There are countless skills that Atsu can attune to through the Altar of Reflections in Ghost of Yotei, but unfortunately, there’s no respec. This means that whatever skill you pick, it’s a permanent addition to Atsu, so you will need to choose wisely. As such, we’ve gone through the best skills in Ghost of Yotei so you know which ones you should focus on first to avoid wasting skill points and maximize your potential as a fierce warrior that will be well on the way to stopping the Yotei Six and their grasp on Ezo.
Perfect Parry
Slow Time and Perform a Powerful Counter Attack
- Parry an attack at the last second to slow time and perform a counterattack.
- Earns a moderate amount of Spirit.
- L1 to Parry, then Square or Triangle to counterattack
The first skill that players should invest in is Perfect Parry. This will enable combat to feel more like a free-flow, in which players can time their blocks with L1 at the last second to slow down time and perform a powerful counterattack that, by itself, cannot be countered. This attack is very strong and really opens up the potential for combat, so long as players have the rewarding reflexes to permit them to perform this action. The Perfect Parry is a great opportunity to deal more damage and show off your skills as a warrior, especially when predictable attack patterns allow a chain of these counterattacks.
Roll
Roll to Evade Red Glint Attacks and Fire
- Roll away from attackers, evade slow red glint attacks, and extinguish Fire.
- L + Circle, Circle to Roll
The Roll is another essential addition to Atsu’s skillset, so it’s best to invest in this one early. With the Roll, Atsu will be able to get herself out of danger faster and further than the Dodge can, as she will quickly roll across the floor to clear distance. This is useful to regain your bearings, but also to avoid lethal attacks from larger brute enemies with red glint attacks that cannot be blocked or parried. Even better is the fact that the Roll will put out any fire that’s on Atsu, so if a fire arrow or a fire sword strikes you, quickly stop, drop, and roll!
Perfect Dodge
Dodge at the Last Second to Slow Time and Perform a Powerful Counter Attack
- Time your Dodge at the last second before an enemy’s attack lands to slow time and perform a deadly counterattack.
- L + Circle to Dodge, Square or Triangle to counterattack.
With the Roll ability unlocked, you can now invest in the Perfect Dodge ability. This works similarly to the Perfect Parry, in which you need to press the Circle button at the exact right moment to slow time and perform a counterattack. Perfect Dodge opens up more windows of opportunity for attack in the free-flow state of combat. Players can not only perform a Perfect Dodge on enemies with red glints, but on any attack, meaning you can stop using Perfect Parry if you prefer the safety of a Perfect Dodge.
Onryo's Will
Revive Yourself From Death
- Draw on your inner rage to revive yourself when downed.
- Down D-Pad when defeated.
- Costs 3 Spirit.
There’s something about the combat in Ghost of Yotei that makes it feel far more brutal and punishing than the previous game. Atsu will go down in a few hits, and it’s rather surprising to see yourself fall and die after a few sword slashes, but that’s where Onryo’s Will comes in. Atsu can use her rage (and her Spirit points) to essentially resurrect herself, coming back from the dead to ensure she’s not done just yet. While it may cost 3 Spirit, it’s also a great backup for players who weren’t quick enough to use their Spirit to heal themselves, so instead they can get back into the fight, which can become essential for duels with other katana-wielders.
Killer's Instinct
Show a Flashing Aura On Watched Enemies to Avoid Detection on Kill
- Enemies show a flashing aura if their death will alert nearby enemies.
Killer’s Instinct is the first assassination-based perk that players can unlock, and it’s very useful. While you can look to an enemy to see where their gaze is fixed, reassurance is always nice to make sure you’re doing it right. With Killer’s Instinct, hovering over an enemy ready for assassination will reveal an outline showcasing whether it’s safe or not to kill them. If the aura is flashing red, it means that enemy is being watched, so killing them will alert others.
Chain Assassination
Assassinate 2 Enemies at Once
- Assassinate 2 nearby enemies in quick succession.
- Use R to switch targets.
The main reason to unlock the Killer’s Instinct perk is to get the Chain Assassination perk, which allows you to assassinate 2 enemies at once. During most stealth encounters, 2 enemies will be standing beside each other and talking. While they can be broken up with a distraction through throwing a sake bottle, it’s best to get them when they’re not suspicious of anything, so the Chain Assassination perk assures that you can kill them both without one alerting the other and then the entire camp.
Brute Assassination
Assassinate Larger Enemies
- Assassinate large Brute enemies.
Brutes have a hulking size that rivals that of a bear, and unfortunately, they can ruin stealthy adventures through camps simply because they cannot be killed through stealth, thus requiring you to leave them for last. However, with the Brute Assassination perk, they will never be a problem, as they can be assassinated just like any other standard enemy. This is a great perk to invest in for players who like to fight the quiet way, as no more enemy types will stand in their way.
Heavenly Slash
A Brutal Unblockable Attack
- A fast unblockable attack that interrupts enemies and inflicts extra damage against Staggered enemies.
- Press Circle + Triangle to perform.
- Costs 1 Spirit.
Heavenly Slash is a Katana skill that players can learn, which may cost 1 Spirit, but it’s worth the cost. Spirit can be used to heal Atsu, but with Heavenly Slash, aggression becomes the best defense, so that you won’t even need to heal. This attack is fast, unblockable, and will interrupt enemies, while also causing more damage against enemies that are already staggered. It’s a great way to apply pressure to enemies and ensure that they’re not getting back up, as it’s a great forward dash that will destroy anyone on your path.
Concentration
Slow Time While You Shoot Your Bow
- Slow time when aiming with a Ranged weapon.
- R2 while aiming.
Acquiring a bow will make combat easier, for a headshot can kill enemies that are not wearing helmets (except for brutes). However, enemies move fast and approach you with great haste, so aiming at their heads might not be the easiest thing to do. Luckily, the Concentration skill will allow you to slow time when aiming a bow so that you can have the reflexes to get an easy headshot and ensure that another foe is eating dirt.