Does Ghost of Tsushima have dismemberment?

Ghost of Tsushima features realistic, brutal combat, so the topic of dismemberment has come up repeatedly. While there’s limited control over the nature of chopping off limbs, you can dismember opponents during battles as Jin Sakai. It wouldn’t be a gritty Samurai drama without people being decapitated, or sword-drawing arms being cut off.

However, there are some conditions in the game when it comes to Ghost of Tsushima’s dismemberment. Read below to learn more.

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Can you dismember enemies in Ghost of Tsushima?

I have had pretty good luck lopping off people's arms (Image via Sucker Punch)

The short answer is yes and no when it comes to Ghost of Tsushima offering dismemberment. It’s in the game, but there isn’t a lot you can do to control when it happens, for the most part. While you can't sever people's legs, there's a specific technique during battles that allows you to chop off hands or arms.

You need the Heavenly Strike technique, which is unlocked through one of the Mythic Tales the game offers. Once you have this on your side, use it in battle to have a chance to cut off someone’s sword arm. While you lack direct control over this outcome, it occurs frequently. I tested it myself on my PS5 and dismembered several Mongol warriors back-to-back.

To our knowledge, this is the only technique in the game that can dismember people in a normal situation. It’s not supposed to be a common occurrence, but if you focus on using Heavenly Strike, you could wind up with a small pile of severed arms on the battlefield.

They'll never see it comin' (Image via Sucker Punch)

The only other dismemberment to be had in Ghost of Tsushima can begin in Act 2, once you have the Ghost Stance/Slaughter technique. You can decapitate Mongol captains, by stealthing up behind them and using Slaughter. If you’re focused more on being honorable and noble, you may not find yourself doing this.

If you want to be as stealthy as possible, one of the better armor choices is the Ronin Attire, which will reduce the detection speed of enemies, and when fully upgraded increases that further when you’re leaving pampas grass. It may not help with the actual deed, but it can help you get into a position to secure a sneaky kill.

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Check out our other Ghost of Tsushima guides

Combat tips for beginners || Best mid-game build || Difficulty settings explained || All main story missions || All stances ranked || All Haiku locations ||