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These are the Best Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

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On April 26, 2025

You’ll meet a lot of people in

Assassin’s Creed Shadows
. Some want to kill you, some want your help and a few are actually worth keeping around. Those few are your allies and you can recruit, train and call in when things go sideways. They each bring something to the table and you get to know them well through side quests.

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Allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are not all powerful or magic fixes for everything, but they can give you the edge when you’re outnumbered or just need a distraction to slip through. You don’t just unlock allies by ticking boxes. You have to earn them their loyalty, usually by completing side quests or proving you’re not a complete disaster in conversation. Once they join, you can upgrade their abilities at the Hideout, which makes them more useful over time.

You can’t recruit Junjiro and Tomiko as allies to fight, so they’re not included in this list.

6

Oni-yuri

Perfect for One-On-One Encounters

Oni-yuri ally in Assassin's Creed Shadows

Oni-Yuri isn’t loud, flashy or the type to crash through enemy lines. Her

weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
are status effects and stealth. She helps you keep things quiet with a sleep dart, which is perfect when you need someone out of the way without leaving a mess. Train her up a bit and she starts carrying poison clouds, useful for thinning out clustered guards without ever raising the alarm. Push her further and she’ll even slow down enemy reinforcements just by tampering with their rations before a fight.

You’ll meet her in the Wakasa region during a mission called “Sweet Lies,” which fittingly, is all about digging through a pile of carefully crafted falsehoods. The conversation choices you make during this quest matter more than your blade. Choose your words carefully. If you stay neutral and avoid jumping to conclusions, you gain her trust. Later, in “Sweet Revenge,” her story gets more personal, and again, how you respond shapes the outcome. If you back her up when it counts, she’ll join your crew.

5

Katsuhime

Disrupt Enemy’s Rhythm with Controlled Gunfire

Katsuhime ally in Assassin's Creed Shadows

If you’re playing as Naoe, you’ll meet Katsuhime during the “Diary of Lady Rokkaku” quest. You rescue her from a tight spot, and afterward, she’s open to the idea of teaming up if you handle the conversation right. Just a simple “Yes. Join us.” is all it takes; no drama, no big speeches.

When you call her into a fight, she enters with a burst of controlled gunfire that disrupts the awareness or focus of enemies. Again, she’s not trying to kill them or send them flying; she’s disorienting them just enough to throw off their rhythm.

4

Gennojo

Distract Enemies

Gennojo ally in Assassin's Creed Shadows

Gennojo is a crafty thief you can recruit as an ally, provided you’re playing as Naoe. Gennojo is the guy you call when you want to cause a little chaos without anyone knowing it’s you. He’s the perfect ally for distracting guards who are about to spot you or keeping nosy servants from raising alarms. He doesn’t fight like a tank, but he can throw a grenade to cause enemies to look the way.

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You meet Gennojo during the “Lost Honor” quest, and from there, you’ll work through a handful of missions together like “Sake and Swords,” “Honor Among Thieves” and “The Godless Harvest.” These are your chances to show Gennojo what kind of person you are. During tense moments, picking thoughtful responses — like calming him down or treating a situation seriously — can tip things in your favor. Wrap it up by telling him “We make a good team” and that’s usually enough to win him over.

3

Ibuki

Knock Enemies Back and Throw Them Off Balance

Ibuki is a ronin you can recruit only if you’re playing as Yasuke. You’ll run into them near Kashiwara Village. The first quest, “Ambush Interrupted,” kicks things off. But it’s the follow-up, “Homecoming,” that really matters. You help Ibuki rescue their brother Kyobei from a rough situation at Hijiyama Fort. What you say and what happens to Kyobei makes a difference. If you convince the brother to fight and keep him alive, you’re already halfway there. Wrap it up with a simple line — telling Ibuki they don’t have to be alone — and that’s enough to bring them onboard.

What I really like about Ibuki is their chain of heavy impact strikes that hits fast and hits hard. If you’re being swarmed or need a quick break in the chaos, calling them in with “Petals in the Wind” can clear some space and give you a second to regroup.

2

Yaya

Best Ally for Pushing Back Enemies

Yaya’s strengths are built around raw control. Her main move, Rikishi, is a shoulder charge that knocks enemies back. It’s useful for breaking up tight groups or getting a bit of space when things get crowded. Later on, as a Veteran, she unlocks Inner Strength, a strong kick that launches enemies off their feet. It’s not flashy, but it works.

You first meet Yaya during the “Heads Will Roll” quest, right after you’ve taken out Wada Koretake, but you won’t get to really know her until The Stray Dogs mission. She’ll ask for help taking down a group of enemies, but again, what stands out is your approach. During this quest, you’ll face two key decisions. First, you can choose to spare someone who’s already been beaten. If you show mercy, Yaya will appreciate it. Then you deal with a more personal situation involving a man named Tetsuo. If you encourage reconciliation instead of punishment, it’s another win for you. You don’t need to get every choice right — just two out of three will be enough to make her join your team.

1

Yagoro

The Assassin

Yagoro’s the kind of ally who doesn’t say much, but when he moves, people stop breathing. You don’t call him in to cause a scene or draw fire. You call him in when you want someone gone, quick and quiet. His major ability is called “Assassinate” and it does exactly what it says. At the start, it’s focused. He takes out one enemy, but there’s a catch: the target needs to be weak, with three or fewer health bars. Reaching the Veteran rank allows him to eliminate enemies just about any enemy that comes his way.

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Recruiting Yagoro is tied to the “A Blade in the Dark” quest in Harima. After confronting and dueling him, he’ll challenge you to take out a samurai hidden in Mitsunodo Hall. Completing this task earns you his respect, and without the need for any dialogue, he agrees to join your League.