Ghost of Yotei feels like a half-step sequel in a good way. What worked in Ghost of Tsushima was improved in the follow up, from the load times to the traversal system. There are also several new additions, including the protagonist, Atsu, being able to wield more than just a katana in combat.
Her melee weapon variety is greater in Ghost of Yotei compared to what Jin was working with in Ghost of Tsushima. Not every weapon in the game is fun to use, but these next weapons definitely are. With photo mode, players can capture some great shots of going to town on enemies in stylish ways. To progress far in Ghost of Yotei and get the most out of combat, players should master these weapons.
The Wolf Blade
A Familial Katana
Players will begin Ghost of Yotei with the ancestral Wolf Blade, a peerless katana. It operates with many similar functions as Jin’s katanas in the first game, able to cut through enemies and bamboo alike with ease. It’s best used against other katana-wielding enemies, whether players want to counter or break through with successive slashes.
The coolest function of the katana comes into play during Ghost of Yotei’s Wild West-style Standoffs. Atsu is a talented katana wielder through and through, and even though it’s not the flashiest weapon to use, it will be a solid companion throughout the game.
Odachi
Slow And Steady Lops The Arm Off
The Odachi is a longer and heavier version of the katana that is animated well to showcase how cumbersome it is to hold. Atsu has to move the sheath to release it from her back and needs two hands to wield it, carrying it low to the ground. Even with a fully upgraded set of skills in Ghost of Yotei, the Odachi will not become any quicker for Atsu to swing.
That said, players will immediately feel that rush of bloodlust the first time they use it to cut through a larger enemy like butter. It may be hard to swing, but the Odachi certainly cuts well and is worth sticking with.
Kusarigama
Whip It Good
The Kusarigama, with a fully upgraded blade and skill set, will become a god-tier weapon by the later stages of the campaign. It will be one of the hardest weapons to find, located deep in Ghost of Yotei’s Owl Mountain, but it is worth getting as soon as possible. Its strength will let it blast through shielded enemies, but with a maxed-out Kusarigama, the weight on the chain’s non-bladed end can knock out most enemies quickly.
Watch enemies drop like flies by mastering this weapon and wielding it like a Belmont would in the Castlevania series. The only negative thing about the Kusarigama is how long it takes to unlock. If Sucker Punch makes another Ghost sequel, maybe that hero should just start with the Kusarigama.
Yari
Pole-Vaulting
The Yari is a type of Japanese spear that doesn’t have a massive blade, but it can puncture enemies like a fine pin through a pincushion. It’s best used against Kusarigama users to knock their chain spins off kilter. While it’s good for stabbing, the best feature of the Yari lets Atsu leap off the ground.
By holding down the Strong Attack button, Triangle, players can rocket Atsu into the air, where she will then kick into her enemies and knock them off balance. It’s so close to being a flexible bo staff that fans will start to dream about Sucker Punch making a martial arts game instead of one that focuses purely on blade weaponry.
Kunai
Flick And Swish
Kunai are one of the throwable weapons that players can acquire in Ghost of Yotei. With a quick flick of the R1 button, players can throw a kunai or two at enemies to catch them by surprise. Players cannot aim kunai at heads to go for lethal damage, but they’re good to throw out in a fight to get a slight advantage if they need a split second to cause some more devastating damage with a melee weapon.
Atsu isn’t the best ninja or stealth assassin when it comes to these types of weapons, but she makes do with her limited skill set. The Tanzutsu pistol is another fun quickfire weapon, but it’s introduced so late in the game that the kunai has more time to shine.
Scorch Bomb
Just. Plain. Fun.
Without a doubt, Scorch Bombs will have players clapping their hands with glee more than any other combat tool in the game. Ammo is limited, which is a shame, but it makes sense from a balancing perspective. These bombs are easily the strongest weapons in Ghost of Yotei, as they are literal bombs that can be upgraded to have a stronger blast radius. In the introductory mission, players will have an unlimited supply of bombs to drop into a valley of ronin.
It’s one of the best missions in the game, as the chaos levels are out of control. Scorch Bombs may be overpowered, but they’re a good reminder that Sucker Punch knows how to make gameplay fun, even if it gets a bit chaotic.
Oni’s Flame
Flame On!
The Oni’s Flame is more of a weapon coating than a weapon in and of itself, but it is categorized as such in the game menu. This substance can coat any melee weapon in flames, making that weapon deadlier for a limited time.
The coolest weapon to ignite has to be the Kusarigama, as players can surround Atsu in a fiery tornado of doom. Like all weapons, the Oni’s Flame is not a toy; players can set grass on fire, which may damage them in return, which means they must be careful when using it.
Enemy Weapons
Oops, You Dropped Something
Some of the best weapons in the game are the ones players cannot equip. Through disarmament skills, or general brute force, players can knock weapons out of enemy hands. Players can then throw those dropped weapons back at enemies, ranging from sickles to spears to swords.
Players can level up Atsu’s throwing proficiency, too, and make each weapon toss deadlier than the last. Picking up a spear and launching it at an enemy many yards away never gets old, especially if players can capture the shot in Ghost of Yotei’s photo mode.