Ghost of Tsushima is Sucker Punch's open-world samurai action game set during the 1274 Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island. The Director's Cut on PC includes the Iki Island expansion and the Legends co-op multiplayer mode. Combat revolves around four sword stances, each effective against specific enemy types, combined with stealth ghost weapons for a samurai-or-assassin playstyle choice. The game's guiding wind system replaces traditional waypoints with environmental cues, creating one of the most immersive open-world navigation systems in gaming.
Starting Ghost of Tsushima can feel overwhelming. This guide tells you exactly what to focus on during your first hours so you don't waste time on things that don't matter yet.
What Kind of Game Is This?
Ghost of Tsushima is a action game built around stance system and guiding wind navigation. The core loop involves mastering these systems to progress through increasingly challenging content.
What to expect: Time investment in learning mechanics, experimentation, and gradual mastery. The game rewards patience and knowledge.
Choosing Your First Role
| Role | Beginner Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Stance | Excellent for beginners | Aggressive swordsman who uses Heavenly Strike and parries against sword-wielding enemies. |
| Water Stance | Good (but demanding) | Shield-breaker who chains Surging Strikes for rapid damage in any encounter. |
| Wind Stance | Excellent for beginners | Crowd controller who kicks enemies around and exploits environmental kills. |
| Moon Stance | Excellent for beginners | Heavy hitter focused on staggering brutes and dealing massive single blows. |
| Ghost Build | Good (but demanding) | Silent assassin who clears camps from the shadows using ghost tools. |
Our recommendation: Start with Water Stance. Effective against shield-bearing enemies. The heavy attack flurry breaks shields in 2-3 hits and its special Surging Strikes deals massive multi-hit damage. Arguably the best all-around stance once fully upgraded.
Avoid Ghost Build as your first pick. Focused on stealth, ghost weapons, and chain assassinations rather than direct combat.
First Session Step-by-Step
Step 1: Learn stance system
Four stances — Stone (vs swords), Water (vs shields), Wind (vs spears), Moon (vs brutes) — each have unique heavy attack combos that stagger their target enemy type. You unlock stances by observing or killing Mongol leaders in camps. Switching stances mid-combat with R2+face buttons is essential for mixed enemy groups.
This is the foundation. Spend your first 15-30 minutes getting comfortable with how stance system works before worrying about anything else.
Step 2: Head to Izuhara
The southern region and starting area of Tsushima. Features the first Mongol-occupied camps, bamboo strikes for resolve upgrades, and fox dens for charm slots. Castle Kaneda is the first major story stronghold to liberate.
Clear the main content here before moving on. Everything teaches fundamentals you'll need later.
Step 3: Get Your First Upgrade
Look for Half Bow — it's the most accessible early upgrade. A short-range bow ideal for quick shots mid-combat. Concentration allows slow-motion aiming for headshots. The explosive arrow and fire arrow ammo types add AoE options. Faster draw speed makes it better for combat than stealth.
Step 4: Understand guiding wind navigation
Instead of minimap markers, swiping up on the touchpad (or pressing the mapped key) summons a wind that blows toward your current objective. Foxes lead you to Inari shrines, golden birds guide you to points of interest, and smoke columns mark Mongol territories. This system keeps your eyes on the gorgeous world rather than a UI element.
This is the system most new players overlook. Invest time here early — it pays off throughout the entire game.
Step 5: Push to Toyotama
The central region unlocked in Act 2 with significantly tougher Mongol forces including armored spearmen and brutes. Contains the hot springs for max health upgrades and several legendary tale quest lines.
Essential Mechanics Explained
stance system
Four stances — Stone (vs swords), Water (vs shields), Wind (vs spears), Moon (vs brutes) — each have unique heavy attack combos that stagger their target enemy type. You unlock stances by observing or killing Mongol leaders in camps. Switching stances mid-combat with R2+face buttons is essential for mixed enemy groups.
guiding wind navigation
Instead of minimap markers, swiping up on the touchpad (or pressing the mapped key) summons a wind that blows toward your current objective. Foxes lead you to Inari shrines, golden birds guide you to points of interest, and smoke columns mark Mongol territories. This system keeps your eyes on the gorgeous world rather than a UI element.
ghost weapons
Kunai, smoke bombs, sticky bombs, and wind chimes are your stealth toolkit. Kunai interrupt attacks and can kill weakened enemies instantly. Smoke bombs break combat and allow chain assassinations. The Ghost stance, unlocked mid-game, terrifies enemies after killing Mongol leaders, causing them to flee.
resolve system
Resolve is earned by parrying, dodging, and killing enemies in combat. It serves dual purpose: spending it on healing (one resolve per heal) or on powerful stance-specific special attacks like Heavenly Strike. Managing resolve between survival and offense is a constant tactical decision.
Legends co-op mode
A separate multiplayer mode with four classes (Samurai, Hunter, Ronin, Assassin) and its own gear/progression system. Features story missions, survival waves, and the Trials of Iyo raid. Completely standalone from the single-player campaign with unique supernatural abilities.
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Not switching stances for different enemy types — using Stone against shields or Moon against swordsmen wastes time and takes extra damage
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
2. Hoarding resolve for healing instead of using offensive specials that would end fights faster
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
3. Ignoring the guiding wind and relying on the map, missing natural discoveries the game is designed around
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
4. Rushing to Iki Island in early Act 2 when enemies there are tuned for late Act 2 gear levels
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
5. Neglecting hot springs and bamboo strikes — these permanent upgrades make a huge difference in later acts
This is a common trap that costs new players significant time.
First 5 Hours Checklist
- Understand stance system and guiding wind navigation
- Choose Water Stance as starting role
- Clear Izuhara main content
- Acquire Half Bow or equivalent upgrade
- Reach Toyotama
- Observing Mongol leaders (spying from hiding) counts toward stance unlocks without fighting — prioritize this early
- Gosaku's Armor restores health on stagger kills, making it the best combat armor for most of the game
Tips for New Players
- Observing Mongol leaders (spying from hiding) counts toward stance unlocks without fighting — prioritize this early
- Gosaku's Armor restores health on stagger kills, making it the best combat armor for most of the game
- Perfect parry timing gives a free counter-kill on regular enemies — practice at the dojo in your camp
- Charm of Inari increases resource drops by 50%, equip it while exploring and swap to combat charms for fights
- The Sakai Clan Armor boosts melee damage and resolve gain, making it the best pure samurai combat outfit
- Bamboo strikes (rhythm minigame) increase your max resolve — complete all of them before Act 3
- Hot springs increase max health permanently — there are 18 total across the island
- In standoffs, wait for the enemy's hands to move, not their body fake-outs — the real attack always starts from the hands
- Smoke bomb + chain assassination can kill 3-4 enemies instantly with the right upgrades, trivializing camp stealth
- The Charm of Mizu-no-Kami (Water Master) makes Water Stance the highest DPS option against all enemy types, not just shields
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I play the samurai or ghost playstyle?
Both are viable and the game encourages mixing them. Story missions often force direct combat while camps reward stealth. There is no penalty for switching between the two approaches.
Do I need to play Legends mode?
Legends is completely separate from the story with its own progression and gear. It's excellent co-op content but not required for the single-player experience.
What carries over to New Game+?
All upgrades, armor, weapons, techniques, and charms carry over. Enemy difficulty increases and you gain access to Ghost Flowers for new cosmetics and upgraded charms.
Is the Iki Island DLC worth it?
Yes, it adds 8-10 hours of story content, a new horse ability, animal sanctuaries, and some of the best charms in the game. Accessible from Act 2 onward.
What difficulty should I start on?
Hard is recommended for the intended experience — it makes combat feel tense and rewards mastering the parry system. Lethal mode (one-hit kills both ways) is for experienced players.
What to Read Next
- Ghost of Tsushima Builds — Optimize your role once you've learned the basics
- Ghost of Tsushima Walkthrough — Full progression path
- Ghost of Tsushima Tips — Advanced strategies for when you're ready
