Ghost of Tsushima: How to get the Bloodborne Armor

While not technically a part of the Souls series, Bloodborne is often considered an unofficial fifth entry (or fourth entry, I guess, since it came out before Dark Souls III). While the popularity of the first few Souls games are what gave the subgenre legs to stand on, it’s said that polish and care put into Bloodborne is what really put it on the map. I wonder if that’s why people won’t stop calling games “the Dark Souls of (blank)…” Well, anyway, you could always do with a little more Bloodborne in your life, and in the life of Jin in Ghost of Tsushima. Here’s how to get the Bloodborne armor in Ghost of Tsushima.

On Ikki Island, the new area added to Ghost of Tsushima with the release of the Director’s Cut version exclusive to the PlayStation 5, you can find several small shrines that feature references to other major PlayStation and Sony-affiliated game franchises. One of these shrines is the Blood-Stained Shrine, located on Conoura Cape on the island’s southwestern side.

How to get the Bloodborne Armor in Ghost of Tsushima

To get the Bloodborne Armor in Ghost of Tsushima:

1. Locate the Blood-Stained Shrine on Conoura Cape
2. Equip the Kensei Armor
3. Take damage or hurt yourself
4. Heal yourself at the Shrine

You’ll know the shrine when you see it; it has a large red circular stain on the base of its statue. In front of that stain is a stone bench, and on that bench is a scroll containing a riddle to activate the shrine.

“A Forgotten Shrine

The first green of spring

sickens to black, decaying,

plagued by blood and beast.

Hunter, reject death’s allure.

Prepare to duel man’s frailty.”

Bit obtuse, isn’t it? Don’t worry, it’s actually pretty simple; the hint is in the last two lines: “Hunter, reject death’s allure” and “duel man’s frailty.” 

First, you gotta be a hunter, so equip the Kensei Armor, a reward from the Mythic Tale “The Six Blades of Kojiro.” After that, you gotta hurt yourself. The easiest way to do that is to climb up the small cliff to the left of the shrine and hurl yourself off of it. Once you’re hurt, stand in front of the shrine and heal yourself. You’ll get a quick, bird-filled cutscene, and find yourself wearing the Yharnam Helm and Yharnam Vestments version of the Kensei Armor.