You just cleared an entire Mongol camp. The music is swelling, the wind is whistling through the pampas grass, and Jin Sakai is standing there looking like a total legend, but his katana is still covered in blood. It feels wrong to just sprint away with a messy blade. Honestly, half the reason people play Sucker Punch’s masterpiece is for the "samurai cinema" vibe, and nothing ruins that vibe faster than Jin just magically teleporting a bloody sword back into its scabbard when you hit the sprint button.
Knowing how to sheath sword Ghost of Tsushima is basically the first thing you should learn after you figure out how to parry. It isn't just about being tidy. It’s about that specific, tactile animation where Jin performs chiburi—the ritualistic shaking or wiping of blood from the blade before putting it away. It’s one of those tiny details that makes the game feel less like a "video game" and more like an interactive Kurosawa film.
The Secret Swipe: How to Sheath Sword Ghost of Tsushima Manually
If you’re playing on a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, the "hidden" command is tied to the Touchpad. Most players figure out the "Guiding Wind" by swiping up, but the game doesn't explicitly shout about the side-swipes during the opening tutorials.
To put your katana away, you need to swipe right on the Touchpad.
It’s a quick flick of the thumb. If you do it while standing still after a fight, Jin doesn't just jam the metal into the wood. He’ll usually perform one of a few different animations. Sometimes he flicks the blood off with a sharp snap of his wrist. Other times, he’ll use the crook of his elbow to wipe the steel clean. If you haven't actually killed anyone and the blade is clean, he just slides it back in with a satisfying click.
On the PC version (Director's Cut), the default keybind is usually '5' or accessible through a radial menu, but many players choose to remap this to something more accessible like 'X' or a side mouse button. Because, let’s be real, you’re going to be doing this every five minutes.
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Why Does the Animation Change?
This is where the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) of the developers really shines. Sucker Punch didn't just make one "sheath" animation. They consulted with real martial arts experts like Masakumo Kuwami, the 10th Soke of Tenshinryu Hyohho.
The animation you see depends on your state. If you are in the middle of a frantic fight and hit the sheath command (not that you'd want to), Jin might do it faster. If you’ve just finished a "Standoff" and the last enemy falls in slow motion, Jin often performs a more deliberate, cinematic chiburi. It’s those subtle variations that keep the game from feeling repetitive even after 50 hours of gameplay.
The "Auto-Sheath" Problem
A lot of players get annoyed because Jin will eventually put his sword away on his own. You’re trying to take a cool photo in Photo Mode, and suddenly, he just tucks it away. There isn't a toggle in the settings to turn off "Auto-Sheath." It’s hard-coded into the game’s logic to transition Jin back into his "exploration" state.
However, if you want to keep the sword out for a specific screenshot, you can usually delay the auto-sheath by holding the L2 button (aiming your bow) and then letting go, or by simply walking slowly. But really, the manual swipe is so satisfying that most of us end up doing it before the game even gets the chance to do it for us.
Beyond the Katana: Sheathing the Heavy Stuff
What about the Longbow or the Half-bow? You don't really "sheath" those in the same way. Jin just slings them over his back when you switch to your sword or throwables. But a cool tip for those looking for maximum immersion: if you want Jin to look "civilian" while walking through a village like Yarikawa or Akashima, make sure you don't have your bow equipped as your active ranged weapon. Switch to the Wind Chime or Kunai, and the bow will often disappear from his back (depending on the outfit), giving him a cleaner silhouette.
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The Emotional Impact of the Sheath
It sounds cheesy, but manually sheathing your sword is a way of "closing" the combat encounter. Ghost of Tsushima is a game about the internal struggle between being a "Samurai" (honorable, face-to-face) and the "Ghost" (pragmatic, stealthy).
When you play as a Samurai, you stand over your fallen foes and sheath your blade with respect. When you play as the Ghost, you might find yourself just running into the shadows before the blood even hits the ground. Learning how to sheath sword Ghost of Tsushima allows you to roleplay that distinction.
Does it affect gameplay?
Strictly speaking? No. You don't get a "clean blade" damage bonus. The Mongols don't get scared because you flicked blood on their boots. It is purely aesthetic. But in a game that looks this good, aesthetics are gameplay.
There is one minor tactical reason to sheath, though: movement. Jin moves slightly differently when his sword is out. If you’re trying to navigate a tricky platforming section or jump across the rooftops of a burning temple, having your sword sheathed can sometimes make the camera feel a bit more stable and Jin’s jumps feel more predictable.
Master the Bow and the Flute While You're At It
Since the Touchpad handles the sheathing, you should probably memorize the other three directions so you aren't accidentally putting your sword away when you meant to bow.
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- Swipe Left: Jin plays his flute. This actually changes the weather!
- Swipe Up: Calls the Guiding Wind to your current objective.
- Swipe Down: Jin bows. This is actually useful for finding "Hidden Altars" across the island, which are required for a specific Trophy/Achievement.
- Swipe Right: The katana goes home.
The flute is particularly interesting. If you're tired of the constant rain in Act III (Jogaku region), playing the flute can bring back the sun. It’s another layer of Jin’s connection to the world around him.
Practical Steps for the Perfect Finish
To get the most out of the combat experience, try this sequence next time you take down a group of bandits:
- After the final kill, stay perfectly still.
- Wait for the "slow-mo" finish to settle.
- Swipe right on the Touchpad once.
- Watch the specific animation (Jin might wipe the blade on his sleeve if it’s particularly bloody).
- Wait for the "click" sound of the hilt hitting the scabbard before moving.
If you’re on PC and find the '5' key awkward, remap it to a button you can hit without taking your fingers off the WASD keys. Something like 'V' or 'Middle Mouse' works wonders for maintaining that cinematic flow.
Mastering the manual sheath is the final step in moving from a player who just "buttons mashes" to a player who inhabits the role of Jin Sakai. It turns every skirmish into a scene worth watching. Go find a patrol on the beach, test out the different animations, and see which chiburi Jin decides to perform for you.