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Ghost of Yotei: 15 Essential Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Last Updated: November 1, 2025

Atsu battles enemies in the scenic world of Ghost of Yotei.

Sucker Punch's masterful follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima has arrived, and Ghost of Yotei plunges players into a new, beautifully savage saga set centuries after the legend of Jin Sakai. You are Atsu, a ronin on a desperate quest for vengeance in a land torn apart by civil war and the iron fist of a corrupt Shogunate. The island of Yotei is a breathtaking, perilous new frontier, teeming with deadly samurai, opportunistic warlords, and new threats that will test your skill and resolve.

To survive this unforgiving journey and forge a new legend, you’ll need to master both the blade and the shadows. This guide breaks down 15 essential tips and tricks that every warrior needs to know, covering the refined combat, expanded stealth systems, and rewarding exploration that make Ghost of Yotei an instant classic.

Mastering the Blade: Combat Essentials

Combat in Ghost of Yotei is a leaner, meaner evolution of its predecessor. Enemies are faster, more coordinated, and employ new tactics, demanding precision and a deep understanding of your entire arsenal.

  1. Stances Are Your Foundation: The core of the combat system returns, and it's more crucial than ever. Stone Stance is for swordsmen, Water for shields, Wind for polearms, and Moon for brutes. Switching stances mid-combo is fluid and essential for managing diverse groups, especially when facing new enemy types like dual-wielding assassins who require rapid shifts in strategy.
  2. Parrying Is an Art Form: A perfect parry is still your single most powerful defensive tool. It shatters an enemy's posture, creates a massive opening, and builds Resolve. Prioritize the Perfect Parry skill early on. Advanced enemies will mix up their attack timings, so watch their shoulders and hips—not just their blades—to master the new, tighter parry window.
  3. Identify and Eliminate Leaders: Before charging into a Shogunate patrol or bandit camp, use your focused hearing to identify the leader. They are often distinguished by banners on their backs or unique helmets and will bark orders to their allies. Taking them out first throws their troops into disarray, disrupting their attack patterns and making them far more susceptible to fear.
  4. Unleash Your Resolve Arts: Resolve is used for healing, but its offensive potential has been massively expanded with Resolve Arts. Beyond the iconic Heavenly Strike, you'll unlock powerful new techniques tied to your stances. Don't hoard your Resolve; using an art to instantly break a brute's guard or sweep a spearman's legs can turn the tide of a seemingly impossible fight.
  5. The Standoff Has Evolved: The Standoff is the ultimate risk/reward opener. Yotei's warriors are far more cunning and will employ deceptive feints to trick you. Release the button only when they commit their body to the strike. Be warned: certain elite enemy types will refuse the Standoff entirely, forcing you to initiate combat on their terms.

The Way of the Ghost: Stealth and Tactics

Ghost of Yotei allows for incredible creativity in its stealth gameplay, giving you more tools and opportunities to become a silent, terrifying specter of vengeance.

  1. Use Verticality and Traversal: Yotei’s landscape is more vertical than Tsushima. Always seek the high ground when approaching an enemy encampment. Rooftops, cliffs, and tall trees are your sanctuary, allowing you to scout patrol paths and use your new Grappling Hook to perform devastating Death from Above assassinations.
  2. Master the Ghost Chain: Invest your first Technique Points into the Chain Assassination skills. The ability to silently eliminate two, and later three, enemies is the most efficient way to thin out a fortified location. Look for the "Ghost Chain" upgrade, which allows you to use a Ghost Tool, like a smoke bomb, to reset the chain and take down even more unsuspecting foes.
  3. Your Tools Are Your Weapons: Wind Chimes and Firecrackers are more effective than ever at luring and separating enemies. You'll also find new tools like Whistling Arrows to draw a single target to a specific location, and ceramic pots filled with oil that can be shattered to create flammable surfaces for a fiery ambush.
  4. Weaponize the Environment: Keep a sharp eye out for environmental hazards. A well-placed arrow can cut a rope holding a stack of logs, crush a group of enemies, ignite a gunpowder cache for a huge explosion, or collapse a watchtower. Causing this kind of chaos often panics enemies, creating the perfect window to strike.

Exploring the Lands of Yotei

The island of Yotei is a vast and stunning open world filled with secrets, resources, and compelling stories. Smart exploration is key to building Atsu's strength.

  1. Heed Nature's Call: The Golden Birds return to guide you to hidden locations, hot springs, and undiscovered quests. Following foxes will still lead you to Inari Shrines to increase your charm slots. Also, keep an eye out for deer, a new animal guide that will lead you to forgotten Shinto Shrines that grant powerful passive abilities.
  2. Liberate the People: Clearing out the Shogunate's fortresses and warlord-occupied towns is your primary goal. Doing so not only clears the fog of war in that region, revealing all nearby points of interest, but also brings life back to the area. For example, liberating farms in the vast Ishikari Plain will open up new vendors and provide you with a steady income of resources.
  3. Hoard Everything: Supplies, wood, metals, and linens are vital for upgrading your gear. Loot every body, every tent, and every building you come across. You'll also find rarer materials like Iron Sand and Gold Flake, which are required for the highest-level upgrades. You can never have too many resources.
  4. Prioritize Your Katana: While it's tempting to upgrade your armor or bow, your primary focus for resources should be your katana. Increasing its base damage and stagger potential benefits you in every single combat encounter, whether you're facing a duel or a chaotic melee.
  5. Listen to the Tales of Yotei: The most compelling narratives and powerful rewards are often found off the beaten path. Listen to rumors from NPCs in survivor camps and towns to uncover "Tales of Yotei." These multi-part side quests delve deep into the island's lore and will often reward you with unique armor sets, charms, and weapon vanity gear.
  6. Hone Your Resolve at Bamboo Strikes: Seek out Bamboo Strikes scattered across Yotei. Each one you complete permanently increases your maximum Resolve. More Resolve means more healing and more opportunities to use your devastating Resolve Arts. This is arguably the most important character upgrade in the entire game.