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

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke face a daunting challenge, but they don't have to tackle it alone. If you're looking to bolster your ranks with the best allies, you're in the right place 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 functionalities, like the blacksmith, who helps in forging and upgrading your equipment. The second type are combat allies, who join you in the field with upgradeable abilities, proving invaluable in various scenarios.

Once a combat ally is recruited, you can manage them either at the Hideout or any unlocked kakurega. When called into action, they'll deploy their initial skill and continue to fight by your side until either they're defeated or all enemies are eliminated. Constructing a dojo in the Hideout not only allows you to level up your allies but also enables you to have two allies equipped simultaneously.

While allies are optional and you might miss them during your playthrough, having an extra blade can be a significant advantage.

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's capabilities. The rest are combat allies, ready to aid you in overcoming the game's challenges.

Yaya

The Buddhist monk Yaya is introduced during the main quest, The Fatherless Monk. She values justice over violence, aligning her closely with Yasuke’s principles. To recruit her, during the Heads Will Roll quest, choose to spare The Wounded. Then, complete the Find Yaya/The Stray Dogs missions, making choices that align with her values: forgive her apprentice and seek forgiveness together. Finally, ask her to join your cause.

Yaya’s combat abilities evolve as follows:

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

Katsuhime

Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist

For ranged combat support, Katsuhime, a Koga shinobi, is your best bet. Start her recruitment in Omi by hunting The Naginata. Complete the quests Showdown in Sakamoto and Requiem for Rokkaku, then follow the Letter from Katsuhime sidequest to The Diary of Lady Rokkaku. Rescue the target and invite Katsuhime to join your league.

Her abilities are:

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

Gennojo

Encounter the thief Gennojo during the Missing Missive quest while tracking The Fool. Spare him, and he'll reappear in subsequent quests like Lost Honor, 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 choosing explosives and convince him to join your team.

Gennojo’s skills include:

• Novice: Arrives with a bomb to shock enemies.
• Initiate: Distracts nearby enemies.
• Veteran: Prevents servants from reporting your crimes.

Ibuki

Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist

In Iga, meet the ronin Ibuki, who's fighting corruption. Begin with the Ambush Interrupted sidequest near Kashiwara Village using Yasuke. Support Ibuki throughout his questline, and you’ll have the option to recruit him.

Ibuki’s abilities are:

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

Oni-yuri

If you prefer disabling rather than killing, Oni-yuri is your ally. Start her recruitment in Tsuruga, Wakasa, with the Sweet Lies sidequest. Trust her throughout her quests, leading to the final decision to invite her to join your cause and hopefully reform her ways.

Oni-yuri’s abilities include:

• Novice: Puts an enemy to sleep upon entering the fight.
• 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.