Black Powder Bomb
An explosive taken from the invaders and turned back on them — the Ghost weapon with the clearest thematic charge in the game.
Overview
Gunpowder is what destroyed the samurai charge at Komoda Beach. Jin picking it up is the story's argument in a single item.
The black powder bomb kills grouped enemies outright and is the most straightforwardly lethal thing in the Ghost arsenal. Used against a cluster of troops, or against explosives already stockpiled in a camp, it removes problems that a sword would have taken a long fight to solve.
It is also the loudest option available, so it ends any stealth approach the moment it is thrown — the trade the whole Ghost toolkit is built around.
The crowd answer, and the loudest thing Jin carries.
Upgrading it
Weapons and tools are improved through the skill trees, spending Technique Points earned as your Legend rank rises. Legend itself comes from tales — main and Mythic Tales give the largest steps, side tales, liberated settlements and cleared encounters the smaller ones.
Sources
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Kills clustered enemies outright rather than staggering them
- Detonates camp explosive stores for far larger effect
- Works against armoured units that resist blades
- Higher area damage than a Sticky Bomb, at the cost of having to aim it.
Weaknesses
- Immediately alerts everyone in earshot
- Scarce; not a resource to spend on ordinary patrols
- Can catch Jin in the blast if thrown carelessly
- Loud — it ends any stealth you still had.
Best uses
- Opening an assault on a fortified camp
- Answering a group of heavy units in one throw