Ghost of Yotei Guide: Best Skills to Unlock First

Ghost of Yotei revolutionizes character progression by anchoring skill acquisition to the world itself. Instead of earning XP and spending points from a menu, you'll discover Altars of Reflection scattered across Ezo's vast landscape. Each altar grants exactly one technique, making your choices permanent and strategic planning essential. Here's your roadmap to the abilities that will transform Atsu into an unstoppable force.

How Skill Progression Works in Ghost of Yotei

Unlike traditional RPGs, Ghost of Yotei eliminates the familiar XP grind. You won't accumulate skill points to spend whenever convenient. Instead, progression flows through specific locations called Altars of Reflection. When you approach one of these sacred shrines, simply swipe down on the touchpad to bow, and the Growth screen automatically appears.

The system operates on a simple principle: one altar equals one new skill. You'll choose from four distinct categories - Onryo, Melee, Revenge, and Wolf - each containing specialized techniques that define your playstyle.

Altar of Reflection Locations - Ghost ...

Finding Altars of Reflection

Golden Birds occasionally appear during exploration and will guide you directly to hidden altars. Alternatively, purchase Cartographer's Maps from vendors to reveal altar locations on your map. Many altars are protected by enemy camps or positioned at the end of parkour challenges, so come prepared for a fight.

Combat Mastery: Essential Onryo Skills

Perfect Parry - Your #1 Priority

Perfect Parry from the Onryo Attacks tree stands as the single most valuable technique in the entire game. Timing your parry just before an enemy strike triggers a dramatic time slowdown effect, granting you Spirit and creating an opening for devastating counterattacks.

The beauty of this skill lies in its forgiving nature - you only need to nail one perfect parry to activate the effect, even if you miss several other blocks in the same encounter.

Best Skills to Get First in Ghost of Yotei

Disarm Counter - Turn Defense Into Offense

When enemies perform attacks with yellow glowing indicators, you must charge your heavy attack and release it at the perfect moment. Disarm Counter allows you to turn these dangerous encounters in your favor by disarming opponents when you nail the timing.

Successfully disarming an enemy lets you pick up their dropped weapon and hurl it back at them - a satisfying reversal that often eliminates threats instantly.

Jump Kick - Breaking Through Defenses

Don't underestimate Jump Kick despite its simple appearance. This technique excels at building stagger damage against shielded enemies and interrupting incoming attacks. When surrounded or disarmed, kicks provide crucial breathing room and alternative offensive options.

Survival Fundamentals

Roll - Enhanced Mobility

Roll from the Onryo Survival tree transforms Atsu's clunky basic dodge into a responsive evasion tool. Double-tap to roll farther distances, extinguish fire effects, and create space when overwhelmed by multiple attackers.

This skill synergizes perfectly with Disarm Counter - roll quickly to retrieve your weapon if disarmed, or close distance to impale enemies with their own weapons.

Perfect Dodge - Untouchable Defense

Perfect Dodge functions similarly to Perfect Parry but handles situations where blocking isn't possible. Dodge at the last second to trigger time dilation and set up counterattacks. This becomes essential against red-glowing attacks that cannot be parried.

Stealth Excellence: Assassination Mastery

Killer's Instinct - Stealth Intelligence

Killer's Instinct solves one of stealth gameplay's biggest frustrations by displaying pulsing red outlines around enemies whose death would alert nearby guards. This visual indicator eliminates guesswork and prevents accidental discoveries during infiltration missions.

Chain Assassination - Double Elimination

Chain Assassination enables you to eliminate two closely positioned targets in rapid succession. Ghost of Yotei frequently places enemy pairs along stealth routes, and this technique handles them far more efficiently than distraction items like sake jars.

Best Skills to Get First in Ghost of Yotei

Weapon Specialization

Katana Techniques

Heavenly Slash costs Spirit but delivers devastating damage while interrupting any enemy attack, regardless of size or armor. This technique works against all foe types and remains useful even after unlocking additional weapons.

Iaidō provides a Spirit-free alternative for heavy damage. Hold and release your heavy attack to sheath your sword, then unleash a powerful forward slash that builds stagger or deals significant damage to guarding enemies.

Ranged Combat Enhancement

Concentration briefly slows time while aiming ranged weapons, dramatically improving accuracy for headshots and precision targeting. This proves especially valuable for eliminating archers during melee combat or targeting enemy lanterns for bonus burn damage.

Advanced Progression Strategies

Early Game Priorities

Focus on these techniques first to establish a solid foundation:

1. Perfect Parry - Essential combat timing
2. Roll - Enhanced mobility and safety
3. Killer's Instinct - Stealth intelligence
4. Jump Kick - Crowd control options
5. Chain Assassination - Stealth efficiency

Mid-Game Specialization

After securing fundamentals, branch into weapon-specific techniques that match your preferred combat style. Katana users should prioritize Heavenly Slash and Iaidō, while stealth players benefit from completing the entire Assassination tree.

Best Early Skills in Ghost of Yotei and ...

Wolf Companion Skills

Wolf's Vengeance allows your companion to remain active during combat, while Wolf Howl provides reliable summoning through your Onryo's Howl ability. These techniques significantly enhance your battlefield presence and tactical options.

Efficient Altar Discovery

Maximize your progression rate by combining exploration with objective completion. Purchase Cartographer's Maps early, follow Golden Birds when they appear, and clear enemy camps that often contain hidden altars. This approach ensures steady technique acquisition without deviating from your main quest path.

The key to mastering Ghost of Yotei's skill system lies in understanding that every choice matters. Unlike traditional RPGs where you eventually unlock everything, this system demands strategic thinking and commitment to your chosen playstyle. Start with universally useful techniques, then specialize based on whether you prefer direct combat, stealth approaches, or hybrid strategies.

For more Ghost of Yotei, check out our guide on Best Early Armor Sets.