The action-adventure genre of video gaming has scaled newer heights in the last decade. Not only have the general gameplay become more action-centric but the boss battles have also become more realistic and intense. Sony respected the genre when they released Ghost Of Tsushima in 2020. The game features some breathtaking boss battles where players will have to prove their mettle by defeating them.

The boss battles can be found while playing missions in the game and some of the most interesting missions end with a battle. One such mission is the Message in Blood which is the last side mission commissioned by Yuna. During this mission, players will have to fight many enemies in the Mongol Camp. At the end of the mission, players will have to face a fierce adversary who must be vanquished to finish the mission.

Who is Altan in Ghost of Tsushima?

The bosses in Ghost of Tsushima are a special kind of enemy who yields unprecedented power and mastery in fighting. Among the numerous bosses, some of the toughest are Khotun Khan, Yasumasa, Hirotsune, Warlord Harunori, and Warlord Dogar to name a few.

In the Message in Blood mission, you will have to face a boss named Altan who serves as the primary antagonist of Yuna’s tale. The boss fight will come at the very end of the mission where you will have to defeat this hostile Mongol warlord. In the game’s storyline, Altan is a top Mongolian Leader during the Mongol invasion of Tsushima. He was assigned by Khotun Khan to terrorize the Otsuna prefecture. The Warlord schemed with several Japanese slavers, such as the Mamushi brothers and the Black Wolf. He used this alliance to steal food and medicine and slaughter anyone who tried to run or fight back against the Mongols.

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Altan went on to terrorize everyone in the villages. As he kept on scourging entire areas his activities drew the attention of local thief Yuna and her ally, Samurai Jin Sakai. Jin will take it upon himself to free everyone from Altan’s terror and rid him of this Earth.

Beating Altan is a tough job as he is protected by armor and a heavy shield. You will have to prepare a good strategy to counter his attacks and break his defense. Although Altan isn’t a very difficult enemy to beat he will make you break a sweat on this mission. Follow this guide to beat Altan and complete the Message in Blood mission.

How to Defeat Altan in Ghost of Tsushima

At first, players will have to begin the Message in Blood mission. This mission is the final Yuna side quest tale found in the Toyotama region of Tsushima. Locate this quest by traveling to the back of Ichi’s Inn on the border of the Umugi and Otsuna prefectures, north of Umugi Cove and the Smuggler’s Estuary. The place is located back east of her last completed quest at Yoshinaka Bay.

Once Jin Sakai’s ally Yuna returns from dealing with the Black Wolf she will be waiting for your arrival. Upon reaching the inn embark on the quest to kill Altan. Leave the inn after finishing your conversation with Ichi and get on your horse. Set for a large fortified camp on the border of the Otsuna, Umugi, and Kushi prefectures – just to the east of Old Clan’s Hill located near the Kushi Temple.

After arriving at the location you’ll need to invade a sizable fort. The fort is protected with walls from all sides and has two main areas. Look towards your northwest direction and you will be able to spot tall grass on a ridge beside a large tree. Climb this tree to get a vantage point of the area, and assault head-on or using stealth whichever suits you best.

Remember a couple of things before starting to fight. Make sure to equip yourself with proper gear and charms to match. Keep some Ghost weapon ammo which will be really helpful if you get swarmed by enemies. Recharge your Resolve fully before heading in.

The general strategy to eliminate threats in this area is by working in one place at a time. Don’t rush with your attacks as the camp is quite big. So, after you have done dealing with one area then go to the other and progress gradually. This mission doesn’t require you to be in stealth mode as you can initiate a stand-off or go in loud. Most of the time the guards won’t pay any attention but to outmaneuver your enemies use stealth whenever you can by using rooftops or grass.

This camp also houses a Mongol Artifact called Shagai and it can be found in one of the open-faced tents on the southern side of the camp. After entering the tent you will find a small table on which the Artifact is placed.

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Now, to fight Altan bear in mind that the Mongol Warlord covers himself with his shield. The best way to deal damage is by striking him with special blows that easily pass through his dodges. Since you have recharged your Resolve before entering the fight, you will be able to heal yourself or inflict damage with special abilities. Resolve can be gained by killing the ordinary enemies that you can encounter while masquerading through the camp. If your Resolve is fully charged then it grants you the ability to use the Dance of Wrath before the beginning of the boss battle. This ability will allow you to knock out enemies with three lethal strikes.

Use the Water Stance’s heavy attack and upgraded Flowing and Surging Strikes to fight Altan as he comes charging with his sword and shield. Unleash a heavy blast upon him to break his defense and go in with your sword swinging. A couple of well-planned dodges and attacks will be enough to defeat Altan.

As soon as Altan succumbs to his death, his guards will attack you but taking them down will be easy with a couple of well-placed Ghost weapons like kunai or sticky bombs. Strike them all out with your sword and the battle will come to an end.

Follow the tips mentioned above to complete the Message in Blood tale. After the fight ends, Ichi will come to give you the rewards – Minor Legend Increase, Minor Ranged Charm – Charm of Swift Return (Missed arrows have a 25% chance of being recoverable), and 2 Silk.

For more guides on boss battles and Ghost of Tsushima stay tuned with us.