Ghost of Tsushima: 10 Pro Tips to Master the Sword and Explore Tsushima

1. Learn to Parry and Counter Early

Parrying is the cornerstone of combat in Ghost of Tsushima. Enemies will flash blue before a regular attack—tap L1 just before the blow lands to parry, staggering them and setting up a counter. For unblockable red attacks, dodge or use the roll. Practice with the training guy in the beginning area until it becomes second nature.

2. Master Standoffs for Instant Kills

Standoffs are high-risk, high-reward encounters. Approach a group of enemies and initiate a standoff. Watch the enemy's feet—when they step forward, strike. Successfully killing the first enemy intimidates others, lowering their defense. Later, you can unlock the ability to chain multiple standoff kills.

3. Upgrade Your Gear Regularly

Don't hoard supplies—visit swordsmiths and armorers often. Upgrading your katana increases damage, while armor upgrades provide better defense and special perks. The Traveler's Attire is great for exploration; the Samurai Clan Armor boosts health; the Ghost Armor enhances stealth. Switch between outfits based on your current objective.

4. Use the Wind of Exploration

Tsushima has no traditional minimap. Instead, use the wind by swiping up on the touchpad to set a guiding wind toward your waypoint. Additionally, follow golden birds and foxes to discover hot springs (increase health), bamboo strikes (increase resolve), and Shinto shrines (increase charm slots). These upgrades are essential for tougher enemies.

5. Gather Resolve for Healing and Special Moves

Resolve is earned by landing successful attacks, parries, or executions. It powers your Healing ability and special techniques like the Heavenly Strike. Always keep at least one Resolve stone for emergencies. Later, you can unlock the ability to bank multiple stones.

6. Stance Dancing Is Key

Each of the four sword stances is strong against specific enemy types: Stone (swordsmen), Water (shieldmen), Wind (spearmen), and Moon (brutes). Switch stances mid-combat to break enemies' guard quickly. You can do this instinctively after some practice. Unlock all stances by defeating the Mongol leaders in each region.

7. Stealth Is Not Cowardice—It's Survival

Ghost of Tsushima encourages stealth, especially on higher difficulties. Use smoke bombs to escape, wind chimes to distract enemies, and the grapple hook to reach rooftops for aerial assassinations. Chain assassinations by unlocking the Chain Assassination skill. For large camps, take out archers first from afar.

8. Complete Mythic Tales for Powerful Abilities

Look for musician characters who start Mythic Tales. These optional quests reward you with legendary techniques: the Heavenly Strike (unblockable slash), Dance of Wrath (multi-target attack), and the Ghost Stance (instant kill on any enemy after a certain number of ghost kills). The latter is excellent for crowd control.

9. Collect All Artifacts for Lore and Trophies

Tsushima is filled with records, artifact sets, and vanity gear. Collecting them not only enriches the story but also contributes to your completion percentage and unlocks a powerful charm reward. Use the guiding wind to seek out question marks on the map—they usually lead to a new discovery.

10. Don't Forget to Use Your Tools and Ghost Weapons

Your character Jin is not just a swordsman; he's also a ghost. Unlock and use kunai (stagger enemies), shuriken (quick damage), stick bombs (area damage), and poison darts. These tools break enemy formations and give you breathing room. Stealth kills with tools often go unnoticed by nearby enemies.

By following these tips, you'll slice through the Mongol invasion with style. Remember, the path of the samurai is about discipline, but the ghost walks his own path. Good luck, ronin.