How to Get the Forbidden Medicine
The Forbidden Medicine is obtained as a legendary random drop when completing Ghost of Tsushima: Legends missions. However, it seems that finishing game modes as the Ronin give an increased chance to drop since the Forbidden Medicine is a Ronin-Only item.
Because it doesn’t drop from a specific event, the best way to get the Forbidden Medicine is to play as the Ronin and complete Nightmare difficulty game modes and Tales of Iyo raids for their overall increased chance of legendary drops.
Forbidden Medicine Special Ability
Bombs also heal allies caught in the blast
The Forbidden Medicine’s unique feature is that its bombs heal all nearby players when they explode. It also has a perk unique from regular bomb packs that enable the Samurai class to use it.
Pros
- Ability to heal more frequently than cooldown based legendaries such as The Mist of Yagata or The Touch of Heaven
- Only bomb pack that can be used by Samurai (with perk)
- Can be used with Assassin (with perk)
- Black powder bombs provide exceptional damage
Cons
- Concussion bomb limited to 6 max for Samurai and Assassin
- Black Powder bombs can deal damage to the player
- Bombs fly much more slowly to their target when compared to the bows or dartgun
- Cannot get headshots needed for Survival challenges
- Can be redundant for Ronin builds with multiple sources of healing
Bomb Damage and Properties
Concussion Bombs
Concussion bombs do 1 bar of damage. They can also launch smaller enemies when concussion bombs explode near their feet.
Concussion bombs can be combined with the Impactful Throws charm perk to put enemies in a downed state for critical strike follow-ups.
Concussion bomb damage is not affected by ghost weapon damage or ranged damage bonuses.
Black Powder Bombs
Black powder bombs do approximately 2.9 bars of damage. About 1.4 bars of damage from the explosion and exactly 1.5 bars burning damage over time.
Unlike concussion bombs, black powder bomb explosion damage can be increased through ghost weapon damage bonuses.
Fire damage can also be increased through status duration, status damage, and fire damage bonuses.
Black powder bombs are not affected by ranged damage bonuses.
Forbidden Medicine Perks
The Forbidden Medicine has 4 possible perks:
Assassin Unlock – Can be used by the Assassin
Enables the Forbidden Medicine to be used by the Assassin
Flash Bomb – Adds flash bombs to the pack
Bombs that stun the enemy on impact
Black Powder Bomb – Add Black Powder Bombs to your pack
The preferred perk is the Forbidden Medicine if it is being used for the Ronin. Do not throw this bomb near your character because it will set him on fire.
For Samurai and Assassins, use this as your 2nd perk after completing the Gear Mastery Challenges.
Samurai Unlock – Can be used by the Samurai
Enables the Forbidden Medicine to be used by the Samurai
Forbidden Medicine Properties
The Forbidden Medicine has 4 properties that it can roll on 2 slots. Also, because it is a legendary weapon, its properties will always roll at the maximum value.
Blast Radius +25%
Recommended if you use Sticky Bombs for your Ghost Weapon 1 items
Melee Stagger Damage +12%
Status Effect Damage +18%
Helps increase the Black Powder Bomb damage in addition to other sources of fire damage
Status Effect Duration +15%
Increases the length that fire or poison status effects stay on an enemy
Recommended Uses for the Forbidden Medicine
The Forbidden Medicine shares the same power usage that its bombs interrupt enemy attacks. Throw a bomb at an enemy to make sure your attack comes out first.
Use the heal from the Forbidden Medicine to cure poison.
For Ronin’s with Perk 2 Cure All, you can throw Forbidden Medicine bombs at your feet to heal your team when they aren’t nearby.
Extra note: Cure All doesn’t heal allies when the Ronin is at full health.
Use as the Samurai Ranged weapon instead of the Half Bow. The Forbidden Medicine gives much more utility, damage, and healing when compared to the Half Bow.