Ghost of Tsushima: Prologue tale walkthrough, video guide Ghost of Tsushima guide, walkthrough

Last update: 20 July 2020

This page of our Ghost of Tsushima guide has a detailed walkthrough for the prologue. This is the first main quest in the game. The prologue has a little bit of fighting and sneaking. There's also a tutorial on the basics of sword combat. The prologue ends with a fight against Khan, although this won't be a full-fledged boss fight.

• Battle with the Mongols
• Find your katana
• Flashback - combat tutorial
• Follow Yuna
• Pick a horse
• Reach the castle with Yuna
• Going through the castle
• Boss - Khotun Khan
• Hide in the grass

Battle with the Mongols

The beginning of the game is very linear. Ride the horse to the beach where the Mongols are. You can attack them without getting off your horse. After a few moments, the hero will be thrown off his horse.

Start following Lord Shimura and the other samurai. You can eliminate single Mongols along the way. Jin will get hit by arrows. After watching the cut-scenes, press X to take the katana.

Find your katana

Jin wakes up in a small encampment. The hero is currently defenseless and this means that you cannot let the Mongols detect you, otherwise the quest will end in failure. You can optionally check things in the campsite.

Head towards the village and squeeze between the rocks. Move in a crouched position (press the right analog stick) and avoid the Mongols. Along the way, you can optionally examine footprints in the mud. Enter the cabin and search it to get Broken Armor - equip it.

Get out of the cabin - watch a cut-scene during which you will meet Yuna for the first time. Follow Yuna while avoiding detection. Stay close to Yuna and stop if she gives you that order. Crawl under the huts (press R2 to switch to the FPP view).

When you reach the place shown in the image, stay close to Yuna and don't let the detection marker change its color from white to yellow.

Climb on the roof of one of the buildings (tilt the left stick up and press X). Keep moving on the roofs until you reach the floor of one of the huts. You can look here for supplies and other optional loot.

Go downstairs and get out of the building through a small hole in the wall. Reach the next building, get inside through the broken window, and find your katana.

Flashback - combat tutorial

You now play as young Jin who, under the watchful eye of his uncle, Lord Shimura, will learn the basics of sword fighting.

1. The first part of the tutorial teaches you fast attacks (Square), strong attacks (Triangle), and a thrust (hold the Triangle). The choice of the dialog option after completing the first training doesn't matter.
2. In the second part of the tutorial, you will learn how to break defense and stagger opponents - press the Triangle, and after Shimura is stunned, press the Square button quickly.
3. In the third part of the tutorial, you will learn how to block (hold L1).
4. In the fourth part of the tutorial, you learn how to heal - you need to press down on the d-pad and have enough resolve to complete the action. For more details, see a separate page dedicated to Healing and resolve.

1. In the fifth part of the tutorial, you learn how to parry. To do it, you must press L1 just before the attack reaches the hero. This, of course, requires some practice. The advantage of the tutorial is that if you press L1 too early or too late, you won't get injured.
2. In the sixth part of the tutorial, you learn to avoid "red attacks". You must simultaneously tilt the analog stick (e.g. to the side or back) and press the Circle button. After a successful dodge, press Square to perform a counterattack. It is worth adding that you later unlock the ability to parry red attacks.
3. After completing all the lessons, you will have to complete the last trial. The person who performs five successful attacks first wins. If you don't want to take the risk, use blocks and dodges instead of parrying the attacks.

When you return to the present, defeat a single opponent in the cabin. It's a very easy fight, but remember about dodging.

Follow Yuna

You have to follow Yuna. Along the way you will encounter the Mongols, and in this case fights with them are mandatory. Use the knowledge gained from the tutorial, especially dodging and parrying.

Head with Yuna towards the stable where there will be another group of Mongols. If you get injured, don't forget to press down on the d-pad to heal.

Pick a horse

After the fight, talk to Yuna in the stable. You have to choose 1 out of the 3 horses and this choice is irreversible - the chosen horse will stay with you until the end of the campaign. The horses differ only in their color - they don't have different statistics. You have to name the chosen horse. That decision cannot be changed later either.

Reach the castle with Yuna

After the cut-scenes, the action moves to the Castle Kaneda. Get close to the castle where you must complete a tutorial on initiating and winning Stand-Offs:

1. Opponents can only be challenged to a duel if they have not yet seen the hero. You have to press up on the d-pad.
2. After the enemies run to you, hold the Triangle.
3. Don't let go of the Triangle until the opponent facing Jin attacks. If you performed the action well, he will die with a single katana cut. If you let go of the Triangle at the wrong time, Jin will receive a lot of damage.

Going through the castle

Get rid of the remaining Mongols and go to the next sections of the castle. You will encounter new kinds of threats:

1. Opponents with shields have to staggered with strong attacks (Triangle). Later in the game, you will also learn a special stance that will help you deal with them faster.
2. You must avoid arrows fired by archers. Each archer shouts just before releasing the arrow - press the Circle to dodge. Quick elimination of archers should always be your priority. In the later phase of the campaign, you will learn the ability to deflect shots.

Get on the bridge and do another stand-off. Make sure to release the Triangle at the perfect moment.

Boss - Khotun Khan

The most important thing is that you can't defeat Khan now. This means that you won't have a full-fledged duel with the leader of the Mongol army. The only thing you can do is to try to prolong it a little bit.

Khan will block your attacks and use his "red attacks" - they are very difficult to avoid even by dodging. This fight has one ending - Jin loses it and falls off the bridge.

Another flashback starts. This sequence has no combat elements. You just have to take part in the funeral ceremony as the young Jin.

Hide in the grass

After you return to the adult Jin, start following the wind gusts. They will lead you to Yuna hiding in the forest. Crouch in the tall grass to avoid detection by the Mongol patrol.

After the enemies move away, press left on the d-pad to call your horse. After completing a short ride and reaching a large glade, the quest will end.

Rewards for completing the mission: World map unlocked (you will see, e.g. new main quests), The Warrior's Code main quest unlocked, The Tale of Sensei Ishikawa main quest unlocked.