Ghost of Tsushima Ending Guide – Spare Or Kill?

To reiterate, this guide has massive spoilers for the end of the game. This is your final chance to turn back before we start discussing the game’s ending.

With that out of the way, let’s dive into our guide for Ghost of Tsushima’s ending.

After defeating Khotun near the end of the game, Jin and Shimura meet to talk about the future of Tsushima. Following Jin’s breaking of the Samurai code, and to maintain peace and stability in the island, the Shogun disbanded the Sakai clan. Not only that, but the Shogun also orders Shimura to kill Jin.

This leads to one more haiku writing, as well as a duel between uncle and nephew. Of course, with hours under the payer’s belt, they should have no problem beating Shimura. However, the duel does not end there. With Jin winning, he can then choose to spare or kill Shimura.

Ghost of Tsushima: Kill Shimura

Choosing to kill Shimura will give players a cutscene where Jin kneels in front of his uncle and draws his blade. He tells his uncle that will make sure that Lord Shimura is remembered as a great warrior, a wise leader, and a father. This satisfies Shimura, and he thanks Jin.

Jin then drives the knife into Shimura, giving him the death that a samurai deserves. Jin then breaks down and cries while hugging his uncle’s body. The credits will then roll here, before showing Jin in his hideout, and wearing a unique dye for the Ghost armor set: Righteous Punishment.

The Righteous Punishment dye converts the Ghost Armor into an almost all-white piece of armor, with some black accents.

Ghost of Tsushima: Spare Shimura

Choosing instead to Spare Shimura will have Jin say that although he has no honor, he will not kill his own family. Shimura tells Jin that he will be hunted down by the Shogunate, but Jin just accepts it and leaves. Shimura stares as Jin walks away, to continue his fight as the Ghost of Tsushima.

The credits will once again roll, before showing Jin in his hideout. He will be wearing a unique dye for the Ghost armor set: Vow of Vengeance.

The Vow of Vengeance dye converts the Ghost armor into an almost all-red piece of armor, with some white and black accents.

Ghost of Tsushima Guide: How To Get Both Dyes

Normally, players will only be able to get one dye or the other, as defeating Lord Shimura and either killing or sparing him will throw players into the post-game of Ghost of Tsushima. The player must then start a New Game + file to finish the game again and get the second dye.

However, there is a way for players to get both dyes for their armor in one playthrough.

The first step is to, of course, defeat Lord Shimura. Players can then choose to either spare or kill him. Sit through the credits, and wait until it returns to the game and shows Jin in his new hideout. Once there, open the menu, go to the Quests tab, and abandon your current Tales.

Doing so will place the player right at the beginning of the previous quest, with the dye already unlocked for the Ghost Armor. The player can then do the duel again, and choose the opposite option to unlock the other dye. This is also the best way to watch both ending cutscenes without having to go through the entirety of the game.

To make sure that you do this correctly, it is possible to create a save file during the part where you have to choose. This is a good spot to save and return to if you somehow make a mistake.

Ghost of Tsushima: Which Ending Is The Best?

The best ending for Ghost of Tsushima will really depend on how the player understands the game’s story. Choosing to spare Shimura shows that although Jin has decided to break the Samurai code, he still has compassion in him for those around him, especially his family.

Choosing to kill Shimura, on the other hand, will allow Jin to still regain some of the honor he lost, as well as give Shimura an end befitting of a Samurai. This also reconciles Shimura and Jin, with Shimura wishing for Jin to look for him in the afterlife.

Personally, I chose to Kill Shimura, as that aligns more with how I understood Jin’s character: A man who is not afraid to break the Samurai code do what has to be done, but still finds it himself to obey it so that he can fulfill his family’s wish.

That’s all for our guide on whether players should spare or kill Lord Shimura in the ending of Ghost of Tsushima. Ghost of Tsushima is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Green Man Gaming, the Epic Games Store, and Steam.

Do note, however, that the game is not available in numerous countries, specifically those who cannot legally make a PSN account.

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