TaleminorTale of TsushimaAct I — Rescue Lord Shimura

The Value of Sake

A standalone Tale of Tsushima in the Izuhara region, told by the people living under the occupation rather than by anyone commanding it.

RoleSide tale
Importanceminor
  • TypeSide Tale
  • Act1
  • RegionIzuhara
  • Quest giverKii at Kii Sake Brewery, Kii Pond, Azamo
  • PrerequisiteDiscover the location in the open world
  • RewardsMinor Legend Increase, Minor Utility Charm, +10 Linen
  • Steps5

Overview

A standalone Tale of Tsushima in the Izuhara region, told by the people living under the occupation rather than by anyone commanding it.

The Value of Sake is a standalone Tale of Tsushima in Izuhara — not attached to an ally questline, and told from inside the occupation rather than above it.

The side tales are where the game shows what the invasion costs people who were never going to be defended by eighty samurai on a beach. They are short, and collectively they are most of the game’s texture.

In the game’s own framing: In spite of the invasion the Kii Sake Brewery is still standing, which is worth a visit.

What to bring

The stances are a counter-table, not a preference: each one is the answer to a specific enemy, and this tale fields the ones below.

  • RecommendedStone StanceStone breaks swordsmen, who make up most of every Mongol group.
  • RecommendedWater StanceWater is the only efficient answer to a raised shield.
  • RecommendedStealth approachThe tale is built around grass cover.

Objectives

  1. Speak with the woman
  2. Follow Kii
  3. Find an ambush spot
  4. Defeat the Mongols
  5. Speak with Kii

Full walkthroughSpoilers

  1. 01
    Speak with the woman

    Travel to the Kii Sake Brewery and start the conversation.

  2. 02
    Follow Kii

    Into a nearby building to talk properly.

  3. 03
    Find an ambush spot

    Leave the building and take the pampas grass across the way. Crouch into the grass and let the patrol pattern settle before you move; the grass breaks line of sight entirely rather than just slowing detection.

  4. 04
    Defeat the Mongols

    Three waves — archers, swordsmen and shield-bearers. Switching stances between waves is the point of the fight. Shield-bearers need Water Stance, and specifically its heavy attacks — light attacks chip uselessly at a raised shield. Deal with the archers first. Everything else in the fight is harder while arrows are landing, and archers fold quickly once you are on them — or take them at range before you commit. Stone Stance handles the swordsmen; its heavy attacks do extra stagger damage and break their guard.

    TipStone breaks swordsmen, who make up most of every Mongol group.

  5. 05
    Speak with Kii

    Once the last wave is down.

    Checkpoint

Enemies in this tale, and how to fight them

Strengths

  • Archers — Deal with them before you commit to the melee, because everything else in the fight becomes harder while arrows are landing. Take them with your own bow, drop them from stealth before the fight opens, or close the distance immediately — archers are poor at close range and fold quickly once you are on them. Where the tale gives you high ground, use it: an elevated position means only one side of the field can answer you.
  • Shield-bearers — Water Stance, and specifically its heavy attacks — that is what breaks a raised shield. Trying to chip through the front of a shield with light attacks wastes the fight. Stagger them first so the guard comes up and breaks, then go through the opening quickly before it closes.
  • Swordsmen — Stone Stance, whose heavy attacks do extra stagger damage to sword-wielders and break their guard. Swordsmen are the backbone of nearly every Mongol group, so Stone is the stance you will spend the most time in. Parry timing matters more here than anywhere else: blue attacks can be parried, red ones cannot and have to be dodged.

Rewards

  • Minor Legend Increase
    A smaller step toward the next Legend rank — the size a side tale, a liberated settlement or a cleared encounter gives.
  • Minor Utility Charm
    A silver charm. Minor charms are weaker than major ones and go in the minor slots — you start with two major slots and unlock up to four minor ones by honouring Inari Shrines, for six equipped at once.
  • +10 Linen
    Upgrade material. Silk, linen and leather are what armourers and swordsmiths charge to improve your gear.

Sources