Ghost of Tsushima is a true labor of love. You can feel the dedication in every detail, from the beautifully recreated island of Tsushima to the Akira Kurosawa-inspired combat scenes.

Sucker Punch spent six years perfecting Ghost of Tsushima’s combat, and their hard work pays off. One of the standout features is the tense standoffs—one-on-one duels where you can defeat your enemy with a single, perfectly timed strike.

These standoffs are one of the game’s best features, but they can be tricky to master at first. It seems simple: as you approach an enemy, press up on the D-pad when the standoff prompt appears.

However, there are certain conditions you need to meet before the prompt will show up.

Getting the Drop on The Opponent

Ghost of Tsushima gives you plenty of tools for stealth, but a bit of stealth is also needed to start a standoff. Ironically, initiating a standoff will alert nearby enemies to your presence.

To start a standoff, you need to approach a group of enemies who are completely unaware of you. If you’ve already alerted them and are hiding, it’s too late for a standoff.

As you get closer, the standoff prompt will appear, and Jin will call out to an opponent, challenging them to a one-on-one duel.

However, there are a few ways this can go wrong. If Jin gets too close too quickly, the enemy will be startled before you can challenge them. So, approach slowly.

The standoff prompt is more likely to appear if the enemy has a clear line of sight to Jin as he approaches. You’re most likely to get standoffs in open areas, such as Mongol territory entrances, stronghold fronts, and roads.

Improving Standoff Chances

In Ghost of Tsushima, you have plenty of opportunities to upgrade yourself with new techniques, gear, and charms.

One way to enhance your combat skills is by investing in “Standoff Streak” and “Improved Standoff Streak” techniques. These let you perform multiple standoffs in a row, which can be really handy.

When it comes to armor, certain types like the Ronin Attire and Ghost Armor can help you sneak around better by making it harder for enemies to spot you.

The Sakai Clan armor not only boosts your standoff streak but also has a chance to scare enemies after each successful standoff.

Since standoffs usually end with quick kills, it’s smart to use charms that activate with each kill. For example, the Charm of Amaterasu heals you a bit every time you take down an enemy, while the Charm of Takemikazuchi gives you a damage boost.