Who are the Assassin’s Creed Shadows allies? A journey wrought with deception, vengeance, and redemption can be a bit much for Shadows’ dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke. Fortunately, there are some friendly faces jotted about Japan who are rooting for their success, and the shinobi league once certain requirements are met.
Your allies do a lot more than just sit in your AC Shadows Hideout and look pretty. Some may assist you on the battlefield, while others serve as AC Shadows quest list open as you go.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows allies
AC Shadows allies serve different roles throughout the game. While some of your companions hold the fort back at the Hideout, providing key functions, others can accompany you out in the field.
At first, Assassin’s Creed Shadows only allows you to bring one ally with you. However, after upgrading your Dojo to Rank 2, you’ll be able to add an extra companion to your retinue. Combat allies boast their own abilities; new abilities are unlocked each time you shell out to rank them up. These upgrades can be expensive, so make sure you’ve read up on how to make money in AC Shadows – you’re going to need it.
Here are all the Assassin’s Creed Shadows allies, in order of appearance:
- Tomiko
- Junjiro
- Heiji
- Yaya
- Gennojo
- Katsuhime
- Yagoro
- Ibuki
- Oni-ryu
Tomiko
- First encountered: Met during the quest ‘Fight of the Kakushiba Ikki’
- How to unlock: Complete the quest ‘An Unpayable Debt,’ Izumi Settsu
Described by Ubisoft as “a friend and ally of Iga,” Tomiko presides over the league’s Izumi Settsu hideout. A fearsome but fair woman who helps guide Naoe through Shadows’ earliest stages, Tomiko is certainly one of the best allies you can have on your side.
Junjiro
- First encountered: Met during the quest ‘An Unpayable Debt’
- How to unlock: Complete the quest ‘From Spark to Flame,’ Izumi Settsu
A denizen of Makinoodera Temple, Juniro helps Sorin take care of Naoe after her initial run-in with the Shinbafuku. An artistic spirit, Junjiro teaches Naoe Sumi-e while she recovers, later moving to the Hideout to her and the league.
Junjiro might not have much of a practical use within the league, but his youthful honesty helps him become a crucial bridge between Naoe and Yasuke. He creates opportunities for the group to bond further throughout his quest line.
Heiji
- First encountered: Met during the quest ‘Way of the Blacksmith’
- How to unlock: Complete the quest ‘Way of the Blacksmith,’ Izumi Settsu
A broken blacksmith whose family was famed for their tobacco knives, the downtrodden Heiji is retrieved by Naoe to repay a debt owed to Tomiko. He becomes the Hideout’s forge master, working to upgrade all of those zesty AC Shadows Legendary gear pieces you find on your quest.
Speak to Heiji after completing the main quest line for an incredibly wholesome moment.
Yaya
- First encountered: Met during the quest ‘The Fatherless Monk’
- How to unlock: Complete the quest ‘The Stray Dogs’
Yaya may be a Sumiyoshi monk, but that doesn’t stop her from dishing out a beating here and there as necessary. A pacifist at her core, you need to select key dialog options that point to the path of forgiveness to entice her to the league.
After completing the quest ‘Heads Will Roll,’ Yaya’s path to ing the league is added to the board.
Yaya abilities:
- Rikishi: Yaya enters the fray and uses pushback attacks.
- Oshitaoshi: Yaya knocks down an enemy when she s the fight.
- Inner Strength: Yaya sends foes flying with a powerful kick.
A lean, mean, CC machine, Yaya is the perfect partner if you’re outnumbered and outgunned. Her ability to knock enemies back and down is incredibly useful for making space and setting up easy kills, so consider bringing her if you’re looking to go loud.
Gennojo
- First encountered: Fought during the quest ‘Missing Missive’
- How to unlock: Complete the quest ‘The Godless Harvest’
We all love a good enemies-to-allies trope (or lovers if you’re following our romance guide), and Naoe’s relationship with Gennojo embodies this. Our gal initially tries to murder the womanizing rogue during the quest ‘Missing Missive.’ After he takes a particular liking to you in the mission ‘Lost Honor,’ Gennojo’s path to becoming a member of the league is added to the board.
As long as you continue to flirt with Gennojo and soothe him during key dialog moments, you won’t have a problem convincing him to the league fully.
Gennojo abilities:
- Mischievous Sabotage: Gennojo throws a bomb that startles foes.
- Over Here!: Gennojo draws the attention of an enemy about to detect you.
- Charming Presence: Servants do not report crimes they see.
Gennojo’s abilities are perfect if you’re trying to remain undetected. Always the center of attention, Gennojo is more than happy to play the fool to make sure you can slip by unnoticed.
Katsuhime
- First encountered: Met during the quest ‘Against the Koga-ryu’
- How to unlock: Complete the quest ‘The Jounin Pillow Book’
Katsuhime is a bit of a living contradiction – a shinobi with a penchant for making things go ‘boom.’ A crack shot with a teppo, it’s best to stay on Katsuhime’s good side. Fortunately, she takes a particular liking to Naoe, so as long as you have her back, she’ll have yours.
Upon completing the quest ‘Requiem for Rokkaku’ in Omi, Katsuhime’s path to becoming a member of the league is added to the board.
Katsuhime abilities:
- Teppodo: Katsuhime enters the fray, dealing dazing attacks.
- Explosive Entrance: Katsuhime throws a dazing bomb when ing the fight.
- Bullet Ricochet: Katsuhime’s bullets that hit a dazed target ricochet to another target.
Offering up ranged , you can always trust Katsuhime to have your back. Best utilized when you’re running a daze-based AC Shadows build, getting the best out of Katsuhime requires a bit of investment from your end. However, should you take full advantage of her skillset, Katsuhime is a beast.
Yagoro
- First encountered: Met during the quest ‘A Blade in the Dark’
- How to unlock: Complete the quest ‘A Blade in the Dark’
Yagoro is the unknown shinobi in AC Shadows. He’s a young assassin without a creed who serves his local community by disposing of those who bring harm to it. Sporting a big heart and excellent skill with his homemade hidden blade, fashioned after his late master’s, Naoe sees plenty of potential in Yagoro. His overeagerness may get the best of him sometimes, but Yagoro is nonetheless an excellent assassin. You won’t be able to unlock Yagoro until after entering Harima, but he’s worth the wait.
Yagoro abilities:
- Assassinate: Yagoro kills an enemy with three health chunks or less.
- Chain Assassination: Yagoro kills an extra enemy.
- One with Death: Yagoro can kill enemies with up to five health chunks.
The closest we’ll get to AC Brotherhood’s recruits, Yagoro is immensely useful for picking off nuisances while sticking to the shadows. Though he won’t be taking down the AC Shadows bosses on your behalf, he can certainly make light work of tougher enemies when fully upgraded. 
Ibuki
- First encountered: Met during the quest ‘Ambush Interrupted’
- How to unlock: Complete the quest ‘Homecoming’
Revolutionary ronin Ibuki is on a warpath against their former daimyo, Nakatomi, who now rules over their homeland in Iga with an iron fist. What’s more, one of their closest friends and allies is currently being held by Nakatomi, pending execution. It looks like we’ve got our hands cut out for us.
As you work with Ibuki to cleanse the region of this tyrant, there are a few key choices you need to watch out for. As long as you don’t tell them “I was following orders” in ‘Ambush Interrupted,’ say that “Kyobei is too weak,” and let Kyobei die in ‘Homecoming,’ you’re good to go. This is the only combination of choices that will prevent Ibuki from becoming your ally.
Ibuki abilities:
- Petals in the Wind: Ibuki s the fight and uses impact attacks.
- Strike of the Ronin: Ibuki shatters nearby enemy armor when they the fight.
- Blade of Fujin: Ibuki often uses Strike of the Ronin while in combat.
Armor is an incredibly pesky thing to have to get through in AC Shadows, especially if you don’t have the weaponry or abilities to outright deal with it. This is where Ibuki comes in, shredding armor as they strike.
Oni-ryu
- First encountered: Met during the quest ‘Sweet Lies’
- How to unlock: Complete the quest ‘Sweet Revenge’
A wise-cracking orphan looking to wrong those who would besmirch her late father’s name, Oni-ryu quickly divides Naoe and Yasuke’s judgment when she’s accused of poisoning some of the local thugs in Wakasa. Putting the ‘sweet’ in ‘short and sweet,’ Oni-ryu only has two quests for you to clear before you can offer her a fresh start in the league.
Oni-ryu abilities
- Sleep Dart: Oni-yuri puts a target to sleep.
- Increased Dosage: Oni-yuri releases a toxin cloud that poisons people.
- Poison the Rations: Reinforcements are delayed in the event of an alert.
Like Yagoro, Oni-ryu is a great ally to have if you’re attempting to stealthily infiltrate a castle or other stronghold. Though she’s not as immediately effective in dealing with threats as Yagoro, Oni-ryu does offer an almost-get-out-of-jail-free-card with ‘Poison the Rations,’ which gives just enough time for you to get out of Dodge.
And those are all of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows allies, as well as their abilities where applicable. We’ll be sure to update this guide with any more homies we come across on our travels. In the meantime, peep our comprehensive AC Shadows guides hub. If you’re looking for more allies irl, come and hang out in the official PCGamesN Discord server.