In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke face a challenging journey, but they don't have to tackle it alone. If you're looking to bolster your team with all the allies the game has to offer, you've come to the right place.
Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Explained
In the game, you can recruit two types of allies. The first type enhances your Hideout with new functionalities, such as the blacksmith who enables you to forge and upgrade your equipment. The second type are combat allies who join you in the field, equipped with upgradeable abilities that prove invaluable in various scenarios.
Once a combat ally is recruited, you can manage them from the Hideout or any unlocked kakuregas. When summoned, they deploy their initial skill and continue fighting by your side until either they are defeated or all enemies are vanquished. Constructing a dojo in the Hideout allows you to level up these allies and equip up to two at once.
While allies are optional and you can complete the story 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
Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist
The following non-combat allies can be recruited through main and side quests:
- Tomiko – An Unpayable Debt
- Junjiro – From Spark to Flame
- Heiji (Blacksmith) – Way of the Blacksmith
These allies can enhance your Hideout's capabilities. Now, let's delve into the combat allies that can join you in your battles.
Yaya
You'll first meet the Buddhist monk, Yaya, during the main quest, The Fatherless Monk. Yaya values justice over violence, aligning closely with Yasuke's principles. During the Heads Will Roll quest, choose to spare the main target, The Wounded, to align with her values.
Continue with the Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs missions, ensuring you make choices that promote forgiveness and reconciliation. This will lead to the opportunity to invite Yaya to join your cause.
Yaya's abilities progress as follows:
- 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
Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist
For ranged combat support, Katsuhime is your best ally. She's a Koga shinobi skilled with the Teppo, delivering high damage from a distance. Begin her recruitment in the Omi region during the quest to hunt down The Naginata. Complete Showdown in Sakamoto and Requiem for Rokkaku, then take on the Letter from Katsuhime sidequest. Follow the questline until The Diary of Lady Rokkaku, where you can rescue the target and invite Katsuhime to join your league.
Katsuhime's abilities evolve as follows:
- Novice: Deals daze damage upon entering the fight.
- Initiate: Uses a dazing bomb for an area of effect upon entering a fight.
- Veteran: Teppo shots that hit a dazed target now ricochet to another.
Gennojo
Encounter Gennojo, the sly thief, during the Missing Missive quest while tracking The Fool. After sparing him, he returns in subsequent missions like Lost Honor, Sake and Sword, Honor Among Thieves, and Stolen Hearts. Flirt with him and affirm his convictions at each opportunity. During 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 the enemy.
- Initiate: Acts as a distraction to draw nearby enemies' attention.
- Veteran: Prevents servants from reporting your crimes.
Ibuki
Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist
In Iga, you'll meet the ronin, Ibuki, who is fighting corruption single-handedly. Start with the Ambush Interrupted sidequest near Kashiwara Village using Yasuke and continue his questline. Consistently side with Ibuki, and you can even choose to romance him, making it easier to invite him to join your organization at the end.
Ibuki's abilities are:
- Novice: Joins the fight with impact attacks.
- Initiate: Shatters the armor of nearby enemies upon joining the fight.
- Veteran: Increases the frequency of shattering armor of nearby enemies during combat.
Oni-yuri
For a non-lethal approach, Oni-yuri is your ally of choice. Begin her recruitment in Tsuruga, Wakasa, with the Sweet Lies sidequest. Trust in her throughout her quests, despite any doubts about her methods, culminating in the decision to allow her to join your league 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 everything you need to know about finding and recruiting all allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. For more tips and guides, be sure to visit The Escapist.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
