You’re riding through the Hiyoshi prefecture, the sun is hitting the pampas grass just right, and suddenly you hear it. The biwa. That haunting, rhythmic plucking of strings that signals a Mythic Tale is nearby. If you’ve spent any time in Ghost of Tsushima, you know the Curse of Uchitsune isn't just another side quest; it’s the gateway to one of the most game-changing weapons in Jin Sakai's arsenal. But man, that boss fight at the end? It’s a literal fever dream.
Most players stumble into this quest thinking it’s a simple "track the map" objective. It isn’t. You’re looking for blue flowers. Specifically, the Blue Hydrangeas that lead you toward the tomb of a legendary archer.
The story Yamato tells is classic Ghost of Tsushima lore. Uchitsune was an archer so gifted his arrows could fell demons. But after he died, his bow was cursed, or so the legend goes. The local villagers are terrified of it. They think anyone who touches it will be haunted by the spirits of the dead. Honestly, after seeing the hallucinations Jin goes through during this quest, they aren't exactly wrong.
Finding the Blue Flowers and the Island
First off, head to Hiyoshi Springs. You’ll find the musician, Yamato, sitting under a bridge or near a campfire, surrounded by a small crowd. Once he finishes his tale, your map gets a vague search area.
Don't overthink this. You’re looking for a coast. Specifically, the eastern coast of Hiyoshi. Look for the bright blue flowers. They stand out against the green and brown of the Tsushima landscape like a sore thumb. Follow them to a tomb—a small, rocky crevice. Inside, you’ll find a painting. This is where the game stops holding your hand.
The painting shows an island covered in more blue flowers. You need to look out at the horizon and find that specific landmass. It’s located north of where you are, near the coast of the Castle Kaneda region. If you find yourself wandering into the snowy north, you’ve gone way too far. Turn back. You’re looking for a small, rocky island called the "Island of the Blue Hydrangeas."
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Navigating the Illusion
Once you reach the island, you’ll find another painting. This one points you toward a mountain. Specifically, a mountain also covered in—you guessed it—blue flowers.
This is where things get weird. You’ll start seeing a figure in a crow mask. He doesn't attack you yet. He just watches. It’s creepy as hell. Sucker Punch did an incredible job with the atmosphere here, making the Curse of Uchitsune feel genuinely supernatural in a game that usually stays grounded in historical fiction. You aren't just fighting Mongols anymore; you’re fighting the psychological weight of a legend.
The Tengu Demon Boss Fight
This is the part everyone remembers. You find the Longbow sitting on an altar. The moment Jin reaches for it, the world shifts. The sky turns blood-red. Crows start swarming. And then, the Tengu Demon appears.
Let’s be real: this fight is a wake-up call. If you’ve been coasting through the game by just mashing the square button, the Tengu Demon will absolutely wreck you. He uses a combination of fast sword strikes and literal swarms of crows that obscure your vision and chip away at your health.
Here is how you actually win:
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- Parry is life. The Tengu's standard strikes can be parried. If you’ve invested points into the Deflection tree, now is the time to use them.
- Watch the crows. When he vanishes or starts the crow swarm animation, don't just stand there. Dodge. Roll. Keep moving. The crows deal damage over time and make it impossible to see his next unblockable attack coming.
- Stone Stance. Since he’s a swordsman, Stone Stance is your best friend. The heavy attacks will break his guard faster than anything else.
- Heavenly Strike. If you’ve already completed the Heavenly Strike Mythic Tale (which you should have), use it. It’s the ultimate guard-breaker and does massive damage when he’s vulnerable.
The fight is rhythmic. It’s a dance. You hit, you parry, you dodge the birds. Don't get greedy. If you try to land a five-hit combo, he’s going to teleport or counter-swipe you into oblivion. Take two hits, reset, and wait for the next opening.
Why the Longbow is Worth the Headache
Once the demon falls—and he will fall—the illusion shatters. You’re standing there, breathless, holding the Longbow.
Is it worth it? Absolutely.
The Longbow is fundamentally different from the Half Bow you start with. It has a much longer draw time, which can be annoying in a frantic skirmish, but the power is unmatched. We are talking about one-shotting helmeted enemies. The Half Bow’s arrows will often bounce off a Mongol leader’s helmet. The Longbow? It goes right through.
Plus, you get access to Explosive Arrows.
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Explosive arrows are basically the "I win" button for large camps. See a group of five Mongols standing near a red barrel? Fire one explosive arrow. Watch the chaos. It’s incredibly satisfying and makes the stealth-to-combat transition much smoother because you can thin the herd significantly before ever drawing your katana.
Strategic Tips for the Longbow
- Use the Tadayori Armor. If you really want to lean into the "God Archer" build, pair the Longbow with the Outfit of Tadayori. It increases your reload speed and extends your Concentration time (the slow-mo aiming).
- Aim for the head. Obvious, right? But with the Longbow’s zoom, you can snipe watchers from outside their detection range.
- Mind the ammo. You can carry way fewer Longbow arrows than Half Bow arrows. Don't waste them on unarmored archers. Save the heavy hits for the "Big Boys" (the brutes) or the leaders.
The Curse of Uchitsune is a masterclass in quest design. It blends exploration, environmental storytelling, and a high-stakes boss fight into a single package. It forces you to look at the world differently, searching for floral patterns instead of just following a wind gust.
Honestly, the hardest part isn't even the boss; it's the patience required to track down those blue petals across the Hiyoshi cliffs. But once you're standing on a watchtower and popping heads from 100 yards away, you'll forget all about the crows and the creepy mask.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough
If you just finished this quest, your next move should be upgrading the Longbow at a bowyer immediately. The base damage is good, but at level 3 or 4, it becomes a literal sniper rifle. Also, if you haven't done so, head south to the Azamo region to finish the Tadayori questline. Combining the Longbow with the Tadayori armor turns Jin into the most dangerous person on the island, long before you even get the Ghost Stance. Go find a high ridge, look for a Mongol patrol, and test out those explosive arrows. You won't regret it.