Ghost of Yōtei – Tips for Weapons, Defense, Charms

This is your ultimate beginner’s guide to Ghost of Yōtei, packed with 7 essential, spoiler-free tips and tricks that will give you a massive head start on your adventure across the island of Ezo.

So, you’re about to jump into the beautiful, brutal world of Ghost of Yōtei. Bet. Whether you’re a veteran of Tsushima or a brand-new player, the island of Ezo has a ton of new mechanics, tough enemies, and secrets to uncover. While figuring things out on your own is part of the fun, a few pro-tips can make those first few hours way smoother and set you up for success down the line.

We’ve put together a list of seven hot tips that we wish we knew before we started playing. This is your spoiler-free cheat sheet to starting your journey off right.

1. Shop Smart, Not Hard

Early in the game, you’ll meet a bunch of merchants, and it’s super tempting to start dropping coin on everything that looks cool. Chill for a sec. Here’s how to spend your money wisely in the early game.

• Don’t Buy Horse Gear (Yet!): You get a sick white stallion early on, but later, you’re given the choice to let it retire and pick a new horse. I made the mistake of buying a cool saddle for my white horse, only for it to look totally out of place on the new black horse I chose later. Don’t be like me. Wait until you’ve committed to your forever-horse before you invest in saddles.
• DO Buy Both Bows ASAP: As soon as you can afford them, buy both the short bow and the long bow. I only bought the short bow at first and spent hours regretting it. The long bow is a massive upgrade for both combat and hunting, and you’ll want it in your arsenal.
• Optional Boost: If you want a quick and easy skill boost, buy the first two maps from Isaburo the mapmaker. They only cost 50 coins each and lead you to a couple of hard-to-find Altars of Reflection, which is a fire way to get some early techniques.

2. Get That Coin: Become a Bounty Hunter

If you need a fun way to make some serious cash, look no further than Kajjiro, the bounty broker. This dude has a whole board of wanted posters that lead to unique and challenging hunts.

• The Hunts are Dope: Each bounty needs to be approached differently, which keeps things from getting stale.
• The Rewards are Better: On top of a fat stack of coins, many bounties will also reward you with exclusive new weapons or slick cosmetic items that you can’t get anywhere else.
• Keep Checking Back: The bounty board only shows three posters at a time. After you clear them, travel away and come back later to see if new ones have popped up. Once you’ve done them all in a region, Kajjiro might just offer you a special bounty with an even more special armor set as a reward.

3. Talk to EVERYONE (No, Seriously)

This isn’t one of those games where NPCs just spit out generic lines. In Yōtei, talking to people is a core mechanic.

• Quests and Info: If you see an NPC you can start a conversation with, do it. They’ll give you useful info, kick off entire side quests with great rewards, or even try to ambush you for your own bounty.
• Traveler’s Maps: A sick new feature is the Traveler’s Map. Instead of just plopping a marker on your map, an NPC will give you a hand-drawn map fragment. You then have to line it up with your main map to figure out where the location is. It’s a fun little jigsaw puzzle, but you should solve them as soon as you get them so you don’t forget any verbal clues the NPC gave you.
• Eavesdrop for the Vibes: Don’t forget to just listen in on random NPC conversations. You’ll catch some hilarious gossip, interesting world-building, and some truly relatable moments.

4. Train With All the Masters First

Ghost of Yōtei has a group of main bosses called the “Yōtei 6,” and you have some freedom in the order you fight them. But here’s the pro-strat: train with all the weapon masters before you fight a single one of them.

• Why?: Each of the Yōtei 6 specializes in a particular weapon, and every weapon in the game has a hard counter. By unlocking all of Atsu’s weapon stances first, you guarantee you’ll have the best possible tool for any boss fight. I fought one of them without the optimal weapon, and it felt like trying to beat a water gym with a Charmander. It was doable, but it was a whole lot of pain.
• Bonus Perks: Visiting the weapon masters will naturally open up the map, giving you access to more hot springs (health upgrades), bamboo strikes (spirit upgrades), and rare crafting materials you’ll need for your gear.

5. Get Your Defense Game Up

The enemies in Ezo do not hold back. They are aggressive, and if you’re new to the series, mastering the parry can take a while. Your best bet is to invest in some key defensive skills early on.

• Roll: An absolute classic from the first game. It’s a better dodge that lets you create more space and is a lifesaver when you’re overwhelmed.
• Standoff Streak: Lets you chain extra kills after a successful standoff. It’s a flashy and effective way to thin the herd before a fight even really begins.
• Disarm Counter: This is a new skill, and it’s a total game-changer. Certain enemies will have a “gold flash” before they attack, which means they’re about to disarm you. This skill lets you counter that move, leaving your enemy weaponless and giving you a free throwable weapon to chuck right back at them. Satisfying every single time.

6. Hunt for Upgradeable Charms at Shrines

You’re going to be swimming in charms in this game, but not all charms are created equal. The ones you really want to prioritize are found at the big Shrines marked by the giant Torii gates.

• Why They’re So Good: Many of these shrines reward you with special, upgradeable charms. These charms level up as you complete specific objectives in the world, like “defeat five enemies in a row without taking damage.”
• The Best Part: You don’t even need to have the charm equipped for it to track your progress and level up.
• Pro-Tip: After you finish a shrine, don’t just fast-travel away. Use the high vantage point and pull out Atsu’s new spyglass to mark points of interest on your map before you leave.

7. Use Throwable Weapons for Stealth

Throwable weapons that you can pick up from enemies or find in the world are the secret MVP of stealth in Yōtei.

• Guaranteed Hits: Unlike a bow, where you can miss and alert everyone, a throwable weapon is a guaranteed hit on a highlighted target.
• Stay Hidden: When you use a bow, Atsu has to pop her head out of cover. With a throwable, you can stay completely hidden in a patch of grass, take someone out, and no one will know where you are.
• No Commitment: If you pick one up and decide you don’t need it, you can easily drop it by swapping weapons or performing an assassination. Always keep a spare throwable handy when you’re trying to be sneaky.