"Recruit All Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A Guide"

In Assassin's Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke face a formidable challenge, but they don't have to tackle it alone. If you're eager to discover the best methods to find and recruit all allies in Assassin's Creed Shadows, you're in 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 equipment. The second type consists of combat companions you can use in the field, equipped with upgradeable abilities that prove invaluable in various scenarios.

Once you've recruited a combat ally, you can manage them either from the Hideout or any unlocked kakuregas. When summoned, they will deploy their initial skill and continue fighting by your side until they're defeated or all foes are vanquished. Constructing a dojo within the Hideout allows you to level up these allies and deploy two simultaneously.

While allies are optional and can be missed during your playthrough, having an extra blade at your side can significantly enhance your 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's a rundown of 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 will bolster your Hideout's capabilities. The rest are combat allies who can aid you in overcoming the challenges of Assassin's Creed Shadows.

Yaya

You'll first encounter the Buddhist monk Yaya during the main quest, The Fatherless Monk. Yaya values justice over violence, aligning her with Yasuke's principles. To recruit her, you must make specific choices:

• During the Heads Will Roll quest, spare the target known as The Wounded to align with Yaya's values.
• Complete the Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs missions, convincing her to forgive her apprentice and seek forgiveness together.
• In the final decision, invite her to join you.

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

For ranged combat support, Katsuhime is your ally. She excels with the Teppo, dealing significant damage. Start her recruitment in Omi by completing the following quests:

• Showdown in Sakamoto
• Requiem for Rokkaku
• Letter from Katsuhime
• The Diary of Lady Rokkaku

Choose to rescue the target and invite Katsuhime to join your league. Her abilities include:

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

Gennojo

The cunning thief Gennojo can be found during the Missing Missive quest. To recruit him, follow these steps:

• Spare him during the quest.
• Complete Lost Honor, Sake and Sword, Honor Among Thieves, and Stolen Hearts.
• Flirt with him and affirm his convictions throughout.
• In The Godless Harvest side quest, prevent him from choosing the explosive option and invite him to join.

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 alerting others to your crimes.

Ibuki

In Iga, you'll meet the ronin Ibuki, fighting corruption. Start his recruitment with the Ambush Interrupted sidequest near Kashiwara Village and continue his questline. Always side with Ibuki, and consider romancing him. His abilities include:

• Novice: Joins the fight and deals impact attacks.
• Initiate: Shatters the armor of nearby enemies upon joining.
• Veteran: Shatters the armor of nearby enemies more frequently during combat.

Oni-yuri

If you prefer disabling enemies over killing, Oni-yuri is your ally. Begin her recruitment in Tsuruga, Wakasa, with the Sweet Lies sidequest. Trust in her throughout her quests, leading to the final decision to invite her to join your league. 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 information, visit The Escapist.

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