Ghost Of Yotei: 25 Pro Tips For Beginners (2026 Guide)
Welcome to the most comprehensive Ghost Of Yotei beginner’s guide you’ll find anywhere! As someone who’s spent over 200 hours exploring every corner of Ezo and mastering Atsu’s journey of revenge, I’m excited to share everything I wish I knew when starting this incredible PlayStation 5 exclusive. Whether you’re coming from Ghost of Tsushima or this is your first time in Sucker Punch’s beautiful samurai world, this guide will transform you from a novice to a formidable warrior in no time.
In this ultimate beginner’s guide, you’ll discover essential first steps, master combat mechanics, uncover hidden secrets, and learn pro strategies that most players miss. I’ve compiled the best tips from top gaming guides, official sources, and my own extensive gameplay experience to give you the definitive edge in your quest against the Yotei Six.
Essential First Steps: What to Do Immediately?
When you first arrive in Ezo, the sheer scale of the world can be overwhelming. Based on my experience and research from top guides, here are the absolute first things you should prioritize:
Priority Actions
| Action | Location | Reward | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Out the Old Inn | Yotei’s Shadow Inn | Unlocks merchants, Onryo’s Howl | Critical |
| Save Taro the Scavenger | North of Old Inn | Personal merchant, Charm of Last Chance | High |
| Visit Watchtowers | Crow’s Nest Watchtower | Map reveals, fast travel points | High |
| Buy Traveler’s Maps | Isaburo the Cartographer | Altar locations, charm locations | High |
| Complete Weapon Quests | Various regions | New weapons, combat effectiveness | Critical |
Clear Out the Old Inn (Non-Negotiable First Step)
This isn’t just a suggestion—it’s essential. The Old Inn quest at Yotei’s Shadow Inn should be your absolute first priority. Completing this quest unlocks four crucial merchants: bow merchant, armorer, cartographer, and bounty board. More importantly, you’ll gain Onryo’s Howl, a fear-inducing ability that can turn the tide in difficult battles.
I made the mistake of exploring too much before doing this quest in my first playthrough, and I regretted it. The merchants you unlock here provide essential upgrades and services that make the rest of your journey significantly easier.
Master the Spyglass Early
Your spyglass is arguably the most powerful exploration tool in your arsenal. Here’s how to use it effectively:
- Press up on the d-pad to bring out your spyglass
- Pan around until you see a yellow glow in the crosshair
- Focus on that location to automatically mark it on your map
- Visit the marked location to unlock fast travel there
This technique reveals everything from enemy camps to Hot Springs and Bamboo Strikes. I’ve found that spending just 10 minutes with the spyglass when entering a new area can save hours of aimless wandering later.
Combat Mastery: From Beginner to Expert
Combat in Ghost Of Yotei is deeper and more nuanced than in Ghost of Tsushima. Here’s everything you need to know to dominate every encounter:
Understanding Attack Types
The combat system uses a color-coded glint system that tells you how to respond to different attacks:
| Attack Type | Visual Cue | Correct Response | Consequence of Failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Attack | No glint | Block (hold L1) | Take damage |
| Unblockable Attack | Blue glint | Parry (tap L1) | Take damage |
| Heavy Attack | Red glint | Dodge (circle button) | Take heavy damage |
| Disarm Attempt | Yellow glint | Hold and release Triangle | Lose weapon |
Weapon Effectiveness Guide
One of the biggest mistakes I see beginners make is using the wrong weapon against specific enemy types. Here’s the definitive weapon matchup guide:
Against One-Handed Weapons: Use your Katana or Odachi
- Katana offers balanced speed and power
- Odachi provides superior reach and breaking power
Against Polearms (Naginatas): Use Dual Katanas
- The speed advantage is crucial
- Dual blades can quickly interrupt polearm attacks
Against Sickle Users: Use the Yari Spear
- The Yari’s defensive capabilities are unmatched
- Perfect for countering sickle users’ aggressive style
Against Multiple Enemies: Switch to Bow or Firearm
- Ranged weapons thin the herd before melee engagement
- Essential for survival in large-scale encounters
Essential Combat Skills to Unlock First
Based on hundreds of hours of gameplay and community feedback, these are the skills you should prioritize:
- Perfect Parry (Onryo > Attacks)
- Allows counterattacks after successful parries
- Inflicts high stagger on any target
- Essential for early-game survival
- Indomitable Counter (Melee > Odachi)
- Upgrades Bulwark Stance to Perfect Counter
- Can counter even red glint Heavy Attacks
- Makes Odachi viable against all enemy types
- Onryo’s Howl (Unlocked after 4 kills without taking damage)
- Terrifies nearby enemies
- Creates openings for devastating attacks
- Game-changer in difficult encounters
Exploration and 2026 Navigation Tips
Ezo is vast and beautiful, but navigating it efficiently requires some know-how. Here are the exploration strategies I’ve developed through extensive gameplay:
Don’t Stress About the Map
When you first open the map, it looks intimidatingly huge. Here’s the truth: you only explore a handful of interconnected biomes. The grayed-out areas are mostly for specific platforming challenges or side missions. Focus on the colored regions and you’ll be fine.
Environmental Navigation Techniques
Master these navigation tools to move through Ezo like a pro:
Gust Wind: Swipe up on the PS5 touchpad to create a wind gust that points toward your tracked objective. This is incredibly useful when you’re not sure which direction to go.
Golden Birds: Follow birds with golden plumes—they lead to significant locations and secrets. I’ve discovered some of the best charms and upgrades by following these birds.
Horse Mounting: You get a horse immediately, and galloping through white flower fields triggers a speed boost. Use this to cover large distances quickly.
Fast Travel Mastery
Unlike many open-world games, Ghost Of Yotei offers seamless fast travel to almost any location you’ve discovered:
- Press triangle on the world map to fast travel
- You can travel to inns, camps, landmarks, and points of interest
- No loading screens between most locations
- Essential for efficient exploration and quest completion
Character Progression and Upgrades
Building Atsu’s capabilities is crucial for taking on increasingly challenging enemies. Here’s my comprehensive progression guide:
Health and Spirit Enhancement
Two activities permanently increase your core stats:
Hot Springs (Health Increase):
- Scattered throughout Ezo
- Bathing in them provides permanent health boosts
- Prioritize finding these early—they make combat much more forgiving
- Look for steam rising in the distance to locate them
Bamboo Strikes (Spirit Increase):
- Button-pressing minigames that increase maximum Spirit
- Spirit is used for healing and special abilities
- More Spirit means more survivability in extended fights
- Practice the timing—each strike requires precise rhythm
Charm System Explained
Charms provide powerful passive bonuses, and some of the best ones can be obtained early:
Essential Early Charms:
- Charm of Last Chance (from Taro)
- Automatically triggers heal technique at lethal damage
- Can be a literal lifesaver in difficult fights
- Available immediately after saving Taro
- Charm of Kanayago (Fall’s Rest Shrine)
- Doubles metal and black powder collection
- Essential for weapon and armor upgrades
- Located southeast of Yotei Grasslands
- Charm of Bountiful Harvest (Shikotsu Woods)
- Doubles wood, flower, and plant collection
- Crucial for bow upgrades and crafting
- Found on northeastern corner of the lake
Skill Tree Prioritization
The skill system offers multiple paths, but some are more valuable than others for beginners:
Onryo Tree (Priority: High)
- Focus on Assassination skills first
- Stealth approaches make difficult encounters manageable
- Essential for bounty hunting and infiltration missions
Melee Tree (Priority: Medium)
- Invest in your preferred weapon type
- Each weapon has unique advantages
- Balance between offense and defense skills
Revenge Tree (Priority: Medium)
- Counterattack skills are invaluable
- Throwable upgrades help with crowd control
- Mounted combat skills for travel efficiency
2026 Advanced Tips and Pro Strategies
Once you’ve mastered the basics, these advanced strategies will elevate your gameplay to the next level:
Wolf Pack System Optimization
Your Wolf Pack isn’t just for story—they provide practical benefits:
- Taro appears in camps and sells rare items
- Other NPCs visit you while camping with unique wares
- Check the Wolf Pack tab regularly for visiting merchants
- Some NPCs only appear at specific times or locations
Standoff Mechanics Mastery
Standoffs can turn overwhelming odds in your favor:
- Wait to be spotted by a group
- Hold triangle when enemies approach
- Release just as they attack for instant kills
- Surviving enemies panic, creating openings
- Chain standoffs for maximum efficiency
Photo Mode Intelligence
Photo mode isn’t just for pretty pictures—it’s a strategic tool:
- Zoom out to reveal enemy positions and patrol routes
- Identify platforming paths and hidden areas
- Plan your approach to difficult encounters
- The game doesn’t penalize you for using this strategically
Memory Sequence Benefits
When Atsu remarks that a place seems familiar, hold the touchpad to revisit her memories:
- These reveal backstory and character development
- Often contain clues about hidden items or secrets
- Memory sequences can show hiding spots for treasure
- Essential for 100% completion and understanding the story
Essential Early Game Quests
Certain quests provide disproportionate benefits early on. Here’s the optimal quest order:
The Way of the Yari (Priority: Critical)
The Yari spear is essential for handling certain enemy types:
- Find the Yari Master on a small island west of Ishikari Plain coast
- Complete the quest to unlock this versatile weapon
- The Yari’s defensive capabilities make early-game combat much easier
- Typhoon Kick attack prevents being surrounded and disarmed
Armor of the Undying (Priority: High)
This armor set provides significant combat advantages:
- Start by visiting Ugetsu the Storyteller near the Old Inn
- Collect four chimes and use wind to find them
- Place chimes at the Undying Samurai’s Lair (west of Rumoi River)
- Defeat the samurai to claim armor that boosts parry/dodge windows and restores health on stagger
Old Trails (Priority: Medium)
This quest allows you to name your horse:
- Visit the Old Stables northwest of Windy Meadow
- Choose your steed and give it a proper name
- You can select your starter horse again if you’re attached to it
- Named horses have slightly improved stats
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Based on community feedback and personal experience, here are the pitfalls that most beginners fall into:
Combat Mistakes
- Ignoring Weapon Matchups
- Using the wrong weapon makes fights unnecessarily difficult
- Always check enemy weapons before engaging
- Switch weapons mid-combat when facing mixed enemy types
- Neglecting Spirit Management
- Spirit is your most valuable resource
- Don’t waste it on minor abilities
- Save Spirit for healing and crucial moments
- Overlooking Parry Timing
- Parrying is more effective than blocking
- Practice the timing on regular enemies
- Perfect parries create significant advantages
Exploration Mistakes
- Skipping NPC Conversations
- Every NPC can provide valuable information
- Side quests and secrets are often hidden in dialogue
- Missing conversations can lock you out of content
- Ignoring the Cartographer
- Isaburo’s maps save hours of searching
- Maps reveal Altar locations and charm positions
- Worth every mon you spend
- Rushing Through Regions
- Take time to explore each area thoroughly
- Missing collectibles early means backtracking later
- Some upgrades are only available in specific regions
Resource Management and Economy (2026)
Managing your resources effectively is crucial for long-term success:
Money-Making Strategies
Bounty Hunting:
- Visit Kojiro outside the Old Inn for bounty quests
- Higher-tier bounties become available as you progress
- Bounties provide significant mon rewards
- Some bounties reward unique masks as proof
Gambling:
- Visit Huranui’s Rest Inn to unlock gambling
- Risky but potentially very rewarding
- Win games to earn powerful charms
- Set a loss limit to avoid going broke
Resource Gathering:
- Use charms to double resource collection
- Focus on metals and black powder for upgrades
- Sell excess resources you don’t need
- Prioritize upgrades over cosmetic items
Crafting and Upgrades
Camp Crafting:
- Hold left d-pad to set up camp anywhere
- Craft ammo and rest at camps
- Vendors visit camps with unique items
- Change time of day for different opportunities
Upgrade Priority:
- Essential weapons first
- Armor upgrades second
- Cosmetic items last
- Always keep emergency funds
Platform-Specific Tips (PS5 Features)
Ghost Of Yotei takes full advantage of the PlayStation 5’s capabilities:
DualSense Features
- Haptic Feedback: Feel the difference between weapon types
- Adaptive Triggers: Resistance varies by weapon and action
- Touchpad: Use for Gust Wind and memory sequences
- Motion Controls: Optional for some minigames
Performance Modes
- Favor Performance: 60fps for smoother combat
- Favor Resolution: Enhanced visuals for exploration
- Choose based on your priority
- Both modes offer excellent experiences
Quick Resume Integration
- Switch between Ghost Of Yotei and other games seamlessly
- Perfect for checking guides or taking breaks
- Maintains your exact game state
FAQ: Common Beginner Questions
Based on community discussions and “People Also Ask” searches, here are the most common questions from new players:
How do I increase my health in Ghost Of Yotei?
Health is increased by finding and bathing in Hot Springs scattered throughout Ezo. Each Hot Spring provides a permanent health boost, making them essential for survival in later areas. Look for steam rising in the distance to locate them easily.
What’s the best weapon for beginners?
The Katana is the most balanced weapon for beginners. It offers good speed, decent damage, and versatile movesets. However, it’s crucial to unlock all weapon types early and switch between them based on enemy matchups.
How do I unlock new skills and abilities?
Skills are unlocked by visiting Altars of Reflection and spending skill points. You can find Altar locations by using your spyglass or purchasing Traveler’s Maps from Isaburo the Cartographer at the Old Inn.
What’s the fastest way to earn money?
Bounty hunting is the most efficient way to earn mon early in the game. Visit Kojiro outside the Old Inn to accept bounty quests, then track and eliminate targets for substantial rewards.
How do I fast travel in Ghost Of Yotei?
Open your world map and press the triangle button to fast travel to any discovered location, including inns, camps, landmarks, and points of interest. The game features seamless fast travel with minimal loading screens.
What’s the difference between Ghost Of Yotei and Ghost Of Tsushima?
Ghost Of Yotei features a new protagonist (Atsu), a different time period (1603), new weapon mechanics, an expanded skill system, the Wolf Pack companion system, and larger, more diverse environments. The core gameplay feels familiar but significantly refined.
How do I save my game?
The game autosaves frequently at checkpoints. You can also manually save by setting up camp (hold left d-pad) and selecting the rest option. Some story moments also create automatic save points.
What’s the best armor for early game?
The Armor of the Undying is arguably the best early-game armor set. It boosts perfect parry/dodge windows, restores health on stagger, and increases stagger damage during focus attacks when weapon aligned.
Conclusion and Next Steps
You now have everything you need to master Ghost Of Yotei as a beginner! From essential first steps to advanced combat strategies, this guide covers all the bases for your journey through Ezo. Remember to prioritize the Old Inn quest, master the weapon matchup system, and take advantage of the exploration tools at your disposal.
As you progress, don’t forget to check out our other Ghost Of Yotei guides for more advanced strategies, including our comprehensive Odachi combat guide and character analysis.
The world of Ghost Of Yotei is rich with secrets and challenges, but with these tips and strategies, you’re well-equipped to handle whatever the Yotei Six throw at you. May your blade be sharp, your spirit strong, and your revenge swift!
Bookmark this guide for easy reference as you progress through the game, and check back regularly for updates as new strategies and discoveries emerge from the community.