Ghost of Yotei has 12 armor sets, most with matching masks and helmets or headbands. A few will be given to you by default, simply by playing through the main story, but most of them are rewards for optional content. Armor is usually given for major side quests, but some are slightly more hidden, requiring thorough exploration of Ghost of Yotei’s map.
[Warning: Minor spoilers for Ghost of Yotei.]
Each armor set in the game has unique properties which let you specialize in certain playstyles. For instance, one may have traits that make Atsu more deadly in Yotei’s bloody melee combat, while another provides bonuses to stealth. Other than these traits, armor sets do not have varying stats; i.e., you do not take less damage from incoming attacks by wearing certain clothes. Collecting all 12 will award you the For All Occasions trophy.
Every Armor Set Acquired In Ghost Of Yotei’s Main Story
Onryō Armor, Nine Tail Armor, & Mercenary Attire
By playing through Ghost of Yotei’s story, you will acquire three armor sets: the Onryō Armor, Nine Tail Armor, and Mercenary Attire. Each is unlocked in a different region and at major points in the story.
All the images in this guide show default dye colors and the fully upgraded armor properties, but their effectiveness scales depending on the set’s upgrade tier. E.g., Terrified enemies take more damage the more you upgrade the Onryō Armor.
Onryō Armor
The Onryō Armor is Atsu’s default outfit, meaning you will start the game in possession of it (sans the Onryō Mask). Unlike most armor sets, you cannot visit Ginji the Armorer to upgrade the Onyrō set; it incrementally improves as the main story progresses. Every time you eliminate a member of the Yotei Six, the Onryō Armor gets upgraded automatically. The Onyrō Armor is, unsurprisingly, best suited for an onyrō playstyle, which uses Atsu’s unique abilities to terrify enemies.
Nine Tail Armor
The Nine Tail Armor is acquired when you travel to Teshio Ridge to hunt down the Kitsune, a member of the Yotei Six and Lord Saito’s spymaster. It specializes in stealth, in particular boosting your efficacy with Quickfire weapons like Kunai and Smoke Bombs.
Mercenary Attire
You can get the Mercenary Attire during your search for the Oni in Ishikari Plain. It’s a fairly balanced outfit, but leans toward benefiting melee combat, though it does have a keen focus on buffing Atsu’s Sake consumption.
Hold down on the D-pad to drink Sake. It will replenish Spirit, but drinking too much will result in debilitating visual effects.
Dragonfly Armor
Daijiro’s Gift
The Dragonfly Armor can be acquired fairly early in Ghost of Yotei. You’ll have to find a man named Daijiro in Tokachi Range and complete a short quest called “The Dragonfly Armor.” Tokachi Range is part of the map’s main hub area, situated to the northeast of the Yotei Grasslands, and Daijiro can be found at a Traveler’s Rest – look for fires or smoke along paths or roads.
“The Dragonfly Armor” is fairly straightforward. When you first meet Daijiro, you’ll have to save him from a rōnin, then meet him at Huranui’s Rest Inn (also in Tokachi Range). You’ll then have to defeat Daijiro at Zeni Hajiki, and later rescue him from bounty hunters – none of the quest’s fights are particularly difficult. You will then have to meet him back at Huranui’s Rest again, where he’ll give you the Dragonfly Armor.
Bounty Master Armor
Bounty Reward
To earn the Bounty Master Armor, you will have to complete a particular Bounty in Yotei Grasslands, Ghost of Yotei’s starting area. The bounty is for Soma the Condemned, who, rumor has it, is in possession of a cursed flute that requires him to kill regularly in order to play its beautiful music. Soma was “Last seen in a cavern west of Lake Jozan,” according to the bounty.
Following the Guiding Wind will lead you to said cavern, but a door inside will be locked. Swipe left on the touchpad to use Atsu’s Shamisen, and play “Soma’s Song” while standing in front of the door. You’ll have to do some parkour, crawl through a hole, and duel Soma. After defeating him, Atsu will grant Soma one last song with his flute, after which you acquire the Bounty Master Armor.
Robes For Sitturaynu
A Gift From The Ainu
The Robes for Sitturaynu are the reward for completing “The Heart of an Ainu” Tale. The Ainu are an ethnic group indigenous to Ezo, and feature regularly throughout the story as traders and victims of the Yotei Six. To get the Robes for Sitturaynu, you will have to travel to the Nayoro Wilds, which is north of Tokachi Range, accessible by ferry across the Great Lake. Simply traveling there will put you in contact with an Ainu woman named Huci, beginning “The Heart of an Ainu.”
The Robes for Sitturaynu have a special upgrade path, requiring you to find lost Ainu Items throughout Ezo. You will eventually learn the “Ainu Song” to play on your Shamisen, which will prompt the Guiding Wind to take you to them. Ainu Items appear as a bright glint, and must be brought back to Kaeka the Weaver in Husko Kotan, the Ainu village in Nayoro Wilds.
Taro’s Armor
Scavenged Goods
You can get Taro’s Armor from Taro the Scavenger, who should be fairly easy to find. He has a home base at Dead Man’s Tree in Tokachi Range (just beyond Serpent’s Pass, to the north), where you can do a quest involving him. However, he will also appear at your campsite if you stop for a rest in a region outside the main hub of Yotei Grasslands/Tokachi Range.
It’s also possible to run into Taro after clearing out an enemy encampment. He plies his trade by scavenging Atsu’s handiwork, and he always appears near where you get placed after clearing an outpost. Taro’s Armor is great for the early game, since it increases your HP, and all you have to do is talk to Taro to acquire it.
Armor Of The Undying
A Curse Be Upon Ye
The Armor of the Undying is tied to a Myth that states a samurai was cursed to suffer immortality, killing to fuel his own life. The Myth, “The Undying Samurai,” can be picked up by listening to a tale at the Storyteller’s Rest in north central Ishikari Plain. You may also catch wind of it by chatting with the plain’s denizens. You will then have to acquire four wind chimes. The first will be near Storyteller’s Rest, visibly hanging from a tree.
Having your “weapon aligned” means you have the correct weapon equipped to counter your enemy’s: use a katana vs. katanas, use an odachi vs. brute enemies, use dual katanas vs. polearms, use a yari vs. dual-wielding foes, and use a kusarigama vs. shields.
Each wind chime will lead you to the next – swipe up on the touchpad (like using the Guiding Wind) and go in the direction that the wind chime’s ribbon points. The final wind chime will lead you to a precipice on the western coast of Ishikari Plain; climb down the cliff, through a cave, and defeat the Undying Samurai in a duel.
Spider Lily Armor
A General’s Grief
The Spider Lily Armor is acquired from a Myth in Tokachi Range, and can therefore be obtained quite early in the game. You will have to travel to the Abandoned Tominaga Estate, which is situated behind the Mysterious Gate in Tokachi Range’s southern region. Once inside the Tominaga Estate, all you have to do is explore the various paths to find four keys to a locked gate.
While the Spider Lily Armor’s stats indicate it works best for onyrō and defensive playstyles, it’s quite helpful for melee combat in general. Especially once the armor set is upgraded, being able to deal stagger damage in an area of effect can help clear out crowds very quickly.
Crimson Kimono
Stained Red With Blood
“The Crimson Kimono” is one of the lengthier armor quests in Ghost of Yotei, but it has virtually no challenge. You will likely hear the Crimson Kimono rumors long before you make it to Teshio Ridge. You’ll then have to seek out three bright orange Mother Daughter trees, each of which will be called a Sun-Painted Tree if you spot them with your spyglass. The three images below show exactly where to find the three trees, in order.
The first is located just north of the S in the “Sakuru Woods” label on the map; the second is southwest of the “Hakodake Mountains” label; and the third can be found northwest of Teshio River, directly east of the flower icon the quest puts on your map. After finding each, you’ll follow a swarm of red yuki mushi (fireflies) to advance the quest.
The third swarm of red fireflies will lead you to a location called the Old Home. Climb into the house’s attic and find a note which will point you to the stream outside. On the south side of the stream, complete the snow sculpture to once again be led by red firelies. They’ll take you to a grave – interact with a pile of stones to the right of the grave to receive the Crimson Kimono.
Ginji’s Guard Armor
A Not-Quite-Bulletproof Vest
Ginji’s Guard Armor will likely be one of the final armor sets you obtain in Ghost of Yotei. You cannot get it until you have traveled to Oshima Coast in search of the Saito Brothers, which is the last region you gain access to. Ginji is a recurring character throughout Yotei, appearing in each region to upgrade your other armor sets, but will only offer his prototype suit in Oshima Coast.
You can find Ginji near the Matsumae Residences, west of Matsumae Castle, where he’ll give you a quest. Ginji is in a jam with Saito’s forces, promising them new armor, and Atsu has to get him out. It’s very straightforward, fighting a handful of enemies, and the reward is the armor set, which is helpful if you want to use the tanegashima – flintlock rifle – regularly. It’s also the only way to defend against incoming bullets without dodging.
Fundoshi
Exposed To The Elements
The traditional Japanese undergarment known as a fundoshi doesn’t exactly qualify as armor, but it’s technically the 12th and final set in Ghost of Yotei. You can get it by taking the full bathing tour of Ezo and soaking in all 16 Hot Springs in the game. Your best course of action is to play the “Song of Well-Being,” which will prompt the Guiding Wind to direct you toward Hot Springs. Otherwise, use your spyglass to look for the bright red trees that always grow over the Hot Springs – they’re usually situated up high.