New to Ghost of Yotei? Start your journey as Atsu the right way with these 8 crucial beginner tips, from claiming your horse to unlocking dual katanas and finding the best early-game armor
So you’ve just booted up Ghost of Yotei, and suddenly you’re dropped into the sprawling wilderness of Ezo with a vendetta and a katana. Atsu’s quest for revenge against the Yotei Six sounds epic, but where do you even start?
Here’s the thing: Ghost of Yotei doesn’t exactly hold your hand. The island is massive, packed with secrets, side quests, and more than a few ways to get yourself killed if you rush in unprepared. Whether you’re a veteran of Ghost of Tsushima or completely new to the series, these early-game priorities will set you up for success without spoiling the journey ahead.
Let’s break down the eight things you absolutely need to tackle first.
1. Take Your Time at Home (Seriously, Don’t Skip This)
When you first arrive at Atsu’s childhood home after the opening sequence, it’s tempting to rush through. Don’t. This isn’t just a narrative moment—it’s your tutorial zone disguised as a memory.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Hold the Touch Pad to activate Memory Mode and explore as young Atsu
- Rebuild the bamboo strike station on the left side of the homestead—this unlocks Resolve, which you’ll use to heal and execute powerful combat techniques
- Talk to Atsu’s brother near the back right of the property to discover a hidden stash of money
Why this matters: Resolve is your lifeline in tough fights. Getting that bamboo station up early means you can practice the timing mechanic and start every battle with a healing reserve. Plus, that secret cash stash? It’s enough to buy your first charm or upgrade without grinding.
The emotional weight of this homecoming is real, but the mechanical benefits are even more important for survival.
2. Claim Your Horse at the Old Stables
A samurai without a horse is just a slow-moving target. Head west from your home into Shikotsu Woods until you reach the Old Stables. You’ll find a distressed settler whose horses have been stolen by Lord Saito’s goons.
What happens next:
- Dispatch the enemies (good early combat practice)
- Choose your horse: White, Black, or Dappled coat
- Name your trusty companion
Quick tip: You can’t swap horses later, so choose wisely. I went with the dappled horse and named mine “Kaze” (wind), because nothing says “stealthy wanderer” like a horse that blends into the landscape.
Your horse isn’t just transportation—it’s your emotional anchor in a lonely, dangerous world. Plus, traversing Ezo on foot is exhausting. Mount up and cut your travel time in half.
3. Unlock Dual Katanas for Style and Substance
Want to look like an absolute legend while shredding spearmen? Head east of the Old Stables toward Mount Yotei. Watch out for ground traps along the dirt paths—stick to the grass.
You’re looking for The Way of Dual Katana quest, which introduces you to an old master who’ll teach you his dual-wielding technique.
Why dual katanas are essential:
- Devastatingly effective against spear-users (who are EVERYWHERE early game)
- Looks incredibly cool during combat
- Adds tactical versatility to your stance switching
Pro insight: Most enemy encounters in the first several hours feature spearmen. Having a dedicated counter-stance this early completely changes combat flow. You’ll go from dodging desperately to dismantling groups with confidence.
4. Rescue Taro, Your Mobile Merchant
Before you reach the Old Inn, you’ll stumble upon a young aspiring merchant named Taro getting harassed by Ronin. Intervene, and you’ll gain access to a traveling trader who follows a circuit around Ezo.
Taro sells:
- Charms that boost your abilities and customize your playstyle
- Various consumables and materials
- Maps for undiscovered regions
The real value: Charms define your build. Want to be a perfect-parry god? There’s a charm for that. Prefer stealth assassinations? Taro’s got you covered. Having early access to these build-defining items lets you experiment before committing to a playstyle.
Plus, Taro’s just trying to make it in a war-torn land by looting corpses. Respect the hustle.
5. Chat Up Every NPC You Meet
I know, I know—talking to NPCs feels like busywork. But in Ghost of Yotei, these conversations are genuinely worthwhile.
Random civilians can:
- Mark hidden locations and points of interest on your map
- Trigger side quests with unique rewards
- Provide lore context that enriches the story
- Offer crafting materials or money
Bonus mechanic: Set up camp using Up on the D-Pad, and NPCs will sometimes spawn at your campsite with tips, gossip, or minor quests.
Think of it like this: every conversation is a potential shortcut to discovering content you’d otherwise spend hours searching for. Five minutes of dialogue beats an hour of aimless wandering.
6. Make the Old Inn Your First Major Destination
The Old Inn (also called the Shadow Inn in some contexts) is where Ghost of Yotei truly opens up. This is your hub for:
- Armorers who upgrade your gear
- Cartographers selling regional maps
- Merchants with ranged weapons and supplies
- Bounty boards for assassination contracts
Strategic advice: Don’t venture too far into Ezo before visiting here. You’ll be underpowered, under-informed, and missing critical upgrades. The story naturally guides you here, but if you’re the exploratory type, resist the urge to wander off-path too early.
The bounty board alone is worth the trip—these contracts offer substantial money for targeted kills, and you’ll need that income stream for maps and charms.
7. Loot Everything (And I Mean Everything)
See a corpse? Loot it. Sparkling plant? Grab it. Glowing crate? Smash and collect.
Resource management is crucial because:
- Materials upgrade your armor and weapons
- Excess items sell for significant coin
- You’ll need money to buy maps from cartographers
Maps reveal:
- Hot Springs (increase maximum health)
- Bamboo Strikes (boost Resolve capacity)
- Shrines (grant skill points)
Here’s the loop: scavenge → sell extras → buy maps → discover power-ups → become stronger. Shrines are particularly vital since they directly translate to new combat abilities and passive bonuses.
Reality check: Ghost of Yotei respects your time more than most open-world games, but you still need to engage with its systems. Looting isn’t tedious busywork—it’s how you fund your revenge tour.
8. Rush to Ishikari Plain for the Best Early Armor
After you’ve handled business at the Old Inn, head northeast to the Ishikari Plain in the Golden Foothills. The main quest will eventually point you toward The Oni (one of the Yotei Six), but the real treasure here is hidden in a side quest.
What you’re hunting:
- Ugetsu the Storyteller, who offers the Tale of the Undying Samurai quest
- Completing this rewards you with samurai armor that’s borderline overpowered for early game
Armor effects:
- Expanded Perfect Parry and Perfect Dodge timing windows
- Increased stagger damage
- Health restoration on stagger
Why this is a game-changer: If you’re still learning combat timing, this armor forgives mistakes while rewarding skillful play. The health-on-stagger effect means aggressive play actually keeps you alive longer than defensive turtling.
Ishikari Plain is also dense with side content—new NPCs, environmental puzzles, and rumors that unlock even more activities. Treat it as your second home base.
Build Your Own Legend
Ghost of Yotei respects player agency. You can ignore all this advice and stumble through Ezo learning lessons the hard way. But why make Atsu’s revenge quest harder than it needs to be?
These eight priorities create a foundation: reliable healing, fast travel, effective combat tools, economic stability, and endgame-viable armor before you’re even 10 hours in. From there, the island is yours to explore however you want.
The historical Mount Yōtei looms in the distance, the Yotei Six await their reckoning, and Ezo’s secrets won’t uncover themselves. Now you’re prepared to make that journey count.
Got questions about builds, combat strategies, or hidden content? The Ghost of Yotei community is still uncovering secrets daily—this guide just gets you through the critical opening hours without missing essentials.
Now get out there and show Lord Saito’s forces what Atsu is made of. Your horse is waiting.
