Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima

Enemy Types & Weaknesses

Identify enemy types and their weaknesses in Ghost of Tsushima. Exploit Mongol vulnerabilities with the correct Stance or Ghost Weapon for efficient combat.

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Enemy Types & Weaknesses

Mastering combat in Tsushima requires understanding your foes. The Mongol invasion force is diverse, and each enemy type presents unique challenges and vulnerabilities. Exploiting these weaknesses with the correct Stance, Ghost Weapon, or technique is crucial for survival and efficiency.

Swordsmen

These are the most common enemy type, armed with single-edged katana. They are agile and can parry your attacks if you're not careful.

  • Weakness: Stone Stance
  • Strategy:
    1. Engage with Stone Stance. This stance is specifically designed to break through their defenses quickly.
    2. use heavy attacks (Triangle button) to stagger them and open them up for follow-up strikes.
    3. Perfect Parries are highly effective against Swordsmen, often leading to instant kills or massive damage. Practice your timing!
    4. For groups, consider using a Wind Chime to lure one away for a stealth kill, or a Sticky Bomb to stagger multiple enemies before engaging.

Spearmen

Spearmen wield long-reaching spears, making them dangerous at a distance and capable of wide sweeping attacks that can interrupt your combos.

  • Weakness: Wind Stance
  • Strategy:
    1. Switch to Wind Stance immediately. This stance excels at countering spear attacks.
    2. Focus on the "Typhoon Kick" (hold Triangle) to break their guard and create openings.
    3. Dodge their thrusting and sweeping attacks, then counter with quick attacks.
    4. Kunai can be used to stagger Spearmen, interrupting their attacks and allowing you to close the distance safely.

Brutes

Brutes are heavily armored, slow-moving, but incredibly powerful enemies. They wield large, two-handed weapons like axes or maces, capable of dealing massive damage.

  • Weakness: Moon Stance
  • Strategy:
    1. Adopt Moon Stance. Its heavy attacks are designed to stagger and break the guard of larger, armored enemies.
    2. The "Spinning Slash" (hold Triangle) is particularly effective at breaking their posture.
    3. Be patient and dodge their slow, telegraphed attacks. Counter-attack immediately after they finish their swing.
    4. Sticky Bombs are invaluable against Brutes. They will knock them down, allowing for several free hits or even a critical strike.
    5. Consider using Explosive Arrows from your Half Bow for ranged damage and to stagger them before engaging in melee.

Archers

Archers provide ranged support for Mongol forces, often positioned on elevated platforms or at the back of groups. They can quickly whittle down your health if left unchecked.

  • Weakness: Stealth, Ranged Attacks
  • Strategy:
    1. Prioritize Archers! Eliminate them first whenever possible to prevent sustained ranged damage.
    2. Use stealth to approach and assassinate them. A well-placed Wind Chime can lure them away from their posts.
    3. If stealth isn't an option, use your Half Bow or Long Bow to take them out from a distance. Headshots are instant kills.
    4. Kunai can stagger them, giving you time to close the distance or land a bow shot.
    5. When engaging in open combat, use Smoke Bombs to create cover and allow for stealth kills or to reposition.

Shieldmen

These enemies carry large shields, making them impervious to frontal attacks. They often advance steadily, protecting other Mongol forces.

  • Weakness: Water Stance
  • Strategy:
    1. Switch to Water Stance. Its rapid flurries of attacks are excellent for breaking through shield defenses.
    2. The "Flurry Strike" (hold Triangle) is your primary tool here, repeatedly striking the shield until it breaks or the enemy is staggered.
    3. Alternatively, you can try to get behind them with dodges or by using a Smoke Bomb to disorient them.
    4. Explosive Arrows can also damage or destroy their shields, making them vulnerable.
    5. A well-timed Perfect Parry can sometimes bypass their shield entirely, opening them up for a critical hit.

Dogs & Bears

While not human, these animals are formidable foes. Dogs are fast and can quickly close distances, while bears are powerful and have high health.

  • Weakness: Any Stance (Dogs), Moon Stance (Bears), Ghost Weapons
  • Strategy:
    1. Dogs:
      • Use quick attacks from any stance.
      • Kunai are incredibly effective at instantly killing or severely damaging dogs in a group.
      • Dodge their lunging attacks and counter immediately.
    2. Bears:
      • Engage with Moon Stance for its heavy attacks.
      • Dodge their powerful swipes and charges.
      • Sticky Bombs can stagger bears, giving you precious seconds to land multiple hits.
      • Explosive Arrows from a distance are also very effective.
      • Consider using a Hallucination Dart (once unlocked) to turn them against other Mongols.