In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke face a daunting challenge, but they don't have to tackle it alone. If you're looking to find and recruit all allies in the game, you're in the right place.
Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Explained
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, there are two types of allies you can recruit. The first type enhances your Hideout by adding new functionalities, such as the blacksmith, who allows you to forge and upgrade your equipment. The second type consists of combat allies who join you in the field, equipped with upgradeable abilities that are invaluable in various situations.
Once a combat ally joins you, you can manage them from the Hideout or any unlocked kakurega. When called upon, they will use their initial skill and fight alongside you until either they are defeated or all enemies are vanquished. Constructing a dojo in the Hideout enables you to level up your allies and equip up to two at a time.
While allies are optional and you can complete the game without them, having additional support can significantly enhance your gameplay experience.
Related: Where to Find the Cat Island in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
All Allies You Can Find & Recruit in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Here are the non-combat allies you can recruit through main and side quests:
- Tomiko – An Unpayable Debt
- Junjiro – From Spark to Flame
- Heiji (Blacksmith) – Way of the Blacksmith
These allies enhance your Hideout's capabilities. The following allies, however, can be used as combat companions:
Yaya
Yaya, the Buddhist monk, is first encountered during the main quest, The Fatherless Monk. Her commitment to justice aligns with Yasuke's values. To recruit her, you must make crucial decisions that reflect her beliefs:
- During the Heads Will Roll quest, spare the main target, The Wounded, to align with Yaya's values.
- Complete the Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs missions, convincing her to forgive her apprentice and seek forgiveness together.
- Finally, ask her to join you as an ally.
Yaya's combat abilities evolve as she levels up:
- Novice: Joins the fight with pushback attacks.
- Initiate: Knocks down an enemy upon joining the fight.
- Veteran: Uses a powerful kick to send enemies flying.
Katsuhime
Katsuhime, a Koga shinobi, specializes in ranged attacks. To recruit her, follow her questline in Omi:
- Complete Showdown in Sakamoto and Requiem for Rokkaku.
- Finish the Letter from Katsuhime sidequest, leading to The Diary of Lady Rokkaku.
- Rescue the target and invite Katsuhime to join the league.
Her abilities are focused on debilitating enemies:
- Novice: Deals daze damage upon entering the fight.
- Initiate: Uses a dazing bomb for an area effect.
- Veteran: Teppo shots ricochet to another target if they hit a dazed enemy.
Gennojo
Gennojo, a sly thief, is first encountered during the Missing Missive quest. To recruit him, make the following choices:
- Spare him during the initial encounter.
- Flirt with him and support his convictions throughout Lost Honor, Sake and Sword, Honor Among Thieves, and Stolen Hearts.
- In The Godless Harvest, prevent him from using explosives and convince him to join the team.
Gennojo's abilities focus on stealth and distraction:
- Novice: Arrives with a bomb to shock enemies.
- Initiate: Acts as a distraction to draw enemy attention.
- Veteran: Prevents servants from alerting others to your presence.
Ibuki
Ibuki, a ronin fighting corruption in Iga, can be recruited by siding with him throughout his questline starting with Ambush Interrupted near Kashiwara Village. Support and potentially romance him to secure his allegiance.
Ibuki's combat abilities focus on impact and armor shattering:
- Novice: Joins the fight with impact attacks.
- Initiate: Shatters the armor of nearby enemies upon joining.
- Veteran: Frequently shatters the armor of nearby enemies during combat.
Oni-yuri
Oni-yuri specializes in disabling enemies rather than killing them. To recruit her, start her questline in Tsuruga, Wakasa, with Sweet Lies. Trust her throughout her quests, culminating in the decision to allow her to join the league.
Her abilities focus on incapacitation:
- Novice: Puts an enemy to sleep upon entering the fight.
- Initiate: Releases a poison cloud affecting nearby enemies.
- Veteran: Delays enemy reinforcements.
That's everything you need to know about finding and recruiting all allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. For more information, visit The Escapist.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
