How To Find & Recruit All Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke face a challenging journey, but fortunately, they don’t have to tackle it alone. If you're looking to find and recruit all allies in the game, you've come to the right place.

Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Explained

In the game, there are two main types of allies you can recruit. The first type enhances your Hideout by adding new functionalities, such as a blacksmith who can forge and upgrade your equipment. The second type consists of combat companions who can be called upon during missions, equipped with upgradeable abilities that prove invaluable in various scenarios.

Once a combat ally is recruited, you can manage them either from the Hideout or any unlocked kakurega. When summoned, these allies will deploy their initial skill and continue fighting by your side until they're defeated or all enemies are eliminated. Constructing a dojo in the Hideout allows you to level up your allies and equip two at a time, enhancing your tactical options.

While allies are optional, having additional support can significantly boost your gameplay experience in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

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 – 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 and support your journey. Combat allies, on the other hand, bolster your arsenal and help you face the challenges in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Yaya

Yaya, a Buddhist monk, first appears during the main quest "The Fatherless Monk." She values justice over violence, aligning well with Yasuke's principles. To recruit her, you must:

• Spare the main target in the "Heads Will Roll" quest.
• Complete the "Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs" missions, making choices that promote forgiveness.
• Finally, ask her to join your cause.

Yaya's combat abilities evolve as follows:

• Novice: Joins the fight and performs 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 skilled in ranged attacks, can be recruited by:

• Completing the "Showdown in Sakamoto" and "Requiem for Rokkaku" quests in Omi.
• Completing the "Letter from Katsuhime" sidequest.
• Rescuing the target in "The Diary of Lady Rokkaku" and inviting her to join.

Her abilities include:

• Novice: Deals daze damage when entering the fight.
• Initiate: Uses a dazing bomb for an area effect upon joining.
• Veteran: Teppo shots ricochet to another target when hitting a dazed one.

Gennojo

Gennojo, the sly thief, can be recruited through:

• Sparing him during the "Missing Missive" quest.
• Completing subsequent quests: "Lost Honor," "Sake and Sword," "Honor Among Thieves," and "Stolen Hearts."
• Flirting with him and affirming his convictions throughout these quests.
• Preventing him from choosing the explosive option in "The Godless Harvest" and convincing him to join.

His 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 actions.

Ibuki

Ibuki, a ronin fighting corruption in Iga, can be recruited by:

• Starting with the "Ambust Interrupted" sidequest near Kashiwara Village.
• Consistently siding with Ibuki and potentially romancing him.
• Inviting him to join at the end of his questline.

His abilities include:

• Novice: Joins the fight and deals impact attacks.
• Initiate: Shatters the armor of nearby enemies when joining the fight.
• Veteran: Increases the frequency of shattering enemy armor.

Oni-yuri

Oni-yuri, who specializes in disabling enemies, can be recruited by:

• Starting her questline in Tsuruga, Wakasa, with "Sweet Lies."
• Trusting her throughout her quests.
• Inviting her to join at the end, with the hope of changing her ways.

Her abilities are:

• 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, check out The Escapist.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.