Although Ghost of Tsushima provides a great experience for casual explorers to simply ire breathtaking scenery and interact with interesting characters, many players will want to master the art of combat. The game offers a wide variety of methods for its main protagonist, Jin Sakai, to overcome the Mongol hordes and reclaim the island of Tsushima. Jin may only need his sword and good reflexes to rid his homeland of the invaders, but he gradually builds an entire arsenal with an assortment of weapons and tricks.

The key to truly mastering combat is equipping Jin with the right armor piece in combination with charms for his blade, which are mainly acquired from completing quests. Make sure to toggle a specific setting under 'Options > Gameplay' that "Enables Armor Loadouts" with unique charm combinations; otherwise, charms must be manually swapped when changing outfits. There are so many charms to choose from, and with only an allotment of two Major Charm and four Minor Charm slots, pairings must be carefully selected.

Most of the following builds are accessible after completing each quest under Jin's Journey and Tales of Tsushima by the end of Act 2. They might even be considered "endgame" builds since they will also reference fully upgraded armor stats and all unlocked techniques.

Become the Ghost of Tsushima

Much of the game encourages players to assassinate their enemies while remaining undetected, and some Stealth builds are optimal in certain locations as each armor piece isn't quite one-size-fits-all in how they function. For example, the Ghost Armor leans into the terror aspect of stealthy combat while the Ronin Attire helps Jin stay undetected.

It is recommended to use Ronin Attire during missions that require Jin to avoid combat altogether, especially if the mission area contains big patches of pampas grass. The armor's melee damage buff is helpful for enemies who evade assassination attempts, and equipping the Charm of Hoori-no-Mikoto, Charm of Silence, Charm(s) of Shadows, and Charm of Hidden Sight will keep Jin hidden for as long as possible.

When sneaking into a Mongol encampment or an area with a horde of enemies, using terror tactics might help since some enemies will run while most others won't even see what hit them. Equipping Ghost Armor with the Charm of Incineration, Charm of Tsukuyomi, Charm(s) of Advantage, and Charm of Fire Doctrine allows Jin to throw sticky bombs and black powder bombs to take down multiple assailants who can replenish ammo with loot drops while their buddies run in terror.

Tadayori's Armor paired with Charm of Izanagi, Charm of Azumi-no-isora, and Charm of Concentration is a great combo to take out enemies stationed at the edge of encampments or on higher elevations without anyone noticing; and with the chance of an arrow return!

Use smoke bombs after concussing a group of enemies with other types of bombs to either make a quick escape or assassinate them while they're stunned.

Fight Like a Samurai Warrior

Jin is also more than capable of fighting Mongols and bandits face-to-face with builds that give him an edge in 'honorable' melee combat. Despite being one of the first armor pieces acquired, the Samurai Clan Armor is great for its defensive benefits when surrounded by enemies.

The Charm of Izanami, Charm of Resistance, Charm of Inari's Might, and Charm of Resolve are great pairings for this particular armor piece since they allow Jin to take extra punishment while refilling his resolve for potential heals he might need. The Sakai Clan Armor is optimal for taking out roaming squads of enemies, especially when equipped with the Charm of Amaterasu since that's an easy way to fully heal Jin and gain resolve.

Equip the Gosaku Armor with the Charm of Amaterasu, Charm of Shinatsuhiko, and Charm(s) of Bludgeoning to easily cut down staggered enemies and heal Jin if he's hurt. This build is especially helpful when taking on a group of shielded enemies in a maxed-out Water Stance. Just be sure no pesky archers, bombers, or cannoniers can disrupt Jin's heavy attack, Surging Strikes, since landing those in quick succession can stagger multiple enemies at once.

There are many fun armor and charm combinations in Ghost of Tsushima that players can discover, but these builds can be great for these unique circumstances.