Bamboo Strikes are short, high‑pressure input challenges that increase Atsu’s maximum Spirit. There are 15 in total across Ezo, with two tied to main tales and the rest in the open world. Completing one raises your Spirit progress and grants 20 Young Bamboo; the Spirit threshold increases as you finish more of them.

Nothing is missable. If you skip any during the story, you can clean them up later in free roam.

How Bamboo Strikes work

  • Each stand has three rounds with growing sequences: 3 inputs, then 5, then 7.
  • You must hit the exact buttons in order and fast enough to cut through every bundle.
  • Some strikes throw pieces loose mid‑challenge; keep following prompts until all stacks are cut.
  • Spirit increases your ability usage. For more health, look for Hot Springs elsewhere in the world.
  • Map icons appear when you explore near a stand. A few are hidden under settlement icons, and one at Home is unmarked.

All Bamboo Strike locations by region (15 total)

Region Location Type Key note
Yotei Grasslands Home (Father’s Bamboo Strike) Open world Unmarked under the Home location; repair the stand, then complete the challenge.
Yotei Grasslands The Way of Dual Katana Story Encountered during the Hanbei training tale; part of learning dual katanas.
Yotei Grasslands Nupur River Open world Wooded clearing; cut through branches to reach. A settler is nearby.
Yotei Grasslands Yotei River Open world Near the White Dye House, just north of the river.
Ishikari Plain Matsumae Encampment Story Completed during the main tale “The Oni” along the route into the region.
Ishikari Plain Rumoi Open world Just north of Rumoi River in a rocky training spot.
Ishikari Plain Urara Open world Behind Oni’s Breath Inn along the eastern perimeter.
Tokachi Range Huranui’s Rest Inn Open world Easy to miss; the Bamboo Strike icon is covered by the inn’s map marker.
Tokachi Range Misty Valley (Abandoned Tominaga Estate) Open world (gated) Past the Mysterious Gate in the bamboo labyrinth; unlocked after “The Spider Lily General.”
Tokachi Range Niikappu’s Fork Open world Where the river splits on the east side; in a forest of yellow trees.
Teshio Ridge Sakuru Open world Atop a large climbable rock north of Kamikawa Trading Post.
Teshio Ridge Hakodake Open world In the Hakodake Mountains; approach via a slope and grappling points.
Teshio Ridge Sarobetsu Open world On a rock overlooking the frozen river east of Sarobetsu Lake.
Oshima Coast Atago Open world Lightning strikes interrupt the challenge. Remove nearby metal weapons around the stand to stop it.
Oshima Coast Matsumae Open world Inside the fort near the Matsumae Residences; follow the path lined with blossom trees.
Note: Nayoro Wilds has no Bamboo Strikes.

First‑region button sequences (PS5 buttons)

These are the final seven‑input strings you’ll face at the end of each corresponding stand in the opening area:

Location Final sequence
Home (Father’s Bamboo Strike) X, X, L1, X, X, L1, X
Nupur River Square, Circle, Square, L1, L1, Square, Circle
Yotei River Triangle, Triangle, L1, L1, Triangle, Triangle, Circle
The Way of Dual Katana Up, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down
Tip: treat these as shapes and rhythm rather than individual taps. If you fail the final string, restart quickly and lean on muscle memory.

Special cases and hidden spots

  • Atago (Oshima Coast): Two katanas and four yaris are planted near the podium and act as lightning rods. Pick them up and throw them away before starting the challenge to prevent the strike from resetting.
  • Huranui’s Rest Inn (Tokachi Range): The stand sits just outside the inn but doesn’t display a standalone map icon because it’s overlapped by the settlement marker.
  • Misty Valley (Tokachi Range): Reach the Abandoned Tominaga Estate through the Mysterious Gate after completing “The Spider Lily General.” Inside the bamboo maze, run the flower‑lined paths to make the bundles appear.
  • Home (Yotei Grasslands): The stand is broken at first; repair it, and remember it won’t appear as its own icon because it’s bundled into the Home location.
  • Discovery: Strikes are added to your map when you move close; Traveller’s Maps can also reveal activities if you want them marked earlier.

Trophy progress and cleanup

All Bamboo Strikes count toward the Body, Mind, and Spirit trophy alongside Shrines and Hot Springs. Two of the 15 are completed as part of main stories (“The Way of Dual Katana” and “The Oni”), and the remaining 13 are open‑world finds. If anything is left behind, return in free roam to finish the set.

Spirit builds your toolkit; if you’re struggling to survive, prioritize Hot Springs next. With the three‑round inputs in mind and the outliers handled, every Bamboo Strike becomes a quick, reliable upgrade on your route through Ezo.