To be a good samurai, you must have speed, focus, and a good command of your sword. That’s where the Bamboo Strikes come in.Ghost of Tsushimais a samurai game following the story of Jin Sakai during the 1274 Mongolian invasion. With Tsushima Island falling victim to the Mongolian army led by Khotun Khan, Jin Sakai realizes he’s too weak to handle them on his own at least with his current strength levels. Thus begins his journey across Tsushima Island tolearn different fighting techniquesand his rise to be the strongest samurai.
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Considering theGhost of Tsuhshimamap is massive, this guide will escort you to all sixteen Bamboo Strikes across the three different regions.
5How The Bamboo Strikes Work
Bamboo Strike side quests are time- and memory-based mini-games players can do during or after the main story. It requires quickly pressing a sequence of buttons in the order shown to you at the start of the mini-game. But stay sharp because the order disappears once you press the first one. Bamboo Strikes come in three rounds with three bamboos to cut in the first round, five for the second round, and seven for the third.
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These can be tricky so for anyone struggling with the timing, toggling on the “Simplified Controls” under “Accessibility” in the settings eliminate that time aspect of the quest.
4Izuhara
InGhost of Tsushima, Izuhara is the first location available to players. The largest and the southernmost region of the Tsushima Island, Izuhara is filled with villages settled in the vast forest. But do be careful because the many mountains in the areacan be just as much an enemy as the army of Mongolian banditssinceGhost of Tsushima’s fall damage is equally deadly.
As the largest region in the island, most of the Bamboo Strikes can also be found here:
3Toyotama
In contrast to Izuhara, Toyotama doesn’t seem to be as densely populated as villages are a little more sparse. Also not as high in elevation, it lends itself to more low farmlands and water. Jin Sakai does go here at the end of Act I when the war starts to really escalate so there are even more Mongolian enemies for players to encounter. Though, Mongolian invasion aside, it seems to be a peaceful place to stay since that’s where Jin chooses to live at the end of the game.
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Here’s where to find the Toyotama Bamboo Strikes:
2Kamiagata
The last area inGhost of Tsushimais Kamiagata. Located in the most northern part of Tsushima Island, ice and snow coats the ground all throughout this region, giving players a cold empty feeling as they reach the end of the game.Although Mongol hordes still lingerin this area, players will find fewer of them here due to the region’s frosty terrain. Kamiagata is also like the combination of the first two areas mentioned since the land varies between mountain ranges and a flatter expanse of land.
As the smallest region, Kamiagata also has the fewest Bamboo Strikes found here:
1Rewards
Probably the most satisfying reward for all completionists, finishing all Bamboo Strikes give players the"Body, Mind, and Spirit" trophy. But note that players must still complete all the Hot Springs,Haikus, and Inari Shrine side missions to get this silver trophy.
The primary and most useful reward from collecting all 16 Bamboo Strikes is the increase in max resolve by four. Representing Jin Sakai’s strength, resolve is used for healing (or pushing past the pain according to lore) and using special abilities. Killing enemies and parries refill the resolve so make sure to perfect those tobe the best samurai. The last reward is the Sacred Mountain Messenger Mask. Although it doesn’t give players any special abilities or skill increases and is only cosmetic, it is a mark of a “true warrior and servant on the mountain kami”. Even if it does make you look like a Japanese Macaque monkey.
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