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

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, Naoe and Yasuke face a perilous journey, but they don’t have to go it alone. If you're looking for the best way to locate and recruit every ally in the game, you've come to the right place.

Recommended Videos: Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Explained

There are two distinct types of allies available in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. Some contribute valuable functions within your Hideout—like the blacksmith, who enables equipment forging and upgrades. Others serve as combat companions, offering powerful, upgradeable abilities that can be invaluable in various situations.

Once a combat ally joins your cause, you can manage them from either your Hideout or any unlocked Kakurega (hidden safehouses). When summoned into battle, they will activate their signature skill before fighting alongside you until either all enemies are defeated or the ally is incapacitated. Building a dojo within your Hideout allows you to level up your allies and equip two at the same time.

While recruiting allies is optional—and it's possible to miss some during story progression—it's always advantageous to have extra support on the battlefield.

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

The following are non-combat allies that become available through main and side quests:

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

These characters provide key support within your Hideout. The rest can be recruited as active combat allies to assist in overcoming challenges throughout the game.

Yaya

Yaya first appears during the main quest “The Fatherless Monk.” A devout Buddhist monk, she values justice over violence, aligning closely with Yasuke’s moral compass.

To recruit her, choose to spare the target during the “Heads Will Roll” assassination mission. This decision reflects her core beliefs and helps strengthen your bond. Then, complete the “Find Yaya / The Stray Dogs” missions, making compassionate choices to convince both Yaya and her apprentice to seek forgiveness. Finally, invite her to join your team permanently.

As a close-quarters fighter, Yaya brings the following abilities:

• Novice: Joins the fight with pushback attacks.
• Initiate: Knocks down an enemy upon entering combat.
• Veteran: Delivers a powerful kick that sends enemies flying.

Katsuhime

If you prefer ranged firepower, Katsuhime is your ideal ally. A skilled Koga shinobi, she wields the Teppo with deadly precision.

You’ll encounter her after completing the Omi region missions “Showdown in Sakamoto” and “Requiem for Rokkaku.” Her recruitment begins with the “Letter from Katsuhime” sidequest. Complete her storyline, rescue the target, and then extend an invitation to join your league.

Her combat skills include:

• Novice: Deals daze damage when entering battle.
• Initiate: Deploys a dazing bomb with area-of-effect impact.
• Veteran: Ricochets Teppo shots off dazed enemies to hit others.

Gennojo

A cunning thief introduced during the “Missing Missive” quest tied to “The Fool,” Gennojo later reappears in missions such as “Lost Honor,” “Sake and Sword,” “Honor Among Thieves,” and “Stolen Hearts.”

Flirt with him and affirm his beliefs throughout the questline. During the “Godless Harvest” sidequest, stop him from using explosives and convince him to join your cause.

His unique abilities include:

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

Ibuki

Head to Iga to meet Ibuki, a lone ronin battling corruption in the region. Begin with the “Ambush Interrupted” sidequest near Kashiwara Village using Yasuke, and continue through his personal storyline.

Consistently support Ibuki’s decisions—even romanticize if the option arises—and ultimately recruit him to your team at the end of his arc.

His combat capabilities are as follows:

• Novice: Enters with impact attacks.
• Initiate: Shatters armor of nearby enemies upon entry.
• Veteran: Increases frequency of armor shattering in battle.

Oni-yuri

For stealthy disablement rather than direct kills, Oni-yuri is the perfect choice. Begin her recruitment by visiting Tsuruga in Wakasa and starting the “Sweet Lies” sidequest.

Though her methods may raise ethical concerns, showing consistent trust in her throughout her questline will lead to her final decision to join your ranks—perhaps even reforming her ways along the way.

She offers these abilities:

• Novice: Enters battle and puts an enemy to sleep.
• Initiate: Releases a poison cloud causing affliction to nearby foes.
• Veteran: Delays arrival of enemy reinforcements.

That concludes everything you need to know about locating and recruiting all allies in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. For more guides, updates, and walkthroughs, keep checking back here regularly.

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