This guide highlights seven essential tasks to complete when you first begin your journey in Ghost of Tsushima. Following these steps will give you a massive advantage in the early game, setting you up for success across the rest of the island.
1. Focus on Key Main Quests Early
Don't immediately get lost in the open world. Prioritize completing two crucial early-game tales:
- Yuna's Tale ("The Warrior's Code"): Completing this unlocks your assassination abilities, which are absolutely vital for thinning out Mongol camps silently.
- Ishikawa's Tale: This quest rewards you with the Half Bow, giving you a desperately needed ranged combat option.
2. Visit Hiyoshi Springs
This early-game town is packed with benefits for a wandering samurai.
- Traveler's Attire: Speak to the merchant here to receive this outfit. It vibrates the controller when you are near collectibles and clears more fog of war on the map.
- Upgrades: The town features a hot spring to increase your maximum health and a bamboo strike to increase your maximum resolve.
3. Explore the Golden Temple
The Golden Temple is a major hub area that you should unlock as soon as possible.
- Merchants & Upgrades: You will find weaponsmiths and armorers to upgrade your gear.
- Gift Altar: Claim free gifts (resources) left by grateful peasants.
- Lady Masako's Tale: Start her questline here to easily obtain the highly defensive Samurai Clan Armor.
4. Track Down Shinto Shrines
Keep an eye out for massive Torii gates. They lead to platforming challenges that reward you with Major Charms.
- These Major Charms provide massive passive upgrades, such as significantly increasing your resource gathering, or restoring health upon killing enemies. These are game-changers early on.
5. Find the White Dye Merchant
If you care about fashion (and you should), you'll want to find this hidden merchant.
- Located in the Komoda prefecture, this merchant is the only one who sells unique, pure white dyes for your various armor sets and bows.
6. Complete Mythic Tales
Mythic Tales are challenging, multi-step side quests marked by blue icons, but they offer the best rewards in the game.
- Completing them early can unlock specialized legendary armors or powerful, unblockable combat techniques (like the Heavenly Strike) that trivialize early boss fights.
7. Invest in Early Survival Skills
Spend your first few Technique Points wisely:
- Safe Landing: Negates fall damage from moderate heights.
- Deflect Arrows: Essential for dealing with Mongol archers while you are fighting melee attackers.
- Standoff Streak: Allows you to instantly dispatch multiple roaming enemies at the very start of a fight.
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