What to know
- You get a lot of freedom in tackling the Yōtei Six in (mostly) any order.
- Camps are crucial early: rest, craft, cook, and recruit Wolf Pack members there.
- Use your shamisen (music) not just for ambience — it helps you find treasures and unlock exploration paths.
- Navigation is more organic: instead of mini-maps or waypoints, environmental cues, wind direction, and fireflies will guide you.
The world of Ghost of Yōtei rewards patience, observation, and preparation. If you rush forward too quickly, you’ll miss the systems that make your character — and your Wolf Pack — stronger. To truly get ahead early, it’s not about speed; it’s about making each move count. This guide walks you through the key priorities to build early momentum, stay resourceful, and get ready to face the Yōtei Six with confidence.
Getting started: what to prioritize in your first hours
When you begin your run in Ghost of Yōtei, these early steps will set a strong foundation.
1) Grab all the weapons first; and understand your tools and mechanics
You start with a katana, but over time unlock more weapons — ōdachi, kusarigama, dual katanas, tanegashima, and more. The stance system from Tsushima is replaced by a weapon counter and trait system. You also have a wolf companion who can help in combat or stealth.
Learning how each weapon works against different enemy types (heavy, agile, armored) is a good early investment.
| What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Start with the Katana (Wolf Blade) | A balanced, reliable weapon perfect for building combos and parrying. |
| Unlock the Yari (spear) early | Gives reach and crowd control; perfect for mid-range enemies. |
| Unlock the Kusarigama | Useful for pulling enemies or breaking guard from a distance. |
| Unlock the Odachi (great sword) | Heavy damage against armored or large enemies. |
| Unlock the Dual Katanas | Fast strikes against agile enemies; complements your base Katana. |
| Experiment with matchlock firearms | Adds range versatility against flying or shielded opponents. |
| Use your Wolf companion tactically | The wolf can distract or attack enemies, giving breathing room in tough fights. |
2) Use camps regularly
Camps in Ghost of Yotei are “safe zones” in the field where you can:
- Rest to restore health and spirit
- Cook food to get temporary buffs
- Craft ammo and resources
- Play your shamisen to uncover hidden paths
- Interact with Wolf Pack allies or recruit new ones
Make a habit of camping after exploration or combat stretches so you always stay in top form.
3) Explore and orient yourself
Because the UI is minimal and the game leans into immersive guidance, you’ll want to:
- Use wind or gust mechanics to get subtle directional help toward objectives.
- Follow visual cues like birds, fireflies, or mountain ridges to discover hidden paths.
- Unlock shrines and points of interest early — they serve as fast travel points and improve exploration flow.
- Play your shamisen to uncover hidden treasures or open new exploration paths.
4) Tackle bounties and side tasks early
Side content isn’t just filler. It offers:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Currency | Earn mon or zeni to upgrade weapons and supplies |
| Materials | Gather rare crafting resources |
| Practice | Improve combat rhythm and stealth awareness |
| Wolf Pack Upgrades | Strengthen your companions and their abilities |
Balancing side missions with main quests early on ensures your build stays competitive and your exploration rewarding.
| What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Complete the Smiling Yoshitomo bounty in Yōtei Grasslands | One of the earliest and easiest bounties, rewarding valuable currency and experience. |
| Take the Crow Genzo bounty | Early challenge with a big payout and access to stronger loot. |
| Check bounty boards through Kojiro | Keeps new bounties coming for consistent rewards. |
| Use bounty rewards for Wolf Pack or weapon upgrades | Builds overall power before major boss hunts. |
5) Choose your order of hunting the Yōtei Six strategically
You can challenge many of the Yōtei Six in varying orders (except Snake, who must come first, and Lord Saitō, who is last). Plan your path based on difficulty and preparation:
- Start with manageable targets to collect resources and experience.
- Use easier regions to refine your combat style.
- Save the hardest bosses for when your Wolf Pack and weapons are upgraded.
| What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Start with Snake | Mandatory first boss; teaches parry and dodge flow. |
| Target Oni or Kitsune next | Manageable mid-tier bosses for resource buildup. |
| Save Dragon and Spider for mid-late game | They hit harder and demand refined parry timing. |
| Face Lord Saitō last | The final boss; requires a maxed build and strong Wolf Pack synergy. |
| Alternate boss hunts with upgrades | Keeps power level in sync with difficulty. |
Best early build for Ghost of Yōtei
Here’s the most balanced and effective early-game build to aim for — focusing on flexibility, survivability, and steady growth.
| Component | What to Aim for Early | Why It’s Powerful |
|---|---|---|
| Armor | Armor of the Undying | Restores health when staggering enemies and extends Perfect Parry window, making it ideal for sustained duels. |
| Primary Weapon | Katana (Wolf Blade) | Balanced speed and power; reliable for all enemy types, effective with Wolf-based or parry builds. |
| Secondary Weapon | Dual Katanas or Yari | Dual Katanas favor speed and combo chaining, while Yari provides strong mid-range control and crowd management. |
| Heavy Weapon | Ōdachi | Deals heavy damage to armored targets and bosses — best paired with Strength Reliquary upgrades. |
| Charms / Modifiers | Father’s Charm, Mother’s Charm, Charm of Mount Yōtei, Charm of Futsunushi | Enhances parry performance, boosts both ranged and melee defense, and increases overall survivability — essential for hybrid offense/defense builds. |
| Skills / Techniques | Perfect Parry upgrades, Wolf Summoning, Stealth Assassination, Weapon Mastery | Creates a balanced build — parry mastery supports offense, while Wolf synergy and stealth skills add adaptability and crowd control. |
Early mission walkthrough tip: prologue highlights
The prologue in the Yōtei Grasslands is your first major mission. During it:
- Interact with everything — hidden dig points and collectables often lead to long-term rewards.
- Pay attention to tutorials; many core mechanics unlock here.
- Experiment with movement, stealth, and combat freely before the world opens up.
Early quests for rewards and unlocks
| Quest / Activity | Unlocks | Location | Reward / Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Inn Quest | Unlocks bow merchant, armorer, cartographer, and bounty board for the central region. | Near Yōtei’s Shadow Inn, within the lower mountain foothills. | Access to gear upgrades, regional maps, and bounty contracts for early progression. |
| Lost in Reflection | Grants access to the Altar of Reflection network and skill point altars across Ezo. | Yōtei’s Shadow Inn, unlocked after speaking to the monk Gessho. | Earns Skill Points, unlocks new upgrade mechanics, and progresses toward the Moments of Reflection trophy. |
| Rescue Taro the Scavenger | Unlocks the roaming charm and dye vendor, who appears periodically near towns and shrines. | North of Old Inn, along the wooded paths of the Sarufutsu Trail. | Access to rare charms, unique dyes, and early-game gear improvements. |
| Start Bounties (via Bounty Board) | Begins the Bounty Master Armor questline and related bounty missions. | Bounty Board at Shadow Inn. | Grants coin rewards, advanced gear contracts, and progress toward the Bounty Master set. |
| Side Quests via Caretaker | Opens rescue missions and unlocks special merchants within the Sanctuary Grove area. | Sanctuary Grove, a sacred refuge zone near Sarafutsu Lighthouse. | Rewards include upgrade materials, vendor referrals, and unique side narrative content. |
How to maintain your edge until the endgame
By the time you reach the late game, you should focus on refining your build and efficiency:
- Keep weapons upgraded and balanced for all enemy types.
- Keep exploring new regions for rare loot and hidden quests.
- Strengthen camp facilities and Wolf Pack synergy bonuses.
- Stay adaptive — switch tactics often to handle new threats.
Getting ahead early in Yotei
The early game in Ghost of Yōtei rewards patience, exploration, and smart prioritization. Don’t rush the story; build a foundation of upgrades, resource stock, and knowledge of the terrain. Use stealth and interrogation where possible to simplify encounters. Over time, your advantages will compound, making later challenges feel more manageable and giving you freedom of approach.
Discussion