TL;DR
- The Old Trails quest unlocks after visiting Atsu’s home and reveals her childhood memories
- You must defeat Lord Saito’s forces at the stables using stealth or direct combat approaches
- Following the flashback sequence leads to choosing your permanent horse companion
- Different horse types offer varying speed, stamina, and combat performance characteristics
- Complete exploration of the area reveals additional rewards beyond just the horse selection
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Wondering about optimal horse selection in Ghost of Yotei? While you receive a basic mount early in the campaign, the “Old Trails” side quest presents a crucial opportunity to choose your ideal steed. This comprehensive walkthrough delivers essential strategies for completing all associated mission objectives efficiently.
The Old Trails narrative thread activates upon your initial visit to Atsu’s residence. While exploring the premises and uncovering fragments of Atsu’s history, she’ll reminisce about her father escorting her to equestrian facilities located west of the riverbank. Access your map interface to identify and mark the relevant destination point.
Before selecting your equine companion in Ghost of Yotei, navigation to the stable location is mandatory. Upon arrival, initiate dialogue with the local settler to activate a brief cinematic sequence.
You’ll discover that Lord Saito’s military contingent seeks fresh mounts for their operations. Employ tactical concealment within foliage to remain undetected. This strategic positioning enables stealth elimination of hostile targets. Conversely, you might opt for aggressive engagement, confronting adversaries through conventional melee warfare.
Stealth Approach Advantages: Remaining undetected preserves your surprise advantage and often yields bonus experience points. The surrounding vegetation provides excellent cover for systematic enemy neutralization.
Direct Combat Considerations: Aggressive tactics work effectively when you possess superior combat skills or prefer straightforward engagements. However, this method may attract additional reinforcements.
After neutralizing opposition forces, accompany the merchant toward the nearby pond. Arrival at this location triggers a significant flashback sequence where you experience Atsu’s childhood memories firsthand. Critical progression elements include:
- Examine equine droppings and pursue the trail markings to the pond’s opposite shore
- Locate the elevated mound where Kengo, Atsu’s father, discusses a particular “protective charm”
- Ascend the rocky outcrop and await Kengo’s conversation with young Atsu
- Return to the stable manager to conclude the memory recollection sequence
Common Investigation Mistakes: Many players overlook subtle environmental clues like disturbed foliage or faint hoof impressions. Thorough examination of each interactive element ensures complete memory activation.
Time Optimization: Completing the flashback sequence typically requires 8-12 minutes, depending on your familiarity with the investigation mechanics.
Successfully completing the Old Trails quest rewards you with permanent horse customization privileges. Your selected mount becomes your primary transportation throughout the game world, affecting traversal speed, combat mobility, and exploration capabilities.
Horse Attribute Considerations:
- Speed-focused mounts excel in time-sensitive missions but may lack stamina endurance
- Balanced steeds provide reliable performance across diverse terrain types
- Combat-oriented horses offer superior maneuverability during enemy engagements
The surrounding area contains additional discoverable rewards beyond the horse selection itself. Thorough exploration may reveal hidden equipment caches, rare crafting materials, or additional narrative fragments that enrich your understanding of Atsu’s backstory.
For comprehensive gameplay strategies similar to mastering horse selection, consult our Complete Guide to advanced mechanics and progression systems.
Action Checklist
- Visit Atsu’s residence to activate the quest marker
- Navigate to marked stables west of the river and speak with settler
- Eliminate Lord Saito’s forces using preferred combat approach
- Follow merchant to pond and complete all flashback investigation steps
- Return to stable master and select your permanent horse companion
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