There are many different duels in GoT(Ghost of Tsushima); each one grants different rewards and tests your skills differently. But since each duel requires different skill sets they also need different armor as well to protect one from the type of incoming damage. With over 100 hours played in this game I'm going to let you know which set is best for the most difficult of them all.
7. Samurai Clan Armor
Ryuzo Duel
This is one of the earlier duels in the game where Jin Sakai has to duel his childhood friend and leader of the Strawhat Ronin mercenary group. This duel included 2 parts one in the first act of the main story and in act 2. What makes this battle difficult, is his quick attacks and relentless combat style makes parries the key to victory in this one.
The Samurai clan armor is one of the best early-game armor sets granting a massive health increase and resolve gain upon taking damage. All of the elements of the armor work in unison making it perfect if you haven't gotten a hang of the combat system by rewarding you for taking damage. Pairing this armor set with the correct charms will make this duel much easier.
Armor Details:
- Samurai Clan Helmet
- Samurai Clan mask
- Samurai Clan armor: Massive health increase, Major damage reduction, and 30% resolve gain upon damage taken
Charm Details:
- Charm of Mizu-no-Kami: Makes parries, perfect parries, and perfect dodges easier to perform.
- Charm of Vitality: Moderate increase to health
- Charm of Resolve: 15% increase to resolve Gains
- Charm of Amaterasu: Killing enemies restores moderate health
- Charm of Inaris Might: Increases health and melee damage by a major amount
- Charm of Immunity: 15% chance for enemy arrows to deal no damage
Samurai Clan Armor is great against:
- Lord Shimura
- Kiyochika
- Kanetoma
- Kaede
6. Ghost Armor
Black Hand Riku
Black Hand Riku is one of the most difficult duels in the game, Rikus attacks are fast and strong along with her having unblockable attacks it's important to time the parries correctly and be able to differentiate when to dodge and when to parry. Since Riku mixes up her attacks it's important to know when to counterattack. A good way to knock her off balance or interrupt her is with the ghost weapons along with using the ghost stance makes this duel much easier.
The Ghost Armor is gained at the end of Act 2 during the “From the Darkness” I put this one second because it is the best stealth armor in the game making you the literal embodiment of what the Ghost of Tsushima is supposed to be. This armor grants: Reduced enemy detection speed by 25%, Reduces the number of kills needed to enter the Ghost Stance by 1, and Kills have a 15% chance to Terrify a nearby enemy. There are not many armor sets better than this one. Even though this armor has great stats it can be boosted even more with the right charms.
Armor Details:
- Ghost headband
- Ghost Mask
- Ghost Armor: Reduces enemy detection speed by 25%, Reduces the number of kills needed to enter the Ghost Stance by 1, and Kills have a 15% chance to Terrify a nearby enemy.
Charm Details:
- Charm of Inaris Might: Increases health and melee damage by a major amount
- Charm of Resolve II: 25% increase to resolve gains
- Charm of Enduring Affliction: Status effects last 50% longer and do 50% more damage
- Charm of Take Mikazuchi: Killing an enemy increases melee damage by minor amount for a few seconds
- Charm of Ryuujin: Recover 1 Kunai after performing a perfect dodge
- Charm of Mizu-no-Kami: Makes parries, perfect parries, and perfect dodges easier to perform.
Ghost Armor is great against:
- Lord Shimura
- Crimson Fisherman
- Ryuzo
- Yasumasa
5. Gosaku Armor
Khotan Khan
This duel is with the main antagonist of the story he is built like a tank and deals a lot of damage. Not only that he also will use underhanded methods unlike the others on this list to achieve victory. The reason for this is that he is a Mongol and an outsider he is indifferent to the usual combat rules and honor system that the islanders of Tsushima take great pride in, for the Mongols the only rule in a fight is that there are no rules. This is why I believe that armor that allows you to tank and deal more damage than usual is ideal for this duel.
Gosakus Armor is easily one of the best armor sets for those who love to run head-first into battle and just completely overwhelm their enemies. Obtained through the Mythic Tale “ The Unbreakable Gosaku” this armor set grants colossal health increase, massive stagger damage increase, and killing staggered enemies restores 20% of health. This armor set is best for anyone who wants to make a tank build and focus solely on offense, this armor set is best for those who don't care to dodge or parry just swing away with reckless abandon and watch as their enemies
Armor Details:
- Gosakus helmet
- Gosakus visage
- Gosakus Armor: Colossal health increase, massive stagger damage increase and killing staggered enemies restores 20% of health
Charm Details:
- Charm of Shinatsuhiko: Staggering an enemy prevents interrupted attacks for 6 seconds
- Charm of Inaris Might: Increases health and melee damage by a major amount
- Charm of Bludgeoning: Moderate increase to stagger damage
- Charm of Dual Destruction I, II, & III: Attacks have a 10% chance to do double damage( I has a 5% Chance)
Gosaku Armor is great against:
- Black Hand Riku
- Kojiro
- Crimson Fisherman
4. Mongol Commander Armor
Spirit of Yarikawa
The spirit of Yarikawa is a spirit from the past that seeks revenge on the Sakai clan for the massacre of the Yarikawa clan. This enemy is fast and powerful making her a handful to deal with, since she is so aggressive and offensive once one strike lands expect a flurry of other attacks to come immediately after. For this duel perfect dodges and parries will be the way to victory, however, you won't be able to escape this battle unscathed since she is a very capable fighter. Which is why the Mongol Commander Armor would be best.
The Mongol Commander armor is one of the last armor sets gained in the story and even though it has great perks there are other better and stronger armor which is why it is outside the top 3. The Mongol Commander armor acquired during the Fit for a Khan during the Tsushima Tale grants the wearer: Massive health increase, Major damage reduction, and while outside of combat enemies' detection speed is massively decreased. This Armor set along with the correct charms will make this duel 10x easier than before.
Armor Details:
- Mongol Commander helmet
- Mongol Commander Armor: Massive health increase, Major damage reduction, and while outside of combat enemies' detection speed is massively decreased
Charm Details:
- Charm of Fortune I & II: effects with a % chance are 50% more likely to occur
- Charm of Dual Destruction I, II, & III: Attacks have a 10% chance to do double damage( I has a 5% Chance)
- Charm of Ferocity: Moderate increase to melee damage
- Charm of Inaris Might: Increases health and melee damage by a major amount
Mongol Commander armor is great against:
- Crimson Fisherman
- Commander Dogshin
- Tomotsugu
3. Kensei Armor
Tengu Demon
Tengu Demon is a terrifying enemy no matter what armor set is equipped although it certainly helps one will also need some skill in order to defeat this enemy. In this duel, parries are basically un available as this enemy uses mostly unblockable attacks it's important to master the perfect dodge and to time your counterattacks correctly. Not only are his attacks difficult to deal with but the duel area is also your enemy with bats constantly encircling the fight and occasionally blocking the view of the tengu demon making it difficult to see incoming attacks. This is why an armor set with good mobility and damage is important.
The Kensei armor is a fearsome mid-late game armor set for several reasons, it is acquired after completing the Mythic Tale “ The Six Blades of Kojiro”. This armor grants Massive increases to resolve gains, Ghost weapons deal more damage, and enemies struck with ghost weapons do 50% less damage and receive 50% more damage. These armor abilities make using the ghost weapons even more rewarding and deadly. The use of the ghost weapons and stance can make this dule just a little easier, especially on the lethal difficulty.
Armor Details:
- Kensei Hat
- Kensei Armor: Ghost weapons deal more damage, Enemies struck by ghost weapons do 50% less damage and receive 50% more damage, Ghost weapons deal 40% more damage
Charm Details:
- Charm of Resolve II: 25% increase to resolve gains
- 2X Charm of Advantage: Ghost weapons deal 20% more damage
- Charm of Ryuujin: Recover 1 Kunai after performing a perfect dodge
- 2X Charm of Ferocity: Moderate increase to melee damage
Kensei Armor is great against:
- Black Hand Riku
- Khotan Khan
- Lord Shimura
- Crimson Fisherman
2. Sarugami Armor
Hirotsune
Hirotsune is considered to be the second-hardest duel in the game due to his quick attacks and high damage output. Not only is he fast and hits hard he will change the rhythm of his attacks based on how your character reacts, so it’s best to be patient and read his attacks. Along with those ridiculous characteristics this character has he also has unblockable attacks and instant death parries, making it very important to know when to counterattack and not be too aggressive. With the abilities of the Sarugami, this duel will become slightly easier.
The Sarugami armor is one of the best armor sets in the game no matter what point of the game one is at. Obtained after completing the Mythic Tale “The Legend of Black Hand Riku” this armor set grants many different effects: Regular parry is disabled, perfect parry becomes a chain of two attacks, and perfect dodge also damages nearby enemies (perfect parry becomes a chain of three attacks at Level 2, perfect dodge also blinds enemies, All Resolve gains are increased by a small amount (Level 1), by a moderate amount (Level 2), by a major amount (Level 3), by a massive amount (Level 4) or by a colossal amount. These abilities easily make you a powerhouse while wearing this armor, and a nightmare for anyone dueling you. Along with the appropriate charms this armor set can be taken to a whole new level.
Armor Details:
- Sarugami Helmet
- Sarugami Visage
- Sarugami Armor: Regular parry is disabled, perfect parry becomes a chain of two attacks, and perfect dodge also damages nearby enemies (perfect parry becomes a chain of three attacks at Level 2, perfect dodge also blinds enemies, All Resolve gains are increased by a small amount (Level 1), by a moderate amount (Level 2), by a major amount (Level 3), by a massive amount (Level 4) or by a colossal amount.
Charm Details:
- Charm of Resolve II: 25% increase to resolve gains
- Charm of Inaris Might: Increases health and melee damage by a major amount
- 2X Charm of Ferocity: Moderate increase to melee damage
- Charm of Mizu-no-Kami: Makes parries, perfect parries, and perfect dodges easier to perform.
- Charm of Bludgeoning: Moderate increase to stagger damage
Sarugami Armor is great against:
- Kojiro
- Khotan Khan
- Black Hand Riku
- Tengu Demon
- Tomotsugu
1. Sakai Clan Armor
Kojiro
Kojiro is the hardest duel in the game and the final duel of the “Six Blades of Kojiro” tale this enemy can kill Jin Sakai in just two hits making it very important to master the parry and perfect dodge abilities. His attacks are fast and strong also changing his attack pattern and rhythm like Hirotsune but at an even more random and sporadic rate. While also being very aggressive it honestly doesn't matter which armor you wear in the fight because regardless 2 hits are all it takes. So I decided to go with the coolest-looking one with abilities that greatly improve your offensive output.
The Sakai Clan Armor, Even though it is obtained halfway through the 2nd act can undoubtedly carry one through the rest of the game. This armor grants: Major increase to melee damage, Massive increase to health, and increases standoff streak by 2, standoff win has a 25% chance to terrify nearby enemies. Even though this armor boosts one attack decently and can make it easier to fight Kojiro it is still important to use the correct charms as well as The Way of Fire technique to deal even more damage.
Armor Details:
- Sakai Clan Helmet
- Sakai Clan Mask
- Sakai Clan Armor: Major increase to melee damage, Massive increase to health, and increases standoff streak by 2, standoff win has a 25% chance to terrify nearby enemies.
Charm Details:
- Charm of Heavenly Rebuke: Preforming Heavenly Strike gives a chance of lighting to strike nearby enemies
- Charm of Blazing Flame: The way of flame inflicts additional damage. Heavy attacks spread fire to nearby enemies.
- Charm of Fire Doctrine: Burning an enemy has a 15% chance to terrify nearby enemies
- Charm of Steadfast Fire: Greatly increases the length of time the way of flame can be used
- Charm of Fortune I: effects with a % chance are 50% more likely to occur
- Charm of fortunate return: 15% to return 1 resolve for abilities that use resolve
Sakai Clan Armor is great against:
- All Enemies
