'Blood on the Grass' is one of several missions that become available shortly after beginning Ghost of Tsushima. Like most of the other Act 1 quests, Jin Sakai is tasked with recruiting a new ally to his cause. Here, Jin must convince Ryuzo, the leader of the mercenary Straw Hat ronin, to help free Lord Shimura from captivity.
How Jin approaches 'Blood on the Grass' can vary depending on which quests the player has previously completed. At the very least, Jin should have his bow and basic assassination techniques that are acquired in Ghost of Tsushima's first two main story quests.
How to Start 'Blood on the Grass' in Ghost of Tsushima
The mission marker for 'Blood on the Grass' can be found on the south-western coast of Izuhara, Ghost of Tsushima's starting region. As Jin enters the Kishi Grasslands, he will make a comment about the region being connected to the Straw Hats. The wind will guide Jin into a large patch of pampas grass, leading eventually to a burning cart with the mission marker hovering above.
Mission Objectives:
- Investigate The Burning Cart
As Jin gets closer to the cart, he will notice it is a Mongol convoy. Several Mongol bodies litter the ground in the vicinity, leading Jin to suspect a Straw Hat ambush. Approaching the cart and interacting with the 'Examine' prompt will begin the quest in earnest.
How to Complete 'Blood on the Grass' in Ghost of Tsushima
Once the title screen fades, Jin will find himself at the burning cart. If Jin begins the quest at night, the mission will automatically change the time to daylight hours. From the cart, look for a trail of bodies leading to the woods.
Objectives:
- Follow the Trail of Dead Mongols
- Reach the Search Area
- Investigate the Dropped Straw Hat
Jin will follow the trail until he reaches a mission marker in the nearby woods. A unique straw hat will be resting on the ground beneath the marker. Hold R2 when the 'Examine' prompt appears to initiate an expository cutscene that sets the context for the quest.
In the scene, Jin is reunited with Ryuzo, the leader of the Straw Hat ronin, and apparently a friend from his youth. As soon as the cutscene ends, Jin will enter the standoff state. This leads to an all-out battle with a large group of attacking Mongols.
- Defeat the Mongols with Ryuzo
- Travel with Ryuzo to his Straw Hat Camp
- Speak with the Peasant
Once Jin annihilates the Mongols, he will accompany Ryuzo back to the mercenary's base of operations. The Straw Hats are starving, and Ryuzo tells Jin that there is no way they can help him save his uncle without food. Along the way, the two friends will encounter a peasant who informs them that a group of Mongols stole a shipment of rice. Though they don't act on it at that moment, the information will come in handy later.
- Pick Up the Ronin Armor
When they reach the Straw Hat camp, Jin announces to the group that they will be raiding the fort where the Mongols are keeping the stolen food. Ryuzo is not too pleased that Jin didn't even discuss the idea with him first, but lets it go for the moment. He agrees to join Jin in his rescue of Lord Shimura if Jin agrees to help them steal the food from Fort Ohira.
Jin's journey with Ryuzo will continue in 'The Tale of Ryuzo,' which can be found just northwest of the Straw Hat camp. 'Blood on the Grass' comes to a close here, and though it is short, the story it begins is one of the most important in Ghost of Tsushima.
Ghost of Tsushima is available for PS4 and PS5.