Ghost of Tsushima techniques: every skill by tree
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About this list
Jin learns techniques with Technique Points, unlocks stances by watching or killing Mongol leaders, and earns Mythic Techniques from Mythic Tales. The tables below cover all of them.
Within each tree the tier column shows the unlock order, so you can see what a technique leads to before you buy it.
Every skill by tree
Evolving Tactics (22)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concentration | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Slow time briefly while aiming a bow for better accuracy. |
| Far Hearing | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Focused Hearing reaches enemies further away. |
| Horse Charge Efficiency | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Horse Charge burns Resolve 30% slower. |
| Iron Will | 1 | 1 Technique Point | When you would be defeated, spend Resolve to survive the mortal wound with a sliver of health. |
| Safe Landing | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Roll just before landing to take no fall damage, except from deadly heights. |
| Standoff Streak | 1 | 1 Technique Point | After a won Standoff, one more enemy rushes in and leaves himself open to a killing blow. |
| Chain Assassination | 2 | 1 Technique Point | Assassinate two nearby unaware enemies one after the other. |
| Horse Charge Recovery | 2 | 1 Technique Point | Each Horse Charge impact has a 10% chance to restore 3 Resolve. |
| Improved Standoff Streak | 2 | 2 Technique Points | After a won Standoff, two more enemies rush in to be cut down. |
| Mental Fortitude | 2 | 1 Technique Point | Cuts Concentration's cooldown by 15%. |
| Stealth Hearing | 2 | 1 Technique Point | Move faster while using Focused Hearing. |
| Chain Assassination Master | 3 | 2 Technique Points | Chain up to three assassinations in quick succession. |
| Improved Mental Fortitude | 3 | 2 Technique Points | Cuts Concentration's cooldown further; the menu lists 30%. |
| Killer's Instinct | 3 | 2 Technique Points | Targets whose death would alert their allies flash with an aura. |
| Terrifying Horse Charge | 3 | – | Horse Charge impacts have a 25% chance to Terrify nearby enemies. |
| Archery | – | Unlocked in The Tale of Sensei Ishikawa | Aim and fire a bow. |
| Assassination | – | Unlocked in The Warrior's Code | Kill an unaware enemy with a quiet stealth attack from behind or above. |
| Focused Hearing | – | Unlocked in The Warrior's Code | Listen closely to pick out nearby enemies by sound. |
| Horse Charge | – | Unlocked in A Lost Friend | Charge forward on horseback, throwing and damaging even big groups; it uses Resolve. |
| Recover Health | – | Unlocked in Prologue | Spend 1 Resolve to heal a moderate amount of health. |
| Shoji Assassination | – | Unlocked in Shadow of the Samurai | Kill an unaware enemy through a shoji paper door. |
| Standoff | – | Unlocked in Prologue | Challenge a group of unaware enemies to a one-on-one draw; win and you kill instantly and gain 3 Resolve. |
Ghost Weapons (8)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blinding Dust | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Smoke Bombs briefly blind enemies in the cloud, and the smoke lingers longer. |
| Concussive Blast | 1 | 1 Technique Point | The Black Powder Bomb's shockwave knocks enemies down. |
| Guarded Throw | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Your own bomb blasts no longer hurt you. |
| Hidden Blade | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Each Kunai throw sends one more blade. |
| Explosive Powder | 2 | 2 Technique Points | A direct Sticky Bomb hit kills the target, and the blast grows bigger and hits harder. |
| Explosive Shrapnel | 2 | 2 Technique Points | Shrapnel raises the Black Powder Bomb's damage and blast radius. |
| Healing Incense | 2 | 2 Technique Points | Smoke Bomb fumes heal you a little. |
| Serrated Blades | 2 | 2 Technique Points | Kunai deal double damage. |
Deflection (7)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect Parry | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Block at the last instant before a hit lands to open the enemy for a lethal counter. It also earns a moderate amount of Resolve. |
| Perfect Parry Healing | 2 | 1 Technique Point | Each Perfect Parry gives you back a small amount of health. |
| Unyielding Sword Parry | 2 | 1 Technique Point | Lets you parry unblockable Mongol sword attacks marked by blue glinting lines, in any stance. |
| Deflect Arrows | 3 | 1 Technique Point | While you hold block, incoming arrows and other projectiles are parried away. |
| Resolved Parry | 4 | 1 Technique Point | Both regular Parries and Perfect Parries earn a moderate amount of Resolve. |
| Unyielding Spear Parry | 4 | 1 Technique Point | Lets you parry unblockable spear attacks marked by blue glinting lines, in any stance. |
| Terrifying Parry | 5 | 2 Technique Points | Counterattacks after a Perfect Parry have a 20% chance to Terrify nearby enemies. |
Evasion (7)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roll | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Roll along the ground to get clear of attacks. Rolling also puts you out if you are on fire. |
| Dodging Slash | 2 | 1 Technique Point | Dash aside and strike in one move, useful against slow enemies. |
| Sprint Strike | 2 | 1 Technique Point | Run at an enemy and hit them with a fast slash on arrival. |
| Shoulder Charge | 3 | 1 Technique Point | Barge into enemies while sprinting to knock them backward. |
| Delayed Strike | 4 | 1 Technique Point | Hold a pose, then release a light attack that deals extra melee and Stagger damage. |
| Mounted Strike | 4 | 1 Technique Point | Leap off your horse to tackle an enemy and deal Stagger damage. |
| Perfect Dodge | 5 | 2 Technique Points | Dodge at the very last moment to set up a lethal counterattack. |
Exploration (7)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind of Charms | – | 1 Technique Point | The Guiding Wind leads you to Shinto Shrines, where new Charms wait. |
| Wind of Concentration | – | 1 Technique Point | The Guiding Wind leads you to Archery Challenges on Iki Island. |
| Wind of Harmony | – | 1 Technique Point | The Guiding Wind leads you to Animal Sanctuaries on Iki Island. |
| Wind of Health | – | 1 Technique Point | The Guiding Wind leads you to Hot Springs, where a soak raises your maximum health. |
| Wind of Inari | – | 1 Technique Point | The Guiding Wind leads you to Fox Dens; the foxes take you to Inari Shrines for more Charm slots and upgradeable Charms. |
| Wind of Resolve | – | 1 Technique Point | The Guiding Wind leads you to Bamboo Strikes, which raise your maximum Resolve when completed. |
| Wind of Vanity | – | 1 Technique Point | The Guiding Wind leads you to vanity items that change Jin's appearance. |
Stances (5)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Stance | 1 | Available from the Prologue | A stance for fighting swordsmen: heavy attacks deal extra Stagger damage to sword users. |
| Water Stance | 2 | Kill or observe 3 Mongol Leaders | A stance for shield users: heavy attacks deal extra Stagger damage to shieldmen. |
| Wind Stance | 3 | Kill or observe 8 Mongol Leaders | A stance for polearm users: heavy attacks deal extra Stagger damage to spearmen. |
| Moon Stance | 4 | Kill or observe 15 Mongol Leaders | A stance for brutes: heavy attacks deal extra Stagger damage and disrupt brutes whatever their weapon. |
| Ghost Stance | 5 | Win the duel in The Ghost of Yarikawa | A limited stance that lets you kill up to three enemies with unblockable strikes while the rest freeze in fear. |
Water Stance (4)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flowing Strikes | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Flurry Strike grows to four rapid cuts. |
| Strength of Tides | 2 | 1 Technique Point | All Water Stance attacks deal more Stagger damage to shieldmen. |
| Surging Strikes | 3 | 1 Technique Point | Flurry Strike grows to five rapid cuts. |
| Downpour | 4 | 2 Technique Points | Each landed hit in Flurry Strike makes the next one hit harder. |
Moon Stance (4)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlwind | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Spinning Strike adds a second spin. |
| Strength of the Heavens | 2 | 1 Technique Point | All Moon Stance attacks deal more Stagger damage to brutes. |
| Finishing Strike | 3 | 1 Technique Point | The third hit of the Moon Stance heavy chain deals extra melee and Stagger damage. |
| Tornado | 4 | 2 Technique Points | Spinning Strike grows to three spins. |
Stone Stance (4)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puncture | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Adds a second thrust to Piercing Strike. |
| Strength of Mountains | 2 | 1 Technique Point | All Stone Stance attacks deal more Stagger damage to swordsmen. |
| Full Puncture | 3 | 1 Technique Point | Piercing Strike becomes a chain of three thrusts. |
| Momentum | 4 | 2 Technique Points | Stone Stance heavy attacks come out much faster. |
Wind Stance (4)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strengthened Typhoon Kick | 1 | 1 Technique Point | Typhoon Kick sends enemies further back and adds Stagger damage. |
| Strength of Gales | 2 | 1 Technique Point | All Wind Stance attacks deal more Stagger damage to spearmen. |
| Spear Defense | 3 | 1 Technique Point | Spear attacks that hit you during a Wind Stance attack are parried automatically. |
| Typhoon Kick Finisher | 4 | – | Enemies launched by Typhoon Kick are knocked down. |
Mythic Techniques (3)
| Skill | Tier | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dance of Wrath | – | Complete The Spirit of Yarikawa's Vengeance | Three unblockable high-damage strikes in a row, with kills able to Terrify enemies. Uses 3 Resolve. |
| Heavenly Strike | – | Complete The Heavenly Strike | A lightning-fast unblockable slash that does extra damage to Staggered enemies; kills may Terrify those nearby. Uses 1 Resolve. |
| Way of the Flame | – | Complete The Undying Flame | Coat the katana in Incendiary Oil and set it alight, making your attacks unblockable and burning enemies; kills may Terrify. |
Tips
- Water Stance opens after three Mongol leader observations or kills, and watching and killing count separately, so two leaders can be enough.
- Pick the stance for the enemy in front of you: Stone for swordsmen, Water for shields.
- Mythic Techniques come from Mythic Tales, not points, so start those tales when a musician offers one.
More for this game: the ghost of tsushima hub and the checklist tracker.
Sources
- Community wiki for this game, used to check facts; every entry is written in our own words and credits its own source page.