Jin Sakai and Lord Shimura are at the front and center of the plot of Ghost of Tsushima. One is the main protagonist and the other is the mentor figure that ends up becoming a sort of antagonist. While these two characters do share a sense of familial love and respect for one another, their differences in values and beliefs ultimately force them to clash blades.
These two samurai warriors are without a doubt two of the fiercest samurais in all of Tsushima. They've won battles together, fought beside one another, and fought against each other. Jin Sakai and Lord Shimura have indeed dueled with their lives on the line at the end of the game, but it can be argued that both of them weren't exactly giving it their 100% because of their history with each other. If that factor were to be removed, which of these two would end up winning in an all-out duel to the death?
10 Jin Sakai: Ghost Tactics
Jin Sakai has a couple of tactics in his arsenal a man like Lord Shimura would consider dishonorable. Be that as it may, these tactics can definitely give Jin the upper hand if he were to go against his beloved uncle.
Throughout Jin's quest to liberate the island of Tsushima from Mongol invaders, he has learned to use poison, stealth, and other tools and items the samurai will never think of using. These are the kinds of tactics that will throw Lord Shimura completely off-guard and will give Jin Sakai the chance to land a killing blow.
9 Lord Shimura: Has More Experience
At the end of the day, Lord Shimura's vaster experience may be the thing that will give him the upper hand when dueling with Jin Sakai. He has been a samurai long before Jin learned how to wield a katana. He's fought more enemies, perhaps even faced and defeated enemies that employ similar tactics the Ghost does.
Lord Shimura's years and years of experience as a samurai, battling it out with various opponents, fighting with warriors with different skill sets, and learning from other mentors may be his greatest advantage. This aspect is something Jin Sakai cannot prevail over as of yet, and it may cause his defeat in the end.
8 Jin Sakai: He's Younger
Jin Sakai has one advantage over Lord Shimura that he'll have biology to thank for—he's younger. While Lord Shimura's age grants him more experience and wisdom, Jin Sakai's grants him versatility and vigor.
Due to being younger, Jin Sakai has a youthful agility, stamina, and strength Lord Shimura no longer has. If these two warriors were to duel it out, Jin Sakai could simply outlast Lord Shimura and tire him out. The former warrior will be able to last on the battlefield longer and retain more of his strength and energy while the latter may end up running on fumes later on.
7 Lord Shimura: His Honor Can Be His Strength
There's something about a warrior who's unwilling to bend his inner values that make him stronger than his peers. Lord Shimura is a man of honor and he values the Bushido code greatly. Seeing his beloved nephew throw his honor and code away may just fuel the fire within him and help him win this duel.
Unlike Jin Sakai who has the Ghost technique on top of his samurai abilities, Lord Sakai only has the latter. This doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing, especially for Lord Shimura—who's quite an exceptional samurai to begin with. He can fight like a samurai from beginning to end, face his enemies, and strike them down while looking at them straight in the eyes. No other tactics, just pure and raw samurai skill.
6 Jin Sakai: Learned From A Variety Of Mentors
Jin Sakai is a very versatile warrior. Not only because he's accepted to equip other strategies to win against the Mongols, but also because he's learned from different mentors who have varying sets of skill.
He learned from Lord Shimura, one of the best samurai warriors in the land. He learned from Sensei Ishikawa, a feared samurai who many consider as the best archer in the land. He also fought alongside Lady Masako, a fully capable and fierce warrior who can take down multiple opponents at once. Finally, he's observed and learned from Yuna, a thief with a terrible past which ultimately made her a strong combatant. All of these skill sets combined together form Jin Sakai and it has made him one of the most renowned and feared samurai in the land, perhaps enough to best Lord Shimura himself.
5 Lord Shimura: He's The Lord Paramount Of Tsushima
One does not become a Lord Paramount without earning a reputation. Lord Shimura is the Lord Paramount of Tsushima and the way he handles himself in battle shows that he is worthy of this title.
As the head of the land, Lord Shimura will have everything he'll need to win against the Ghost of Tsushima. Weapon, armor, everything. Anything he'll need to win, he can acquire it in a snap. As Lord Paramount, Lord Shimura also has access to a wide array of military academia. Not only will he be able to equip his body, but his mind as well.
4 Jin Sakai: Has Many Allies
Jin Sakai, although a very respected lord and a feared warrior, has a very calm and stoic demeanor which makes him seem approachable. He also has a very kind personality and this has made him earn friends and allies in a time of conflict and bloodshed. If the need were ever to arise, Jin could enlist the help of his friends to win this battle against the head of the land.
Jin Sakai's allies are no pushovers either. They are all extremely capable warriors, all with different specialties and masteries.
3 Lord Shimura: Has The Samurai At His Beck And Call
On top of being the Lord Paramount of Tsushima, Lord Shimura also has a very close relationship with the Shogun. When Lord Shimura asked for the Shogun's help, his call was immediately acted upon and an army of samurai was soon his to command. This army of samurai could very well assist Lord Shimura if it's necessary. While Lord Shimura is not the type of warrior who will play dirty against an opponent, the same cannot be said with Jin Sakai. If Jin were to put a trick from his sleeve and enlist the help of others, Lord Shimura can do the same, if not better.
2 Jin Sakai: Has Already Beaten Lord Shimura
At the end of the game, we've already seen these two characters battle it out, and Jin Sakai ended up winning this duel. As emotional and heartbreaking this duel was, it showed exactly what these two are capable of and how they'd react against one another. The duel showed how an honorable man like Lord Shimura fights while upholding his honor and how a man like Jin fights in a way that provides respect to his uncle. This fact could very well be the only thing Jin Sakai needs for this argument. This duel already happened and one was already declared the winner.
1 Lord Shimura: Mentored Jin His Whole Life
Most of the things Jin Sakai knows when it comes to fighting, he learned from Lord Shimura. He has Lord Shimura to thank for for his proficiency with the sword. It was Lord Shimura who taught him how to fight like an honorable samurai. With that in mind, most of what Jin Sakai knows in terms of combat, Lord Shimura knows as well. Mainly because it was he who taught him those things. Better yet, Lord Shimura could be better at the things Jin Sakai learned from his uncle. This fact could ultimately be the reason why Lord Shimura wins against Jin Sakai.