Rise of the Ronin: 10 Essential Beginner Tips

Rise of the Ronin is a captivating open-world action-adventure game set in 19th century Japan. As a Ronin, you'll explore vast landscapes, engage in thrilling combat, and navigate through a period of great change. Developed by Team Ninja, this game offers players a rich and immersive experience, filled with challenges and stories to discover. This guide provides essential tips for beginners to start their journey effectively, covering everything from game settings to combat strategies. 

10 Essential Beginner Tips in Rise of the Ronin

Optimize Your Gaming Experience

Right from the start, consider adjusting your graphics settings. For smoother gameplay, prioritize FPS in the visual settings. If enhanced visuals are more your preference, select Ray Tracing or prioritize Graphics.

Choose Your Origin Wisely

At the beginning, you'll select a Blade Sharpening Origin, each offering different stats, weapons, and skills. While this choice influences the early game, remember, that your playstyle can evolve. Feel free to experiment with various weapons and skills as you progress. For more details on selecting the right origin for you, check out our full guide - What is the Best Blade Sharpening Origin in Rise of the Ronin.

Enable Auto-Collect Items

Rise of the Ronin offers a plethora of items and resources to collect. By default, you need to press 'R1' to collect an item, but there's an easier way:

1. Open your settings menu.
2. Head over to User Accessibility.
3. Scroll down to Control Assists.
4. Change the Auto-Collect Items setting to On.

This option allows you to collect items simply by running over them, eliminating the need to press and hold any buttons.

Resting and Enemies

Just like in any Soulslike game, resting at a Veiled Edge replenishes your inventory but also respawns enemies. However, this game offers a fresh take on the resting mechanic. If you defeat the area's enemy leader before resting, it will not only replenish your inventory but, this time, the enemies will not respawn.

Understand Skill Points

In Rise of the Ronin, there are several methods to earn Skill Points. The first way is straightforward, similar to many games, where you gain points by gaining experience and completing activities. The second method involves your karma meter. You can convert your karma into skill points at Veiled Edge banners. However, be cautious, as dying will cause you to lose your karma. The good news is that you can retrieve your lost karma by landing a critical hit on or defeating the enemy that killed you. The third method to acquire skill points is by praying at Shrines, which you can find scattered across the map.

Experiment with Weapons

While you might favor the katana or odachi, explore the game's diverse arsenal. Different weapons can refresh your experience and might become new favorites. Weapon variety adds strategic depth to the different combat situations.

Master the Counterspark

Just like in other games of the genre, you have a counter-attack ability called Counterspark. When you see an enemy flash red before attacking, this signals it's time to use the Counterspark. Before you master the timing, it might be wise to dodge the enemy's attack before attempting to counter it.

Use the Blade Flash

Stamina is essential for your combat abilities. Rise of the Ronin introduces a new mechanic to help you maintain your stamina in battle, called the Blade Flash. It features a meter beneath your weapon icon, indicating the amount of blood on your weapon. If you're running low on stamina, tap 'R1' after an attack to clean your blade and boost your Ki (stamina).

Pay Attention to Enemy Indicators

The game uses on-screen symbols to indicate enemy strength relative to your level. White, yellow, and red symbols guide you on whether to engage in or avoid combat, helping you choose your battles wisely. A white symbol means the enemy is at a higher level than you. The yellow symbol indicates the enemy is at a much higher level, and you should prepare for a very tough fight. Red symbols suggest a high likelihood of defeat, so it's better to avoid these encounters and return once you've leveled up.

Explore to Unlock the Map

In this game, you reveal the map through exploration, not by reaching higher viewpoints like in Assassin's Creed. Activities such as clearing bandit camps, engaging in random encounters, and interacting with Veiled Edge banners will increase your bond with the different regions. This will enrich your map and reveal all the collectible items in that area.

Bonus Tip: Embrace Stealth

Stealth is a valuable approach in Rise of the Ronin. Utilizing silent assassinations and stealth skills can simplify challenging encounters, allowing for efficient and strategic gameplay.

And that concludes our guide on the 10 essential beginner tips in Rise of the Ronin. Remember, these tips are just the beginning. This incredible game has so much more to explore and discover. As you travel through its rich world, you'll find countless secrets, challenges, and experiences waiting for you. For more Rise of the Ronin guides, check the rest of our website.