Your epic climb begins with a simple objective: find the base of themountain. While Mount Yotei is a prominent landmark, the specific entrypoint for this side quest is not immediately obvious. To get started,you'll need to travel westward from your current location until youreach the Yotei River. The Mount Yotei Shrine serves as yourinitial landmark and the gateway to the mountain's secrets. This shrineis strategically positioned on the western edge of the river, nestledconveniently between a prominent Dueling Tree and the distinctive WhiteDye House. Look for these key landmarks on your map or in theenvironment to pinpoint your destination accurately.
Once youarrive at the shrine, you'll notice a clear path that leads upwards.This initial section is a test of your basic traversal skills, requiring a series of careful jumps and well-timed parkour maneuvers to ascend to higher ground. Follow this winding trail, which will lead you up andaround the rocky terrain. As you reach the top of this first section,keep an eye out for a hidden detail: a crack in the rock facethat resembles a cave entrance. This is the final step to officiallyentering the Mount Yotei area. Stepping through this narrow passage isthe true beginning of your vertical adventure.
Now that you're inside the mountain's embrace, the real challenge begins.The path to the summit is not a straight line but a series of verticalchallenges, each requiring precision and quick thinking. The first major hurdle awaits you just after entering the cave. Look for a rocky slideon the left side. You'll need to slide down this slope and, at the veryend, execute a precise jump to hook onto a rope. This is the first ofmany thrilling leaps you'll make.
As you continue your climb, you will eventually come across a broken bridge, a seemingly impassable gap. This is where your mastery of Atsu'sgrappling hook becomes crucial. On the left side of the chasm, you willfind two parallel ropes. The key is to jump and grapple onto the firstrope, then immediately swing and connect to the second one to completethe crossing. Once safely on the other side, continue moving to theright and ascend the sheer rock face at the end of the path.
After a long climb, you'll arrive at a small, isolated shack—a perfect moment for Atsu to reflect on the journey and her parents. But your journey is far from over. From the shack, you will encounter another section thatappears to be a dead end. Do not be fooled. Look closely at the far-left side of this area, and you will spot a cliff with a single tree growing in front of it. A well-timed jump from the cliff to the tree, and thenfrom the tree to the next ledge, will allow you to continue your ascenttoward the peak. The final stretch of the climb involves one morehigh-stakes maneuver. You will encounter a steep, downhill rock slide.To pass this challenge, you must slide down the slope, buildingmomentum, and at the last moment, leap to grab onto a rope dangling atthe end. After this successful grappling, continue to the left and climb the final portions of the mountain. The summit is now within reach.
Reaching the peak of Mount Yotei is an accomplishment in itself, but the rewards are what make it truly worthwhile. Upon arriving at the top, you'llimmediately see the Mount Yotei Shrine in the distance. The pathto it involves a few small jumps, but nothing as demanding as the mainclimb. Approach the shrine and perform the designated Respect animation to bow and interact with it. This single act will trigger a powerfuland emotional moment for Atsu, as she receives the long-awaited Father's Charm and Mother's Charm.
But don’t rush down the mountain just yet! While the tree trunk near theshrine offers a quick descent, there are more secrets to uncover at thetop. Take some time to explore the summit. By continuing to move aroundthe peak, you will discover the Pillar of the Fallen, which grants you the stunning Starlight Abyss weapon skin. For those who are truly adventurous, you can also slide down into the very center of the mountain to locate the Altar of Reflection, a peaceful spot that offers additional insight and possibly more rewards.
The Mount Yotei side quest is a beautiful example of Ghost of Yotei'sworld-building and character development. It is a journey that is asmuch about honoring Atsu's past as it is about challenging your skills.The combination of tricky platforming, a compelling personal narrative,and valuable rewards makes the climb up Mount Yotei one of the mostrewarding experiences the game has to offer.