Welcome to the definitive Ghost of Yōtei walkthrough and game guide. Whether you're a fan of Ghost of Tsushima and curious how the sequel evolves, or you’ve just jumped into this new action-adventure open world, this guide will take you from prologue to endgame. We’ll go through how to beat Yōtei Six, best weapon upgrade paths, hidden secrets in the open world, and advanced tips and tricks for every stage.
Set in 1603 Ezo (modern Hokkaidō), Ghost of Yōtei takes you on a vengeance quest as Atsu, hunting down the Yōtei Six who slaughtered her family. The game features a blend of stealth, melee, ranged weapons, exploration, and optional side missions.
Let’s begin.
1. Prologue & Setup
1.1 Game Start & Opening Cinematic
- At game launch, you’ll begin with a cinematic showing the massacre of Atsu’s family by the Yōtei Six.
- You’ll be pinned to a burning ginkgo tree, left for dead, but survive to begin your path of vengeance.
- The prologue will introduce you to basic movement, stealth, and melee combat using her katana.
1.2 Save & Check Options
- Before diving in, check your PS5 settings: ensure vibration, adaptive triggers, and 3D audio are enabled (if supported) for full immersion.
- Also, customize your control layout if you prefer a “legacy” or simplified scheme.
1.3 First Steps
- After the initial intro, you’ll be placed in an early safe zone. Here you can explore, collect gear, and get your bearings.
2. Core Mechanics & Controls
Understanding the foundational mechanics early will make everything easier down the line.
2.1 Movement, Stealth & Traversal
- You can freely climb, grapple, and descend using your grappling hook from the start.
- Stealth plays a big role. Use silent takedowns, distractions, and stealth routes to avoid direct confrontations.
2.2 Combat & Counter System
- Unlike Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei replaces the older “stance” system with a weapon counter system.
- As you unlock new weapons, you'll gain counters effective against different enemy archetypes (e.g. armored vs agile).
- Basic controls: Light attack, heavy attack Dodge / roll Parry / counter Use ranged or throwable weapons Switch weapons on the fly
2.3 Ranged & Firearms
- You’ll gain access to bows (yumi), tanegashima (matchlock rifle), throwable weapons, etc.
- Firearms bring a cinematic “gun-fu” style into melee combat.
- Use ranged attacks to soften enemy clusters before engaging in melee.
2.4 Upgrades, Skills & Resources
- As you progress, acquire skill points, weapon materials, charms, and gear.
- Visit weapon sensei / smiths to unlock upgrade tiers.
- Many upgrades improve counters, damage, speed, or resource efficiency.
3. Early Game Strategy
Early decisions can shape your entire playthrough.
3.1 Focus on Main Story vs Side Missions
- While you’re free to roam, it’s wise to follow the main quest line until you get 2–3 weapons unlocked.
- Use side missions and bounties to farm currency and materials.
3.2 Scouting & Recon
- Before entering enemy camps, use stealth and long-range scouting.
- Note patrol patterns, guard positions, and detection zones.
3.3 Weapon Unlock Order Suggestion
- Start with katana (base)
- Then unlock yumi / bow to handle ranged threats
- Progress into tanegashima (gun) to mix up combos
- Acquire the kusarigama or ōdachi for specialty counters
- Eventually unlock dual katana for fluid combos
3.4 Invest in Survival Resources
- Always carry healing items / charms
- Build up stealth gear (e.g. smoke bombs)
- Gather crafting materials from dead enemies, loot chests, ruins
4. Weapon Types & Upgrade Paths
Understanding each weapon and its counters is crucial in Ghost of Yōtei.
4.1 Katana / Dual Katana
- Katana is your reliable all-rounder, good speed, good damage.
- Dual katana offers faster combos and more counters once unlocked.
4.2 Yumi (Bow)
- Excellent for silent dispatches or thinning enemy groups before sliding into melee.
- Useful in vertical environments or from rooftops.
4.3 Tanegashima (Matchlock Rifle)
- Ideal for long-range, suppressed takes, or crowd control.
- Use with care — reload times and ammo are limited.
4.4 Kusarigama (Chain & Sickle)
- Great for disrupting enemy formations, pulling weaker enemies in or tripping them.
- Effective against agile foes.
4.5 Ōdachi (Greatsword)
- Heavy, slow weapon, but strong against armored or heavily defended foes.
- Use when enemy openings appear.
4.6 Upgrade Tree Strategy
- Prioritize weapon counters: improving your counter options first will pay off vs bosses and elite enemies.
- Next, damage and speed.
- Last, resource efficiency (less material cost, faster reloads, etc.).
- Always upgrade your best weapon set rather than spreading resources thinly over all weapons.
5. How to Defeat Yōtei Six (Boss Walkthroughs)
The Yōtei Six are the core targets. You can fight them in nearly any order, but here is a strong recommended path with strategies:
5.1 Boss Selection Strategy
- Some bosses are easier early; others require more gear.
- Tackle the easier ones first to build up better weapons, materials, and experience.
5.2 Example Walkthroughs (Suggested Order)
Boss 1: The Snake
- Use ranged weapons to break guards, then dual katana for fast counters.
- Watch his poison attacks and dodge to safety.
Boss 2: The Kitsune
- Agile and deceptive—use kusarigama to interrupt her illusions.
- Time counters carefully, as she often vanishes or teleports.
Boss 3: The Oni
- Heavy blows and area attacks. Use ōdachi or heavy weapons, and stay mobile to avoid AoE.
- Save your healing and dodge early.
Boss 4: The Spider
- Uses webs, immobilization. Carry anti-trap tools (smoke bombs or throwable gear).
- Move aggressively to avoid web zones.
Boss 5: The Dragon
- Powerful, long reach, often aerial. Use bow or rifle to stagger, then melee.
- Keep pressure, do not let it gain control of space.
Boss 6: Lord Saito
- The final showdown. Expect multiple phases.
- Use full arsenal: ranged, melee combos, counters, defensive gear.
- Watch his ultimate attacks and dodge or parry precisely.
Tip: Always save before boss fights and restock consumables, buffs, and healing. Use your best weapon counter configured for that specific boss.
5.3 Post-Boss Rewards
- Defeating each Yōtei Six gives unique gear, charms, or materials.
- Use those to fully upgrade toward the endgame.
6. Hidden Secrets & Side Missions
To maximize your Ghost of Yōtei experience and gear, be sure to hunt for secrets.
6.1 Bounties & Side Missions
- Accept bounties from NPCs to hunt special enemies—or mini-bosses.
- Side missions often unlock unique charms, weapons, or lore.
6.2 Hidden Shrines, Ruins & Caches
- Explore ruins and ancient shrines off the beaten path — they often contain rare materials and upgrades.
- Use your grappling hook to reach remote zones.
6.3 Lore Fragments & Journals
- Collect lore fragments to deepen your understanding of the story and unlock optional dialogue or reward content.
- Some are tied to Ainu legends in Ezo.
6.4 Ghost Masks & Cosmetic Items
- You'll find ghost masks and armor dyes in hidden corners.
- Some are rewards for completing secret challenges or puzzles.
7. Open World Exploration & Map Tips
Exploring Ezo is a joy—but doing so smartly yields better returns.
7.1 Fast Travel & Camps
- You can set up campfires anywhere in the open world, acting as wake points or rest spots.
- Fast travel unlocks only after discovering certain landmarks or shrines.
7.2 Navigation without Overlays
- The game avoids cluttered UI (mini-maps, yellow paths). Instead, it uses fireflies, golden birds, and subtle visual cues to guide you.
- Watch for natural environmental cues (animal paths, wind direction, light) to lead you to hidden zones.
7.3 Region by Region Strategy
- Divide the map into sectors. Fully clear one sector (bounties, shrines, side missions) before moving on.
- This ensures you have upgraded weapons and higher level before venturing deeper.
7.4 Resource Gathering Routes
- Plan loops through high loot areas (ruins, enemy camps) to collect crafting materials efficiently.
- Always revisit previously explored zones with better traversal tools to find new hidden caches.
8. Advanced Tips, Tricks & Combos
Once you’ve grasped the basics, these advanced strategies will take you further.
8.1 Combo Chains & Weapon Synergy
- Chain between ranged (bow/gun) and melee seamlessly—for example: stun with rifle, then dash into melee.
- Use kusarigama to pull enemies into your melee range.
8.2 Counter Timing & Stamina Management
- Don’t spam counter—wait for the correct moment (flash cue) to get perfect counter strikes.
- Monitor your stamina; some heavy moves drain more—balance offense and defense.
8.3 Environmental Use
- Use verticality: drop down on enemies from above, grapple up for vantage.
- Knock bodies off cliffs, or use hazards (fire, snow slides) against enemies.
8.4 Healing & Buffing Tricks
- Save healing for critical windows—boss phases, heavy damage bursts.
- Use charms defensively (damage reduction, counter boost) depending on the fight.
8.5 New Game + & Challenge Runs
- After beating the game, replay with modifiers (e.g. limited healing) to unlock extra cosmetic rewards.
- Look for hidden achievements tied to non-obvious behaviors (no kills, stealth runs, etc.).
9. Endgame & Post-Credits Content
After defeating all Yōtei Six, there remains much to do.
9.1 Epilogue & Story Closure
- The story may reveal deeper lore about Atsu, the Onryō mythos, or how the Ghost persona evolves.
9.2 Legend / Multiplayer Mode
- In 2026, Ghost of Yōtei will receive a free Legends multiplayer mode, reminiscent of Ghost of Tsushima’s co-op mode.
- You can try new classes, survival challenges, and demonic versions of Yōtei bosses in co-op.
9.3 Complete Collectibles & Secrets
- Use your fully upgraded skills and traversal tools to revisit unexplored zones.
- Unlock all masks, armors, dyes, and secret lore to reach 100% completion.
10. Conclusion & Best Practices
- Use this guide as a roadmap, but don’t be afraid to adapt based on your play style (stealth vs aggressive).
- Focus early on the main quest line until you have 2–3 upgraded weapons.
- Master counters and weapon combos—they make boss fights manageable.
- Explore side quests, hidden shrines, and loot paths to maximize gear and materials.
- Stay alert to environmental cues for navigation (since UI is minimal).
- Save consumables and healing for key fights, use charm synergies wisely.
- After main story, dive into Legends mode and revisit the map to collect every secret.
By following this Ghost of Yōtei complete guide & walkthrough, you'll have a strong advantage in how to beat Yōtei Six, optimize weapon upgrade paths, uncover hidden secrets, and enjoy deep open world exploration.
