How to unlock Yari in Ghost of Yotei and all its abilities

Master the Yari spear in Ghost of Yotei: Complete quest guide, combat strategies, and advanced techniques

Introduction to the Yari Spear

Unlock Yari in Ghost of Yotei
Yari in Ghost of Yotei (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming || Sucker Punch Productions)

Unlock Yari in Ghost of Yotei
Yari in Ghost of Yotei (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming || Sucker Punch Productions)

The Yari in Ghost of Yotei represents a significant tactical upgrade from traditional katanas, offering superior range and crowd control capabilities. This versatile spear weapon becomes accessible through dedicated progression and specific mission completion. Its extended reach provides critical advantages in both offensive maneuvers and defensive positioning, making it particularly effective against groups of enemies or heavily armored opponents.

Unlike shorter blades, the Yari excels at maintaining optimal combat distance, allowing you to strike enemies before they can close within their effective attack range. This spacing advantage becomes crucial when facing multiple adversaries or enemies with powerful close-range attacks that you want to avoid entirely.

The Yari Master Questline

Your journey to master the Yari begins with an unexpected confrontation with Sensei Takahashi, the weapon’s revered instructor. Due to a case of mistaken identity where he perceives you as a hostile raider, this encounter inevitably escalates to combat. Successfully defeating the Yari master serves as both the quest completion requirement and the gateway to weapon acquisition.

Also read: Playing Zeni Hajiki (mini-game) in Ghost of Yotei, explained

The combat encounter with Sensei Takahashi follows predictable attack patterns that the game deliberately demonstrates. This design allows players to study his movements, practice evasion techniques, identify parry opportunities, and execute precise counterattacks. The key to victory lies in recognizing defensive openings and capitalizing on them with well-timed offensive bursts.

After his defeat, Takahashi experiences a revelation about your true intentions and commits to training you in Yari combat arts, initiating the weapon mastery questline. This training progression introduces various combat stances, attack combinations, and specialized techniques that fully utilize the spear’s unique capabilities.

Check out: How to uncover map in Ghost of Yotei (lifting fog of war)

Yari Training Lessons

The comprehensive Yari training curriculum consists of three distinct lessons that build foundational skills and advanced techniques:

  • Fishing with the Yari: This unconventional training teaches Atsu to spear fish during mid-air jumps, developing precision timing and aerial attack accuracy that translates directly to combat scenarios against mobile enemies.
  • Painting with the Wrist: Your secondary lesson focuses on Sumi-e painting techniques that refine wrist control and subtle movements, enhancing your ability to execute precise spear maneuvers and delicate combat adjustments.
  • Typhoon Kick: For your third lesson, Sensei Takahashi instructs you in mastering the powerful Typhoon Kick technique while wielding the Yari, combining spear strikes with devastating kicking combinations for maximum impact.
  • Completing this triad of training exercises finalizes your Yari mastery in Ghost of Yotei, transforming you from a novice to a competent spear wielder capable of handling the weapon’s full repertoire.

    Also read: Playing Zeni Hajiki (mini-game) in Ghost of Yotei, explained

    Yari Abilities and Combat Techniques

    Upon achieving Yari proficiency, you gain access to an extensive toolkit of specialized abilities and combat techniques:

  • Typhoon Kick: This technique leverages the Yari to power a forceful kick that launches enemies airborne, creating opportunities for aerial combos or environmental advantages.
  • Strength of the Typhoons: Enhances the Typhoon Kick with significant Stagger damage, making it particularly effective against heavily armored opponents or enemies with high poise.
  • Quickening Tides: Reduces the charging duration required for Typhoon Kick execution, allowing for faster combo initiation and more responsive combat flow.
  • Typhoon Sweep: Utilizes the Yari’s length to perform wide arcing sweeps that can clear multiple enemies simultaneously, excellent for crowd control situations.
  • Torrential Slash: Executes a follow-up impaling attack immediately after connecting with a Typhoon Kick, maximizing damage output from successful launches.
  • Strength of Waters: Specifically increases Stagger Damage against sickle-wielding enemies, providing tactical advantages against this particular opponent type.
  • Thundering Wave: A charged attack capable of impaling targets while simultaneously interrupting attacks from nearby enemies, offering both offensive and defensive utility.
  • Quelling Waves: Boosts damage output when parrying attacks from Sickle users, reinforcing your defensive capabilities against specific enemy archetypes.
  • Read more: Ghost of Yotei ending explained

    Pro Tips and Advanced Tactics

    Mastering the Yari requires understanding both its strengths and potential pitfalls. Many players underestimate the weapon’s wind-up times, leaving themselves vulnerable to quick counterattacks. Always maintain proper spacing and use the Yari’s reach to control engagement distances.

    For advanced optimization, combine Typhoon Kick with Torrential Slash for devastating aerial combos. Against sickle-wielding enemies, prioritize abilities like Strength of Waters and Quelling Waves to exploit their specific weaknesses. Remember that the Yari excels in situations where you can control the battlefield flow rather than reacting to enemy movements.

    That’s everything that you need to know about unlocking and mastering the Yari in Ghost of Yotei. For more related news and guides, check out:

  • Ghost of Yotei walkthrough: How to complete the Takezo the Unrivaled quest
  • How to effectively use Onryo’s Howl in Ghost of Yotei
  • Ghost of Yotei Storm Blade walkthrough: How to complete Jin Sakai Myth quest
  • Why did Saito kill Atsu’s family in Ghost of Yotei?
  • No reproduction without permission:GameCDjnh » How to unlock Yari in Ghost of Yotei and all its abilities Master the Yari spear in Ghost of Yotei: Complete quest guide, combat strategies, and advanced techniques