What to know
- You must face five disciples at Dueling Trees before Takezo will appear and challenge you.
- Essential gear upgrades, health, and charmed abilities increase your chances of survival against Takezo.
- The duel atop Mount Yotei is the game’s toughest, featuring aggressive combos and environmental hazards.
- Mastering perfect parries and knowing when to dodge is crucial for victory.
The Takezo the Unrivaled Mythic Tale is among the most iconic combat trials in Ghost of Yotei. It tests your mastery of parries, stance-switching, and focus through a series of challenging duels culminating in one of the game’s most cinematic showdowns.
Takezo the Unrivaled: Tale overview
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Quest Type | Mythic Tale |
| Starting Requirement | Complete any Dueling Tree after the prologue |
| Main Objective | Defeat five Disciples of Takezo, then duel Takezo himself |
| Main Locations | Yotei Grasslands, Tokachi Range, Tomamu Marshlands, Niikappu Falls |
| Final Encounter | Coastal Dueling Tree (Takezo’s Duel) |
| Key Rewards | Dual Katana Spirit Attack, five unique Charms |
| Difficulty | Advanced (recommended for skilled duelists) |
| Quest Giver | Triggered automatically after first Dueling Tree completion |
Starting the Takezo The Unrivaled quest
To begin the mythic tale, visit Ugetsu the storyteller near the Coastal Dueling Tree in the Yotei Grasslands. After hearing the tale, five Dueling Tree challenges become available across Ezo, where you'll battle skilled ronin. Each duel also rewards a unique charm, essential for the final phase.
Dueling Tree all battles
You must defeat five disciples, each found at a different Dueling Tree:
| Dueling Tree Name | Region | Landmark / Direction | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duel Among Graves | Yōtei Grasslands | Southwest of Atsu’s Home, just south of Plum Crane Sumi-e. | Takezo’s Charm of Bracing Victory — increases health recovery after duels. |
| Duel Before the Mountain | Yōtei Grasslands | At the entrance to the Mount Yōtei Shrine climb, west of Master Heijirō’s Garden. | Takezo’s Charm of Renewed Determination — restores Resolve on perfect parries. |
| Duel Beneath Red Leaves | Tokachi Range | Far northwest Tokachi Range, beyond the Amber Respite Shrine climb, under a crimson maple canopy. | Takezo’s Charm of Bold Deflection — enhances stagger damage after perfect parries. |
| Duel in the Marshland | Tokachi Range | South of Tomamu Marshlands, near the Altar of Reflection. | Takezo’s Charm of Bracing Victory (alternate form) — improved health restoration when below 50%. |
| Duel Among Ruins | Tokachi Range | Northeast Tokachi Range, near Niikappu Falls and the Green Dye House ruins. | Takezo’s Charm of Stout Heart — increases defense for several seconds after parrying. |
| Coastal Dueling Tree | Yōtei Grasslands | Along the southern coast, southwest of Lake Kuttara, near the Weary Traveler’s Camp. | Takezo’s Dual Slash Technique, Straw Hat, and exclusive cosmetic kits. |
Defeating all the first five disciples will trigger a messenger at the Coastal Tree, luring Takezo himself.
How to fight Takezo the Unrivaled at Coastal Dueling Tree
After getting through all disciple battles, find Takezo at the Coastal Dueling Tree:
Step 1
Make sure you truly have the five Takezo charms (from Dueling Trees) equipped and that you’ve rested at the summit campfire — that’s the trigger for the boss encounter. If you don’t get the dialogue/intro, you missed a charm or didn’t rest.
Step 3
Respect his reach and telegraphed combos. He mixes parry-able attacks with very fast unblockable follow-ups — punish the parryable swings and back away when you recognize the unblockable wind-up. Observational wins early rounds.
Use a defensive rotation
Parry/dodge → counterdash attack → Tempest/Relentless combo. Build your hits into one heavy opener (Focus attack or Tempest Strike) after a successful parry or stagger. Dual-Katana techniques that interrupt are particularly useful.
Step 5
When he teaches you a move mid-fight (the lesson moment mentioned in multiple writeups), learn its timing — you’ll unlock the ability later to use a similar attack. That taught move is part of the duel’s scripting: study and then exploit it.
Mount Yotei Duel with Takezo to complete the Mythic Tale
Once prepared, travel to the peak of Mount Yotei and interact with Takezo for your final challenge.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for the fight:
Step 6
Watch for Takezo’s weapon swap—he alternates between his oar and katana. Each swap is followed by an unblockable draw attack. Dodge rather than parry in these moments.
Step 7
Focus on perfect parries. With the Bounty Master Armor fully upgraded, you get three free attacks after every successful perfect parry. Regular parries are disabled, so timing is crucial.
Step 8
Dodge Takezo’s fast disarming strike at the end of his combo. Parrying or perfect parrying won’t succeed here—rely on dodges instead.
Step 9
During the blizzard, health will progressively freeze and reduce. Finish the fight quickly by maximizing damage during safe windows. Use spirit to revive yourself if necessary, and make every opportunity count. Defeat Takezo.
Claim Takezo’s rewards and techniques
| Reward Type | Item Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit Technique | Dual Katana Spirit Attack | A special attack using both blades, deals heavy stagger and damage. |
| Charm (Duel 1) | Charm of the Unrelenting Warrior | Increases attack after perfect parries. |
| Charm (Duel 2) | Charm of Renewed Determination | Restores minor health after duel victories. |
| Charm (Duel 3) | Charm of Bold Deflection | Enhances perfect parry window slightly. |
| Charm (Duel 4) | Charm of Bracing Victory | Reduces stagger damage briefly after parries. |
| Charm (Duel 5) | Charm of the Stout Heart | Greatly reduces damage taken when health is low. |
| Completion Unlock | Access to “The Five Teachings” Mythic Tale | Next Takezo-related questline unlocked post-duel. |
| Trophy Unlock | Completing the Mythic Tale | Unrivaled trophy unlocks automatically post-duel. |
Tips for the Takezo duel
- Use weapons with quick combos like the Yari and Dual Katanas for a fluid combat rhythm.
- Focus on learning attack patterns; most damage comes from unblockable moves that must be dodged, not blocked.
- Use Metsubushi to blind enemies and spirits for healing and stun effects.
- Be patient during rematches; aggressive offense only works with precise timing.
- Equip charms as soon as you get them for cumulative benefits against Takezo in all fights.
Mastering Takezo the Unrivaled
By conquering Takezo’s Disciples and outlasting him in the Coastal duel, you’ll prove your skill as a true duelist in Ghost of Yotei. This Mythic Tale not only sharpens your combat mastery but also unlocks powerful abilities for future fights. The Dual Katana Spirit Attack becomes a crucial asset in late-game Oni battles, making Takezo the Unrivaled one of the most rewarding challenges to complete.
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