Ghost of Yotei: Every Melee Weapon and How To Get Them

Ghost of Yotei is an excellent video game, featuring masterful scenery, fantastic gameplay, phenomenal combat, and an amazing story. Playing through Atsu’s quest for revenge and hunting down the Yotei Six is already an incredible experience, and the satisfying cinematic combat system makes it even more enjoyable. 

These combat scenarios are made even more enjoyable with the various weapons you get throughout the game. Atsu acquires a variety of weapons throughout her journey, each with unique effects, range, and damage output. If you’re looking to tailor your combat to a particular style or loadout, knowing where and how to get every weapon in Ghost of Yotei will help you do that. 

The most traditional or common weapon type in a game like this is usually a melee weapon. Atsu has her pick of interesting and devastating melee weapons, each with unique combat styles; these weapons are sure to tear through scores of enemies.

Wolf Blade

The classic sword of the Samurai, Atsu, starts the game with her trusty wolf blade katana. As you progress through the game, you can alter your sword with 20 metal, increasing the damage to 180. Adding another 20 metal and 20 Oni Raider mask pieces unlocks the Reinforced katana, which deals 324 points of damage. 

You can upgrade your katana even further using 30 metal and 20 shinobi steel; this unlocks the reinforced katana and gives you 341 damage. Finally, to get the perfected katana and unlock the max damage output of 600, you will need 60 metal, 15 gun parts, and 15 rare metal.

Every Wolf Blade Skin

• Twin Wolves is unlocked by progressing through the Oni Quest.
• Lone Wolf is the original katana skin.
• Hawk’s Talon can be gotten from the start of the game.
• Hunter’s Vengeance can be found at the Pillar of the Fallen within Niptay Mountain.

Every Wolf Blade Technique

Dual Katanas

Your dual katanas are less powerful but considerably quicker alternatives to your Wolf blade katana. What they lack in power, they make up for in speed and maneuverability. These weapons are especially effective against enemies armed with heavy polearms as they allow you to dance around them, delivering a flurry of lightning-fast strikes.

You can unlock the dual katanas early in the game by completing the Way of the Dual Katanas revenge quest, which becomes available immediately after the prologue. The altered dual katanas, which you unlock with 20 metal, deal 180 damage per hit. 

For the reinforced version of the weapon, you need 20 metal and 15 Oni raider mask pieces. This version deals 324 damage. For the enhanced version, you need 30 metal and 15 shinobi steel to unlock the 341 damage output. Finally, the perfected dual katanas require 60 metal, 15 gun parts, and 15 rare metals. After which, you will have access to the mass 600 damage.

Every Dual Katana Skin

• Hawk’s Talon: the dual katana comes with this skin.
• Hunter’s Vengeance: You can find this skin at the Pillar of the Fallen within Niptay Mountain.

Every Dual Katana Technique

• Tempest Strikes: This technique triggers a combo of sequential strikes that transition into a powerful unblockable strike.
• Takezo’s Dual Slash: This technique interrupts enemy attacks and allows you to damage two enemies at once.
• Relentless Flurry: If you continue a dual katana combo after dashing, this technique activates and allows you to perform tempest strikes with fewer attacks after a perfect parry.
• Strength of Winds: While armed with dual katanas, you deal increased stagger damage against opponents with polearms.
• Deflecting Strikes: Any heavy attack performed against polearm enemies automatically staggers them.
• Improved Tempest Strike: Adds a massive damage boost to tempest strikes.
• Dual Tempest strikes: This technique allows you to perform two unblockable tempest strikes with massive damage at the end of a focus attack combo.

Odachi

The Odachi is a massive one-sided curved blade similar to the Katana, but considerably longer and more powerful. The weapon is slow but powerful, capable of dealing immense amounts of damage with each hit and almost impossible to defend against once Atsu gets swinging. The Odachi is your best bet against heavy enemies in Ghost of Yotei.

You can find the Odachi by progressing through the Way of the Odachi sensei quest, which is part of the Saito Brother revenge quest. You will find the massive weapon at master Yoshida’s Dojo, which is in the Horosaru Falls northwest of the Tokashi Range region. 

You can reinforce the Odachi with 20 metal, unlocking 350 damage. The enhanced version requires 30 metal, 10 Oni mask pieces, and 10 shinobi steel; it deals a massive 491 damage. To get the perfected Odachi and unlock the max 600 damage, you will need 60 metal, 15 gun parts, and 15 rare metal.

Every Odachi Skin

• Golden Judgment: You can buy this skin from Ran the Bowyer for 20 flowers.
• Omens of the Aurora is the default skin of the Odachi.
• Spirit of the Mountain can be purchased from the white dye merchant for 20 flowers.
• Strength of Earth can be purchased from the Oshima coast merchant for 20 flowers.
• The Oni’s Glory: Defeat the Oni and claim this skin from the Onryo gift altar.
• Odachi of Master Yoshida: You can get this skin once you unlock all the Odachi skills in the game.

Every Odachi Skill

• Unstoppable Strikes: This skill allows you to take less damage while attacking with the Odachi. Your attacks cannot be interrupted.
• Bulwark Stance: This technique allows you to block all standard attacks.
• Mountain Breaker: This is a high damage output attack that staggers all enemies or knocks down enemies who are already staggered.
• Improved Bulwark Stance: While in the bulwark stance, you can slam opponents and follow up with a combo of high damage attacks by releasing the triangle button on your controller.
• Strength of the Mountain: This technique grants you increased stagger damage against all enemies.
• Indomitable Counter: If you perfectly time your bulwark stance with the indomitable counter equipped, you will perfectly counter all attacks, including unblockables.
• Resolve of the Mountain allows you to take less damage when attacking with your Odachi.
• Unstoppable Force: While using this technique, you can regain any damage you take from enemies by landing a few hits of your own. 

Yari

The Yari is a polearm or spear with a razor-sharp point and edges, and immense reach compared to other melee weapons in Ghost of Yotei. This weapon is highly effective against scythe enemies, as the straight line attack path beats out the curved overhand swings of enemies armed with scythes in almost every scenario.

You can unlock the Yari by completing the Way of the Yari quest in the Ishikari Plain. Head to Modaiwa Island west of the Howling Cove on the western coast of Ishikari Plain.

The reinforced Yari costs 20 metal and deals 350 damage. For 30 metal and 30 Oni mask pieces, you can unlock the enhanced Yari and deal 491 damage. For the perfected Yari, you’ll need 35 Oni raider mask pieces, 10 gun parts, and 10 rare wood. This version of the weapon deals 600 damage.

Every Yari Skin

• Scalding Spear can be purchased from Ran the Bowyer for 10 flowers.
• Rain of Ruin is the default Yari skin.
• Bone Dust is unlocked when you complete the Burning of Castle Ishikari quest.
• Yari of Sensei Takashi is unlocked once you complete Sensei Takashi’s Permission Tree Quest.
• Fisherman’s Heart: You can purchase this skin from the Oshima Coast merchant for 20 flowers.
• The Gambler’s Spear: You get this Yari Skin once you defeat Inagawa the Gambler.

Every Yari Technique

• Typhoon Kick: Allows you to launch a powerful kick that interrupts enemy attacks and sends them flying.
• Thundering Wave: This attack impales and launches one enemy while interrupting the others. It is a great way to give yourself a bit of room if you’re getting overwhelmed by too many enemies.
• Typhoon: By swinging your Yari in a wide arc, you’re able to interrupt and knock down several enemies at once.
• Torrential Slash: This technique adds a follow-up attack after a successful Typhoon kick.
• Strength of Waters: Increased stagger damage against enemies armed with Sickles.
• Quelling Waves: Your stagger damage from parries is greatly increased against enemies armed with sickles.
• Quickening Tides: Greatly reduces the charge time for the Typhoon Kick
• Strength of Typhoons: Your Typhoon kicks cause more stagger damage and launch enemies further.

Kusarigama

The Kusarigama is, in my opinion, the coolest weapon in Ghost of Yotei. A combination of deadly components, this ball-and-chain sickle is capable of dealing damage to multiple opponents simultaneously from a distance and from unconventional angles. With a moveset comprising hooks, quick takedowns, and swings, the Kusarigama is easily the most versatile melee weapon in the game. 

You can get the Kusarigana by starting the Way of the Kusarigama sensei quest. The quest is available at Owl Mountain in the Sarufustu River, which is the northernmost area of the Teshio Ridge region.

The reinforced Kusarigama costs the standard 20 metal and deals 350 damage. For the enhanced version, you’ll need 30 metal and 20 shinobi steel to unlock the 491 damage level. Finally, the perfected version deals 600 damage and costs 35 shinobi steel, 10 gun parts, and 15 precious metal.

Kusarigama Skins

• Lily’s Touch: You can purchase this skin from the Crimson Dye merchant for 20 flowers.
• Kusarigama of Master Enomoto: You can acquire this skin by finishing the Kusarigama’s Shame quest.
• Golden Cut can be purchased for 20 flowers from the Oshima Coast Merchant.
• Dragonfly’s Breath can be purchased from Ran the Bowyer for 20 flowers.

Every Kusarigama Technique

• Ferocious Whirlwind: This is an AOE attack that hits all nearby enemies.
• Claw and Talon: This is an effective mid-range attack that stuns and disarms shielded opponents.
• Lethal Talons: This is a stealth-focused attack that allows you to assassinate foes from a distance.
• Strength of the Bear: increases your stagger effect against shielded foes.
• Evasive Maul is an effective sweeping attack that allows you to counter yellow glint attacks.
• Mighty Talons allows you to one-shot unsuspecting brute foes.
• Iron Talon allows you to perform assassinations without spending Spirit.
• Ferocious Cyclone: Greatly increases the effect and damage of the Ferocious Whirlwind technique.

Note: Owning every melee weapon unlocks the Tools of a Warrior trophy.