The Temple of the Horseman: A Critical Quest in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
The Temple of the Horseman marks one of the climactic quests in Act 1 of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, where players are tasked with the pivotal mission of infiltrating the Honnoji Temple to confront Oda Nobunaga.
In a strategic move, Lord Mitsuhide and his son-in-law provide Naoe with authentic documents, enabling her to disguise herself within a shipment cart entering the temple—all in pursuit of revenge against Nobunaga.
Before initiating this quest, ensure that your gear and character levels are optimal for the challenges ahead. Preparation is key to success.
How to Locate Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga resides in his private quarters, located deeply within the inner courtyard of the temple. Accessing his room is vital for advancing to the next phase of your mission.
Start your infiltration from the rooftops. Silently navigate the edges while either crouched or lying prone against the animus wall barrier, as this technique significantly reduces your chances of detection.
While some enemies may spot you, remaining prone and mobile makes it easier to avoid alerting them, especially on normal difficulty.
Here are a few additional tips to enhance your infiltration experience:
- Utilize Kunais: These versatile tools can be lethal and are retrievable for future use, making them an ideal choice for stealthy takedowns.
- Loot Opportunities: While there are chests offering valuable loot throughout the quarters, be wary of the Ronins and patrolling servants that guard them.
- Maintain Rooftop Advantage: As Naoe, staying on the rooftops provides a significant tactical edge—guards are less likely to spot you, allowing for effective assassinations.
Exploring the Inner Courtyard
As you progress, you’ll encounter a crevice in the wall that leads into a different courtyard. Utilize this to your advantage by hiding in a nearby well to ambush any unsuspecting enemies.
From the well, observe the haystack ahead, which can serve as another strategic hiding spot for taking out enemies silently.
Don’t forget to activate Eagle Vision to identify nearby enemies and make use of the observer feature (L2) to mark them for easier navigation.
Continue your advance via the rooftops until you reach Oda Nobunaga’s quarters, where you’ll also find Yasuke by his side. The entrance is heavily protected, making it crucial to approach from the back.
As demonstrated in the video, grapple up to the roof from the right side amidst nearby bushes for a stealthy entry. While this method is risky, practicing swift movements can ensure a smooth infiltration.
Once at the back, eliminate the patrolling servant with the lamp and, if possible, lure in a nearby guard for a silent takedown—either through an air assassination or by using your kunai.
Be mindful of your rations; restocking from nearby boxes is prudent before the impending boss confrontation. Entering Oda’s quarters will trigger the concluding segment of your quest.
Defeating Oda Nobunaga
Following Naoe’s successful infiltration, Mitsuhide’s forces are poised to launch an offensive on the temple. In a desperate maneuver, Nobunaga commands Yasuke and his followers to head for the gate, leaving him to face Naoe alone—a confrontation that culminates in a deadly duel.
Here’s a breakdown of Nobunaga’s principal attacks during this boss battle:
|
Attacks |
Pattern / How to Counter |
|---|---|
|
Two-Cut Sheathing Combo |
Two blue sword slashes that can be parried to leave Nobunaga vulnerable. |
|
Three Vertical Cuts |
Three unblockable (red) strikes that can leave him exposed if dodged correctly. |
|
Downward Three Slashes |
Includes a double-handed sword attack; the first slash can be parried. |
|
Poke Combo |
An unblockable series of slashes ending with a damaging poke; sidestep to evade. |
|
Running Slash |
Nobunaga will charge with an unblockable slash; anticipate and dodge to avoid damage. |
The battle against Nobunaga is manageable with timed parries and evasive maneuvers against unblockable moves.As a nimble fighter, Naoe should utilize her rations strategically to heal when needed.
For this encounter, I opted to wield the Kusarigama due to its effective ranged attacks, which are ideal for chipping away at Nobunaga’s health.
Upon Oda Nobunaga’s defeat, you will complete the quest, transitioning into a series of cutscenes that pave the way for the next phase of your journey, where Naoe and Junjiro’s rescue with Yasuke leads into the upcoming act.
Once you regain control, Yasuke becomes a playable character, allowing you to seamlessly switch between both protagonists in the game.
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