How to Beat Takezo the Unrivaled in Ghost of Yotei: Full Walkthrough and Best Builds

You face Takezo the Unrivaled high on Mount Yotei in Ghost of Yotei. This boss tests your skills like no other. Fast attacks, tight parries, and a deadly blizzard make him tough. But you can win. This guide shows you how.

Who Is Takezo the Unrivaled?

Takezo the Unrivaled rules duels in Ezo. He trains five top ronin. Players call him the hardest foe in the game. On hard or lethal mode, he one-shots you. Even pros die many times.

He nods to Miyamoto Musashi, the real sword legend. Takezo’s childhood name was that. In Ghost of Yotei, he wields dual katanas with speed and power. Beat him for rare gear and pride.

Why so hard?

• Super-fast combos fill your screen.
• Glints trick you: blue for parry, red for dodge, yellow for disarm.
• Blizzard drains health fast in phase two.
• No room for errors. One miss, and you restart.

Don’t worry. Prep right, and he falls. Many players beat him mid-game. Others grind hours on lethal. You choose your path.

Unlock Takezo the Unrivaled: The Five Teachings Quest

Start with the myth tale. Find Ugetsu the storyteller at the Coastal Dueling Tree. It’s south in Yotei Grasslands, near Lake Kuttara.

Hear his story. Dueling Trees light up red across the map. Hunt five disciples. Each drops a Takezo Charm. Win all five. Takezo shows at the Coastal Tree. Duel him there first. Learn Dual Slash.

Equip all five charms. Head to Mount Yotei Shrine. Climb to the summit. Takezo the Unrivaled waits. The real test begins.

All Dueling Tree Locations and Tips

Beat these in any order. Some need story progress to unlock areas. Stock Metsuboshi bombs. They stun foes easy.

1. Duel Among Graves (Yotei Grasslands)
   • Spot: Shikotsu River bank, south area.
   • Foe: Katana user. Watch overhead slams.
   • Tip: Spam Metsuboshi. Parry stabs. Dodge spins.
   • Reward: Takezo’s Charm of the Unrelenting Warrior (more damage at low health).
2. Duel Before the Mountain (Yotei Grasslands)
   • Spot: Yotei River end, northwest. Follow Sarubetsu River west.
   • Foe: Spear swaps to dual blades.
   • Tip: Use dual katanas. Dodge wide sweeps. Parry thrusts.
   • Reward: Takezo’s Charm of Renewed Determination (Spirit on damage taken).
3. Duel Beneath Red Leaves (Tokachi Range)
   • Spot: Northwest, past Ohara Plains and Yubari Lake.
   • Foe: Kama-yari mix.
   • Tip: Yari counters kama speed. Roll behind spins.
   • Reward: Takezo’s Charm of Bold Deflection (extra stagger on parry).
4. Duel in the Marshlands (Tokachi Range)
   • Spot: Tomamu Marshlands, east side.
   • Foe: Fast dual blades.
   • Tip: Keep distance. Use smoke bombs for openings.
   • Reward: Takezo’s Charm of Bracing Victory (health on killing staggered foes).
5. Duel Among Ruins (Tokachi Range)
   • Spot: Niikappu Falls, northeast past Green Dye House.
   • Foe: Tough combos.
   • Tip: Parry fakeouts. Sidestep shoulder slices.
   • Reward: Takezo’s Charm of the Stout Heart (better heals).

After these, duel Takezo at Coastal Tree. He teaches Dual Slash (Triangle + Circle). Now equip charms for the summit.

Pro Tip: Do side quests first. Max health at hot springs. Hit bamboo strikes for Spirit. For more Ghost of Yotei tips, check laaster.co.uk.

Best Builds to Crush Takezo the Unrivaled

Gear up smart. Focus parry, stagger, or tank. Upgrade everything. Cook melee fish for perks.

Top Armors

• Bounty Master (Parry King)

  Bonus	Why It Rocks
  3 hits on perfect parry	Punish every blue glint.
  Big Spirit gain	Spam attacks.
  No regular parries	Forces precision.

  Best for pros. Pair with Futsunushi charm.

• Armor of the Undying (Stagger Focus)

  Bonus	Why It Rocks
  Health on stagger	Heal mid-fight.
  Wider parry window	Easier timings.
  Focus attacks stagger more	Break stance fast.

  Use Wolf Blade (katana). Align for max perks.

• Taro’s Armor (Tank Mode)

  Bonus	Why It Rocks
  Fire/cold resist	Laugh at blizzard.
  Max health boost	Survive one-shots.
  Spirit from cooking	Endless heals.

  Newbies love this. Add Inner Fire charm.

Must-Have Charms

Equip these six:

1. Charm of Futsunushi: Easy parries/dodges.
2. Father’s Charm: Health on perfect parry (Mount Yotay Shrine).
3. Charm of Bold Deflection (Takezo’s): Stagger boost.
4. Charm of Mount Yotei: Damage cut + parry heal.
5. Charm of Inner Fire: Halve blizzard damage.
6. Charm of Enduring Resolve: Regain Spirit.

Swap Takezo’s charms post-equip if needed.

Weapons and Tools

• Dual Katanas: Tempest Strike disarms. Heavenly Slash stuns.
• Wolf Blade: Safe, aligns Undying.
• Spear: Pokes from range.
• Tools: Smoke Bombs (2 for Sake heals), Kunai (stagger), Pistol (3 shots post-stun), Oni’s Flame (burn him).

Stock quickfires full.

Takezo the Unrivaled Fight: Phases and Attacks

Climb Mount Yotei Summit. Blade lock starts blizzard later. Checkpoint after phase 1, but no restock.

Phase 1: Dual Katana Fury

Takezo rushes. Stay 3 meters back.

• Blue Glints: Perfect parry. Counter 2-3 hits. Back off.
• Red Glints: Dodge or L1+R1 disarm. Fast!
• Yellow Glints: Draw attack counters.
• Combos: 3 stabs, spins, fake low stabs, kicks.
• Tip: Parry overheads. Roll spins.

Interrupt with kunai/smoke. Stagger for combos.

Phase 2: Oar Swap and Blizzard

Low health triggers oar (naginata-like). Swaps to katana. Blizzard ticks HP.

• Oar Attacks: Slow sweeps. Parry easy if patient.
• Swaps: Dodge draw slashes.
• Blizzard: Miss parry = death. Taro/Inner Fire ignores it.
• Tip: Onryo Strike disarms (3 Spirit). Flame weapon before pickup.

End with Dual Slash demo.

Full fight: 1-5 minutes geared. 50+ tries raw.

For video proof, watch this YouTube guide.

Pro Tips and Common Mistakes

Tips:

1. Practice parries on bamboo.
2. Save Spirit for disarms.
3. Drink Sake in smoke: Drop bomb, sip, repeat.
4. No greed: 2 hits, retreat.
5. Lethal? Lower to hard first.
6. Early try? Walk away, level up.

Mistakes to Avoid:

• Parry reds: Instant death.
• Spam attacks: Punished hard.
• Ignore blizzard: Prep cold resist.
• No tools: Fight fair, lose.

Players on Reddit share wins: “27 tries on medium with Bounty Master.” Check player tips on Reddit.

For full steps, see IGN’s walkthrough.

Rewards from Takezo the Unrivaled

• Gilded Dawn/Night Sword Kits: Flashy dual katana/wolf blade.
• Straw Hat of the Unrivaled: Black hat. Buy variants: Soaring Peak, Autumn.
• Dual Slash Technique: Key move.
• Trophy: Unrivalled.

Style points maxed.

FAQ: Takezo the Unrivaled Questions

Can I beat him early? Yes, but grind upgrades. Many do post-Oni.

Best difficulty to learn? Medium. Bump up later.

Blizzard too much? Taro Armor + Inner Fire = immune.

No parry skill? Tank build. Smoke and poke.

Charms required? Equip to start. Swap for fight.

Wrap-Up: Claim Victory Over Takezo the Unrivaled

Takezo the Unrivaled pushes you to master Ghost of Yotei. Unlock trees, build parry power, handle phases clean. You win big rewards and skills. Stay calm. Practice pays.

References

• IGN Walkthrough: Detailed trees and phases.
• Reddit Thread: Player builds, 34 comments on struggles/wins.
• YouTube Guide: Charms, full fight (94k views).
• Vulkk.com: Builds, blizzard tips.
• Forbes: Cheat strat with tools.