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

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, Naoe and Yasuke face a challenging journey, but they're not alone. If you're eager to bolster your team with allies, you're in the right spot to learn how to find and recruit them all.

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 functions, like the blacksmith, who can forge and upgrade your gear. The second type consists of combat companions who fight alongside you, equipped with upgradeable skills for various scenarios.

Once a combat ally joins you, you can manage them from the Hideout or any unlocked kakurega. When summoned, they use their initial skill and continue fighting until either they or all enemies are defeated. Building a dojo in the Hideout allows you to level them up and equip two allies simultaneously.

While allies are optional and you might miss them during your story progression, having additional support can be a game-changer.

All Allies You Can Find & Recruit in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

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, while others can be used as combat companions to tackle the challenges in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.

Yaya

Yaya, the Buddhist monk, first appears during the main quest, The Fatherless Monk. She shares Yasuke's aversion to unnecessary violence, preferring justice. During the Heads Will Roll quest, spare the target, The Wounded, to align with her values. Next, complete the Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs missions, convincing her to forgive her apprentice and seek forgiveness together. Finally, ask her to join your cause.

Yaya's combat abilities include:

• Novice: Joins the fight with pushback attacks.
• Initiate: Knocks down an enemy upon joining.
• Veteran: Uses a powerful kick to send enemies flying.

Katsuhime

For ranged combat, Katsuhime, the Koga shinobi, is your best bet. Her expertise with the Teppo allows her to deliver high damage swiftly.

In Omi, start by hunting down The Naginata, leading to her questline. Complete Showdown in Sakamoto and Requiem for Rokkaku, and then pursue the Letter from Katsuhime sidequest up to The Diary of Lady Rokkaku. Rescue the target and invite Katsuhime to join your team.

Katsuhime's abilities include:

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

Gennojo

The thief, Gennojo, is first encountered in the Missing Missive quest, part of locating The Fool. Spare him and follow up with Lost Honor, Sake and Sword, Honor Among Thieves, and Stolen Hearts. Flirt with him and reinforce his convictions throughout these quests. In The Godless Harvest side quest, prevent him from using explosives and convince him to join your team.

Gennojo's abilities are:

• 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 Ibuki, a ronin fighting corruption. Start with the Ambush Interrupted sidequest near Kashiwara Village using Yasuke and continue his questline. Always support Ibuki, and consider romancing him to ease the process of convincing him to join your organization.

Ibuki's abilities include:

• Novice: Joins the fight with impact attacks.
• Initiate: Shatters the armor of nearby enemies upon joining.
• Veteran: Frequently shatters the armor of nearby enemies during combat.

Oni-yuri

For disabling rather than killing enemies, Oni-yuri is your ally. Begin her recruitment in Tsuruga, Wakasa, with the Sweet Lies sidequest. Despite doubts about her methods, trust her throughout her quests to ultimately invite her to join your league and help her change her ways.

Oni-yuri's abilities are:

• Novice: Puts an enemy to sleep upon entering the fight.
• Initiate: Releases a poison cloud to affect 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 tricks, visit The Escapist.

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