The game takes place in 1274, when the Mongol Empire invades the Japanese island of Tsushima. As one of the last surviving samurai, you will have to fight back against the invaders. However, noble samurai battle tactics will not help you achieve victory. You will have to go beyond tradition to form a new fighting style - that of the silent, vengeful Ghost.
Kill or Spare Shimura in Ghost of Tsushima
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Let's see what happens when you have to choose Mr. Shimura's fate in Ghost of Tishima.
В Ghost of Tsushima you will have to make a number of difficult decisions, although none of them are as scary as the one presented to you at the end of the game.
You are asked to either kill Jin's mentor, Uncle Shimura, or spare him at the cost of honor. Should you spare Shimura since he is Jin's second father, or should you do the "noble" thing and kill him?
To help you make the choice that's most comfortable for you, we'll break down what happens when you choose each option in Ghost of Tsushima.
Warning: this guide contains final spoilers for Ghost of Tsushima.
Kill or spare Shimura in Ghost of Tsushima
The option to kill or spare Shimura comes at the end of Ghost of Tsushima.
At this point in the game, Jin not only wages war against the Mongols, but is also forced to defend himself against his fellow samurai due to his controversial battle tactics at Shimura's castle.
In fact, it is this decision that causes Shimura to fight Jin, as he has been declared a traitor by the shogun.
Throughout the game, Jin appears to have an internal war between the noble path of the samurai taught to him by Shimura and the need to rely on methods that deviate from that path from time to time.
For example, killing enemies from behind rather than fighting them face to face. Or using poison in Shimura's castle.
This conflict raging within Jin culminates in two options he proposes after defeating Shimura in a duel.
Jin can either kill Shimura and give him a dignified death at his uncle's request, or spare Shimura and save himself from having to kill a beloved family member.
Choosing between the two may seem simple enough, but both have complex, detailed layers.
The result is not much different between these two options and primarily for you, the player.
However, the more information you have, the more comfortable you will feel when making a decision.
What happens when you kill Shimura in Ghost of Tsushima?
As complicated as this option is, you get the idea that this is exactly what Shimura wants. Shimura is an old-school samurai, honor and tradition are very important to him.
Shimura asks Jin to kill him so that Jin doesn't hurt his uncle for no reason. Shimura will not be angry at Jin for making this decision.
It's understandably difficult, but in a way it's like Shimura's final lesson for Jin when it comes to samurai and the meaning of honor.
Even though Jin disagrees with his uncle, whom he considers honor-consuming, Jin still carries a spark of honor within him.
If you choose to kill Shimura, Jin will tell his uncle that he will forever be remembered as a father, a wise leader, and a warrior.
Shimura thanks Jin and tells him to look for him in his next life. After the two say goodbye, Jin stabs Shimura in the chest, killing him.
Jin then sobs as he bitterly overcomes the loss of his uncle before the game's story comes to an end.
By choosing this option, you will get a few specific things in the post-game parts of Ghost of Tsushima.
- Jin will tell Yuna that the Sakai clan is no more and that he has been marked as a traitor.
- Jin takes up residence at the Dawn Shelter.
- Jin receives a white variant of the Phantom Armor called "Righteous Punishment».
What happens when you spare Shimura in Ghost of Tsushima?
If killing Shimura is simply unbearable for you, you can choose the partition option and spare him.
Unlike his uncle, who is solely focused on upholding tradition and honor, Jin has grown a lot during his journey to Ghost of Tsushima.
Now he knows what to do in non-standard ways when necessary.
In this case, it's entirely possible that Jean might find it necessary to spare his uncle and let him live out the rest of his life instead of dying right here and now.
If you choose to spare Shimura, Jin will tell his uncle that he is without honor and that he will not kill a family member.
Shimura warns Jin that he will be hunted for the rest of his days if he makes this decision, but it won't affect Jin. He bows deeply to Shimura, puts on his mask and leaves.
Shimura looks worried or shattered when Jin leaves, it's hard to tell exactly how he feels when Jin makes a decision.
Not that Jin could go back and change his mind or talk to Shimura. Left alive, Shimura feels like it's Jin's personal honor.
As Jin tells Shimura, he won't kill a family member. Shimura may disagree, but he cannot force Jin to kill him.
By choosing this option, you will get a few specific things in the post-game parts of Ghost of Tsushima.
- Jin will tell Yuna about sparring with Shimura. Yuna is concerned that Shimura will come after them, but Jin is confident that Shimura will not do so, although he admits that others may be hunting him.
- Jin takes up residence at the End of Tradition.
- Jin gains a red variant of the Wraith Armor called Vow of Vengeance.
Which option to choose?
Of the two options, killing Shimura seems more like a "good" ending, although it's tragic and depressing.
You fulfill your uncle's wishes, you say goodbye to him and tell him how much he means to you, and Shimura welcomes Jin to find him in the afterlife.
The items you get for killing Shimura also have such "good choices" as the beautiful white Wraith Armor and the residence in the Sanctuary of the Dawn.
If you prefer the red variant of Ghost Armor called Vow of Vengeance and residency at Tradition's End, you'll need to spare Shimura.
It looks like if you do this, you won't be able to reconnect with Shimura. In a way, you are still "losing" Shimura even though he is still alive.
Instead of breaking up with Shimura on his terms the way he is pleased, you break up with Shimura on Jin's terms, which upsets Shimura.
If you feel like Jin is someone who would rather come up with his own path than continue to follow his uncle's infused tradition, his mercy might certainly seem like the right choice.
Ultimately, the choice is yours and what is comfortable for you.
The outcome of both options is pretty much the same in that Jin will be hunted down, whether as a traitor or as a result of his decision to spare Shimura.
You get a residence variant and Ghost Armor with both options visually different but functionally and fundamentally the same.
If you prefer red ghost armor, you need to spare Shimura. If you prefer the white Ghost Armor, you need to kill Shimura.
If you prefer to live in Dawn Refuge, you need to kill Shimura. If you prefer to live at the End of Tradition, you need to spare Shimura.
We hope this helps you clarify whether you should kill Shimura or spare him in Ghost of Tsushima.
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