Best Side Quests to Do First in Ghost of Yotei

Ghost of Yotei starts with a really strong and impressive opening. Immediately taking control of the character Atsu and defeating one of her six targets is a fantastic way to begin, giving players the feeling of being a powerful female samurai. Soon after, you’ll be able to explore the beautiful open world of Ezo, but having so much freedom at first can be a little overwhelming if you’re not sure where to start.

Should you focus on the Ghost of Yotei storyline to earn rewards, or should you concentrate on exploring the world and improving Atsu’s abilities? If you enjoy discovery and completing quests, here are some early quests you won’t want to miss – they offer great rewards and experiences. Don’t worry, there will be no spoilers!

Lost In Reflection

A Side Quest to Learn About How to Upgrade Atsu’s Skills and Abilities

Location: Yotei’s Shadow Inn
Reward: Mon

Players should head to the Yotei’s Shadow Inn early in the game – it’s marked on the map to help with the story. While he isn’t always there immediately, you can meet Isaburo the Cartographer at this location. He sells maps and also offers the Lost in Reflection quest to players.

To learn new skills in Ghost of Yotei, players should go south of the inn to find Gessho, a monk. He’ll guide you to an Altar of Reflection. This quest is definitely worth completing, as it teaches players how to find other altar locations as well.

Takezo The Unrivaled

Unlock the Potential of a Fierce Rival and an Epic Charm

Location: South of Yotei’s Shadow Inn
Reward: Takezo’s Charm of the Unrelenting Warrior (Deal More Damage At Low Health)

Players can earn rewards by accepting bounties from locations such as the Yotei’s Shadow Inn. This is a great way to improve your sword fighting skills and gain Mon, the game’s currency. For even bigger rewards, players can explore a larger quest by heading south from the inn and crossing the river. It’s a good way to test your skills.

I came across this big field with a really bare-looking Dueling Tree, covered in paper – and one of Takezo’s disciples hanging around. Once I beat that first samurai, this trader named Ugetsu showed up. He gave me a bigger quest in Ghost of Yotei called “Takezo the Unrivaled,” and honestly, I think it’s best to tackle that one when you’re a bit stronger. I got Takezo’s Charm of the Unrelenting Warrior after that first fight, which is pretty cool – it lets me do extra damage when my health is low, so it’s a nice bonus!

Sleight Of Hand

Get Addicted To Zeni Hajiki, the Gambling Minigame

Location: Near Tranquil Falls
Reward: Mon

Just south of the first Dueling Tree, near Tranquil Falls, players can find an NPC known only as Ronin at his camp. He’ll ask players to travel to Lake Kuttara, beginning the Sleight of Hand quest. Unfortunately, Saito’s Outlaws have currently occupied his inn, the Kuttara Gambling Den.

Along with Ronin, players will battle many enemies, and completing these battles will unlock the Zeni Hajiki mini-game. This mini-game will earn players extra Mon and offer a fresh, enjoyable experience. Playing Zeni Hajiki with Ronin will also reveal secrets about Atsu’s mother, making it a worthwhile activity to do immediately after finishing the Sleight of Hand storyline.

The Repunkur Canteen

Explore The Cliffs Of Ezo for Pillars of the Fallen

Location: Southwest of Kuttara Gambling Den
Reward: Mon

This quest doesn’t have a formal title, but it’s beneficial to begin it sooner rather than later. To the southwest of the Kuttara Gambling Den, you’ll encounter an older Ainu traveler. He isn’t officially named, but he’s often called the Ainu Askur Trader, because that’s what his fast travel point is labeled as.

This trader is offering a reward if players can retrieve his bottle of Askur alcohol. To do so, players will need to navigate some challenging platforming sections on tall cliffs overlooking the sea. While returning, players can begin a new quest by speaking with a Settler woman who is grieving the loss of her husband. Throughout the world, you’ll find pillars containing useful items, and at this specific location, you can acquire a uniquely chilling scabbard – the Unyielding Tempest – for Ghost of Yotei’s Wolf Blade.

Old Trails

Choose Your Forever Horse and Give It a Name

Location: Southwest of Yotei’s Shadow Inn
Reward: Choose A New Horse

Although you’ll see horses everywhere in the grasslands of Ezo, players can’t actually catch them in the game. But don’t worry, you won’t be limited to just your starting white horse! Head southwest of the Yotei’s Shadow Inn, and you’ll discover an old stable and a Settler who’s being bothered by some troublemakers. Once you’ve dealt with the samurai, you can help investigate some missing horses in a flashback sequence with Atsu’s father.

So, after that memory sequence, the Settler lets you pick from three different horses, and thankfully, one of them is the original white horse we all know! It’s purely how your horse *looks* – no gameplay advantages or anything – but honestly, I think it’s a really neat quest. It helps Atsu deal with her past, and it’s nice to finally have some say in what color our horse is and what we want to name it. It’s a small touch, but I appreciate it! Definitely worth checking out. I’m excited to see what other cosmetic options they add.

The Loss We Carry

Winnie The Pooh’s Cousin Provides a Useful Charm

Location: Near Serpent’s Pass
Reward: Toku’s Charm of Blessings (Earn More Spirit)

You can begin the “Loss We Carry” quest in Ghost of Yotei by heading north along the river from the Yotei’s Shadow Inn, going around an area known as Serpent’s Pass. There, you’ll encounter a traveler named Toku and his bear. They need your help to locate a charm to place on a young girl’s grave.

This quest contains some spoilers, but it generally involves fighting samurai and culminates in a touching finale. Completing the quest rewards you with Toku’s Charm of Blessings, which boosts your Spirit during combat. Spirit is the resource players use to activate skills, such as healing.

The Spider Lily General

A Spooky Samurai Tale for Some Spooky Samurai Armor

Location: Near Shizunai Woods
Reward: Spider Lily Armor

The Spider Lily General is likely the most interesting side quest in Ghost of Yotei that players can complete near the beginning of the game. Players should head southeast from where they began The Loss We Carry quest and travel through the Shizunai Woods to locate a gate. Once there, Ugetsu will reappear to caution players about the ghost of the Spider Lily General. However, Atsu doesn’t believe the story and bravely walks through the misty gate regardless.

To avoid seeing spoilers, players must locate four keys within this area and battle several samurai during this rather long quest. Once completed, they’ll be rewarded with the impressive Spider Lily Armor, which boasts solid stats and looks fantastic on Atsu.

2025-10-05 13:05