How to Prepare for The Eagle Boss Fight in Ghost of Tsushima
This is it—the final confrontation on Iki Island. Before you face The Eagle / Ankhsar Khatun, the leader of the Eagle Tribe who uses hallucinogenic poison to weaken Jin, proper preparation is the difference between a hard-fought victory and a frustrating defeat. This section will ensure you're equipped with the best gear and knowledge to enter her lair with confidence.
Choosing the right armor like the Sarugami set is crucial for the final duel.
To even reach this point, you must have completed the prerequisite mission 'The Blessing of Death', the final story mission on Iki Island. This is non-negotiable. Before you trigger the final cutscene and enter the duel, take a moment to heal, save your game, and make your final gear choices.
Your armor selection is critical. If you have mastered parrying, the Sarugami Armor is your best option. You obtain this set by completing the Iki Island Mythic Tale 'The Legend of Black Hand Riku'. Its key perk, when fully upgraded, allows a Perfect Parry (timed [L1] press) to trigger a powerful three-hit counterattack chain, which can stagger The Eagle quickly.
If you're not confident in your parry timing, the Gosaku Armor is a fantastic and more forgiving alternative. Unlocked in Act 2 on Tsushima, it significantly increases your health and stagger damage, letting you break The Eagle's guard through heavy attacks.
For your charm, seek out the Charm of Mizu-no-Kami. Found at the Spring Falls Shrine on Tsushima, this charm is a game-changer for any duel, as it widens the timing windows for both parries and dodges. Trust me, equipping this will make reacting to her rapid attacks feel much more manageable.
Stock up on all your ammunition and Ghost Weapon supplies—Kunai and Sticky Bombs are invaluable for creating openings. With the right armor on your back and the best charm at your waist, you’ve done everything you can. You're now prepared to step into the arena and end the Eagle Tribe's reign. Let's go.
The Eagle Phase 1: Sword and Staff Combat Patterns
Phase 1 of The Eagle is where she tests your mastery of the blade. In Ghost of Tsushima’s Iki Island expansion, this isn't just a duel—it's a relentless exam of your ability to adapt on the fly. She’s fast, she’s aggressive, and she will punish any hesitation. But if you can read her tells and switch stances in the heat of combat, you can control this fight.
The Eagle's sword phase features rapid attack combinations.
Your primary challenge here is The Eagle’s Weapon Switching. She alternates between her Katana and her Staff/Spear mid-combo, and you must match her. This is the core mechanic that will make or break your run.
When she wields her sword, switch to Stone Stance. You can activate this by holding [R2] and pressing [Cross]. This stance is designed to counter sword-wielding opponents, allowing for more effective parries and openings. Conversely, when she pulls out her long Staff/Spear, you need to immediately switch to Wind Stance by holding [R2] and pressing [Triangle]. Wind Stance’s moveset is built to break the guard of spear users, giving you the best chance to land clean hits.
Listen for the metallic shing of her sword being drawn or the distinct whoosh of her staff spinning up. The audio cues are just as important as the visual ones for a swift stance change.
Her attack patterns are a mix of standard, parryable blue glint strikes, and dangerous unblockable red glint attacks. Two red attacks you’ll see often are her Unblockable Throwing Knives and her Staff Sweep. For the throwing knives, watch for the red flash and press [Circle] to dodge sideways—trying to back away often won’t clear the area. For the low Staff Sweep, you can either dodge with [Circle] or, with perfect timing, press [Cross] to jump over it entirely, setting you up for a jumping strike.
If you’ve struggled with the speed of her combos, you’re not alone—this phase trips up everyone on their first attempt. The key is to stay defensive, watch her hands to anticipate her next weapon, and only commit to attacks after a successful parry or dodge.
Master these patterns, and you’ll not only survive Phase 1—you’ll enter the next phase with your Resolve intact and your confidence high. Let’s move on.
The Eagle Phase 2: Navigating the Hallucination Realm
Just when you feel like you’ve gained the upper hand against the final boss of the Ghost of Tsushima Iki Island expansion, the world begins to warp around you. The Eagle isn't just a physical threat; she is a master of psychological warfare, and this phase is designed to break your focus.
Phase 2 requires depleting the remaining health of The Eagle.
The Hallucination Transition
Once you bring the Eagle down to 70% HP, the fight shifts dramatically through the Hallucination Transition. You are suddenly transported to a mystic realm with visual distortions where the environment becomes tinged with a surreal purple hue. In this space, the rules of engagement change; you aren't just fighting the Eagle anymore, but the ghosts of Jin’s past.
Surviving the Resolve Drain
The most dangerous part of this phase is the Resolve Drain. While inside the Hallucination Realm, your Resolve slowly depletes automatically. If you’ve been relying on your Resolve for healing or special attacks, you’ll find yourself in a tight spot very quickly. This is the game’s way of forcing you into a corner—don't panic. You must prioritize survival over aggression here. Trying to land heavy combos while your resources vanish is a recipe for disaster.
Since you can't rely on Resolve to heal during this part, make sure you enter the 70% HP threshold with as much health as possible. Every hit you take in the mystic realm is twice as punishing because you can't easily "buy" your health back.
Confronting the Past
As you navigate the distortions, you will encounter Kazumasa Sakai, Jin's father, who appears as a vision to taunt the player. He represents Jin’s deep-seated guilt and trauma, and his presence is meant to distract you from the Eagle’s very real attacks. While his voice and image are overwhelming, stay focused on the combat mechanics.
Strategy: Defensive Play
Because your resources are bleeding away, you need to adopt a strict Defensive Play style. Your goal isn't to "win" this phase through damage, but to outlast it. In the Hallucination Realm, use [L1] hold to block standard strikes until the cutscene triggers. Don't worry about being flashy; just keep your guard up and weather the storm of the Eagle's throwing knives and staff strikes.
⚠️ Watch out: The Eagle will still use unblockable attacks (red flashes) even in this realm. You must dodge those specifically, but for everything else, that [L1] block is your best friend until the vision ends.
Once you survive this mental gauntlet, a cutscene will trigger, and you’ll find yourself back in the real world to finish the fight. You’ve proven your mind is as sharp as your blade—now go take her down for good.
The Eagle Phase 3: Final Duel and Poison Management
This is it—the final phase. After surviving the hallucination, you’re back in the real world in Ghost of Tsushima, and The Eagle is desperate. Her attacks are more furious, her chains are tighter, and the poison is a constant threat. Stay sharp for one last, aggressive duel to finish this.
Securing the final victory against The Eagle.
Surviving the Final Onslaught
The Eagle’s increased aggression is the defining feature of this phase. She chains red and blue attacks faster than ever before, leaving little room for error. Her patterns are familiar, but the speed is punishing. Your defensive fundamentals are key: watch her weapon, switch stances accordingly, and be ready to dodge or parry in rapid succession. If you’ve struggled here, you’re not alone—this is where she pushes hardest to break you.
One of her most dangerous and rewarding moves is the blue glint thrust. This is a fast, lunging attack that can catch you off guard. The trick? Don’t just block it. Time your [L1] tap at the last second for a Perfect Parry. If you nail it, you’ll stagger her completely, creating the perfect opening for your most powerful counter-attacks. This is your best chance to turn her aggression against her.
Listen for the audio cue—a sharp whoosh—as she initiates the thrust. Reacting to the sound can be more reliable than the visual flash when you’re in the heat of the moment.
Securing the Finishing Blow
If managing her weapon switches between Stone Stance and Wind Stance feels overwhelming in this frantic phase, consider an alternative: Moon Stance. You can activate it by holding [R2] and pressing [Circle]. While not the "correct" stance for her weapons, Moon Stance delivers high stagger damage with its heavy attacks. This can be a great way to pressure her guard if you find yourself missing stance-switch windows.
As her health dwindles, use every tool to break her posture. Your Heavenly Strike is perfect for this. Press [Triangle] and [Circle] together to unleash this mythic technique. It deals significant damage and, more importantly, massive stagger. Save it for when she’s blocking or recovering from a combo to shatter her defense.
Finally, watch for the moment of victory. After dealing enough damage, a prompt will appear above her head. Rush in and press [Triangle] to perform the finishing blow. This cinematic move ends the duel, concludes The Blessing of Death, and finally liberates Iki Island from her terror.
You’ve weathered the storm, mastered the parry, and broken her will. Now, claim your victory.
The Eagle Boss Rewards in Ghost of Tsushima
The final blow lands, and the haunting presence of Ankhsar Khatun, The Eagle, fades from Iki Island. In Ghost of Tsushima, victory against a major antagonist is never just about survival—it’s about the tangible rewards that mark your journey and empower your path forward. Defeating the DLC’s final boss grants you the closure you’ve fought for and some of the most distinctive gear in the game.
Rewards screen after defeating the Eagle
Your immediate reward for completing ‘The Blessing of Death’ is a substantial increase to your Legend, pushing you closer to the coveted Ghost of Iki rank. This large XP boost ensures your hard-fought victory translates directly into new technique points for Jin’s arsenal.
The most iconic trophy of your triumph is the Tribal Terror Mask. This unique headwear, part of The Eagle’s own gear set, becomes yours upon victory. It serves as a stark, visual reminder of the threat you vanquished and allows you to customize Jin’s appearance with a piece of the enemy’s regalia.
The conclusion of the quest also brings profound narrative resolution, culminating in the cinematic at Senjo Gorge. This location on Iki Island is where Jin’s deep-seated trauma, stemming from his father’s death, is finally confronted and laid to rest. The victory here is as much about internal peace as it is about external conquest.
While not a direct drop from The Eagle herself, your efforts throughout the Iki Island storyline also secure a crucial utility item: the Saddlebag. You unlock this via the earlier quest ‘The Lightning in the Storm’, and it’s automatically placed on your horse. This upgrade is invaluable, allowing your mount to carry large quantities of extra ammunition and consumables. When you run low, simply hop on your horse to restock Jin’s inventory—a quality-of-life improvement you’ll appreciate for the rest of your adventure.
Don’t rush back to Tsushima immediately after the credits. Equip your new Tribal Terror Mask and use your Saddlebag to fully resupply, then take a moment to explore the now-liberated Iki Island. Many activities and tales remain, and you’re now perfectly equipped to tackle them.
With The Eagle defeated, your legend solidified, and your gear expanded, you’ve truly become the master of both Tsushima and Iki Island. The journey continues, but you carry the proof of your victory with you.