Summoning Wolf companion in Ghost of Yotei is one of the most exciting parts of Atsu’s journey through Ezo. The wolf is an ally who grows with you, fights beside you, and often saves your life in hard situations, but the game doesn’t exactly tell how to unlock the Wolf. You’ll see her early on, helping you here and there, but you won’t figure out how to call her on command, and that’s where most players get confused.
Between random appearances, Wolf Dens around the map, and a few key upgrades you can easily miss, it takes some legwork to fully bond with her. This guide breaks down everything from the first time you meet Wolf to learning the Song of the Wolf and how to turn her into a permanent game partner in Ghost of Yotei.
How to Unlock the Wolf in Ghost of Yotei
You first encounter the Wolf during Atsu’s early journey, often even on the first night in Ezo. She appears unpredictably, usually after big fights or during scripted story moments, and her first few appearances are random. Early on, you have no control over when she spawns. The Wolf might appear during combat or even save Atsu from death when her health drops to zero, almost like a one-time revive.
At this stage, the Wolf behaves more like a wild ally than a summonable companion. She’ll disappear once the fight is over and doesn’t respond to any direct command. As Atsu’s bond with her grows through exploration and story progression, you get the ability to call her on command.
How to Summon the Wolf Companion in Ghost of Yotei
The Wolf can’t be summoned through any basic action like whistling for your horse. Early in the game, her spawn is chance-based. Though once you learn the Song of the Wolf, you can play Song of the Wolf on Atsu’s Shamisen to summon the Wolf companion in any fight.
After you clear 4 Wolf Dens, the Song of the Wolf becomes available in your repertoire. Open your Shamisen controls and swipe left on the touchpad to play it. If “Wolf Appearances” is turned off in the gameplay settings, the summon won’t work so make sure that’s enabled. After that, there’ll be no more random saves or waiting for RNG; you control when and where she joins you.
What are Wolf Dens?
Wolf Dens are the main activities for the Wolf’s skill progression. Each Den is a small combat scenario where you follow the Wolf to an enemy camp and free captured wolves from Saito’s men. Completing these challenges grows Atsu’s bond with her companion and earns Wolf Skill Points which you use to upgrade her.
You can find Wolf Dens by exploring the world, following golden birds, or buying Wolf Den maps from Cartographers in villages. Each Den has different layouts and objectives; some are stealth infiltration, others are open combat. Every Den you clear improves the Wolf’s reliability and power. Once you clear 5 Wolf Dens, Atsu can even name the Wolf. Clearing all 10 Wolf Dens unlocks Wolf’s upgrade and gives access to her entire skill tree.
Wolf Skills and Abilities
Upgrading the Wolf turns her from a helpful companion into a real force in battles. Each Den gives one point for her skill tree while the upgrades are split between Combat and Summon abilities.
| Skill Name | Type | Effect / Description | Unlock Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Strike | Combat | When the wolf is nearby, she will perform a follow-up attack on enemies struck by thrown weapons or Sake jars. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Wolf’s Vengeance | Summon | After appearing, the wolf will stay and fight your opponents. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Wolf Assassination | Stealth | If you Assassinate or Critical Strike an enemy when the wolf is nearby, she will Assassinate 1 additional foe. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Wolf’s Ferocity | Combat | The wolf inflicts massively increased Stagger damage. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Wolf’s Might | Combat | Wolf abilities immediately kill Brutes and Leaders. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Wolf’s Wrath | Combat | Wolf kills earn Spirit and have a chance to Terrify enemies. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Wolf Rescue | Passive | When you are downed in combat, the wolf will occasionally appear and attempt to rescue you from death. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Wolf Howl | Spirit | When using Onryo’s Howl, the wolf may join you and attack another enemy. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Wolf Strike Summon | Summon | Striking enemies with a thrown weapon or Sake jar has a chance of summoning the wolf for a follow-up attack. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Wolf Standoff | Summon | When you engage in a Standoff, the wolf may join you and face off against another enemy. | Wolf Den Reward |
| Primal Bond | Passive | The wolf will respond to Song of the Wolf more often and be available in more locations. | Complete all Wolf Dens |
Wolf’s Bond with Atsu and Fighting Alongside
The Wolf adapts to stealth or open fighting very nicely. When you infiltrate quietly, she remains hidden until you strike. When you engage enemies directly, she joins beside you and targets the big threat.
She’s also tactically smart — she doesn’t blow your cover during stealth, and focuses on enemies that regularly pressuring you. Her attacks draw attention and create openings for finishers, which makes this companion ideal to break enemy formations or disrupt archers. Combining her presence with spirit abilities like Onryo’s Howl or throwable weapons lets you chain kills effectively.
