Welcome to the beautiful and dangerous land of Ezo! Starting your journey in Ghost of Yotei can feel a little overwhelming. The world is huge, enemies are tough, and there are countless things to see and do. If you’re wondering where to even begin, you’ve come to the right place.
This Ghost of Yotei beginner’s guide is designed to give you a strong start. We’ll show you how to explore effectively, master combat, and make smart choices with your skills and gear. By following these simple tips, you’ll go from a confused newcomer to a confident samurai ready to take on any challenge.
For those who want the key info fast, here are the most important takeaways from our guide:
The most common mistake new players make is trying to finish the main quests as fast as possible. The golden markers on your map are tempting, but exploring the world is far more valuable in the beginning.
When you take your time to wander, you’ll find Hot Springs that increase your max health, Bamboo Strikes that boost your Spirit, and hidden altars that give you new abilities. Completing side quests and activities will reward you with gear and experience that make the main story missions much easier later on.
The world of Ezo is your greatest resource. Your Ezo exploration journey will be filled with beautiful sights and hidden rewards. Instead of just running from one objective to another, take time to climb hills, check behind waterfalls, and wander into forests.
Many of the game’s best secrets and most powerful items aren’t marked on the map until you get close. Talk to every character you meet; some will give you rumors that lead to interesting side missions. This is one of the best Ghost of Yotei tips we can offer: let your curiosity guide you.
Ghost of Yotei doesn’t always hold your hand. Instead, it uses clever environmental clues to point you toward interesting locations. Learning to spot these is crucial for finding the best secrets.
Keep an eye out for these signals:
The Ghost of Yotei combat system is more about timing and strategy than just attacking wildly. You need to learn how to read your enemies and react correctly. The three most important moves are blocking, dodging, and parrying.
Blocking protects you from standard attacks. Dodging helps you avoid powerful, unblockable attacks (usually marked with a red glow). Parrying, which means blocking just before an attack lands, is the most powerful defensive move. It will stagger your opponent, leaving them open for a devastating counter-attack. You can learn more about fighting stances in our detailed guide on stances.
Learning how to parry is a game-changer. At first, the timing can be tricky. Don’t get discouraged if you miss it a few times. The key is to watch the enemy’s weapon, not their body. Tap the block button right as their swing is about to hit you.
Actionable Tip: Find a weak, lone enemy early in the game and just practice with them. Don’t attack them. Just stand there and focus only on parrying their attacks. Doing this for five minutes will build your muscle memory and make you much better at combat for the rest of the game.
As you play, you’ll collect different armor, charms, and weapons. Don’t just stick with what you start with. Your gear makes a big difference. The best loadout for beginners is one that helps you stay alive. Look for armor and charms that increase your health or make it easier to parry.
You can save different loadouts and switch between them. For example, you can have one loadout for exploration that helps you find more supplies, and another one for combat that boosts your attack power. Here’s a simple starter loadout to aim for:
| Gear Slot | Item Recommendation | Why It’s Good for Beginners |
| Armor | Traveler’s Attire | Helps you find more collectibles by vibrating the controller. |
| Major Charm | Charm of Amaterasu | Heals you a small amount every time you defeat an enemy. |
| Minor Charm | Charm of Resolve | Gives you more Spirit, which you use for special moves. |
The skill tree in Ghost of Yotei can look massive. When it comes to unlocking techniques, focus on the “Deflection” and “Evasion” trees first. These contain essential skills like the “Perfect Parry,” which makes parrying more rewarding, and “Roll,” which lets you dodge farther.
Unlocking these defensive skills first will help you survive tough fights much more easily than unlocking a new fancy attack. Once you have a solid defense, you can start investing in your favorite weapon techniques and stances. To see what to aim for, check out our breakdown of the best builds.
Supplies, metals, and flowers are used for everything from upgrading your sword to crafting arrows. Get into the habit of grabbing everything you see. This is one of our most important looting tips.
After you win a fight, run around and collect all the items dropped by enemies. When you enter a house or a camp, check every corner for supplies. The world is full of resources, and taking a few extra seconds to pick them up will save you a lot of time later. The famous developer Sucker Punch is known for hiding resources in clever spots.
Your spyglass is one of your most useful exploration tools. Whenever you get to a high point, like the top of a cliff or a watchtower, pull out your spyglass (press up on the D-pad).
Scan the landscape slowly. When you hover over a point of interest, like a camp or a shrine, it will be permanently marked on your map with a question mark. Doing this from a few high spots can reveal most of a region’s secrets without you having to wander aimlessly.
When you first start, you should focus on exploration and defense. Spend your first few hours wandering the starting area, finding Hot Springs to increase your health, and practicing combat on easy enemies. Use your first technique points to unlock defensive skills like the Perfect Parry. This will build a strong foundation for the rest of the game.
Yes, it’s not only okay, it’s recommended! The main story missions have difficulty spikes that can be tough if you haven’t upgraded your character. Completing side quests and exploration activities will give you the health, skills, and gear needed to handle the main quests with confidence. If you need help with a tough mission, our walkthrough guides can help.
Practice is the only way. The key is to watch the enemy’s attack and press the block button just before it hits you. A great way to practice is to find a single, basic enemy and just defend against them without attacking. Focus on their movements. Soon, the timing for how to parry will become second nature.
Absolutely. The first skills you should unlock are in the Deflection and Evasion trees. Specifically, get the “Perfect Parry” skill as soon as possible. This makes successful parries more effective. After that, unlocking the “Roll” ability from the Evasion tree is a great choice, as it helps you escape dangerous area-of-effect attacks.
The fastest way is to clear out enemy camps. Mongol-controlled territories are packed with supplies, iron, and steel. Make sure to check inside all the tents and chests after you’ve defeated the enemies. Also, keep an eye out for NPC travelers on the road, as they sometimes offer free resources or sell maps to resource-rich areas.
Ghost of Yotei can be challenging, but it’s not unfair. The difficulty comes from its combat system, which punishes button-mashing. If you take the time to learn the defensive mechanics like parrying and dodging, you will find the game very manageable. The game’s difficulty is designed to make you feel like a true samurai, where every move counts.
Your adventure in Ghost of Yotei is just beginning, and with this Ghost of Yotei beginner’s guide, you’re now ready to face its challenges head-on. Remember to prioritize exploration over the main story, learn the rhythm of combat, and always be aware of the world’s clues.
By taking your time and playing smart, you’ll not only survive but thrive. Now go explore the beautiful world of Ezo and forge your own legend. For more in-depth information, be sure to read IGN’s complete wiki for the game.
