Starting your journey in Ghost of Yōtei can feel overwhelming with Ezo's vast wilderness stretching before you. Unlike Jin's focused path through Tsushima, Atsu's adventure offers more freedom from the get-go, but that freedom comes with choices that can make or break your early experience. Whether you're a returning samurai or completely new to the series, these strategic first steps will set you up for success across the snowy landscapes of Hokkaido.
What Should You Buy First in Ezo?
Your coin purse starts light, but smart shopping makes every piece count. The biggest rookie mistake? Rushing into horse gear before you've committed to your mount.
Early in your adventure, you'll receive a beautiful white stallion, but the game later offers you the choice to keep it or switch to a different horse. Many players invest in expensive saddles and gear, only to regret their purchase when they fall in love with a new mount. Wait until you've made your final horse decision before spending on cosmetic upgrades.
However, there are two purchases you should prioritize immediately:
Essential Weapon Purchases
Both bows available at your first major settlement deserve your immediate attention. The short bow handles close-quarters combat beautifully, but the long bow becomes your best friend for stealth eliminations and long-range engagements. Players who delay the long bow purchase consistently regret missing out on its tactical advantages during early missions.
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The long bow's extended range makes clearing enemy camps significantly easier, especially when combined with throwable weapons for silent takedowns.
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Map Investments That Pay Off
Isaburo the mapmaker offers two crucial maps for just 50 coins each. These point you toward hidden Altars of Reflection that unlock technique points in Atsu's skill trees. Without these maps, you'll likely walk past these valuable locations multiple times before stumbling across them naturally.
How Do You Make Money Fast?
Kajiro the bounty broker becomes your best friend for quick cash generation. His wanted posters offer the most entertaining and profitable early-game content.
The Bounty System Explained
Each bounty presents unique challenges requiring different approaches. You're not just hunting generic bandits—these targets have personalities, preferred weapons, and distinct combat styles. More importantly, bounties reward you with hard cash plus bonus loot like new weapons and cosmetic items.
The system works on rotation: only three bounties appear simultaneously on Kajiro's board. Complete these, return to check for new postings, and repeat until no fresh bounties appear. This cycle unlocks access to special high-value targets with exclusive armor rewards.
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Always check single-poster bounty boards scattered across Ezo. These often contain unique targets you won't find elsewhere.
rewards from bounties in Ghost of Yotei
Special Bounty Rewards
After clearing all standard bounties in a region, Kajiro offers special bounties with premium rewards. These typically involve more challenging opponents but grant unique armor sets and weapons unavailable through other means.
Which NPCs Should You Talk To?
Every conversation matters in Ghost of Yōtei. Unlike many open-world games where NPCs offer generic dialogue, Ezo's residents provide valuable intel, quest opportunities, and sometimes surprise ambushes.
The Traveler's Map System
When NPCs mention locations you haven't discovered, you receive traveler's maps—puzzle pieces you align with your main map to pinpoint exact locations. This replaces the automatic waypoint system, adding a layer of detective work to exploration.
Process these maps immediately after receiving them. NPCs often provide verbal clues during conversations that help solve the puzzle, but you'll forget these details if you wait too long.
Strategic Conversation Benefits
Smart NPC interactions create efficient exploration routes. That merchant you ignored while rushing toward a Pillar of the Fallen? They probably have a quest that would have taken you past additional collectibles along that same path.
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Social anxiety costs you rewards. That awkward conversation you're avoiding might unlock an entire quest chain with valuable loot at the end.
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What's the Best Order for the Yōtei 6?
The Yōtei 6 can be tackled in any sequence, but preparation trumps order every time. Your biggest advantage comes from training with all weapon masters first before engaging any of the six main targets.
Weapon Mastery Strategy
Each Yōtei 6 member specializes in specific weapons, and Ezo follows a rock-paper-scissors combat system where certain weapons excel against others. Facing a kusarigama specialist without the optimal counter weapon transforms boss fights into grueling endurance tests.
Training with every master first provides multiple benefits:
- Access to optimal weapons for each boss encounter
- Unlocks new regions with exclusive upgrade materials
- Reveals additional hot springs for health boosts
- Exposes bamboo strikes for spirit improvements
Regional Unlocks Matter
Each weapon master opens access to their surrounding area. This isn't just about scenery—different regions contain specific crafting materials like Oni masks in Teacatchi Range that you need for gear upgrades.
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Which Skills Should You Prioritize?
Defensive abilities outweigh offensive ones in early Ezo encounters. Enemies hit harder and faster than Tsushima's Mongols, making survival skills your top priority.
Essential Defensive Skills
Roll remains the most valuable movement upgrade. While basic dodging works, rolling covers more distance and provides better positioning options. Dark Souls veterans will appreciate the familiar safety net.
Disarm Counter solves one of the game's most frustrating early challenges. When enemies flash gold and attempt disarms, this ability turns the tables—leaving them weaponless while handing you a free projectile to throw back.
Crowd Control Abilities
Standoff Streak and Chain Assassination return from the original with improved effectiveness. Standoff Streak thins enemy groups before combat begins, while Chain Assassination maintains stealth during infiltrations.
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Successful standoffs often drop additional weapons you can immediately throw at remaining enemies, extending your kill streak beyond the initial standoff victims.
Where Should You Find Your First Charms?
Torii gate shrines offer the highest-value charm rewards in early gameplay. These gorgeous shrine complexes require puzzle-solving to reach the top, but they reward upgradeable charms that improve through natural gameplay actions.
Upgradeable Charm System
Unlike static charms, shrine rewards level up automatically as you play. Defeat five enemies without taking damage, and your combat charm improves. Visit hot springs, and your health charm upgrades. These improvements happen whether the charm is equipped or not.
Mount Yōtei shrine provides some of the best early-game charms, though specific rewards remain spoiler territory. Before leaving any shrine area, use the elevated position for reconnaissance.
Shrine Exploration Tips
Atsu's spyglass becomes invaluable from shrine vantage points. Mark interesting trees, large buildings, and campfire smoke before using the grapple hook shortcut to leap off dramatically.
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What's the Secret to Stealth Combat?
Throwable weapons outperform bows for stealth eliminations in most situations. While bows require Atsu to expose herself above cover, thrown weapons guarantee hits on highlighted targets while keeping you completely hidden.
Stealth Weapon Strategy
The key advantage: 100% accuracy on marked targets. Arrows can miss and alert enemies, but thrown weapons always connect. You can eliminate targets and retreat before enemies locate your position.
Weapon management stays simple—carry out an assassination or swap weapons to drop your current throwable. Always keep a backup weapon ready for stealth sequences.
Cover Mechanics
Unlike bow combat where you pop up like a "murdery gopher," thrown weapons let you remain completely concealed. Enemies might notice their ally's death, but they won't immediately pinpoint your location.
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Check hot springs areas for notes before entering. Following these instructions unlocks unique experiences that enhance the relaxation benefits.
Your early hours in Ghost of Yōtei set the foundation for everything that follows. Focus on weapon mastery, smart spending, and defensive skills, and you'll find yourself well-equipped to handle whatever Ezo throws at you. The island's beauty matches its danger—respect both, and your legend will grow with every encounter.
For more Ghost of Yotei, check out our guide about Best Skills to Unlock First.