If you’ve spent even a few hours wandering Ghost of Yotei’s wind-swept Hokkaido wilderness, you know how much of a difference a good sword kit makes. Beyond just cosmetic flair, each kit comes with unique stat boosts and passive perks that can turn a tough boss fight into a quick win. This guide breaks down all sword kits ghost of yotei has hidden across its map, plus how to unlock them, what perks they offer, and which ones fit your playstyle best. I’ve spent 40+ hours tracking every last one down, so you won’t have to waste time wandering aimlessly looking for collectibles that don’t live up to the hype.
What Makes All Sword Kits Ghost of Yotei Offers Worth Tracking Down?
A lot of new players assume sword kits are just for show, like they were in the original Ghost of Tsushima base game, but Sucker Punch made a deliberate shift for Yotei to reward exploration with tangible combat benefits. Even common white-rarity kits have small but useful perks that give you a slight edge over the basic starter kit you get in the opening hour of the game.
Every kit comes with three core components that make it worth collecting: passive stat boosts that apply as long as the kit is equipped, combo-specific perks that activate when you land certain moves, and exclusive finishers that grant extra resolve when used. For example, the starter kit only gives a 5% boost to base attack damage, but even the first uncommon kit you find will likely give a 10% boost plus a bonus to parry window length.
You don’t have to stick to one kit forever either. You can swap between any unlocked kits at any samurai shrine in just two seconds, so it’s worth collecting even the ones you don’t think you’ll use right away. You never know when a stealth mission will pop up that makes a kit you wrote off suddenly feel like the best option in your inventory.
How to Unlock Every Sword Kit in Ghost of Yotei
Not all kits are locked behind tough challenges or hidden in remote corners of the map. A handful are given out automatically as you progress through the main story, but the strongest, most unique kits require a bit of extra work to track down. You can check which kits you’ve already unlocked and get clues for missing ones in the “Sword Kits” tab of your inventory.
Kits fall into four main unlock categories: story progression rewards, side quest rewards, open world hidden collectibles, and post-game challenge rewards. The three most sought-after kits available before you finish the main story are:
- Frost Woven Kit: Found in the abandoned Iwate Fort in northern Hokkaido. You'll need to clear 6 bandit camps in the surrounding area to get the fort gate key, then grab the kit from the locked armory chest inside. It comes with a 15% damage boost against frozen enemies, perfect for ice arrow builds.
- Maple Leaf Kit: Reward for completing the side quest "The Fallen Swordmaster" which you pick up from a wounded samurai outside Sapporo’s city gates. The quest requires you to defeat 3 rival swordsmen in duels across the central region, and it unlocks a 20% attack speed buff after perfect parries.
- Wolf Pelt Kit: Hidden at the top of Mount Yotei's western peak. You'll need the climbing gear unlock from the main story’s 8th chapter to reach it, and you'll have to fight a rare snowy bear guardian to claim it. It grants 25% extra movement speed in deep snow, which is a game-changer for exploring the northern regions.
The remaining 7 kits are tied to post-game content, including new game plus mode, the 100% completion reward, and monthly rotating community challenge events. I’d recommend holding off on hunting those until you finish the main story, as they’re balanced for higher level players with fully upgraded gear. Also, be wary of fake unlock guides floating around fan forums – any tip that says you can unlock a rare kit by killing 100 rabbits or bowing to 50 shrines is a prank, don’t waste your time.
Best Sword Kits for Every Playstyle
There’s no single “best” kit in the game, since each one is built to support a specific playstyle. The right kit for you depends on how you prefer to approach encounters, whether that’s sneaking through camps without being detected or charging straight into a fight with your sword drawn.
If you’re an aggressive melee player who loves parrying and chaining combos, the Maple Leaf Kit is your best bet. Its 20% attack speed buff after a perfect parry lets you chain light attacks so fast most enemies can’t block or counter, and its extra resolve gain for heavy hits lets you use your special stance abilities far more often than other kits. I used this kit for 90% of my main story playthrough, and it made even the toughest boss fights feel manageable.
For stealth players who prefer taking out enemies without being seen, the Shadow Silk Kit is unbeatable. You unlock it by completing the “Silent Blade” side quest line from the ninja trainer in the southern village, and it gives you a 30% quieter movement speed in snow, plus double resolve for silent assassinations. That extra resolve means you can use your blowgun or smoke bombs if you get caught, instead of being forced into a loud fight you can’t win.
If you prefer a tanky playstyle where you stand and trade hits, go for the Iron Mountain Kit, which you unlock by beating the game’s first arena challenge. It gives 25% extra damage resistance when your health is below 30%, and perfect blocks reflect 50% of damage back to the attacker. It’s especially useful for the late-game boss fights where you can’t avoid taking a few hits, and you don’t want to waste resolve on healing every few seconds.
You can also mix and match perks once you unlock the kit fusion ability in post-game. For example, you can combine the Shadow Silk Kit’s stealth bonus with the Maple Leaf Kit’s attack speed buff for a hybrid playstyle that lets you sneak through camps and hold your own if you get detected.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Sword Kits
Even if you collect every kit in the game, you won’t get the full benefit if you make these common mistakes that most new players run into. Most of these are easy to fix once you know what to look for, and they’ll make a huge difference in how easy combat feels.
The first mistake is sticking to one kit for every situation. A lot of players find a kit they like early and never swap it out, but that’s a huge waste of potential. For example, the Shadow Silk Kit’s stealth perks are completely useless in forced main story boss fights where you can’t sneak, so swapping to the Iron Mountain Kit before you walk into the arena will make the fight way easier. Always check your kit's passive perks against your current gear loadout before you head out on a mission, that way you’re not wasting a perk slot on something that doesn’t help you.
Another mistake is ignoring kit synergy with your other gear. The Frost Woven Kit’s extra damage against frozen enemies only works if you have ice arrows or the ice stance unlocked, so if you’re running a fire build with fire arrows and the fire stance, that kit is doing absolutely nothing for you. Take 30 seconds before you leave a shrine to make sure your kit perks line up with the weapons and abilities you’re using.
Don’t sell duplicate kit fragments either. A lot of players assume duplicates are useless, but you can use them to upgrade your existing kits, boosting their passive perks by up to 50%. For example, upgrading the Maple Leaf Kit’s attack speed buff from 20% to 30% makes a massive difference in fast-paced fights, letting you land an extra hit or two before an enemy can counter.
Finally, don’t forget to unlock the kit quick swap slot in the utility skill tree. It only costs 2 skill points, and it lets you swap between two kits mid-fight without opening the menu. That’s perfect for camp clears: use the stealth kit to take out the outer guards silently, then swap to your melee kit when you’re detected to take on the camp leader fast.
At the end of the day, tracking down all sword kits ghost of yotei has to offer is one of the most rewarding side activities in the game. You get cool cosmetics, powerful perks, and you’ll get to explore parts of the map you might otherwise miss while you’re rushing through main story missions. You don’t have to rush to collect all of them in your first playthrough; take your time, follow side quests when they interest you, and you’ll end up with a solid collection of kits before you hit post-game. If you’ve found a kit that works especially well for your playstyle, drop a note in the comments below to help other players out.