Continuing your approach through the recommended sequences of targets within Assassin’s Creed Shadows, your next adversary following The Noble is known as The Ox. Like previous Shinbakufu targets, you must first engage in a set of preliminary quests before directly confronting The Ox.
This path involves completing four essential sub-quests, which will be detailed further along, presented in an optimal order for completion. Should you find any task particularly challenging, there’s no need for concern—while The Ox is indeed a formidable opponent, your acquired skills thus far should equip you to handle this situation without overwhelming difficulty.
Let’s dive into the details.
A Voice In Anger
This mission is to be played as Yasuke—prepare yourself for an engaging amount of combat.
Start by selecting this quest from your menu. The first task is to locate the Abbot, who is being held captive within a castle by The Ox. Utilize your quest clues or refer to the image above to scout the locale; specifically, you’re aiming for the Tanjosan Myoyoji Temple which features a central viewpoint. If you have previously visited this location, utilize the fast travel option to get there efficiently.
Just below the fast travel point, you’ll find a loot chest located in the temple’s highest room. Loot drops in Shadows are randomized, so you might discover valuable items here.
If the chest doesn’t yield good loot, it’s time for a more aggressive approach. As Yasuke, proceed through the temple’s front gate and prepare for combat. Be mindful of the large wooden ladder positioned just within the temple gate; atop it is a warning bell. If enemies reach the top, they will alert others and increase your region’s warning level until the situation de-escalates.
As you continue your way through the temple, use your Observe ability periodically to home in on the Abbot’s location. Eventually, you will find him near a bonfire, surrounded by several enemies. You cannot communicate with him until the vicinity is secure, so dispose of all threats in the area. Expect to encounter approximately eight adversaries, including various large enemy types that require additional strategizing to take down. Pay particular attention to guards, as they can be problematic.
To avoid collateral damage, draw enemies away from the Abbot and the hostages. Any accidental casualties among them will force you to restart the mission.
After clearing the area, speak with the Abbot and select the dialogue option “I am ready”to advance the timeline until The Ox makes his appearance. Following a cutscene, you’ll discover that The Ox’s true name is Bessho Harumasa, who also has a right-hand man dubbed The Tsuno—could there be another battle in your future?
Post-cutscene, your next objective is to rescue Nakamura Tadashige, whose map marker is conveniently nearby. Expect to face another wave of enemies on your way, ultimately reaching Tadashige near another bonfire.
Apply the same method as before: eliminate all threats before proceeding, ensuring to avoid harming any civilians. Once it is safe, free Tadashige, who will instruct you to rendezvous with him at a nearby tower for a more secure conversation. Fast travel back to the Myoyoji Mietou viewpoint for efficiency.
Make sure to exit the temple walls to activate fast travel to the tower. This method is safer than attempting an open approach. Tadashige awaits you on one of the tower’s lower levels, whereupon you will gather more crucial information regarding The Ox, marking the conclusion of this quest.
Astray
Continue playing as Yasuke for this next assignment.
Your goal is to track down The Ox’s invasion plans, which are under tight security. Equip yourself for an expected confrontation.
Refer to the aforementioned map image to scout the area leading to Hiraiyama Fort. As this is the nearest location without a fast travel option, activate Pathfinder to begin your journey.
Upon reaching the fort’s entrance, enter and engage in combat. Take special note of the alarm tower just inside the entrance—swiftly eliminate any foes attempting to raise the alarm.
You’ll want to adhere to a straightforward approach throughout this section:
- Defeat all enemies
- Search for loot opportunities
- Follow the guidance of Pathfinder
- Sprint through the next gate for access to new areas
- Repeat this cycle
Aim to defeat two Samurai Diasho that guard the final area, allowing you access to a substantial loot chest located at the summit.
Once you breach the second gate and clear the area, briefly head northwest, opposite of the Pathfinder instructions, and discover another destructible gate.
Inside, to your right, is a structure containing a ration refill box to replenish your health and two smaller loot boxes for added resources.
After this detour, resume following the Pathfinder route. Anticipate tougher opponents as you ascend, while also keeping an eye out for unlockable huts to gather further loot and resources along the way.
Expect to navigate smashable gates, small stairways, and dirt paths until you finally conclude this infiltration mission.
At the top, you’ll encounter the Hiraiyama Commander for a quick boss fight—his attack patterns are straightforward, allowing you to prevail with relative ease.
After his defeat, seize The Ox’s invasion plans from the desk he was guarding, only to be interrupted by a remarkably young recruit from The Ox.
Once the cutscene concludes, enter the spacious house encountered just before the boss fight. Within, you will uncover additional details regarding an incoming shipment that The Ox is anticipating.
You will also find a significant loot chest to open provided you took down both Samurai Diasho earlier in the mission.
To conclude this quest, return to Nakamura Tadashige, whose marker should now appear on your map. His location is considered safe, allowing you a trouble-free journey to speak with him, thereby wrapping up this sub-quest.
Near Tadashige, you’ll find a vendor offering impressive weapons and armor for those of you in pursuit of upgrades.
Brothers In Arms
Once again, this quest is best tackled as Yasuke.
Your task now is to track down a renegade ronin who has defected from The Ox’s gang. Scout the area for his whereabouts, or navigate directly to the marker noted on your map.
You will discover the ronin engaged in a battle. Assist him in dispatching his attackers, then converse with him—his name is Koshiro—and he will enlist your help in finding a former comrade from The Ox’s ranks, known as Seiji.
Fortunately, Seiji’s marker swiftly populates on your map, so engage your Pathfinder and ride west. Upon arriving at Kanki Castle’s gates, you will need to fight your way toward your objective.
Seiji is located in the castle’s western section, where your Observe feature should help you pinpoint him when you’re close enough to recognize the blue marker dot.
During my playthrough, I experienced a glitch where multiple blue markers appeared instead of just the single one needed. The one you want to focus on is the furthest west, highlighted as “Commander Seiji”once within range.
Upon your encounter with Commander Seiji, Koshiro will already be engaged in combat with him. Join in swiftly for a manageable boss fight, as the odds are in your favor—two against one.
After sufficiently weakening Seiji, you will have the choice to spare or eliminate him—there are no repercussions regardless of your decision.
Of My Enemy
Now it’s Naoe’s turn to take the lead. Begin by locating an informant colloquially known as Hiromichi’s man. You can scout the area or refer to the map image provided above to find your target.
The nearest fast travel spot is Mount Tatsu, but this will place you near a hostile quarry. However, you can quickly sprint outside the quarry walls for safety.
Hiromichi’s man waits without guards, so converse with him and follow him to your next destination—a nearby house.
Inside, you will come face to face with Hiromichi himself, who will request you to eliminate one of The Ox’s high-ranking lieutenants.
Your next step is to either scout for his position or track the map to assist. You’ll notice that the lieutenant is situated in the ocean.
Head towards the marker and swim out to the boats visible in the distance—the lieutenant’s vessel should be unmistakably large.
Using the horizontal wooden slats, climb the front of the ship until you have an overview of the deck. Proceed carefully since this ship is crawling with foes.
Execute a stealth kill on one of the nearby enemies, if possible, but be prepared to be discovered quickly regardless. The lieutenant you seek is located on the upper interior level of the ship; climb further up and sneak into the open window.
Inside, you’ll meet The Ox’s lieutenant. His combat style is fairly standard, allowing you to defeat him without much challenge using methods you’re already familiar with.
A key point to note is that if you haven’t cleared out the ship’s lower levels, enemies will keep flooding in to join the fight, potentially overwhelming you in the confined space. Prioritize the lieutenant to eliminate your largest threat, and then deal with the reinforcements that will come your way. Once the area is secured and your enemy is vanquished, loot his remains for The Ox’s shipping manifest, along with a sizable chest available in the room.
Afterward, dive overboard and swim back to Hiromichi to report your successful mission completion.
Broken Horn
Switch back to playing as Yasuke for your ultimate confrontation with The Ox.
Prepare for the final face-off by first reconnecting with Nakamura Tadashige to ensure that the team is synchronized. His location is straightforward; approach him and select “We are ready”to initiate the final boss segment, transporting you directly to Miki Castle.
Your first task involves cutting through waves of The Ox’s henchmen—an exercise you’ve practiced regularly by now.
Your next obstacle is The Tsuno who, while he may appear intimidating, represents another standard boss challenge. His weapon—a heightened Katana—calls for methodical play; dodge his attacks and counterattack effectively.
Once The Tsuno is defeated, focus shifts to The Ox, the main target of your mission. Unlike previous bosses, he wields a formidable kanobo, dealing significant damage with each strike. Stay vigilant, prioritize defensive maneuvers while making effective use of your special abilities to take advantage of invincibility frames during their animation. Eventually, you will defeat The Ox.
Congratulations! You have successfully eliminated another Shinbakufu target. Prepare for your next pursuit.
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