Ghost of Yotei is fairly transparent about all of the combat maneuvers that Atsu can perform as she battles her way across the open world. However, there are some important techniques of the trade that are not necessarily conveyed to players in the game itself, but are only discovered through trial and error and with a little lateral thinking on the side.
This guide for Ghost of Yotei is a shortlist of ten of the best combat tips and tricks for players of all levels.
Situational Weapon Selection
The five major weapon types are all equally adept at combat, but will particularly excel at countering one specific type of enemy. They are:
- Wolf Blade Katana which is most effective against other single Katana wielders.
- Dual Katana which is most effective against Polearms such as Yari or Naginata.
- Yari which is most effective against Sickles such as Dual Katana or Kusarigama.
- Kusarigama which is most effective against Shields.
- Odachi which is most effective against Brutes.
Combatting Dual Wielders
Prepare in advance for adversaries that switch between weapon types mid-combat by paying close attention to the arms they are bearing even before combat actually begins.
Target Prioritization
When facing large groups of diversely equipped enemies, be sure to target ranged opponents first, as they will chip away at your health from deep in the battle line. Either pick them off early on before combat even begins with your own bow, or rush them mid-engagement while ignoring melee adversaries.
Crowd Control
The Kusarigama’s sweep attack is the best choice for battling multiple enemies if you find yourself mobbed chaotically. Use it to interrupt attacks, then make a break towards ranged units first, if any. Target shield bearers next as that is what the Kusarigama is most effective at countering, while continuing to hold off the larger group. Once you have whittled down their numbers, you can then switch to weapons that correctly counter the remaining foes.
Disarm Counter Failure
If you are consistently unable to correctly time the disarm QTE counter, simply dodge or evade instead. The window is much larger as you can begin your evasion as soon as you see the yellow glint that indicates a disarm maneuver is about to be initiated.
Environmental Hazard Kills
Pay attention to the environment, and try to make it work to your advantage. Enemies standing in tall grass can be quickly dispatched by setting it ablaze with a Fire Arrow. Enemies standing at the edge of a long drop can be instantaneously terminated by either Typhoon Kicking with the Yari, or Shoulder Charging them right off of the side.
Blazing Shields
Fire Arrows also come in handy for setting ablaze the shields of enemies bearing them. They will drop them quickly, providing you with the opportunity to properly counter them with your own weapon.
Winning Standoffs
Timing standoffs correctly can be difficult, especially if you are looking for visual cues in the wrong places. Rather than watching for upper body feints and twitches, focus on the rear foot of your adversary instead. As soon as you see it in motion, release your strike.
Rapid Arrow Type Switching
In the midst of combat, you can remain in the bow’s aiming mode and quickly flick through your arrow types using R1 as the situation demands.
Those are some of the best tips and tricks for combat in Ghost of Yotei.
