Ghost of Tsushima has you playing the role of legendary samurai warrior Jin as you fight to protect your homeland from invasion. The game's historical setting of feudal Japan is given the cinematic treatment, with the game even featuring a "Kurosawa Mode" which alters the sound, visuals and weather effects to evoke the style of the movies of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.
Ghost of Tsushima has clearly been inspired by Kurosawa's work and the story hinges on Jin's dilemma: will he stay true to his noble samurai roots or become a wandering Ronin (the game has an incredibly poignant ending)? It features plenty of armor options that provide stat boosts, enabling certain play styles. Ghost of Tsushima's Sword Kits, meanwhile, are given as rewards for Mythic Tales, found at the game's many Pillars of Honor landmarks (or they can be purchased from merchants). They do not provide stat boosts, but their designs add character to Jin's fighting style, giving every slash of your sword purpose. Here are the best of them, in ascending order.
10 Sea Dragon's Wing: Rich With Mystery
The Sea Dragon's Wing Sword Kit has an air of mystery to it, with the deep red of the silk wrap striking a bold contrast with the black and gray which surrounds the sheath. The minimal-yet-bold design is imposing and pairs nicely with basically every armor set in the game.
The Sword Kit can be purchased from merchants and looks great in both dark and light spaces. That being said, the Sea Dragon's Wing is one of the more understated Sword Kits, and there are definitely flashier options out there.
9 Sly Tanuki: Playful And Versatile
The Sly Tanuki Sword Kit features a tapered fur wrap of pale and navy blue which long-time Sucker Punch fans will recognize as Sly Cooper's tail. Only becoming available in Act Three in the Jogaku Region, you won't be able to use this Sword Kit for much of your journey.
It is a neat Easter Egg to dress up as Sly himself, though, and it also bags you the Cooper Clan Cosplay trophy. That trophy means many players will seek out this kit, and so you won't feel the most original for using it, but ultimately the Sly Tanuki's design looks good no matter which armor you're using.
8 Duelling Festival: Vibrant And Rebellious
Found at a Pillar of Honor in Akashima Region in Act Two, the Duelling Festival sword kit is simple yet vibrant. The purple and black checkered design of the sheath catches your eye in both dark and light environments and has a lot of personality. The kit has a punk feel to it, which fits best if you have an aggressive fighting style.
Duelling Festival can stand out a bit too much with some of the cleaner armor, but looks great with the baggy Traveller's Attire or even the battle-worn Broken Armor. Both of these are unconventional armor choices for combat, but as the Duelling Festival's description states: "Your Foes will drink and feast on chaos and blood."
7 Midnight Hanabi: Resilient Amidst Darkness
The Midnight Hanabi Sword Kit can be found at a Pillar of Honor in the Kin Region, in the third act when Jin is facing his darkest moments. The sheath is black with a flowing golden inlay and appropriately for the situation, the description reads "Pierce the darkness with your glinting blades."
This Sword Kit has an elegance which translates to a more patient fighting style. The Midnight Hanabi kit can be hard to see with darker armor sets, meaning it's a niche choice, but in evoking resilience in times of struggle it just feels right to use this set with the Broken Armor kit.
6 Hijiki In Sunlight: Showered In Gold
As the name suggests this kit is golden like sunlight. Found at an Umugi Region Pillar of Honor in Act Two, the shining golden sheath is incredibly beautiful, especially in the island's sunnier areas. The kit may be too flashy for some, but there is a suggestion of danger lurking beneath this rich splendor with the description reading "what hidden threats lie beneath the calm, golden surface?"
The tapered edge at the end of the sheath hints at the sharpness of the blade within, while the red fabric wrapping the midsection promising a bloody end to all who cross the samurai brandishing this sword.
5 Izanami's Grief: Set Your Foe Aflame
Izanami's Grief is a blazing Sword Kit that really stands out amidst snowy environments, which is appropriate since it is obtained by completing the Mythic Tale The Undying Flame atop a blistering mountain top. This is probably the brightest Sword Kit in the game, and as such it really stands out no matter which armor you pair it with.
As with the Hikjiki In Sunlight kit, some may find Izanami's Grief stands out like a sore thumb. The description reads "the fire of a warrior's fury cannot be contained," which is also very apt, as you unlock this alongside the Way of the Flame technique (which allows you to set your sword ablaze in the heat of battle).
4 Breath Of Hachiman: Spiritual Samurai
"Let the kami of the samurai guide your blades" reads the description of this Sword Kit, which can be found at one of the Umugi Region's Pillars of Honor in Act Two. Kami are spirits, which are possibly represented on this Sword Kit by a golden tassel at the end of the sheath.
Black with gold inlay and red binding on the handle, the design of this Sword Kit is bold and impactful whilst also remaining graceful, so this kit ticks almost all the boxes. The tassel means this sword kit is a good choice for travelling, so long as you don't find it too distracting.
3 Warrior's Faith: Nothing But Blue Skies
The Warrior's Faith sheath has a minimal design, loosely wrapped with a blue silk cloth. The wrap allows the player to see the inside, which is a spirited sky blue.
Found at a Pillar of Honor in the Umugi Region in Act Two, the description reads "Trust your weapons. Believe in yourself," and the calming design attests to the value of the blade that is inside. This is definitely one of the best-designed kits in the game and pairs nicely with the layered fabrics of both the Traveller's Armor and Tadayori's Armor.
2 Heavenly Falcon: Remember Fall Damage
Heavenly Falcon evokes the feeling of floating through the sky (perhaps so well that you may forget this game, regrettably, has fall damage). The kit features a fur lining reminiscent of a bird's feathers, and is beautifully accented by a pink wrap. This Sword Kit looks best against the deep blue skies and hills of the Tsushima coastline.
The Heavenly Falcon Sword Kit is obtained by completing the Heavenly Strike Mythic Tale, which also nets you one of the best Mythic Tale rewards. It is an apt prize for this quest, with it being one of the most eye-catching kits in the game.
1 Gold Koi River: The Silver Lining
You wouldn't expect the most striking feature of the Gold Koi River Sword Kit to be its silver handle, but that's the truth. The white binding around the handle beautifully accents the silver. This Sword Kit can be found at the Pillar of Honor in the Kushi Region in Act Two, in the middle of a bamboo forest.
The description reads "for blades quick as the streak of a Koi in a sunlit stream." The Gold Koi River kit is dripping with grace and beauty, and is easily the most elegant kit in the game. This blade, for all its simplicity, suits a standoff where a burst of energy is needed to slice through your opponent.