Ghost of Tsushima: Shadow of the Samurai walkthrough, video guide Ghost of Tsushima guide, walkthrough

Last update: 20 July 2020

This page of our Ghost of Tsushima guide contains a detailed walkthrough of Shadow of the Samurai story quest. It's a long quest which will be illustrated step by step. Our walkthrough will help you in infiltrating Kaneda Castle while remaining undetected, defeating the main boss of this quest, who is nearby Lord Shimura, and taking control of the castle.

• Meet Yuna at the Forge
• Climb the cliff and infiltrate Kaneda Castle
• Find Mongol alarm
• Defeat the Mongols without sounding the alarm
• Reach the upper courtyard
• Defeat the Mongols guarding the bridge
• Find a way around a locked gate
• Defeat the Mongol guards
• Reach the main courtyard
• Boss battle
• Enter the tower to save Lord Shimura
• Reach the top floor
• Defeat the Mongols

Meet Yuna at the Forge

You can start this quest after completing The Iron Hook story quest. Start by meeting Yuno at the Komatsu Forge. After the conversation, the action moves to the neighborhood of Kaneda Castle. You can optionally talk to allies in the area - Masako, Ishikawa, Kenji and Taka. Finally, return to Yuna to begin the attack on the castle.

Note - This is the final quest of the first act of the campaign, whose main goal is to free Lord Shimura. You can leave the remaining side assignments for later - completing this quest won't block you from completing them. After you have completed this task, you will be able to return to the first region of Tsushima and continue to deal with the remaining side quests, optional activities, and collecting pick-ups.

Climb the cliff and infiltrate Kaneda Castle

Head towards the cliff adjacent to the castle and begin the climb. You have to climb a large branch from the image above, jump towards the interactive hook visible in the distance and catch it with the grapple hook (press R2 in air). This will allow you to reach the upper path led along the palisade. Find a hole in the palisade and squeeze through it.

Find Mongol alarm

In this part of the mission, you can't cause an alarm - if you will, the mission will be failed. Fortunately, there are not many opponents in the area, and in addition, some of them are sleeping (you can easily kill them). Remember to use focused hearing so you don't miss anyone.

The first area is patrolled by two Mongols. It's best to wait for them to split up and then walk around the back and quietly eliminate each of them. There's also the first sleeping sentry in the area - you can kill him in his sleep.

Take an interest in the building on the right, but watch out for the Mongol patrolling its interior. Infiltrate the building and kill the guard as he looks or walks the other way. There is also a second sleeping adversary - kill him.

You will be able to locate the alarm when you reach the window shown in the picture. Jumping through it will allow Jin to reach a slightly larger square.

Defeat the Mongols without sounding the alarm

Securing the square is easy, as it should be guarded by only two Mongols. Wait for your opponents to separate, sneak in from behind to the first one and execute him quietly. Behave in the same way as the other guard.

Your allies will appear in the castle - from now on, you don't have to sneak.

Reach the upper courtyard

The upper courtyard is accessed by a wide path. You have to get rid of the Mongols found on it. Sneaking is not mandatory, but try to surprise at least one of the Mongols - it is a good idea to execute a surprise attack on one of the stronger opponents.

After securing the upper courtyard, talk to Mrs. Masako.

Defeat the Mongols guarding the bridge

You'll meet Yuna at the bridge. Another battle - watch out for archers, as at least one of them can be found on the higher wall.

After winning the battle, walk through the bridge and reach the closed gate leading to the next part of the castle.

Find a way around a locked gate

Take an interest in the area to the right of the locked gate. As shown in the image, you can grab one of the edges and start descending. The aim of this is to reach the mountain path running under the bridge.

Jump to the first wooden support, then to the second and perform a jump combined with pressing R2 to catch the hook with your Grapple Hook. Continue the climb by using the grapple hook again.

Once you're to the left of the locked gate, Jin locates a hole in the Palisade. Head for the gate. You must kill a single opponent (preferably with a surprise attack) and open the gate to unlock the way for Yuna.

Defeat the Mongol guards

You and Yuna head towards another courtyard which you've passed a while before. There are enemies over there - try to sneak attack at least one opponent. Consider targeting a leader, so a stealth attack will weaken him, making dealing with him in direct combat much easier.

During combat, watch out for an opponent throwing flashbangs. Move away quickly if one lands near you. Further along the way, you will also encounter the first Archer firing flaming arrows. If you are hit with such an arrow, your hero will start burning and gradually lose life points. To get rid of the effect, perform a roll (2x Circle) In all further battles, make eliminating such archers a priority.

Reach the main courtyard

Another path leads to the main courtyard. The new gate will also be closed and therefore you have to find a hole in the palisade.

Before you squeeze through the hole, put on your samurai armor and heal yourself, as you're standing before a major battle against a boss.

Boss battle

Ryuzo is the boss of this chapter. You must defeat him in sword battle. You can't use other weapons or gadgets.

Ryuzo can launch standard Katana attacks, with his red and blue attacks being the most problematic.

Avoid red attacks, preferably by dodging. Ryuzo uses several variations of these attacks, with the most troublesome being a series of 2 attacks that occur after Ryuzo sheathes his katana for a while (an example of this situation is shown in the image). Don't press the dodge button (Circle) very quickly twice, but with some pause between the presses. Only then will you be able to avoid both attacks and not get injured.

Blue boss attacks can be paired, but only if you have purchased Unyielding Sword Parry from the Deflection tree. If you haven't purchased that skill, you have to completely avoid blue attacks along with red ones.

Ryuzo "fires" his blue attacks in several ways, the most dangerous being using a blue attack just after one of the red ones. You've got to be ready to deflect the strike after performing a dodge to avoid the Red attack.

Boss can be weakened with a series of 2-3 Katana strikes thrown after avoiding or parring his attacks.

The greatest damage is dealt through perfect parries. You need to have Perfect Parry unlocked and press L1 at the last possible moment. This is obviously very risky, as being late with the parry will mean serious damage.

If you've lost a lot of health points, move away from the boss, and activate healing (directional button down).

Despite defeating Ryuzo, you will not succeed in killing him, as the traitor will escape from the arena where you fought the duel. Instead, he will leave a straw hat (a cosmetic item).

Enter the tower to save Lord Shimura

You have to join the new fight just after Ryuzo escapes. Don't forget to replenish Resolve if you've often treated yourself during the boss battle. Again, focus on yellow archers - those who are able to fire flaming arrows.

Head for the main building where Shimura is being held captive. Kill more Mongols and use the main entrance to the tower.

Reach the top floor

Immediately after entering the building, a stand-off will begin - try to kill 1 or more enemies (if you have purchased stand-off improving skills). You'll face Mongols on each floor of the tower. You can kill one of them with a surprise attack, by pressing the kill action button after placing yourself at the sliding door.

After beating each group, find a ladder leading to the upper floor. Once you reach the last chamber, you will be able to free Lord Shimura.

Defeat the Mongols

Jin and Shimura will automatically leave the building. Now for the final battle with Mongols. During combat, watch out for elite Mongols using blue attacks - just as in the Ryuzo fight, you can parry them or dodge.

After disposing of the enemies from the courtyard, a short cut-scene is activated where the next Mongols reach the gate. Throw a bomb before they scatter. Deal with this group to begin cut-scenes ending this quest and act one of the campaign.

Mission completion rewards: Legend Increase (experience), unlocked access to Toyotama region, A New Horizon story quest unlocked.