In Assassin's Creed Shadows, your journey through feudal Japan gets a whole lot easier with the right crew by your side. While Yasuke and Naoe are powerhouses on their own, recruiting allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows unlocks unique combat abilities that can turn the tide when enemies swarm. But here’s the catch—many players completely miss out on these companions!
If you want to recruit every ally in Assassin's Creed Shadows and unleash their special skills, stick around. We’ve got the complete breakdown on how to find them, the key choices to make, and how to avoid locking yourself out of these valuable partners.
Quick Tip – Avoid Canon Mode
Want to collect all six allies? Don’t play in Canon Mode. It restricts your dialogue choices, making it impossible to recruit certain characters. Switch to Custom Mode to unlock every ally in the game.
Meet the League of the Hidden Blade
Yasuke and Naoe can recruit six powerful allies throughout their journey:
Yaya – The Fatherless Monk
Gennojo – The Fool
Katsuhime – The Shadowed Shinobi
Oni-Yuri – The Deceptive Trickster
Ibuki – The Silent Guardian
Yagoro – The Homegrown Assassin
Let’s break down how to find and recruit each one.
How to Recruit Yaya
Yaya is your first recruitable ally, introduced during the search for Wada Koretake. But just meeting her isn’t enough—you’ll need to make three key decisions to earn her trust.
Quest Path: to Recruit Yaya in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Complete "The Stray Dogs" mission.
Finish "Heads Will Roll" – Yaya will appear in your Hideout.
✅ Important Choices:
During "Heads Will Roll," select: "Killing Them Isn’t Justice."
In "The Stray Dogs," choose: "We Forgive Him" when confronting the priest.
When Yaya argues with Tetsuo, pick: "You need to forgive each other."
Make the right calls, and Yaya will join your League!
How to Recruit Gennojo
Gennojo is both an ally and a romance option for Naoe. You’ll first meet him while hunting The Fool in Yamashiro.
Quest Path: to Recruit Gennojo in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Start with "The Missing Missive."
Complete "Swords & Sake" and "Honor Among Thieves."
Finish "The Godless Harvest" to recruit him.
✅ Important Choices:
In "Honor Among Thieves," choose: "I’m keeping it then."
In "The Godless Harvest," when Gennojo wants to blow up the rice, pick: "Soothe Gennojo."
Warning: Choose wrong here, and Gennojo is lost forever.
How to Recruit Katsuhime
Katsuhime is a skilled shinobi like Naoe and another potential romance option. She’s introduced during the "Showdown in Sakamoto" quest.
Quest Path:
Complete "Showdown in Sakamoto."
Follow Shotei’s (her father’s) missions.
Finish "The Diary of Lady Rokakku."
✅ Important Choices:
- During the mission, defeat Isono Kazumasa quickly—Katsuhime can die if you’re too slow.
How to Recruit Oni-Yuri
Oni-Yuri is easy to miss because she’s not tied to the main storyline. You’ll find her during a side quest in Wakasa.
Quest Path:
Locate the "Sweet Lies" side quest near Tsuruga Gate.
Finish "Sweet Revenge" to unlock her.
✅ Important Choices:
Always take Oni-Yuri’s side during arguments.
Protect her from the townspeople’s punishment.
How to Recruit Ibuki in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Ibuki isn’t part of the main story—you’ll need to head to southern Hijiyama to find him.
Quest Path for Recruit Ibuki in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Locate him during the "Ambush Interrupted" mission.
Complete "Homecoming" to secure him.
✅ Important Choices:
During "Ambush Interrupted," say: "I Have Changed."
In "Homecoming," choose: "Fight with us, Kyobei."
How to Recruit Yagoro
Yagoro is the last recruitable ally, unlocked only after defeating every member of the Shinbakufu.
Quest Path for Recruit Yagoro
Complete the "Secrets of the Blade" storyline.
Send a scout to Engyoji, Harima to reveal Yagoro’s quest.
Finish "A Blade in the Dark" to recruit him.
✅ Important Choices:
- Be supportive of Yagoro during his mission—it’s that simple!
Upgrade Your Allies
Once recruited, you can Upgrade Your Allies to make them even stronger:
Build and upgrade the Dojo at your Hideout.
Use the Ally Management board to train and enhance their abilities.
Why Allies Matter in AC Shadows
Each ally offers unique combat perks that can save your skin when the fight heats up. Whether you need a stealth expert, a frontline bruiser, or a master of deception, these companions add a whole new layer of strategy to your Assassin’s Creed Shadows experience.
So, ready to build your ultimate team? Dive in, make the right choices, and dominate the shadows!
📜 Which ally is your favorite in AC Shadows? Let us know in the comments below! 📜
