Learn how to defeat Lord Saito in The Final Hunt of the Onryo in Ghost of Yotei. Includes tips for dealing with his combos and learn which dangerous attacks to watch out for.
Table of contents
Lord Saito Boss Fight Phase One
After escaping Koga Fortress, it’s time to put Lord Saito to an end. For this fight, he’ll be swapping between the naginata, odachi, kusarigama, and shield.
Remember to use weapons to counter his own to break his guard. Here’s a reminder for reference:
- Use the Katana against his Odachi
- Use Dual Katanas against his Naginata
- Use the Yari against his Kusarigama
- Use the Kusarigama against his Shield
There are two phases to this fight, the first of which he’ll be swapping to various weapons. There are a lot of combos to go over, but first and foremost he’s a Saito, so he’s going to use firearms.
Equip the Armor of the Undying and the Charm of Futsunushi to have an easier time with this fight. Saito attacks with swift and deadly combos, so being able to take advantage of any perfect parries to disrupt those combos will save you a lot of trouble.
Avoid straying too far
Just like when you fought his sons, Lord Saito will fire his pistol at you if you get too far away. You’ll need to fight him with melee weapons to minimize the amounts of shots he takes.
Like his sons, you can interrupt him by being a quicker draw and firing your pistol first, or getting a swing in. Though at this stage of the game, it might be best to dodge them.
Naginata Combos
The first weapon Saito will start out with is the naginata. Pull out your Dual Katanas for this weapon.
4 Underhand Blue Glint Combo
Like in his first fight, he’ll hold his naginata in a reverse grip with a blue glint before swinging it upwards four times.
Blue Glint Dash Combo
When Saito jumps back with his naginata over his head, he’s going to dash attack and follow it up with an upwards swing.
On his second attack, focus on blocking the pommel of his naginata as he tries to make it look like he’ll hit you with its blade.
Delayed Blue Glint Combo
When Saito stands on one leg, holding his naginata vertically with a blue glint, he’ll attack with blue glints three times. He’ll then back off, look like he’s done, then go in for one final delayed thrust.
Delayed Feint Attack Combo
When Saito holds his naginata parallel to the ground, appearing to thrust you with a blue glint, it’s a delayed feint attack. He’ll rear back and swing instead followed up by a thrust.
Kusarigama Combos
Swap out to the yari when he pulls out his kusarigama. The yari is faster than the kusarigama, so use light attacks to interrupt his combos.
Blue Glint Slash and Throw Combo
One of his more basic kusarigama combos starts with a blue glint kama slash, kama slash, then a long range chain throw.
Basic Mixed Swing Combo
Another basic combo Saito will use starts with a blue glint swing, followed by a normal then a red glint swing with his chain.
Advanced Mixed Swing Combo
If Saito starts with a normal chain swing, he’s going to use a five attack mixed combo. He uses a pair of normal attacks, a pair of blue glint attacks, then finishes with an unblockable red glint attack.
Sliding Dash Combo
When Saito slides in, be prepared to parry the moment he gets near you. After his first attack, he’ll use two fast flash attacks, and use a blue glint chain swing.
Odachi Combos
When Lord Saito uses his odachi, you should use your katana. His odachi attacks will decimate you if you’re not careful.
Mixed Combo
When Saito hilds his odachi down ward at an angle with a blue glint, he’ll start with a delayed swing followed by a fast slash, pause, then three normal swings and finishing off with an unblockable attack.
Slash and Dash Combo
Watch out for a red glint attack as Saito makes a swing. If it’s a short single swing, he’ll follow it up with a blue glint dash attack.
Blue Glint Delayed Combo
This is one of Saito’s most dangerous combos if you’re not prepared. Watch out when he has his odachi and stomps his foot on the ground with a blue glint.
He’ll make two swings, a shortly delayed third swing, short pause, then make three swift normal attacks.
Blue Glint Feint Combo
One of his more nasty combos with the odachi starts out with him thrusting and dashing towards you followed up by a quick upwards swing.
Shortly after, he’ll hold his odachi diagonally, then suddenly switch to a reverse grip and do two more swift swings. Be careful of this part as this delayed feint is dangerous.
Unblockable Disarming Combo
Watch out for when Saito has a red glint with his odachi behind him, ready to swing. He’ll swing with two unblockable attacks, then leap for a disarming attack.
You’re better off dodging this entirely, but use a focus attack against the yellow glint if you’re confident enough.
Odachi to Kusarigama Combo
When Saito stomps his foot with his odachi in one hand with a red glint, he’s going to make a weapon swap combo. He’ll charge in with two quick swings then immediately swap to blue glint kusarigama chain attacks.
Shield and Kama Combos
Ideally he shouldn’t have his shield equipped for too long. Whip out your kusarigama and use heavy attacks to break his shield as soon as possible.
Shield Bash and Dash
When Saito crouches behind his shield with a red glint, dodge to the side as he charges towards you. He’ll make one very fast attack with his kama when he reaches you.
Slash and Bash Combos
There are two variants to this combo, he either uses a normal attack followed by a red glint shield bash, or does the reverse starting with a shield bash then a slash attack.
Lord Saito Boss Fight Phase Two
When Saito get around 5% of his maximum health, a cutscene will start and start the second phase of the fight. This is where Saito gets serious and starts using his katana. He’ll also get his own spirit meter that fills up to three circles over time.
The katana is deal for this phase as its heavy attacks will break his guard more easily. Though if you primarily used one weapon throughout the game, use the weapon you have a better feel for as you’ll need good parries to survive this fight.
He’ll still use his pistol for the final phase, so never stray too far unless you feel like dodging bullets or getting shot to death.
Scripted Event
The first attack Saito makes will be a disarming attack that consumes his spirit. You cannot avoid this as this is a scripted event that will start another cutscene.
Pick up your katana and fight Saito alongside Jubei until another cutscene starts. When the surroundings appear on fire, you’re at the final stretch of the fight.
Katana Combos
Saito is extremely fast and deadly with just his katana. As the fight goes on, he’ll regenerate his spirit which can allow him to use a disarming strike. It’s much easier to dodge or roll from his disarming strikes instead of using focus attacks.
Disarming Dash Combo
At the start of phase two, his first combo will be his most dangerous throughout the fight. He’ll put his katana away, dashes with a blue glint attack, use a fast blue glint attack, and a disarming attack.
Dodge instead of attempting to disarm him. If he disarms you, he’ll use three unblockable dash attacks that cover a lot of ground.
If you kept your weapon, he’ll instead use blue glint dashing attacks instead of red glint ones. This is far easier to manage as you can deal with these through perfect parries.
Feint Mixed Combo
If he holds his katana over his head with a blue glint, he’ll make you believe he’s attacking from above. He’ll actually put his sword down, make two upwards swings, then finish off with a red glint overhead slash.
Overhead Swing Kick Combo
When Saito holds his katana with a red glint waist high, he’s going to do a jumping spin attack followed by a blue glint jumping spin attack, and low kick you with a red glint kick.
Swift Blue Glint Combo
When Saito holds his katana in one hand downwards with a blue glint, he’s going to make a series of 5 swift attacks. This can be tricky to parry if you aren’t fast enough and can kill you for lacking the speed to do so.
Seven Attack Combo
If Saito swings with both hands above his right shoulder with a normal attack, be prepared to block seven attacks in a row. Fortunately you can parry or perfect parry any of these attacks.
Three Blue Glint Thrusts Combo
If Saito holds his katana parallel to the ground without crouching, he’ll make three thrust attacks with blue glints.
