Ever wondered why some Ghost of Yōtei players are slicing through hordes like ghosts in the snow—while you’re still dodging every arrow?
The secret? Five armor sets that turn Atsu’s early-game struggles into a revenge-fueled rampage… but only if you snag them before the blizzards hit. Imagine parrying strikes that should kill you, vanishing into shadows mid-fight, or staggering entire camps with one disarming blow. What if one set could make you undying?
Dive into the full guide and equip like a legend:
In the unforgiving wilds of Ezo, where the winds howl like vengeful spirits and every shadow hides a blade, survival isn’t just about skill—it’s about the armor you wear. Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Yōtei, the long-awaited sequel to the 2020 hit Ghost of Tsushima, dropped on PlayStation 5 just over two weeks ago, and it’s already shattered sales records, moving more than 1.6 million copies in its first day alone. Players are raving about its fluid katana combat, dynamic weather systems that turn battles into balletic chaos, and a protagonist—Atsu, a fierce female ronin haunted by her clan’s massacre—who brings a raw, emotional edge to the samurai genre. But amid the praise for its breathtaking Hokkaido-inspired landscapes and innovative wolf companion mechanics, one question dominates forums and streams: What are the best early-game armors, and how do you get them without wasting hours on side quests?
For newcomers still thawing out in the Yotei Grasslands, the answer is clear. Ghost of Yōtei‘s armor system isn’t your standard stat-padding gear. Each of the game’s 12 (and counting, with DLC teases) sets comes with unique perks that reshape combat, stealth, and exploration. They’re upgradable at blacksmiths like Ginji the Armorer, using coins, metals, and rare hides scavenged from fallen foes or hidden caches. But the real game-changer? Snagging the right sets early—within the first three to five hours—can catapult you from fragile wanderer to unkillable specter, making those brutal encounters with the Yōtei Six (the game’s villainous warlords) feel less like a grind and more like poetic justice.
Critics and players agree: These early acquisitions aren’t just power grabs; they’re style statements. IGN’s Mitchell Saltzman called the combat “fluid and satisfying,” noting how armor perks amplify that sensation, turning parries into devastating counters. Polygon highlighted how sets encourage “varied activities” over repetitive checklists, letting you tailor Atsu’s vengeance to your playstyle—be it aggressive staggering, shadowy assassinations, or precise archery. With the game clocking in at 40-60 hours for a main story run, and up to 80 for completionists, prioritizing these five sets will save you frustration and unlock the title’s deeper layers sooner.
So, which armors should you hunt first? We’ve ranked them based on accessibility (all obtainable before Chapter 2’s midpoint), versatility, and impact on core mechanics like weapon alignment (matching your blade type to an enemy’s weakness for bonus damage) and Ghost Stance (a rage mode triggered by kills). No spoilers on the full plot—Atsu’s quest for revenge against the Yōtei Six unfolds organically—but expect these to carry you through the Grasslands’ bandit camps and into the Ishikari Plains’ frozen ambushes.
1. Armor of the Undying: The Defensive Powerhouse (Top Pick for Beginners)
If there’s one set that screams “early game essential,” it’s the Armor of the Undying. This sleek, bone-white ensemble, etched with motifs of resilient cherry blossoms defying winter, extends your perfect parry and dodge windows by 20-30% (upgradable to 50%), restores health on successful counters when weapon-aligned, and boosts stagger damage against shielded foes. In a game where one mistimed block can end a duel, this armor turns Atsu into a reactive monster—parry a spear thrust from a ronin, and you’ll chain into a health-regen flurry that staggers three enemies at once.
Why grab it early? Ghost of Yōtei‘s combat evolves from Tsushima‘s foundations but amps up the timing demands with new disarm mechanics and throwable enemy weapons. As Game8 notes, it’s “the best for straight melee,” especially paired with quickfire tools like kunai for crowd control. Players on Reddit report it trivializing early bounties, with one user quipping, “Went from dying to ashigaru grunts to feeling like a Kurosawa anti-hero.”
How to Get It: Head to the Ishikari Plains after completing the main quest “The Road to Ishikari Plain” in the northern Yotei Grasslands (about 45 minutes in). Track down the storyteller Ugatsu near the frozen riverbend—he’ll spin a tale of a cursed warrior. Defeat the mini-boss guarding the chest (a dual-wielding bandit with predictable patterns: dodge his overheads, parry the sweeps). Loot the set, and Ugatsu rewards extra coin. Total time: 20-30 minutes. Upgrade at the nearest armorer for 500 coins and iron ore to unlock the full health regen perk.
This set shines in open skirmishes but pairs brutally with charms like the Parry Echo (doubles counter damage) for boss prep. Drawback? It’s middling for stealth—switch it out for night ops.
2. Spider Lily Armor: Crowd-Control Carnage for Aggro Players
For those who live for the clash of steel and the spray of arterial mist, the Spider Lily Armor is a blood-red revelation. Its perks focus on stagger chains: Successful hits have a 25% chance to disarm foes (upgradable to 40%), turning their dropped blades into throwable projectiles that deal 150% alignment damage. It also amplifies group staggers, letting one Dance of Wrath (a spinning katana finisher) knock down clusters of up to five enemies. Visually, it’s a standout—flowing crimson robes with lily embroidery that billows dramatically in the aurora-lit winds.
GAM3S.GG dubs it the “unstoppable force” for aggressive runs, noting how it synergizes with the new wolf summon for pack-tactics takedowns. In testing, it melted a Grasslands camp of 12 bandits in under two minutes, chaining disarms into a throwable frenzy. Perfect for farming resources early, as staggered foes drop more hides.
How to Get It: From Yotei’s Shadow Inn (your first fast-travel hub), venture east into the lily-choked marshes. Activate the side tale “Petals in the Frost” by eavesdropping on two grieving villagers. Hunt the spectral boar (use fire arrows to flush it from cover—stock up on oil jars first). The beast drops the set upon defeat. Time investment: 15-25 minutes. Upgrades cost 400 coins and linen scraps, unlocking the throwable pierce-through effect.
Pro tip: Equip with the Oni Flame charm for incendiary disarms. It’s less forgiving on health than Undying, so dodge-roll liberally.
3. Crimson Kimono: Stealth’s Silent Symphony
Yōtei rewards ghosts over bruisers, and the Crimson Kimono embodies that ethos. This shadowy silk set silences footfalls (no noise while crouched or sprinting), extends chain assassination range by 50% (hit up to four foes in sequence), and boosts kusarigama (chain sickle) damage for grapple kills. Upgraded, it adds a “ghost trail” effect, briefly vanishing you after a stealth takedown to reposition unseen.
Stealth was Tsushima‘s hallmark, but Yōtei refines it with weather interplay—snow muffles sounds naturally, but this set ignores wind penalties. TheGamer ranks it high for infiltration, calling it “essential for avoiding alerts in occupied forts.” Early-game, it lets you clear bounty boards without firing a shot, earning coin for upgrades faster.
How to Get It: In the Yotei Grasslands’ Whispering Woods, follow the fox puzzle trail (three glowing tails lead to a hidden shrine). Solve the riddle (“What blooms in blood but dies in light?”) by offering a spider lily flower (found nearby). Claim the chest. Quick grab: 10-15 minutes. Upgrade with 300 coins and shadow silk from silkworm nests.
Ideal for shinobi builds—pair with blind bombs for total camp domination. Con: Weak against archer-heavy groups; swap to ranged sets mid-fight.
4. Dragonfly Armor: Ranged Rain of Death
Archers rejoice: The Dragonfly Armor turns Atsu’s longbow into a stormbringer. Perks include 30% faster draw speed, headshot staggers that chain to nearby foes, and alignment bonuses for piercing multiple targets. Its lightweight green plating, adorned with iridescent wings, reduces sway in wind, making aurora-night shots pinpoint accurate.
GameSpot praises its utility in open-world hunts, where elevated perches overlook bandit patrols. Early on, it excels at sniping Yōtei scouts from afar, preventing reinforcements and easing main-story pushes.
How to Get It: Trek to the Tokachi Range’s high cliffs (northeast of Grasslands, post-first ferry). Challenge the eagle hunter NPC to a marksmanship duel—hit three moving targets before he does (practice on hares first). Win, and it’s yours. Time: 20 minutes. Upgrades: 450 coins, feathers from aviary nests.
Synergizes with explosive arrows for AOE chaos. Downside: Melee vulnerability—use it for setups, not stand-offs.
5. Bounty Master Armor: Precision’s High-Risk Reward
The riskiest early grab, Bounty Master disables standard parries for expanded perfect windows and triple counter-strikes on success—unblockable hits that charge Ghost Stance lightning-fast. It’s for timing gods, turning duels into ballets of ripostes. The rugged leather set evokes a wandering killer-for-hire, with tally notches on the bracers.
Push Square calls it “vital for risk-reward fans,” as those triples can one-shot elites. Grind bounties to unlock it, and you’ll level faster overall.
How to Get It: Complete four Grasslands bounties via Kojiro’s board at Yotei’s Shadow. This unlocks “Soma the Condemned”—track and assassinate the warlord in a multi-phase fight (stealth phase one, duel phase two). Reward: The set. 30-45 minutes total. Upgrades: 600 coins, bounty tokens.
Master it for endgame bosses, but practice on low-threats first—missed parries hurt.
Why These Sets Matter: Builds, Upgrades, and Beyond
These armors aren’t isolated; they’re the backbone of builds. The Immortal Parry (Undying + parry charms) tanks hordes; Shinobi Shadow (Crimson + kunai) ghosts forts. Upgrading at Ginji—found in every region—unlocks masks for cosmetic flair and bonus perks, like the Undying’s “Eternal Blossom” helm for extra regen. Resources? Farm camps in aligned gear for efficiency.
Yōtei‘s world, from flower-strewn meadows to aurora-veiled peaks, begs exploration, and these sets make it rewarding. GamesRadar+ gushed that it’s “more fun than any open-world game,” crediting gear like this for emergent joy—like using Spider Lily to hurl a bandit’s own naginata back at him mid-blizzard. Sales figures back the hype: It recouped its $60 million budget day one, per industry insiders.
But a note on controversy: The game’s reveal sparked backlash over its female lead, with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk calling it “woke pandering”—prompting a swift studio rebuke and boycott threats that fizzled post-launch. Fans, however, embraced Atsu, with 4.3K Reddit upvotes for posts celebrating her depth.
As Ghost of Yōtei: Legends co-op looms in 2026, mastering these early sets positions you for multiplayer dominance. Whether you’re a parry purist or stealth savant, Ezo’s ghosts await. Grab your blade— the snows don’t forgive the unprepared.
