In Assassin's Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke face a challenging journey, but they don't have to go it alone. If you're looking to bolster your team by finding and recruiting all allies, you've come to the right place.
Allies in Assassin's Creed Shadows, Explained
There are two categories of allies you can recruit in Assassin's Creed Shadows. The first type enhances your Hideout's capabilities, such as the blacksmith, who enables you to forge and upgrade your gear. The second type consists of combat allies who can join you in the field, equipped with upgradeable skills that prove valuable in various scenarios.
Once a combat ally joins your cause, you can manage them from your Hideout or any unlocked kakuregas. When called into action, they will deploy their initial skill and fight alongside you until either they are defeated or all enemies are vanquished. Constructing a dojo in your Hideout allows you to level up your allies and even deploy two at once.
While allies are optional and you can complete the game without them, having additional support can make a significant difference in 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'll encounter through main and side quests:
- Tomiko – Recruited through the quest An Unpayable Debt.
- Junjiro – Recruited through the quest From Spark to Flame.
- Heiji (Blacksmith) – Recruited through the quest Way of the Blacksmith.
These allies enhance your Hideout's functionality. The following are combat allies you can recruit to aid you in your missions:
Yaya
Yaya, the Buddhist monk, is introduced during the main quest The Fatherless Monk. She values justice over violence, aligning with Yasuke's principles. To recruit her:
- During the Heads Will Roll quest, choose to spare the main target, The Wounded.
- Complete the Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs missions, choosing to convince Yaya to forgive her wayward apprentice and seek forgiveness together.
- Finally, ask Yaya to join your cause.
Yaya's combat abilities evolve as follows:
- Novice: Joins the fight and performs pushback attacks.
- Initiate: Knocks down an enemy when joining the fight.
- Veteran: Uses a powerful kick to send enemies flying.
Katsuhime
Katsuhime, a Koga shinobi skilled in ranged combat, can be recruited in the Omi region. To recruit her:
- Complete the quests Showdown in Sakamoto and Requiem for Rokkaku.
- Finish the Letter from Katsuhime sidequest and follow the questline until The Diary of Lady Rokkaku.
- Rescue the target and invite Katsuhime to join your league.
Katsuhime's abilities include:
- Novice: Deals daze damage when entering the fight.
- Initiate: Uses a dazing bomb upon entering a fight for area effect.
- Veteran: Teppo shots ricochet to another target if they hit a dazed enemy.
Gennojo
Gennojo, the sly thief, is first encountered in the Missing Missive quest. To recruit him:
- Spare Gennojo during the quest.
- Complete the subsequent quests: Lost Honor, Sake and Sword, Honor Among Thieves, and Stolen Hearts.
- Flirt with him and support his convictions throughout these quests.
- During The Godless Harvest side quest, prevent Gennojo from using explosives and convince him to join your team.
Gennojo's abilities are:
- Novice: Arrives with a bomb to shock the enemy.
- Initiate: Acts as a distraction to draw enemy attention.
- Veteran: Prevents servants from alerting others to your crimes.
Ibuki
Ibuki, the ronin, can be found in Iga, fighting corruption. To recruit him:
- Start with the Ambush Interrupted sidequest near Kashiwara Village using Yasuke.
- Consistently side with Ibuki throughout his questline, and consider romancing him.
- At the end, invite Ibuki to join your organization.
Ibuki's abilities include:
- Novice: Joins the fight and deals impact attacks.
- Initiate: Shatters the armor of nearby enemies when joining the fight.
- 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:
- Begin her sidequests in Tsuruga, Wakasa, starting with Sweet Lies.
- Trust in her methods and integrity throughout her quests.
- At the end, invite Oni-yuri to join your league and help her change her ways.
Oni-yuri's abilities are:
- Novice: Enters the fight and puts an enemy to sleep.
- 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.
