In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke face a challenging journey, but they don't have to tackle it alone. If you're eager to discover and recruit all the allies available in the game, you're in the right place.
Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Explained
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you can recruit two types of allies. The first type enhances your Hideout with new functions, like the blacksmith, who allows you to forge and upgrade your equipment. The second type serves as combat companions, offering upgradeable abilities that can be invaluable in various situations.
Once a combat ally joins your team, you can manage them from the Hideout or any unlocked kakuregas. When called into battle, they'll unleash their initial skill and continue fighting by your side until they're defeated or all enemies are vanquished. Building a dojo in the Hideout lets you level up your allies and equip two at once.
While allies are optional and you can complete the game without them, having extra support can be a significant advantage.
Related: Where to Find the Cat Island in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
All Allies You Can Find & Recruit in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Non-combat allies join 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 rest are combat allies that can help you overcome the challenges in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Yaya
The Buddhist monk, Yaya, is first encountered during the main quest, The Fatherless Monk. She values justice over violence, aligning with Yasuke's principles.
To recruit Yaya, you must:
- Spare the target during the Heads Will Roll quest.
- Complete the Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs missions, convincing her to forgive her wayward apprentice and seek forgiveness together.
- Finally, ask her to join your cause.
Yaya's combat abilities at each level are:
- 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
For ranged combat support, Katsuhime, a Koga shinobi skilled with the Teppo, is your best ally.
To recruit Katsuhime, follow these steps:
- Complete the Showdown in Sakamoto and Requiem for Rokkaku quests in Omi.
- Finish the Letter from Katsuhime sidequest, leading to The Diary of Lady Rokkaku.
- Rescue the target and invite Katsuhime to join your cause.
Katsuhime's abilities are:
- Novice: Deals daze damage upon entering the fight.
- Initiate: Uses a dazing bomb for an area effect.
- Veteran: Teppo shots ricochet to another target when hitting a dazed enemy.
Gennojo
Gennojo, a cunning thief, is first encountered in the Missing Missive quest while hunting The Fool. To recruit him:
- Spare him during the initial encounter.
- Complete the Lost Honor, Sake and Sword, Honor Among Thieves, and Stolen Hearts quests, flirting and affirming his convictions.
- In The Godless Harvest side quest, prevent him from using explosives and convince him to join your team.
Gennojo's abilities include:
- Novice: Arrives with a bomb to shock enemies.
- Initiate: Acts as a distraction to draw enemy attention.
- Veteran: Prevents servants from reporting your crimes.
Ibuki
In Iga, you'll meet Ibuki, a ronin fighting corruption. To recruit him:
- Start with the Ambush Interrupted sidequest near Kashiwara Village.
- Consistently side with Ibuki and, if desired, romance him.
- At the end of his questline, invite him to join your organization.
Ibuki's abilities are:
- Novice: Joins the fight with impact attacks.
- Initiate: Shatters the armor of nearby enemies upon joining the fight.
- Veteran: Shatters the armor of nearby enemies more frequently.
Oni-yuri
For non-lethal combat, Oni-yuri is your ally of choice. To recruit her:
- Begin her questline in Tsuruga, Wakasa, with the Sweet Lies sidequest.
- Trust her throughout her quests, culminating in the decision to allow her to join your cause and potentially change her ways.
Oni-yuri's abilities include:
- Novice: Puts an enemy to sleep upon entering the fray.
- Initiate: Releases a poison cloud affecting nearby enemies.
- Veteran: Delays enemy reinforcements.
That's all you need to know about finding and recruiting all allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. For more information, check out The Escapist.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
