The wolf in Ghost of Yotei isn’t a permanent follower at first. It appears unpredictably, mirrors your approach in combat, and can be actively called for a limited time once you learn the Song of the Wolf on the shamisen. To turn those cameos into consistent, fight-changing support, you’ll level a dedicated Wolf track of techniques and strengthen your bond by clearing Wolf Dens across Ezo.

How the wolf companion works

  • Occasional ally: Early on, the wolf drops in and out with no fixed schedule. Its presence increases as your bond improves.
  • Summon window: After learning the Song of the Wolf, playing it on the shamisen calls the wolf to your side for a period.
  • Stealth or brawl: When present, the wolf matches your approach — it’ll stalk with you in stealth or pounce during open fights.

Unlock the wolf and start the bond

  • Progress the main story until you encounter the wolf. This introduces the companion and sets up later interactions.
  • Learn the Song of the Wolf on the shamisen to summon it on demand for a short duration.
  • Find Wolf Dens in the open world. A wolf will lead you to nearby enemy camps; rescue caged wolves to deepen the bond.
  • Each den you complete grants a Wolf unlock you can use to learn a Wolf technique.

Tip: Dens are scattered across Ezo. Completing all of them contributes to overall progression and a trophy (details below).

Where you actually “upgrade” the wolf: Altars of Reflection

Ghost of Yotei ties all technique unlocks to a place, not a points pool. You learn Wolf techniques at Altars of Reflection, using the Wolf unlocks earned from dens.

  • Find an Altar of Reflection in the world.
  • Approach and swipe down on the DualSense touchpad to bow.
  • In the Growth menu, open the Wolf tab and select a technique.
  • Hold the Cross (X) button to learn it.

Notes:

  • There’s no respec. Plan your Wolf picks; choices are permanent.
  • If an altar sits in a hostile area, clear nearby enemies before you bow.
  • Two reliable ways to surface altars as you explore: follow the golden bird when it appears, or buy Altar maps from the cartographer at the Old Inn early in the game.

Wolf techniques and what they do

Technique What it does
Wolf Strike When the wolf is nearby, performs a follow-up on enemies hit by thrown weapons or Sake jars.
Wolf’s Vengeance After appearing, the wolf stays to fight your opponents.
Wolf Assassination If you Assassinate or land a Critical Strike with the wolf nearby, it Assassinates one additional foe.
Wolf’s Ferocity Significantly increases the wolf’s Stagger damage.
Wolf’s Might Wolf abilities instantly kill Brutes and Leaders.
Wolf’s Wrath Wolf kills earn Spirit and can Terrify nearby enemies.
Wolf Rescue When you’re downed, the wolf may appear and attempt to save you from death.
Wolf Howl When you use Onryō’s Howl, the wolf may join and attack another target.
Wolf Standoff During a Standoff, the wolf may appear to face an additional enemy.
Wolf Strike Summon Hitting an enemy with a thrown weapon or Sake jar can summon the wolf for a follow-up attack.

Practical picks first: “Wolf Rescue” is a strong early safety net. “Wolf Standoff” extends openers, and “Wolf Strike Summon” pairs well with throwable-heavy play. There’s no technique in the Wolf track that adds a pet action.

Make dens your upgrade loop

The quickest way to expand your Wolf track is to fold dens into your regular route:

  • As you roam between tales, bounties, and camps, detour for dens you spot. Rescue the wolves in each linked camp.
  • Bank a few dens, then hit a nearby Altar of Reflection to convert those clears into techniques all at once.
  • If you favor stealth, prioritize “Wolf Assassination” after securing survivability; if you lean on fear and crowd control, “Wolf’s Wrath” synergizes with Onryō’s Howl.

Combat behavior you can expect

  • With “Wolf Standoff,” the companion can double your Standoff openers by taking a parallel duel.
  • With “Wolf Assassination,” stealth chains accelerate: eliminate one guard and the wolf removes another.
  • With “Wolf’s Ferocity” and “Wolf’s Might,” the companion becomes a reliable bruiser, especially against Brutes and Leaders.
  • “Wolf’s Wrath” feeds Spirit and applies fear pressure, making groups easier to collapse.
Trophy What to do
Wolves of Ezo Complete all Wolf Dens across Ezo. Dens lead to camps where you free caged wolves.
Wolf Bait Learn “Wolf Howl” and “Wolf Strike Summon,” then hit an enemy with an empty Sake jar until the wolf appears and gets the kill.
Two as One Finish a successful Standoff or Assassination while aided by a companion. Your wolf can fulfill this once “Wolf Standoff” is learned.

Tip: Empty Sake jars are commonly found around enemy camps. The “Wolf Strike Summon” proc is chance-based — expect a few attempts.

Frequently asked details

  • Is the wolf always with you? No. It appears unpredictably at first, shows up more often as your bond improves, and can be summoned temporarily via the shamisen once you learn the song.
  • Can you direct the wolf with commands? There’s no command wheel; behavior is context-driven and tied to your technique picks.
  • Can you lose your choices? Technique picks are permanent; there’s no respec right now.

The wolf grows from an occasional ally into a dependable second blade once you clear dens and invest at altars. Map a loop that hits dens between quests, prioritize a few high-impact Wolf techniques early, and you’ll feel the difference in both stealth chains and open engagements.