Ghost of Yotei drops you into a massive open world full of secrets, systems, and mechanics that can easily overwhelm you in the first few hours. The game does not explain everything directly, and sometimes you will only discover how something works after trial and error. This guide aims to smooth that early-game experience with practical advice, recommended skills, and exploration tips that will save you frustration without spoiling the story.
Whether you are trying to figure out which skills to unlock first, how to approach the Yotei Six, or what side content actually matters, here is a breakdown of what you need to know before diving too deep.
Which Skills to Unlock First
The first big question in Ghost of Yotei is how to spend your skill points. The game offers skill trees for nearly every aspect of play, from combat and stealth to horse riding and even wolf abilities. Because you earn points by exploring altars and bowing to them, you will constantly be tempted to spread yourself thin. Resist that temptation and focus on a few core abilities that will immediately improve your gameplay.
Ghost of Yotei: 10 Things the Game Doesn't Tell You
Recommended early skills:
- Chain Assassination (Assassination Tree): This is essential for stealth play. Without it, sneaking into hideouts feels incomplete, since enemies are often paired together. Chain Assassination allows you to quickly take down two targets back-to-back, preventing messy alerts.
- Disarm Counter: Enemies sometimes use yellow glowing attacks that can disarm you. Unlocking this counter allows you to press and release triangle at the right time to turn the tables and disarm them instead. It becomes more important as enemy variety increases.
- Roll (Survival Tree): Simple but crucial. Double-tapping circle to roll out of danger is a lifesaver and something you will miss immediately if you came from Ghost of Tsushima.
- Perfect Dodge: This gives you strong counter opportunities when dodging at the last second. It is efficient and pairs well with aggressive playstyles.
- Avoid Enreo’s Will (at first): This ability revives you by spending spirit meter. It sounds useful, but early-game enemies are not tough enough to justify it, and the game provides other revival opportunities. Save your points for better skills.
Focus on these abilities first. Once you have them, the game’s combat opens up significantly.
Where to Go First
The game throws you into an open region with multiple leads and objectives. It can feel overwhelming to suddenly have several paths but very few tools. Each region ties to a member of the Yotei Six, along with local stories, biomes, and activities.
The most important step when arriving in a new region is to find the local Sensei. These characters not only provide quests but also teach you entirely new weapon types. Unlike Ghost of Tsushima’s stances, you will swap weapon types frequently, and having multiple options is critical when enemies carry different gear. Seek these out before hunting a Yotei Six member or taking on difficult duels.
As for which Yotei Six member to pursue first, there is no strict answer. The Oni makes a good early choice since their fire abilities introduce unique mechanics without overwhelming you. However, the game’s flexibility means you can take on whichever feels most interesting. Just make sure you are armed with more than your starting katana before you commit.
Ghost of Yotei: 10 Things the Game Doesn't Tell You
Wolf Dens and Why They Matter
One of the biggest new systems in Ghost of Yotei is your bond with a wolf companion. This wolf does not constantly follow you, but it appears during key moments and grows stronger through its own skill tree. Finding Wolf Dens is the main way to unlock these upgrades.
Wolf Dens are hidden across the world, often marked by twisted or unusual trees that stand out from the environment. Interacting with these triggers sequences that reward points for your wolf’s abilities. Do not ignore them. A powered-up wolf is one of the most game-changing advantages you can get, and it will only become more valuable later in the story.
Ghost of Yotei: 10 Things the Game Doesn't Tell You
Use the Periscope
Pressing up on the D-pad activates your periscope, essentially a pair of binoculars for scouting the environment. At first, it feels like a situational tool only used during scripted sequences, but in practice it is one of the most reliable ways to find hidden points of interest.
Even when the environment looks empty or cluttered by trees, the periscope can highlight activities nearby. Get in the habit of pulling it out regularly to avoid missing shrines, wolf dens, or points of interest. It keeps exploration fluid without constantly pausing to check the map.
Ghost of Yotei: 10 Things the Game Doesn't Tell You
Throw Everything
If you see a weapon on the ground or an object like a sake jar, pick it up and throw it. Spears, discarded swords, and throwable items can instantly take down weaker enemies and thin out groups. It might feel like a cheap trick at first, but the game clearly intends for you to use these tools.
Sake jars in particular are plentiful. Use them in stealth to create distractions or toss them in combat to stagger enemies. Atsu is not bound by a samurai code like Jin Sakai, so the game rewards creativity and pragmatism in combat.
Ghost of Yotei: 10 Things the Game Doesn't Tell You
Side Content is Worth It
Ghost of Yotei’s world is dense, more so than Ghost of Tsushima. Side missions, random NPCs, and small encounters consistently reward you with items, skills, or memorable stories. It is easy to ride past an NPC leaning against a building and miss out on a fully fleshed-out side quest. Take the time to approach villagers and interact with people in towns.
The game also feels narratively responsive to downtime. Completing side content between main missions makes story pacing feel natural, as if time has passed in the world. Do not rush through the main path; you will miss some of the most rewarding content.
Ghost of Yotei: 10 Things the Game Doesn't Tell You
Understanding the Map
The map is more layered than it looks. On the lower left you will find your card system, which organizes objectives into categories such as bounties, Yotei Six targets, myths, and Sensei quests. Scroll up and down to switch categories, then left and right to navigate within each one.
A special mechanic is the Traveler’s Maps, which you can purchase from cartographers or occasionally discover. These maps require you to align landmarks with the in-game map to pinpoint hidden treasures. The problem is that the world map has minimal detail, making these puzzles trickier than expected. Pay close attention to faint river lines and border markings. Once you understand how to read them, these maps become one of the most rewarding exploration tools.
Ghost of Yotei: 10 Things the Game Doesn't Tell You
Armor Progression and Customization
Like Ghost of Tsushima, armor sets can be upgraded at armorers for better stats and visual changes. However, you can also swap between different visual ranks of the same armor even after maxing it out. By pressing square to dye the armor, you will see R1 and L1 prompts that toggle between previous visual styles. This lets you enjoy the stats of a fully upgraded set while keeping a more grounded appearance if you prefer.
The main Enreo armor works a little differently. It only progresses by completing story objectives tied to the Yotei Six. The game tells you to “follow the ginko tree leaves,” which can be confusing. Do not overthink it. Progress the main story and the armor will naturally improve.
Ghost of Yotei: 10 Things the Game Doesn't Tell You
Do Not Forget Bounties
Early towns introduce bounty boards where you can pick up contracts to hunt down specific targets. Because the game’s world is so busy, you may kill a bounty target without realizing it and forget to claim the reward. Always return to the bounty board NPC to cash them in. Not only will you earn money, but the bounty master occasionally gives you special missions if you prove yourself consistent.
Ghost of Yotei: 10 Things the Game Doesn't Tell You
Final Thoughts
Ghost of Yotei can feel overwhelming at first because of how much it throws at you. But with the right skills unlocked early, a focus on weapon variety through Sensei quests, and attention to wolf dens and exploration tools, the game’s systems click into place. Side content is worth your time, and experimenting with all the tools available will keep combat fresh.
If you take one thing from this guide, let it be this: slow down, explore, and invest in the wolf and your weapons before charging into big fights. Ghost of Yotei rewards patience, curiosity, and flexibility more than brute force.
For more Ghost of Yotei, check out our guide on How to Beat All Bosses.