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Players making their way through Ghost of Tsushima's second act will come across a trio of side-quests that center around the recruitment of the samurai of Yarikawa. Beginning with "The Walls of Yarikawa," these missions task Jin with convincing a band of former rebels that the fight against the Mongols is more important than any perceived bad blood between their respective clans. As Mongol General Temuge closes in on the Yarikawa stronghold, Jin realizes the only way to build trust with former enemies is to enter the field of battle to protect them.
"The Ghost of Yarikawa," aside from serving as the finale to the Yarikawa side-quests, also serves the important function of introducing Ghost Stance, one of Ghost of Tsushima's most useful combat mechanics. Like "The Coward of Yarikawa" before it, this mission picks up immediately after the previous quest concludes. By the time "The Ghost of Yarikawa" is finished, Jin will begin to embrace his status as the Ghost, setting him on a collision course with his uncle.
How to Start "The Ghost of Yarikawa" in Ghost of Tsushima
To begin "The Ghost of Yarikawa," Jin can fast-travel directly into Yarikawa Stronghold. Once inside the town, look for Taka in the center of the main courtyard area. He'll speak to Jin and try to get his attention. Interact with him to begin the mission.
Jin and Taka will have a brief discussion, ending with Taka letting Jin know that Yuna is waiting for him at the top of the keep.
Objectives:
- Meet Yuna at the top of the steward's keep
On the way up to the keep, stop to talk with Ujimasa, the steward of Yarikawa Stronghold. He has some strong words for Lord Sakai about his uncle, but he seems to be opening up to the idea of helping Jin protect the island.
Make a left after entering the stronghold to find the first ladder. Similar to Castle Kaneda, there will be multiple small ladders in Yarikawa Stronghold for Jin to climb. Once at the top, Jin will find Yuna sulking, drinking a gourd of saki while waiting for the battle. Jin will join her as a cutscene takes over. Jin will learn a lot about Yuna's past as they talk and drink the night away. Jin will eventually pass out, and be awoken by the sounds of battle.
Defeat the Mongols Invading The Yarikawa Stronghold
Yuna will wake Jin up as the battle begins outside the keep. Follow Yuna outside to begin the fight.
- Follow Yuna
- Reach the main gate
As Jin runs through the town, the civilians can be heard shouting in support of the Ghost, clearly believing that his presence will be the deciding factor in the battle. Watch out for the flaming arrows that fly over the gate and land all around the main path.
The Battle Begins:
- Defend the main gate
Several enemy types will burst through the gate as Jin rallies the soldiers. The most dangerous are likely the flaming-sword wielding, shield-bearing Mongols in yellow. These foes have multiple unblockable attacks, and fling a steam of fire on the last swing of their sword combos. They can be extremely deadly, especially when playing on Ghost of Tsushima's Lethal (or Lethal +) difficulty.
Once the Mongols are dealt with at the main gate, the game will send Jin to the next area. There will be a large group of Yarikawa samurai heading in the same direction. Simply follow them to the next destination.
- Defend the northern gate
When Jin has successfully repelled the Mongols from the second gate, a brief cutscene will begin showing several Mongols retreating from the area. However, both warriors quickly learn that it was a ploy to get them outside the stronghold grounds. On a small hill outside the walls, multiple siege weapons begin to launch flaming projectiles into Yarikawa.
Destroy the Mongol Siege Weapons Outside Yarikawa Stronghold
Jin must make his way through the Mongol encampment and up to the hill where the siege weapons are located.
- Reach the Mongol siege weapons
As Jin gets closer to the edge of the Mongol encampment, use Focused Hearing to see where the Mongols are located. This will allow Jin to form a path. It is absolutely possible for Jin to get through the encampment without being seen. Ghost of Tsushima's Stealth Hearing technique is hugely beneficial here, allowing Jin to use Focused Hearing while maintaining his usual crouch speed.
If Jin is looking to collect all the Mongol Artifacts, this can be the perfect time to grab the artifact from the last Mongol hut on the left (if facing the siege machines). Simply grab it off the chest inside the hut.
From the back of the hut with the Mongol artifact, head straight towards the cliff. A series of climbing ledges will allow Jin to reach the siege weapons. Be careful when approaching the top of the cliff, as an enemy will be waiting. Do not worry if Jin's cover is broken once he reaches the siege weapons, as it is not important to the mission.
- Defeat the Mongols
- Disable the Mongol siege weapons 2/2
To disable the siege weapons, approach them from behind until the Destroy prompt is visible. Do this to each weapon to initiate a brief cutscene. Once the scene is over, Jin will have to make his way back to Yarikawa Stronghold, as the Mongols have breached the defenses.
Return to the Yarikawa Stronghold
- Return to the Yarikawa Stronghold
When Jin is back down from the cliff, use Focused Hearing again to survey the area. There will be many Mongols between Jin and the entrance, but if he is patient, and moves strategically, he can avoid combat. If Jin has Chain Assassination Master unlocked, there will be several opportunities to use it. Most of the Mongols will be facing the stronghold, so they will make prime targets for this technique.
- Reach the steward's keep
When Jin has made it back through the northern gates, he can continue to use stealth to safely take out Mongols. It is possible to assassinate every Mongol who is blocking Jin's path to the main gate. Once they have been dealt with, head to the gate and interact with the prompt to face General Temuge.
How to Defeat General Temuge in "The Ghost of Yarikawa"
In many ways, the entire trio of missions set in Yarikawa have been building up to this moment. After facing down the entire invading force, Jin finds himself face-to-face with the brutal Mongol general.
Instead of opting to treat General Temuge like any other Mongol leader, Ghost of Tsushima presents a full-on cinematic set piece, culminating in one of the game's most iconic moments.
Jin will face General Temuge in one of Ghost of Tsushima's incredibly entertaining duels. These moments are often saved for what many would consider a 'boss fight.' Use the following strategies to beat General Temuge:
- Perfect Parry/Perfect Dodge: Perfect Parry, and the counter-attack that follows, is perhaps the single most powerful tool in Ghost of Tsushima's duels. If players are struggling with the timing of parries, consider using the Charm of Mizu-no-Kami, which significantly increases the timing window of Perfect Parry and Perfect Dodge.
- Special Techniques: Jin can learn four special techniques from the Mythic Tales quest line. The two most important techniques for dueling are Dance of Wrath, which is learned in "The Spirit of Yarikawa's Vengeance," and Heavenly Strike, from "The Heavenly Strike." Both of these attacks can be extremely helpful against Temuge. Look for the blue, diamond-shaped quest markers that signify a Mythic Tale quest.
- Strategic Charms: There are multiple charms that can help a great deal in any combat situation. Look for charms that raise damage, increase resolve gains, and raise defense. Aside from upgrading armor, which usually provides up to three distinct effects, charms will be the only way to increase Jin's stats.
Temuge's Moveset:
Temuge uses many of the same moves as the yellow-shirted Mongols who wield flaming-swords and shields. He will ignite his sword and strike with multiple unblockable attacks. It is likely better to wait for the flame to go out than to press an attack. A single flaming attack can prove deadly on higher difficulties.
Pay close attention to the first attack in Temuge's combos. It seems silly to say "watch for the red X," but in many ways, that is the best advice. Any attack that begins with the shield will be unblockable, and will often be followed by another unblockable attack. The best attacks to parry will be initial sword attacks. This is where Mizu-no-Kami can provide precious extra time to react to Temuge's attacks.
Unlocking the Ghost Stance Mechanic
At the end of Jin's duel with General Temuge, the killing blow will initiate a cutscene. The Mongols who watched the fight can be heard mentioning the Ghost, almost as if they can't believe the myth they've heard of is actually real.
The game hands control back to the player, prompting Jin to 'Slaughter' General Temuge. Engaging with the prompt will bring up the Ghost Gauge on the bottom right of the HUD. Press R3+L3 to enter Ghost Stance. In this state, Jin can kill any enemy with a single blow.
- Drive the Mongols from Yarikawa stronghold
In this instance alone, even after Jin exits Ghost Stance, he will be able to kill the Mongols with one strike. Every kill will raise the Ghost Gauge by one bar, though any damage taken will clear on progress.
After Jin drives the remaining Mongols from the stronghold, he, Taka, and Yuna convince the townspeople to stand behind Lord Shimura - though it is clear already that it is the Ghost they revere.
"The Ghost of Yarikawa" comes to a close with a visit to Castle Shimura, with Khotun Khan and Ryuzo discussing how to bring Jin down. After the final title card dissolves, Jin will receive the Charm of Unseen Respite, which restores 25% of his health when using a smoke bomb.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is available now on PS5. Ghost of Tsushima is available on PS4.
