Altars of Reflection are the only way to unlock Atsu’s techniques in Ghost of Yotei. You don’t spend skill points in this game; instead, each technique is learned at an Altar you discover in the world. If you’re trying to expand your toolkit, here’s where Altars tend to appear and the fastest ways to track them down.

Use Altar of Reflection to unlock techniques

Interacting with an Altar opens the technique interface and lets you learn one skill at a time.

  1. Find an Altar of Reflection in the world.
  2. Swipe down on your controller’s touchpad to bow and begin the interaction.
  1. The technique screen opens with three sections: Onryo, Melee, and Revenge. Techniques under these branches cover areas like survival, weapons, horse, and assassination.
  1. Highlight a technique to preview it (shown in the top-right of the screen).
  2. Hold the Cross button to learn the selected technique.

Where Altars of Reflection are found in the world

Altars are spread throughout the regions of Ezo and turn up regularly as you roam. Expect to find them:

  • On open ground and along mountain paths.
  • Inside or near enemy camps you clear.
  • Across general exploration routes between points of interest.

You will naturally stumble upon several while progressing the story and free-roaming.

Find Altars of Reflection quickly (best methods)

Method What to do Why it helps
Isaburo the Cartographer’s maps Purchase Isaburo’s Altar maps and place them. The most reliable and fastest way to pinpoint Altar locations.
Golden bird guidance When a golden bird appears, follow it; it will occasionally lead to an Altar. Ambient guidance that highlights nearby points of interest during travel.
Exploration and camp clearing Check open areas, mountain trails, and enemy camps after you clear them. Altars are evenly distributed and frequently found in these spots.

Track your progress between Altars (Growth menu). Use the Growth menu to review techniques you have already unlocked. This makes it easier to plan the next techniques you want to learn when you encounter another Altar.

Respec availability (can you reset techniques?). There is no respec feature. Choose your techniques carefully, since they cannot be reset later.

Altars are common across Ezo, but the fastest strategy is to combine Cartographer maps with staying alert for golden birds as you travel. Each time you reach an Altar, bow to access the technique screen and keep building Atsu’s kit, one unlock at a time.