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Players will spend the majority of Ghost of Tsushima's first act securing the help he needs to storm Castle Kaneda, rescuing his uncle, Lord Shimura, and tossing Khotun Khan back in the ocean. By the time players reach 'The Iron Hook,' this plan seems to be coming along surprisingly well. Lady Masako, Sensei Ishikawa, and the Straw Hat Ronin, have all agreed to stand by Jin's side in the upcoming assault. Komastu Forge has been retaken, and all that remains is Taka's promise that he will craft Jin the tool he needs to scale the castle walls.
This is where "The Iron Hook" begins. With the forge's fire burning at full force, Jin must trust that Taka will come through on his promise. When Ryuzo enters the picture, the seeds for one of Ghost of Tsushima's most important rivalries are planted, making this one of the most important missions in Act 1.
How to Start 'The Iron Hook' in Ghost of Tsushima
To begin "The Iron Hook," look for Yuna in the town of Komatsu Forge. She is found not far from the forge itself, which can be seen from the meeting place. Speaking with Yuna reveals that her speech at the end of "Hammer and Forge" has had an effect on the townspeople.
They have started referring to Jin as 'The Ghost.' This notion does not please Jin, but Yuna believes it could have its benefits down the road. Follow Yuna to see what Taka has been working on.
Collect the Grappling Hook From Taka
Objectives:
- Travel with Yuna to the Forge
As Yuna and Jin head to the forge, he tells her of the help he recruited to their cause. It's clear that Yuna, despite being incredibly grateful for the help he provided in the rescue of Taka, is trying to tell Jin that she does not want to help with the rescue of Lord Shimura. It is simply an issue of not wanting to expose Taka to more danger.
Speak to Taka in the forge to collect the grappling hook. As Taka is explaining everything, Jin hears Ryuzo calling from outside.
Ride to Fort Yatate with Ryuzo and the Straw Hats
Head to the Fort:
- Speak with Ryuzo
- Travel with Ryuzo
Ryuzo explains that his best men were captured by the Mongols. He basically tells Jin that if they don't get them back, Lord Shimura doesn't escape captivity either. With this thought in mind, Jin has no choice but to help his friend.
Jin and Ryuzo will meet up with the remaining members of the Straw Hat Ronin before moving on to rescue the rest.
- Travel to Fort Yatate with the Straw Hats
While riding, the game will cut for a moment, placing the group much closer to the fort. Jin notes that there is no chance of taking the fort by simply approaching the front gate. Remembering that he has a brand-new tool, he decides to scale the cliffs and enter clandestinely.
- Reach the cliffside
- Grapple up the cliffside
Jin must use the newly acquired grappling hook to swing from ledge to ledge. When Jin must cross a gap, there will usually be a tree branch or stump with red and white rope tied around the grappling point. Jump and press R2 to use the hook. Simply follow the path up the cliff, it is essentially impossible to do it incorrectly.
There will sometimes be two grappling points in a row, make sure to look for the R2 symbol when jumping. Some larger climbing walls will feature stumps that stick out from the rock face. Jump from the foothold and press R2 to grapple.
Raid Fort Yatate and Release the Straw Hat Prisoners
When Jin makes it to the top of the cliff, he will be looking directly over Fort Yatate. Look for the poles that resemble telephone or power poles, as Jin can use the grappling hook on these as well.
- Free the Straw Hat prisoners (six total)
Watch for the new enemy type. These Mongols throw black powder bombs, essentially the same as Jin's. Even before they explode, simply getting too close to these bombs as they burn can do considerable damage. Stay clear until they activate, then rush in for the kill.
Depending on Jin's play style, he can either lean into the 'Ghost' aspect, silently making his way through the fort, or he can attack the first Mongol he sees, starting a massive melee. Watch out for the archers in the guard towers, as they can ruin both approaches very quickly. Use focused hearing to scan the ground for Mongols.
The prisoners can be heard singing, making it easy for Jin to head in their direction. The first two Straw Hats can be found in a bamboo cage near the guard tower at the far end of the fort. There will be two cages in this area, with the second being occupied by a bear. If players want to cause a little chaos before releasing the first two Straw Hats, shoot the lock on the left cage. The bear will be released, likely taking out at least one or two Mongols before being killed.
Be careful! Though the Straw Hats can be helpful in battle once released, they can also be downed, which requires Jin to revive them within a certain time limit. If even one of the Straw Hats dies, all progress in the fort will be lost. Jin will be forced to begin again from the cliff-top entrance.
The second and third cages containing Straw Hats are just beyond the first area. Just past the guard tower, there will be a path that leads down some rocky ledges. There will be a large rock that Jin can climb, and while on top, he'll be able to see the bamboo cages right on the other side. Deal with the Mongols in the area and release the final four Straw Hats.
Clear the Fort of Mongols:
- Defeat the Mongols
Most, if not all, of the remaining Mongols will be gathered in the area down beyond the guard tower near Jin's entry point to the fort. There will be multiple Mongols of every variety, including one leader. Even with the Straw Hats help, Jin can get overwhelmed, especially at higher difficulties. Make sure to utilize Ghost of Tsushima's powerful Ghost weapons.
Once the Mongols are cleared, take the time to loot the upgrade materials from the fort. Also, players wishing to fully understand Ghost of Tsushima's story should take this opportunity to grab the Mongol Artifact hanging from a tent in this final area.
- Signal Ryuzo
Look for the Straw Hats gathered near the lower gate. Here, Jin will need to signal Ryuzo, letting him know the first section of the mission was a success.
Defeat the Final Group of Monols:
Once Jin has signaled Ryuzo, the gate to the inner area of the fort will open. Jin can perform a standoff if he reacts quickly to the prompt. There is a rather large group of Mongols here, but they are fairly easy to handle with such a large group of warriors.
When the fight is done, Jin and Ryuzo discuss how strange it is that, instead of beating or killing them, the Mongols fed the Straw Hat Prisoners. Jin seems more willing to examine just what the Mongols expected in return. Ryuzo, however, seems to be content with the fact that they are alive and safe...for the moment.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is available now on PS5. The base version of Ghost of Tsushima is available on PS4 and PS5.
