Ever feel like you’re button-mashing your way through Ghost of Tsushima, hoping for the best? You’re not alone! Many players dive into this beautiful open world and find themselves struggling to master Jin Sakai’s dual path of the samurai and the ghost.
But fear not, aspiring warriors! This article is your ultimate guide to becoming a true master of combat and stealth. We’re diving deep into the best Ghost of Tsushima tips for combat and stealth to help you dominate every encounter, from Mongol hordes to cunning bandits. Get ready to transform from a struggling ronin into the legendary Ghost!
Mastering the Art of Combat
Combat in Ghost of Tsushima is more than just hacking and slashing. It’s about precision, strategy, and understanding your enemy. Let’s break down the key elements to elevate your fighting skills.
Stance Switching: Your Key to Victory
Stances are crucial. Each stance is designed to counter specific enemy types.
- Stone Stance: Ideal for swordsmen.
- Water Stance: Effective against shieldmen.
- Wind Stance: Perfect for spear users.
- Moon Stance: Devastating against brutes.
Quickly switching between stances allows you to break enemy defenses and deal significant damage. Practice makes perfect!
Perfect Parries and Dodges: The Foundation of Defense
Mastering the parry and dodge is essential for survival. A well-timed parry can stagger enemies, leaving them vulnerable to attack.
Dodging provides a quick escape from incoming attacks, allowing you to reposition and counter. Pay attention to enemy attack patterns to time your parries and dodges effectively.
Utilizing Ghost Weapons in Combat
Don’t forget your Ghost Weapons! These tools can turn the tide of battle.
- Kunai: Excellent for interrupting enemy attacks and dealing quick damage.
- Smoke Bombs: Provide cover for stealth attacks or a quick escape.
- Sticky Bombs: Effective against larger groups or heavily armored enemies.
Experiment with different Ghost Weapons to find what works best for your playstyle.
Upgrading Your Gear for Enhanced Performance
Investing in upgrades for your katana, armor, and Ghost Weapons is crucial. Upgrades improve damage output, defense, and the effectiveness of your tools.
Prioritize upgrades that complement your preferred combat style. For example, if you favor parrying, upgrade your katana’s parry window.
Embracing the Shadows: Stealth Tactics

Stealth is a powerful tool in Ghost of Tsushima. Sometimes, the best way to win a battle is to avoid it altogether.
Scouting and Planning Your Approach
Before engaging enemies, take time to scout the area. Use your binoculars to identify enemy positions, patrol routes, and potential hazards.
Plan your approach carefully, taking advantage of cover and shadows. A well-planned stealth attack can eliminate key targets and weaken enemy forces.
Utilizing Cover and Terrain for Concealment
The environment is your ally. Use tall grass, buildings, and other objects to stay hidden from enemy eyes.
Move slowly and deliberately, avoiding unnecessary noise. Pay attention to enemy lines of sight and adjust your movements accordingly.
Silent Takedowns: The Art of Assassination
Mastering silent takedowns is essential for stealth gameplay. Approach enemies from behind and execute a silent assassination to eliminate them without alerting others.
Chain assassinations allow you to quickly eliminate multiple enemies in succession. Upgrade your skills to unlock new assassination techniques.
Diversions and Distractions: Manipulating the Enemy
Use distractions to lure enemies away from their posts. Throwing a stone or firing a firecracker can create a diversion, allowing you to sneak past or set up a stealth attack.
Experiment with different distractions to find what works best in each situation.
Combining Combat and Stealth: The Ghost’s Arsenal
The true power of Jin Sakai lies in his ability to seamlessly blend combat and stealth. Knowing when to strike from the shadows and when to engage in open combat is key to becoming a legendary warrior.
Initiating Combat with Stealth Attacks
Start encounters with a stealth attack to thin out enemy numbers before engaging in open combat. This gives you a significant advantage and reduces the risk of being overwhelmed.
Use chain assassinations to quickly eliminate multiple enemies before they can react.
Transitioning from Stealth to Combat Fluidly
If you’re detected, don’t panic. Transition smoothly from stealth to combat by utilizing your stances and Ghost Weapons.
Use smoke bombs to create cover and reposition yourself. Exploit enemy weaknesses with the appropriate stance.
Knowing When to Fight and When to Flee
Sometimes, the best option is to disengage and regroup. If you’re outnumbered or facing overwhelming odds, use smoke bombs or terrain to escape and reassess the situation.
There’s no shame in retreating to fight another day.
Advanced Techniques for the Aspiring Ghost
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start experimenting with more advanced techniques to further enhance your combat and stealth abilities.
Perfect Healing: A Lifesaver in Tight Spots
Perfect Healing allows you to heal yourself during combat without being interrupted. This skill is invaluable for surviving challenging encounters.
Time your healing carefully to avoid being attacked while vulnerable.
Deflecting Arrows: Turning the Tide of Battle
Learn to deflect arrows with your katana to turn enemy ranged attacks against them. This skill requires precise timing but can be incredibly effective.
Practice deflecting arrows in training or against weaker enemies.
Ghost Stance: Unleashing Unstoppable Fury
The Ghost Stance is a powerful ability that allows you to instantly kill multiple enemies with a single strike. Activate the Ghost Stance by defeating leaders of Mongol camps or completing specific quests.
Use the Ghost Stance strategically to quickly eliminate groups of enemies or turn the tide of a difficult battle.
Charm Combinations: Customizing Your Playstyle
Experiment with different charm combinations to create a build that suits your playstyle. Charms provide various bonuses, such as increased damage, improved stealth, or enhanced healing.
Find charms that complement your preferred combat and stealth tactics.
Mastering Exploration for Combat Advantages
Exploration isn’t just about seeing the sights; it’s about finding advantages that will help you in combat.
Finding Shrines for Charm Slots and Upgrades
Shrines offer charm slots and upgrades, enhancing your abilities. Seek them out to improve your character’s stats and resilience.
These hidden locations often provide significant bonuses, making exploration worthwhile.
Bamboo Strikes for Resolve Improvement
Completing Bamboo Strikes increases your Resolve, which is essential for healing and special attacks. Regularly practice these challenges to stay prepared.
Increased Resolve means more opportunities to use powerful techniques in battle.
Fox Dens for Inari Shrines
Following foxes to Inari Shrines unlocks minor charms. These charms, while small, can add up to significant advantages over time.
Make it a habit to follow foxes when you see them to collect these valuable bonuses.
Conclusion
Mastering Ghost of Tsushima’s combat and stealth requires patience, practice, and a willingness to experiment. By understanding the intricacies of stance switching, perfect parries, stealth tactics, and advanced techniques, you can transform Jin Sakai into an unstoppable force. So, embrace the path of the samurai and the ghost, and become the legend Tsushima needs.
What are your favorite Ghost of Tsushima tips for combat and stealth? Share your experiences and strategies in the comments below!
FAQ Section
Q: What is the best stance to use in Ghost of Tsushima?
A: There isn’t a single “best” stance. Each stance is designed to counter specific enemy types. Stone Stance for swordsmen, Water Stance for shieldmen, Wind Stance for spear users, and Moon Stance for brutes. Switching stances effectively is key to victory.
Q: How do I improve my stealth in Ghost of Tsushima?
A: Focus on utilizing cover, moving slowly, and paying attention to enemy patrol routes. Use distractions to lure enemies away from their posts and master silent takedowns. Upgrading your stealth skills and using charms that enhance stealth can also be beneficial.
Q: What are the best Ghost Weapons to use in Ghost of Tsushima?
A: The best Ghost Weapons depend on your playstyle. Kunai are great for interrupting attacks, smoke bombs provide cover, and sticky bombs are effective against groups. Experiment to find what works best for you.