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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIn Ghost of Yōtei, combat advice centers on choosing the right weapon for the opponent—not on the named stance system from Ghost of Tsushima. PlayStation’s guidance pairs five melee weapons with specific enemy matchups, while bows, quickfire tools and other abilities give Atsu more ways to handle a fight. The matchup descriptions below are the publisher’s recommendations, not a ranking based on measured damage.
Are there stances in Ghost of Yōtei?
Atsu’s combat revolves around switching among weapons with different roles. If you are looking for the previous game’s named stance set, do not treat these weapons as a renamed version of it: PlayStation describes five distinct melee weapons and advises choosing according to the enemy you face. Its combat page puts it this way: “Each weapon serves a specific purpose, and knowing when to switch will determine your success in combat.”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Ghost of Yōtei PS5 | $53.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Ghost of Yotei (PS5) | $52.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Riders Republic PlayStation 5 Standard Edition | $25.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Perp The Persistence Enhanced Amélioré(e) Anglais PlayStation 5 | $18.18 | Buy on Amazon |
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Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut | $43.80 | Buy on Amazon |
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The official guidance does not provide button-by-button switching instructions. For exact inputs, check the current in-game controls menu rather than relying on an assumed button mapping.
Which weapon should you use against each enemy?
Use this as a qualitative matchup guide. PlayStation’s descriptions identify intended roles, but do not publish comparative damage values, stagger multipliers or timing windows.
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning graphics and gameplay, explore the wild and striking lands around Mount Yotei on foot or horseback. Travel picturesque parts of northern Japan through grasslands, snowy ridges, fields of wildflowers, and more.
- Discover renegade combat, engage in lawless katana combat and battles with adversaires. Train with various sensei as you find and learn to use each new weapon.
- An unconventional story and journey, take in the cultural beauty of Japan, bathe in an onsen, visit shrines to pray, try Sumi-e painting, and so much more.
- Choose your weapon, battle Atsu's opponents as you see fit, with levelled-up dual katanas, odachi, kusarigama and other new weapons.
| Weapon | Officially recommended matchup | What its role emphasizes |
|---|---|---|
| Katana | Rival sword users | Precise, balanced fighting suited to duels. |
| Dual katana | Spear enemies | Fast, flowing combos intended to overwhelm them. |
| Ōdachi | Heavy enemies | Powerful, heavy attacks; its unstoppable attacks are described as a counter to heavy opponents. |
| Yari | Sickle-wielding enemies | Long-range control, with reach and attacks that interrupt. |
| Kusarigama | Groups and shield users | A wide-reaching chain and sickle for crowd control and breaking shields. |
What weapon should you use against spear enemies?
PlayStation recommends the dual katana. Its fast, flowing combos are intended to overwhelm spear users.
Which weapon counters shields?
The kusarigama is the publisher’s recommended option for breaking shields. Its broad reach also makes it useful for controlling a crowd.
Rank #2
- Discover a bold, new story of a warrior in Japan who is on her own mission of vengeance.
- Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is a standalone experience set in 1600s rural Japan. The story follows a haunted, lone mercenary named Atsu. Thirsty for revenge, she travels through the beautiful, rugged landscapes of northern Japan, hunting those who killed her family many years earlier.
- Sixteen years after her family’s death, Atsu’s quest across Ezo brings her to unexplored lands in search of a gang of six outlaws, but she finds much more than vengeance. Throughout her journey, Atsu will discover unlikely allies, and greater bonds than she could have imagined.
When should you use the yari?
Choose it against sickle wielders, where its long reach and ability to interrupt attacks are the stated advantages.
How should you approach a fight?
Start by identifying the opponent category and selecting the weapon PlayStation associates with it. Then use the weapon’s stated role—dueling, speed, power, reach or crowd control—instead of assuming one option is best for every encounter.
Rank #3
- Battle against over 50 players simultaneously in a massive multiplayer playground.
- Compete in an all-out mass start race—collide, grind, and fight your way to the finish
- Customize your character to show off your style to your friends or show up the competition.
- Bike, ski, snowboard, or wingsuit through a seamless open world in Career mode or multiplayer events.
- Go wild on the heights of iconic US national parks like Yosemite, Zion, and Bryce Canyon.
- For a sword duel, use the katana’s precise, balanced role.
- Against spear users, switch to the dual katana’s quick combos.
- Against heavy enemies, use the ōdachi’s power.
- Against sickle wielders, use the yari to control distance and interrupt.
- Against groups or shield users, use the kusarigama for crowd control or shield breaking.
These are matchup recommendations, not guaranteed outcomes. The official descriptions do not establish exact timing, combo sequences or how every tactic performs at each difficulty.
How do weapons and skills unlock?
Atsu unlocks weapons by training under master warriors. Altars of Reflection, found across the land, let her upgrade skills and learn new Techniques. If your available options feel limited, exploration and training can broaden them; PlayStation’s guidance does not specify a universal unlock order or name a mandatory sequence.
Rank #4
- PS5 Features include raytracing modes and immersive haptic feedback for DualSense
- Use darkness and cover to avoid being overwhelmed by the ship's deadly new inhabitants
- Seek out the weapon fabricators to increase your firepower as you journey deeper, into the dark and terrifying depths, but beware ammo is limited
- Gather materials & schematics for weapon upgrades and suit customizations with buffs
- Harvest DNA material to improve health, toughness and defensive capabilities.Survive an ever changing labyrinth. Each and every expedition into The Persistence will be disorienting and different.Death is just the beginning. Fatal encounters will result in Zimri's consciousness being uploaded into a new cloned body, ready to try again, with any upgraded stats, suits & weapon schematics kept to aid the next attempt to save the ship
Does parrying work well with a Warrior build?
In Sony’s Warrior build guide, Eric Whelan recommends parrying incoming attacks and using heavy attacks to stagger enemies quickly. He also stresses weapon alignment: the build’s armor effects activate only when Atsu is using a weapon aligned with the opponent. That advice applies to the Warrior build described in the guide; it is not a claim that parrying is always the best approach for every player or difficulty.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →What other combat tools can Atsu use?
Melee weapons are only part of Atsu’s options. PlayStation lists short and longbows with specialized arrows, a Tanegashima matchlock with two ammunition types, and quickfire tools including kunai, smoke bombs and blinding metsusubushi. The publisher also identifies disarming enemies and using their weapons, mounted tackles, and calling Atsu’s wolf companion among her abilities.
Best Value
- Beyond war, ancient beauty endures: Roam vast countryside and expansive terrain to encounter rich characters, discover ancient landmarks and uncover the hidden beauty of Tsushima.
- The rise of the Ghost: Seek support from old friends and new unlikely allies to reclaim Tsushima.
- Mud, Blood and steel: challenge opponents with your katana for an immersive Samurai combat experience.
- Become legends together: play with friends or via online matchmaking in a series of two-player story missions or four-player wave-based survival missions in the legends online co-op
- A whole new island to explore: Travel to Iki Island to investigate rumors of a Mongol presence in a brand-new story with deeply personal stakes.
These provide alternatives to a direct melee matchup, but the official material cited here does not give their detailed input sequences. Consult the in-game controls and ability descriptions for instructions.
Is Lethal Mode a good choice?
PlayStation describes Lethal Mode as a more realistic combat experience in which weapons are deadly and precise timing is crucial. It is a difficulty choice for players seeking a demanding experience, not a universal recommendation for beginners.
Quick Recap
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