Honestly, most open-world games feel like a second job when you try to get that final trophy. You’ve probably been there—staring at a map cluttered with 400 identical feathers or some obscure collectible that requires a 20-minute YouTube walkthrough just to find the pixel-perfect jumping spot. Ghost of Tsushima is different. Sucker Punch designed this thing to be enjoyed. If you're looking for a Ghost of Tsushima platinum guide, you’ve probably realized by now that the game doesn't want to fight you; it wants to show you a good time. It’s a rare "respectful" platinum.
You don't need to play on Lethal difficulty. You don't even need to play on Hard. You can breeze through the whole story on Easy and the trophy pops just the same. There are no missable trophies, which is basically the holy grail for completionists. You can finish the entire story, let Jin Sakai become the legend he’s meant to be, and then go back to clean up the rest.
But there are some weird spots. A few hidden objectives aren't marked on the map, and if you don't know what you're looking for, you'll be wandering the pampas grass for hours. Let’s break down how to actually get this done without losing your mind.
Cleaning Up the Map Without the Headache
The biggest hurdle in any Ghost of Tsushima platinum guide is the fog of war. In most games, you’d have to ride every inch of the trail to clear it. In Tsushima, there’s a better way. Once you liberate all the Mongol camps in a specific region—Izuhara, Totoyama, or Kamiagata—the fog for that entire region simply vanishes. It’s satisfying. Every collectible, every Haiku, every Hot Spring just appears.
Don't waste time hunting for vanity gear or Fox Dens early on if you find it tedious. Just focus on the red dots on your map. Clear the camps. The rest will follow.
Actually, speaking of Fox Dens, you need to honor 20 of them for the "Honor the Unseen" trophy, but there are way more than 20 in the game. You don't need all of them. This is a recurring theme. The game asks for a "sufficient" amount of effort, not "total" effort. You need 16 Bamboo Strikes. You need to find all the Hot Springs to get that "Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body" trophy, which also conveniently gives you a specific set of underwear if you're into that sort of thing. It's a weird reward, but hey, it's a platinum requirement.
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The Legend of Tadayori and Other Mythic Tales
You absolutely have to do the Mythic Tales. They aren't just for the trophy; they provide the best gear in the game. The "Master Thief" and "Legendary Storyteller" trophies are tied to these. If you miss the Longbow or the Heavenly Strike, you're basically playing the game with one hand tied behind your back. These missions are usually marked by blue icons on the map. Talk to the musicians in towns. They’ll tell you some wild story about a cursed grove or a legendary duel, and that’s your ticket to some of the coolest set pieces Sucker Punch ever built.
Those "Secret" Trophies That Trip People Up
This is where a real Ghost of Tsushima platinum guide earns its keep. Most of the list is straightforward: finish the story, do the side quests (Tales of Tsushima), and find the shrines. But then there are the ones the game doesn't tell you about.
Take the "Cooper Clan Cosplayer" trophy. This is a massive nod to Sly Cooper, Sucker Punch’s old franchise. To get it, you have to dress Jin in a very specific outfit that makes him look like a samurai version of a raccoon thief. You need:
- The Gosaku Armor (from a Mythic Tale).
- The Ocean's Guardian dye (bought from a merchant).
- The Crooked Kama Headband (found on top of a temple in Act 3).
- The Sly Tanuki Sword Kit.
If you aren't looking for these specific items, you will never find them by accident. The sword kit, for example, is tucked away at a Pillar of Honor in the snowy north that you have no real reason to visit unless you're a completionist.
Then there’s "Have a Pleasant Fall." This trophy is the bane of my existence. You have to kill an enemy with fall damage by knocking them off a ledge. It sounds easy until you realize the AI is surprisingly good at staying away from cliffs. The trick? Use the Typhoon Kick from the Wind Stance. Find a Mongol on a watchtower or a high cliffside in Kamiagata, get his health low, and boot him into the abyss. If he dies on impact, the trophy is yours.
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Paying Respects to the Dead
Another "hidden" one is "Honor the Unseen." You need to bow at 10 hidden altars across Tsushima. You'll know you've found one because a little sign with a bowing silhouette is nearby, and when you swipe down on the touchpad, something magical happens. Fish might jump out of the water, or butterflies might swarm Jin. These aren't marked on the map even after you clear the Mongol camps.
The easiest place to find a bunch of these is in the first region, particularly around the fishing villages and the legendary graves. Just keep an eye out for those little wooden signs.
The Grind for Artifacts and Records
Okay, let’s get real. The "Sifting Through Ashes" and "Know Your Enemy" trophies require you to find 20 Records and 20 Mongol Artifacts. The good news? There are 40 records and 50 artifacts in the game. You only need less than half.
You don't need to be a detective. Just wear the Traveler’s Attire. Seriously. The moment you put that armor on, the controller starts vibrating when you're near a collectible. You can even set the Guiding Wind to track them. If you’re trying to platinum this game without using the Traveler’s Attire, you are choosing to suffer for no reason.
Combat Trophies: Don't Overthink It
Most of the combat trophies happen naturally. "Flash of Steel" (defeating 20 enemies with a counter-parry) and "Witness Protection" (shooting a fleeing enemy in the back) usually pop by the time you're halfway through Act 2.
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The one people struggle with is "Every Trick in the Book." You have to acquire all the Ghost Weapons. This means leveling up your Legend rank. The best way to do this isn't by wandering—it's by doing the "Tales of Tsushima." These side stories, especially the ones involving Masako and Ishikawa, give massive chunks of XP. Plus, the writing is actually good. Ishikawa is a cranky old man, but his questline about his rogue student is one of the better arcs in the game.
Addressing the DLC Question
A common point of confusion in any Ghost of Tsushima platinum guide is the Iki Island expansion.
Do you need it for the Platinum? No.
The base game platinum is separate from the Iki Island and Legends (multiplayer) trophies. You can get that shiny 100% icon without ever stepping foot on Iki or playing a single match of the co-op mode. However, if you have the Director's Cut, those trophies will show up in your list, which can be annoying for the "100% completion" look. But for the Platinum trophy itself, stick to the main island of Tsushima.
Managing the End-Game Cleanup
Once the credits roll and Lord Shimura’s fate is decided, you’ll be dropped back into the world. Now is the time to check your "Tales of Tsushima." There are 61 of them. Some only appear after you've finished others. If you're missing a few, check the towns. Talk to people with speech bubbles over their heads. They’ll point you toward "rumors" which populate your map with those white quest markers.
The "Helping Sword" trophy is the reward for finishing all 61. It's usually the last one people get because a few of the tales are tucked away in corners of the map you never visit during the main quest.
The Actionable Checklist for Your Final Push
If you're sitting at 80% and feeling stuck, here is your path to the finish line:
- Equip the Traveler’s Attire immediately. Go into the map, press right on the D-pad, and set the Wind to find the specific collectible you're missing (Hot Springs, Shrines, etc.).
- Clear the remaining Mongol Territories. This is the most efficient way to see what's left. If there's still fog on your map, there's a camp you missed.
- Check your Duels. You need to win all duels. Most are in the "Mythic Tales" or "Tales of Tsushima," but some are just waiting at "Duel Crags" in the second region.
- Don't forget the Haikus. You need all 19 for "Body, Mind, and Spirit." Pro tip: the Haiku at Hiyoshi Springs is easy to miss because you have to talk to a specific NPC to start it; it’s not just a mat on the ground.
- Upgrade your sword. You need to fully upgrade the Sakai Katana. This requires a lot of supplies and iron. If you're short, go to a Trapper and sell your excess wood or silk. You likely have more than you need by the end-game.
Ghost of Tsushima is a rare gem where the platinum feels like a victory lap rather than a chore. It’s a way to spend another five or six hours in a gorgeous world without the frustration of impossible difficulty spikes. Once you see that "Living Legend" notification pop up, you’ll realize that the journey—the wind, the foxes, the golden birds—was actually the point.
Now, stop reading and go find that Sly Tanuki sword kit. It’s waiting for you on a snowy cliff in the north.