Walkthrough for the Ghost of Tsushima episode, “Ghosts from the Past”

In the first act of Ghost of Tsushima, Jin Sakai embarks on a long voyage to rescue his uncle, Lord Shimura, from Mongol captivity. This section’s missions centered on the recruitment of surviving Samurai and the development of a device that enables Jin to scale the walls of the Mongol-occupied Castle Kaneda. In the final mission of Act 1, “Shadow of the Samurai,” Lord Sakai rids the castle of invaders and rescues Jin’s uncle, putting Jin’s plans to the test.

After the completion of Act 1 and the transition mission “A New Horizon,” the second act of the game commences in earnest. Similar to Act 1, Act 2 commences by presenting Jin with three mission options from which to choose. This guide will concentrate on “Ghosts of the Past” as the first mission of Act 2 because it is the furthest away from the starting point and provides Jin with one of the best armor sets in Ghost of Tsushima.

Ghost of Tsushima: How to Begin “Ghosts from the Past”

“Ghosts from the Past” is located in the north-west region of Toyotama and is difficult to reach if the precise path is not taken. Even though Jin can technically begin two other missions first, many players will want to acquire the Sakai Clan Armor first. There are additional advantages to completing “Ghosts from the Past” first, the most significant of which is the long chain of fast-travel points Jin will activate on his long journey home.

Avoiding Yarikawa:

Enter the Sakai Estate and Meet Yuriko

Objectives:

Reach the Sakai mansion

When Jin finally approaches the village of Omi, he will observe several small structures surrounding a large dwelling. This entire region is the Sakai Estate, where Jin grew up before Lord Shimura took him in. Find the mission marker that directs Jin to the correct home, then enter it to begin searching for the Sakai family armor.

Find your father’s armor.

As soon as Jin enters the residence, he will notice that the armor is absent. Yuriko enters Ghost of Tsushima at this point. She may have been one of the estate’s attendants for the duration of Jin’s life. As the plot unfolds, it becomes evident that these two have known one another for years.

Yuriko informs Jin that she hid the armor securely, following an initial burst of happiness at Jin’s survival. Jin will accompany Yuriko to meet Taichi, another estate groundskeeper. Together, they will urge Jin to visit the grave of his father.

Visit the Grave of Kazumasa Sakai and Contemplate on His Legacy (Haiku)

Pay a visit to your father’s tomb

It is impossible to overlook the large clearing in the cemetery if you follow the wind there. Jin will compose a haiku in his father’s memory while kneeling among falling foliage.

Composing the Legacy Haiku:

As with every haiku in Ghost of Tsushima, the player must construct three lines, each of which has three possible forms.

Line 1:

I mourn my father (Grave)
Leaves shade my father (Top left)
Light for my father (Top right)

Line 2:

We used to meditate here (Ground)
His grave close, his soul distant (Sky – right)
I fought hard to return home (Tree – left)

Line 3:

Now I am alone (Bottom)
All things pass away (Middle)
This old tree lives on (Top)

Collect the Clan Sakai’s Armor

Return to the home after completing the Haiku to retrieve Jin’s new armor.

Put on your father’s armor

To retrieve the armor, merely return to the main parlor, where it was previously shown to be missing. It is abundantly evident that Jin still struggles with his inability to save his father, and that the armor has a significant connection to this failure in his mind.

Confront the Straw Cap Ronin thugs:

As Jin and Yuriko converse, a voice is heard commanding Jin to step out and face him. Jin, clad in his new armor, advances in the direction of what appear to be multiple Straw Hat Ronin.

As additional opponents are one of the main benefits of the Sakai Clan Armor, the game encourages Jin to engage in combat. Thus, the Sakai armor is one of the finest sets of armor in Ghost of Tsushima.

Speak with Yuriko

Once the enemies have been defeated, return to Yuriko and communicate with her. It is evident that her memory is deteriorating, as she mistook the bandits for members of clan Yarikawa. She and Jin descend to the lake so that she may recover. Along the way, Jin inquires about the poison she employs to eradicate pests.

Obtain the Blowgun and Ask Yuriko about Toxicity

Jin must travel to an area known for its reeds and create a blowgun he will use to poison Mongols as the mission’s final objective.

Travel to the old crossing
Return to Yuriko

Jin will proceed to liberate the major Mongol outpost of Kishibe Village. It is not required for the mission, but completing it will earn him the following benefits:

Technique Point
2 Gold
Moderate Legend Increase

If the player wishes to complete this task later, they must simply retrieve the reed and depart the area. As shown in the image, the reeds are situated directly beneath the bridge. Remember to return to Yuriko by the lake, not the home, once Jin has the reed.

Finish the Poison with Yuriko

Jin, armed with a blowgun, must follow Yuriko in search of the blossoms she needs to create the poison. The pair of riders will reach a tiny camp. Dismount and search for Yuriko’s purple blossoms.

Follow Yuriko
Gather the flowers 3/3
Poison the Straw Hat Ronin
Speak to Yuriko

All the blossoms are in close proximity to the camp and are not difficult to locate. After Yuriko has completed brewing the poison, a small group of Straw Hats will opportunely blunder upon the camp. Using one of the darts on a solitary Straw Hat will cause the other two to flee. Speak with Yuriko one last time to complete the mission.

The Director’s Cut of Ghost of Tsushima is currently available on PS5. Spectre of Tsushima is a PlayStation 4 game.