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

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 for the best ways to find and recruit all allies in the game, you're in the right spot.

Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Explained

Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows come in two flavors: those who enhance your Hideout with new functionalities, like the blacksmith who can forge and upgrade your gear, and those who join you in combat, bringing their own upgradeable skills to the battlefield.

Once you've recruited a combat ally, you can manage them from your Hideout or any unlocked kakurega. When summoned, they'll unleash their initial skill and fight by your side until they're defeated or the battle is won. Building a dojo in the Hideout not only allows you to level up your allies but also lets you equip two at once.

While allies are optional and you can complete the game without them, having an extra blade at your side can make all the 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

Start with these non-combat allies, who join through main and side quests:

• Tomiko – An Unpayable Debt
• Junjiro – From Spark to Flame
• Heiji (Blacksmith) – Way of the Blacksmith

These allies add valuable functions to your Hideout. The rest can be recruited as combat allies to help you overcome the challenges in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Yaya

The Buddhist monk Yaya first appears during the main quest, The Fatherless Monk. She values justice over violence, aligning with Yasuke's principles. During the Heads Will Roll quest, choose to spare The Wounded to align with her values. Then, undertake the Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs missions, making choices to forgive her wayward apprentice and seek forgiveness. Finally, invite her to join your cause.

Yaya's abilities evolve as she levels up:

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

Katsuhime

Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist

For a ranged combat ally, Katsuhime is your best bet. A Koga shinobi skilled with the Teppo, she can deliver high damage quickly. Start her recruitment in Omi by completing Showdown in Sakamoto and Requiem for Rokkaku, followed by the Letter from Katsuhime sidequest. Follow the questline to The Diary of Lady Rokkaku, rescue the target, and invite Katsuhime to join your league.

Katsuhime's abilities focus on debilitating enemies:

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

Gennojo

The sly thief Gennojo is first encountered during the Missing Missive quest, part of locating The Fool. Spare him, and he'll return in the Lost Honor mission, followed by Sake and Sword, Honor Among Thieves, and Stolen Hearts. Flirt with him and affirm his convictions. In 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 enemy attention.
• Veteran: Prevents servants from reporting your crimes.

Ibuki

Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist

In Iga, you'll meet the ronin Ibuki, fighting corruption single-handedly. Start with the Ambush Interrupted sidequest near Kashiwara Village using Yasuke and follow his questline. Consistently side with Ibuki, and even romance him if you wish, to recruit him into your organization.

Ibuki's abilities are:

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

Oni-yuri

For a non-lethal approach, Oni-yuri is your ally. Start her recruitment in Tsuruga, Wakasa, with the Sweet Lies sidequest. Despite questions about her methods, trust her throughout her quests to ultimately invite her to join your league and hope she changes her ways.

Oni-yuri's abilities include:

• Novice: Puts an enemy to sleep upon entering the fray.
• Initiate: Releases a poison cloud to afflict nearby enemies.
• Veteran: Delays enemy reinforcements.

That's all you need to know about finding and recruiting all allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. For more information, check out The Escapist.

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