Ghostwire: Tokyo Abilities Primer

In Ghostwire: Tokyo, a paranormal catastrophe has caused nearly all of Tokyo’s population to vanish, leaving you alone in a city overrun with Visitors – beings resembling spirits and urban legends come to life!

Thankfully, you’re not helpless to fight back and save the city from paranormal ruin. Get to know some of the key gear and techniques you’ll use on your adventure with this primer. As you explore the streets (and rooftops) of Tokyo, don’t forget to invest your Skill Points and obtain rare Magatama to further enhance your abilities and become the ultimate ghost hunter!

ETHEREAL WEAVING

Your primary skill for fending off hostile Visitors, Ethereal Weaving channels raw Ether to unleash blasts of elemental energy. There are three elements of Ethereal Weaving at your disposal: high-speed bursts of Wind, wide arcs of Water and explosive volleys of Fire. Each elemental attack can also be charged for more powerful effects!

You’ll need Ether for each element to weave with them in battle, so keep your supply up by uncovering Crystalized Ether in the environment. These distorted objects appear in many forms – cars, street signs, vases – and can be easily picked out using your Spectral Vision (more on that later). When your ammo is running low, smash one of these Crystalized Ether reserves to stay in the fight!

CORE GRABS

When a Visitor has been worn down by your attacks, their Core may become exposed. In this state, you can attempt a Core Grab, yanking the Core out of the Visitor and finishing them off in a stylish coup-de-grace. Upgrading your Core Grab is an excellent way to boost your combat prowess, hastening the time it takes to complete a grab or even grabbing multiple exposed Visitors at once!

Note that Ethereal Weaving and Core Grabs are only available when you are synced up with your ghostly ally, KK. If the two of you are separated, you’ll have to rely on your other skills to survive until you’re reunited! (Learn more about Akito and KK’s relationship in our guide to Ghostwire: Tokyo’s characters.)

WIRE IN

When you and KK are in full sync, you can tap into the dynamic duo’s true potential and Wire In. While Wired In, your combined powers are greatly enhanced – perfect for facing tougher enemies or overwhelming Visitor mobs.

You can track your Wire Status using the meter on your HUD and unleash it once it’s full. Do note that syncing up with KK is all or nothing – once you start Wiring In, the meter will keep draining even if you stop Wiring In and you will have to wait until you and KK get back in sync to use it again.

BOW AND ARROW

A conventional – but no less useful – weapon, the bow offers a way to dispatch foes not just from a considerable distance, but also without making a lot of noise.

This not only makes the bow excellent for stealth, it’s also a handy backup when ammunition for your Ethereal Weaving runs dry. Do mind your arrows though – while they don’t require Ether to use, they’re still finite!

TALISMANS

Resembling traditional ofuda talismans, these throwable items are imbued with various powers ranging from a paralyzing area-of-effect for stunning groups of attacking Visitors to deploying a shrub out of thin air as portable cover for stealth.

Once you first discover a particular type of talisman, you can visit certain shops across Tokyo to purchase more from the local Nekomata running the till – so long as you have sufficient Meika funds for them, that is!

TENGU GRAPPLE

The city of Tokyo expands far beyond its streets and alleys – the rooftops offer a whole world to explore with quests, collectibles, spirits and more up on the city’s skylines. The easiest method for getting up there is the Tengu Grapple, hoisting yourself up with the help of the area’s new flying yokai.

As you progress in your adventure, you can even upgrade your Tengu Grapple with quite a hefty bonus: the ability to summon a Tengu to grapple from at will! For those who aren’t afraid of heights, mastering the Tengu Grapple is a boon for traversal.

SPECTRAL VISION

There’s more to ghost hunting than weapons and offensive skills – reconnaissance is also essential! Spectral Vision activates your sixth sense, showing you points of interest and even the previously unseen to get your bearings on the environment.

Not only can Spectral Vision help guide you towards objectives, it can reveal the location of Visitors, uncover weak spots in areas covered in corruption, highlight Crystalized Ether and Tengu, and even dispel some illusions. If you find yourself stuck or unsure where to head next, take a second and see things through a different, if not otherworldly, perspective.

MORE GHOSTWIRE: TOKYO

• START STRONG WITH THESE BEGINNER’S TIPS & TRICKS

• TOUR TOKYO WITH SIDE MISSIONS

• LEARN MORE ABOUT VISITORS AND YOKAI