with the touchpad, hover over a visited point of interest, and press and hold Triangle to instantly travel to that location.

Some gates or locations require completing nearby quests or having specific items/currency to unlock travel between them. There are 61 Altars of Reflection scattered across Ezo that grant permanent Skill Points when discovered and interacted with.

Key Locations to Discover:

• Fox Dens lead to small shrines that reward Charms
• 10 Special Place Locations required for 'Speaking with the Land' trophy
• Hot Springs increase Atsu's health
• Bamboo Strikes refine his resolve

Isaburo the Cartographer can be found at inns like Yote's Shadow Inn and Huranui's Rest Inn - providing him with Traveler's Maps reveals points of interest on your map.

Reading Environmental Clues

Golden birds will appear and fly toward points of interest, guiding you to hidden locations, collectibles, and important landmarks. Follow ethereal foxes from Fox Dens to discover hidden shrines that reward Charms for enhancing your abilities.

Environmental Navigation Tips:

• Listen for wind chimes to locate Shinto Shrines
• Look for yellow flowers marking Hot Springs and Bamboo Strikes
• Pay attention to animal behavior - deer may lead you to hidden paths
• Smoke rising indicates Mongol camps or settlements worth investigating
• Torii gates and lanterns mark sacred sites and important locations
• Listen for running water to find rivers, streams, and fishing spots

Critical Early-Game Priorities

Starting with the Old Inn Quest

The Old Inn quest at Yotei's Shadow Inn is your first major objective and introduces the game's initial boss fight against Takezo. This mission serves as a combat tutorial, teaching you to face a challenging opponent while learning core mechanics.

This quest is where you'll pick up your first dual swords from Mount Yōtei, setting the stage for the game's progression loop. After completing the Old Inn quest, you'll gain access to the open world and fast travel system, allowing you to explore Ezo freely.

You'll also unlock the ability to spend Honor Points - the currency used to purchase skills and upgrades from the skill tree.

Prioritizing Sensei Quests

Sensei Quests are weapon-unlocking missions that grant access to new combat techniques and abilities. Concentrating on these early builds character strength.

The Way of the Dual Katana on Mount Yotei is your most important early target. This quest becomes available immediately after the prologue when you reach Yotei Grasslands—look for the golden quest card icon with two katanas far west on the map to find Sensei Takahashi.

Essential Early Sensei Quests:

• The Way of the Odachi at Master Yoshida's Dojo in Tokachi Range - unlocks the heavy Odachi weapon
• The Bomb Maker in Ishikari Plain at Otaru Hills - unlocks Bomb Pack for crowd control
• Matchlock Murata's Workshop in Oshima Coast - grants the Matchlock Rifle for long-range engagements

Quickfire Weapons are obtained from Weapon Senseis by completing one bounty and two Sensei Tales.

None of the Sensei quests are missable—all weapons can be obtained after completing the main story during free roam.

Engaging with Side Content

Side activities provide valuable experience, resources, and permanent character upgrades:

• Shrine of Echoes: Complete challenges to earn Honor Points
• Fox Dens: Follow foxes to discover hidden shrines that reward Charms
• Hot Springs: Permanently increase Atsu's maximum health
• Bamboo Strikes: Increase maximum Resolve through target practice
• Altars of Reflection: Find 61 scattered across Ezo to earn permanent Skill Points
• Bounties: Complete repeatable missions for resources and gear
• Traveler's Maps: Deliver to Isaburo for revealed points of interest

Strategic Progression and Character Building

Recommended Yotei Six Order

Start with Oni in Ishikari Plain first. This area is most accessible from the beginning and provides a manageable introduction to the game's combat mechanics.

Move north to Kitsune in Teshio Ridge second. This follows natural geographical progression and presents a step up in difficulty from Oni. Note that Kitsune can appear as either the second or third target depending on your chosen path.

Yotei Six Progression Strategy:

• Complete first two bosses based on accessibility
• Tackle remaining four (Tengu, Kappa, Yuki-onna, Lord Saito) based on confidence
• Save Lord Saito for last as the climactic conclusion
• Follow the wandering samurai tale philosophy - explore organically

There is no single "correct" order. The chosen order does not impact the game's mechanical progression, so you can follow any path without penalty.

Utilizing Your Full Arsenal

Use your full range of tools strategically rather than hoarding them. Each item creates specific combat advantages when used properly:

Quickfire Weapons (Ghost Weapons):

• Kunai: Interrupt enemy attacks and break stances, especially effective against shielded enemies
• Smoke Bombs: Create cover for stealth approaches and escapes
• Sticky Bombs: Excellent for crowd control and heavy damage to groups

Specialized Tools:

• Blowgun: Hallucination darts turn enemies against each other
• Bomb Pack: Explosive weapons for effective crowd control
• Matchlock Rifle: Long-range engagement for distant enemies

Combat Resources:

• Resolve: Built through successful parries, dodges, and kills - spend on healing or powerful abilities
• Wolf Companion: Unlock and upgrade for tactical options in exploration and combat
• Charms: Permanent stat boosts from Fox Dens for different combat builds

Weapon Matchups: The rock-paper-scissors combat system where different weapon types are highly effective against specific enemy types. Perfect parry counters and heavy attacks with proper weapon matchups are primary methods for dealing significant damage to bosses.

Weapon Effectiveness Reference

Your Weapon	Enemy Weapon Type	Effectiveness	Special Notes
Katana	Spearmen	High	Quick counter-attacks
Odachi	Armored	High	Breaks through defenses
Dual Katana	Light Infantry	High	Rapid successive strikes
Bombs	Groups	High	Area damage
Kunai	Shields	High	Interrupts formation

Finding Hidden Shrines and Charms

There are 11 Fox Dens scattered across Ezo that lead to Inari Shrines. Follow the spectral foxes from these dens to discover hidden shrines that reward Charms.

Fox Den Locations:

• Clear Water Fox Den: Along Nupur River, north of Husko Kotan
• Lake View Fox Den: Contains hidden Inari Shrine in second area
• Warm Plains Fox Den: Multiple Inari Shrines in Tokachi Range
• Whispering Woods Fox Den: Contains Charm of Swift Reward

Inari Shrine Rewards:

• Up to four additional charm slots
• Charm of Uncanny Aim for Quickfire weapon damage
• Mix-and-match charm loadouts for different builds

Finding all 11 Fox Dens and obtaining the Fox Mask reward unlocks the 'Guardian of Inari' trophy/achievement.

Advanced Tips for Quick Success

The journey from beginner to master in Ghost of Yotei requires moving beyond basic mechanics into advanced strategic thinking. These tips will help you transition from surviving encounters to dominating them with tactical precision.

Combat Stance Mastery

The traditional stance-switching system from Ghost of Tsushima has been removed. Instead, you now switch between different weapons that each have their own combat style.

Weapon Switching: Hold R2 to access the weapon wheel and toggle between weapons using the face buttons. Each weapon has its own inherent combat stance tied to it.

The combat system uses a rock-paper-scissors mechanic where each weapon type is highly effective against specific enemy types. This provides bonus damage and stagger, making encounters much easier when you use proper weapon alignment.

Combat Mastery Tips:

• Hold R2 in the melee menu to display weapon effectiveness reminders during combat
• Master weapon switching mid-combat to handle mixed enemy groups
• Complete Sensei quests early to unlock all weapons quickly
• Use correct weapon alignment for devastating critical strikes

Environmental Awareness in Battle

High Ground Tactics Use elevated positions to gain tactical advantages. You can spot enemies from above and plan your approach before engaging. Position yourself near environmental hazards like cliffs and ledges to knock enemies off during combat for instant kills.

Stealth and Cover Use tall grass and vegetation for stealth approaches, as these provide cover and allow you to remain hidden while moving toward enemies. Pay attention to enemy patrol routes and use the environment to set up ambushes. Wait behind cover or in elevated positions for the perfect strike.

Environmental Positioning

• Use buildings and walls as cover during ranged combat
• Position with your back to a wall or corner during group fights
• Use environmental distractions like wind chimes or throwing rocks
• Be aware of explosive barrels you can shoot for area damage
• Position near escape routes like climbable walls to limit enemy engagement
• Use water and natural barriers to control enemy movement

Mastering Your Journey

Becoming a master of Ezo requires patience, practice, and strategic thinking. The journey through Ghost of Yotei rewards players who balance combat mastery with thoughtful exploration. Success comes from understanding the rock-paper-scissors weapon system, mastering timing-based combat mechanics, and strategically progressing through the world.

Don't rush through the main story—take time to explore side content, complete Sensei quests, and discover hidden shrines that provide permanent character enhancements. The game's natural navigation system encourages organic discovery, while the flexible progression path allows you to tackle challenges at your own pace.

Whether you're facing the Yotei Six or exploring the beautiful landscapes of Ezo, the key to success lies in systematic progression and continuous skill development. Embrace the wandering samurai tale that Ghost of Yotei offers, and you'll find yourself fully immersed in one of 2025's most compelling gaming experiences.