Weapon alignment is Ghost of Yotei’s matchup system. When your equipped melee weapon counters the enemy’s weapon or type, you are “weapon aligned.” In that state, you break guard faster through higher stagger damage and, with certain gear, unlock extra perks. Think of it as a stance-style triangle tuned for the game’s weapon classes.

What “weapon aligned” means

Being weapon aligned simply means you’re using the right tool for the opponent in front of you. A spear user invites a different answer than a shield-bearer or a heavy brute, and swapping to the counter weapon flips the fight in your favor. You’ll feel it immediately: guards crack sooner and enemies topple faster once their stance gives.

Weapon alignment chart (who counters whom)

Your weapon Effective against
Katana Sword/katana users
Dual Katanas Polearms and spears
Yari Sickles (Kusarigama, dual kama)
Kusarigama Shielded enemies
Odachi Brutes (heavily armored heavies)

These matchups are the backbone of the system. If a group mixes weapon types, expect to swap multiple times mid-fight.

How to become weapon aligned (and swap quickly)

  • Read the threat: identify the most dangerous enemy in reach (polearm, shield, sickles, brute, or sword).
  • Switch to the counter weapon listed above. On a controller, holding the weapon switch modifier slows time slightly so you can swap cleanly.
  • Re-engage and pressure their guard. When aligned, stagger builds faster, and their stance breaks sooner.

You start the game with a katana and unlock additional melee weapons from masters over time, which expands the scenarios where you can align.

What changes when you are aligned

  • Stagger damage increases, so guards and stances break faster.
  • Fights on higher difficulties become manageable because aligned counters shorten the time an enemy can stay defensive.
  • Synergies with some armor sets turn on (details below), adding sustain or timing windows while you’re aligned.

If you feel like enemies are stonewalling your strikes, you’re likely misaligned. Swap and test their guard again.

Armor of the Undying: perks that require alignment

Armor of the Undying ties its best traits to weapon alignment. When you’re aligned:

  • Staggering an enemy restores health.
  • The timing window for Perfect Parry and Perfect Dodge is widened.
  • Focus Attacks have a chance to increase stagger damage.

Because all three perks only trigger while aligned, this set rewards frequent weapon swaps and disciplined counterplay.

Practical matchups you’ll use constantly

  • Spearman or other polearms → switch to Dual Katanas.
  • Shield carrier → switch to Kusarigama.
  • Sickles (chains or dual sickles) → switch to Yari.
  • Brute/heavy → switch to Odachi.
  • Sword/katana duelist → stay on Katana.
Tip: In mixed groups, prioritize the enemy most likely to disrupt you (shield bearer shutting down approaches, brute winding up a heavy hit), align to that target, then pivot to the next threat.

Alignment versus legacy stances

Rather than swapping stances on a single sword, Ghost of Yotei anchors counters to entire weapon classes. The rhythm is familiar—read the enemy, pick the right answer—but the execution is about committing to the tool that wins that exchange, then rotating as the lineup in front of you changes.

When alignment isn’t optional

On tougher settings, unaligned offenses break down quickly: guards hold, chip damage adds up, and mistakes snowball. Lean on alignment any time you see:

  • Extended block strings that don’t crack a guard.
  • Shield stuns that reset your momentum.
  • Heavy wind-ups from brutes forcing you to respect space.

Switch, reapply pressure with the correct counter, and you’ll reopen the fight.

Weapon alignment turns chaotic mobs into a series of solvable matchups. Build the habit of identifying weapon types, swapping with intent, and riding the stagger window. With that foundation, sets like Armor of the Undying shift from “situational” to a reliable engine for survivability and control.