"Discover and Enlist Every Ally in Assassin’s Creed Shadows"

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke face a formidable challenge, but they don't have to tackle it alone. If you're looking to bolster your team by finding and recruiting all the allies available in the game, this guide is your starting point.

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 with new functionalities, such as the blacksmith, who enables forging and upgrading of your equipment. The second type consists of combat companions that can join you in the field, equipped with upgradeable abilities that are useful in various scenarios.

Once you've recruited a combat ally, you can manage them from the Hideout or any unlocked kakuregas. When called into action, they will deploy their initial skill and continue fighting alongside you until they are defeated or all enemies are vanquished. Constructing a dojo in the Hideout allows you to level up these allies and equip two at once.

While allies are optional and you can progress through the story without them, having an extra blade at your side can make a significant difference.

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

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. The rest are combat allies, ready to join you in overcoming the challenges in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Yaya

The Buddhist monk, Yaya, is introduced in the main quest, The Fatherless Monk. She values justice over violence, aligning with Yasuke's principles. During the Heads Will Roll quest, you must spare the target, The Wounded, to align with her beliefs and further your relationship.

Next, complete the Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs missions, making choices to forgive her apprentice and seek forgiveness. This leads to the final decision to invite her to join your cause.

Yaya's combat abilities are as follows:

• Novice: Yaya joins the fight and performs pushback attacks.
• Initiate: When joining the fight, Yaya will knock down an enemy.
• Veteran: Yaya uses a powerful kick to send enemies flying.

Katsuhime

Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist

For ranged attacks, Katsuhime, the Koga shinobi, is your ally of choice. She excels with the Teppo and can deliver significant damage quickly.

In Omi, complete the quests Showdown in Sakamoto and Requiem for Rokkaku, then proceed with the Letter from Katsuhime sidequest. Follow the questline to The Diary of Lady Rokkaku, rescue the target, and invite Katsuhime to join.

Her abilities focus on debilitating enemies:

• Novice: Katsuhime deals daze damage when entering the fight.
• Initiate: She uses a dazing bomb when entering a fight for an added area of effect.
• Veteran: Katsuhime’s teppo shots that hit a dazed target now ricochet to another target.

Gennojo

Gennojo, the sly thief, is first encountered in the Missing Missive quest, part of locating The Fool. After sparing him, you'll encounter him again in Lost Honor, Sake and Sword, Honor Among Thieves, and Stolen Hearts.

Flirt with him and affirm his convictions at every opportunity. During The Godless Harvest side quest, prevent him from using explosives and convince him to join your team.

Gennojo's unique abilities include:

• Novice: Gennojo arrives at the fight with a bomb to shock the enemy.
• Initiate: The thief acts as a distraction to draw the attention of nearby enemies.
• Veteran: His presence prevents servants from alerting others to your crimes.

Ibuki

Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist

In Iga, you'll meet the ronin, Ibuki, who is fighting against corruption. Start with the Ambush Interrupted sidequest near Kashiwara Village using Yasuke and continue his questline.

Always side with Ibuki and consider romancing him to ensure his recruitment at the end.

Ibuki's combat skills include:

• Novice: Ibuki joins the fight and deals impact attacks.
• Initiate: When joining the fight, Ibuki shatters the armor of nearby enemies.
• Veteran: Ibuki will shatter the armor of nearby enemies more often when fighting.

Oni-yuri

For disabling rather than killing, Oni-yuri is your ally. Begin her recruitment in Tsuruga, Wakasa, with the Sweet Lies sidequest.

Trust in her methods throughout her quests, culminating in the final decision to invite her to join and potentially change her ways.

Oni-yuri's abilities focus on incapacitation:

• Novice: Oni-yuri enters the fray and puts an enemy to sleep.
• Initiate: She releases a poison cloud that causes the affliction to nearby enemies.
• Veteran: Enemy reinforcements will now be delayed.

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.