In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players encounter a diverse array of targets, many of whom are clearly defined villains notorious for their exploitation and abuse of the innocent. However, the Shunbakufu often operate from the shadows, using subterfuge to achieve their sinister objectives without gaining any attention. A prime example of this secrecy is embodied by the character known as The Wise.
To expose The Wise, you must engage in various missions for Daimyo Junkei and the Akiyama clan as they navigate the treacherous waters of peace negotiations, aided by the enigmatic figure, Kojiro, who mysteriously appears and disappears at will. This guide outlines the essential steps to uncover the truth and navigate the complex interactions during these diplomatic discussions.
A Chance Encounter
The journey begins with the quest titled “A Chance Encounter, ”which unlocks after you eliminate “The Wheel Unmasked.”You can access this mission via your Objectives Board under the Shunbakufu section.
Your first stop is the Omiwa Shrine in the Yamamoto region, where you will encounter a woman named Fuyu. To expedite your search, consider using a scout or synchronizing with a nearby viewpoint to pinpoint her location on the map. Engage in conversation to advance the quest further.
Following your discussion with Fuyu, she will lead you on a free-follow mission where she recounts recent attacks on local shrines. Join her in prayer at the initial shrine, and then proceed to visit two additional shrines in the vicinity—one located to the northwest and the other to the northeast. Utilize your Observe skill to identify their locations easily.
Upon praying at the third shrine, prepare for a cutscene that introduces Kojiro. Regardless of your dialogue options, he will suggest a meeting with Tsutsui Junkei, the local Daimyo, presenting you with a persimmon to offer as a gift.
Your next task is to head to the village east of Koriyama, where you can either scout the region or find the teahouse located southwest of the castle to locate Junkei. A samurai sentinel will initially block your way, but dialogue with them will allow you access to meet Junkei and his adviser, who will provide valuable directions for your next steps.
Note that various field-boss enemies are scattered throughout this area; engaging in this questline is not advisable if you are below level 30.
The Lost Envoys
Your investigation continues as you travel to a town located on the eastern edge of Yamamoto, next to the Hidden River. Activate your Observe skill to search for potential witnesses and further guidance from Kojiro, who will direct you towards an inebriated soldier.
Defeating this soldier will lead you to Akiyama Ayako, who reveals a betrayal within her ranks and hints at a shared mission. You are then tasked with investigating an iron-gathering site where the missing envoys have reportedly been taken.
Clear the area through stealth or direct combat, and converse with the captured envoy. They will inform you about an invitation to the peace talks that has been stolen and concealed within Uda Matsuyama castle.
This letter is heavily guarded, and you may find it more manageable to retrieve it stealthily alongside Naoe rather than charging in with Yasuke. After successfully recovering the invitation, bring it back to Lady Ayako at the Kasugataisha Temple to conclude this chapter in your quest.
Be vigilant for elite operatives from the Kurai Eikyou; even non-combative characters such as servants can trigger alarms!
Restless Spirits
Return to Katsuragi to meet with the priests in the town center, who express concerns regarding the theft of religious artifacts. Just then, Kojiro reappears and guides you to the Gokenin No Kanrei manor located just to the south.
This manor is guarded, but you can choose to either sneak in or fight your way through to uncover a critical letter in the main building. The letter reveals that the Gokenin have been instructed not to intervene with the ‘Takatori Bandits, ’ hinting at a larger conspiracy at play.
After this discovery, proceed northeast to meet Kojiro on a bridge. He will provide you with strategies on how to infiltrate the bandit stronghold. By now, you should be adept at utilizing shadows and stealth to your advantage.
Navigate to the bandit ruins and use your Observe skill to meticulously plan your approach to bypass their guards. A damaged wall to the southwest may offer a route that largely avoids confrontation.
Once you’ve dispatched the bandit leader and secured the camp, inspect their hoard for a letter that corroborates The Wise’s role in the destabilization efforts of the area. Afterward, consult with Kojiro to finalize this segment of your quest.
Temple Stories
This segment of The Wise’s quest is relatively straightforward. You will encounter Joken Hokkyo at the Todaji temple, located north of the Nara Heartland. Accompany him through the temple grounds until Kojiro once again drops in unexpectedly. Continue to follow Joken until he is ambushed by thieves.
After successfully defending against the attack, chase the thieves westward to retrieve a crucial sacred scroll that is pivotal to the ongoing peace negotiations. Defeat the thieves, reclaim the scroll, and return it to Joken to complete this mission.
Darkness Falls
This quest, typical of Shunbakufu assassinations, locks you in once it begins, so ensuring you’re fully prepared before starting is essential.
Begin by locating your partner beneath the grand tree outside Kofukuji Temple and decide between Yasuke or Naoe for your mission. While Yasuke initially offers a more straightforward path, Naoe’s approach introduces greater dynamics. Nonetheless, you will switch back to Yasuke midway through the quest, facing a pivotal choice before the final assassination attempt.
Naoe’s Path
As Naoe is disguised as Yasuke’s servant and lacks access to invitations for the peace talks, you will need to scale rooftops to infiltrate the temple. Navigate using the blue objective markers to eavesdrop on suspicious soldiers.
Search for a concealed note that hints at a nearby sharpshooter. Eliminating this threat before they can execute their deadly plan is crucial.
Consider using smoke grenades to evade guards and complete your mission undetected.
Yasuke’s Path
Yasuke’s approach requires no stealth—simply stroll through the front doors and engage the three leaders within to trigger the subsequent phase, where everyone witnesses Naoe thwart the assassination attempt by the sharpshooter.
You will be presented with the chance to accuse the individual responsible for orchestrating the chaos: select Joken to reveal the true assassin and engage in combat against the ensuing ambush.
Defeating The Wise
During your confrontation with The Wise, neither Naoe nor Yasuke possesses inherent advantages against Joken; however, Naoe’s agility may facilitate dodging attacks as you close in on the monk. Although you could confront Joken’s monks, conserving your resources for the final boss fight might prove a wiser strategy.
In combat, Joken wields a poisoned katana that punishes poor parrying attempts, underscoring the importance of dodging over blocking during your engagement.
Upon successfully defeating The Wise, a final cutscene reveals insights into Kojiro’s true nature, marking the conclusion of this compelling quest.
The rewards for overcoming this challenge include:
- 2000 experience points
- 355 Mon
- Three mastery points
- Winds of War legendary kusarigama
- Classic Tea Bowl collectible
Furthermore, each preceding quest in this narrative grants an additional 1000 experience points.
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