Master the Art of the Samurai and the Ghost
This guide provides eight essential combat tips for surviving and mastering the gameplay in Ghost of Tsushima. Following these steps will make you a fearsome force on the battlefield.
Understanding the core fundamentals is crucial. Differentiate between quick attacks (square) and heavy attacks (triangle). Master the timing for parrying and blocking. Always aim to time your blocks right before the attack hits to trigger a Perfect Parry, which opens the enemy up for a lethal counterattack.
Mashing the attack buttons blindly will cause you to be easily blocked and leave you vulnerable to swift counterattacks. Instead, use controlled 1-2 hit combos and observe how the enemy reacts before committing to more swings.
Archers are dangerous, annoying, and distracting. They can ruin a perfect parry streak from afar. Always try to rush and take them out first since they have very low health and are easy to defeat in close quarters.
Staggering enemies by breaking their guard is the key to combat. You must match your stance to the enemy type:
Use standoffs to drastically thin enemy numbers right as a fight begins and to replenish a large amount of Resolve. To avoid falling for enemy faints and false swings, focus on their feet instead of their weapon. When they physically step forward, release the button to strike.
Combat can get chaotic with multiple enemies attacking at once. You can use the R2 menu (Stance Menu or Ghost Weapon Menu) to significantly slow down time. Use this mechanic to catch your breath, assess the situation, and select the right target, tool, or stance.
Don't rely solely on your Katana. Utilize your Ghost tools like Kunai, Smoke Bombs, and Sticky Bombs. They are incredibly effective at breaking enemy defenses instantly, interrupting unblockable attacks, and managing large groups of enemies.
When spending your Technique Points early in the game, prioritize the Deflection Skill Tree. Abilities like deflecting arrows and parrying previously unblockable spear and sword attacks are mandatory for survival. Exploration skills are far less critical, as you can naturally find collectibles by simply following environmental cues like yellow birds and foxes.
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