The formidable samurai, Imagawa Tomeji, emerges as one of the most treacherous adversaries that Naoe and Yasuke must confront in the Assassin’s Creed: Shadows—Claws of Awaji DLC. Once a loyal ally to the Templar Kimura Kei, whom Yasuke vanquished in his mission to eradicate Templar influence from Japan, Tomeji now stands as the guardian of Kei’s daughter, Yukari. Together, they seek to impose a strict Templar control over Awaji and its surrounding territories.
Interestingly, Tomeji is briefly playable during the introductory puppet show segment of the Claws of Awaji side-scrolling game. However, following an encounter where Yasuke almost defeats him while rescuing Naoe and Tsuyu, Tomeji becomes vulnerable only after Naoe reluctantly surrenders the Imperial Regalia, Kusanagi no Tsurugi, to Yukari in the main storyline.
Though Tomeji’s boss battle may not present the same unique dynamics as the Nowaki encounter, players should anticipate a significant challenge. He is adept at withstanding unexpected assaults, particularly if players charge into the fight without adequate preparation as soon as the A Garrison to Dismantle quest appears.
Locating Tomeji and His Captains
Upon acceptance of the A Garrison to Dismantle quest, players can venture directly to the southwestern edge of Sumoto Castle to confront Tomeji, accompanied by an interaction with Hattori Hanzo’s associate, Konatsu. However, it’s advisable to reconsider, as engaging Tomeji at this stage means battling not only him but also ten of his elite captains simultaneously. While defeating them all at once is feasible, there exists a more strategic and efficient method to take down Tomeji.
Instead, consider systematically eliminating each of Tomeji’s 14 captains, located throughout Awaji. This approach simplifies the process considerably, as Tomeji is significantly easier to defeat when isolated.
There are three effective strategies to locate the 14 captains during your exploration of Awaji:
- Patrol the pathways and roads within Awaji until you accidentally encounter a captain.
- Engage local guards across the island until they summon a captain or two for assistance, prompting nearby captains to spawn.
- Offer assistance to civilians oppressed by guards, who will provide hints regarding the whereabouts of a captain as a token of gratitude.
From my experience, defeating local guards until a captain appears proved to be the most effective strategy. Additionally, rescuing civilians near the Fukura Kakurega area on the island consistently led me to a captain’s location.
Defeating Tomeji and His Captains
Tomeji’s captains often have two guards accompanying them, and they typically outlevel the player, equipped with formidable weapons like naginatas, kanabos, teppos, and the newly introduced bo staff, making these enemies particularly challenging. A combination of speed and strength is crucial for successfully overcoming these formidable foes. While Naoe can utilize kusarigamas effectively in this battle, Yasuke’s superior defense and offensive skills provide an advantage in these encounters.
Utilizing Yasuke’s long katana skills, such as Wind Slash and Power Dash, allows for rapid damage delivery against captains and their guards. After dispatching the guards, players will face Tomeji alone within Sumoto Castle, where the combat arena is expansive yet enclosed, devoid of supportive allies.
For this boss encounter, I recommend playing as Yasuke, as he possesses a more personal vendetta against Tomeji compared to Naoe. Although Tomeji wields a kanabo, which is generally associated with slow attacks, he can surprise players with quick maneuvers, blocking both arrows and shots from teppo, and springing toward Yasuke once his armor is breached.
To inflict damage on Tomeji, players must engage him at close range while staying vigilant, as he has the potential to knock opponents down, grapple them, or unleash shockwaves with his kanabo strikes. Leveraging rapid abilities such as Wind Slash and Power Dash is essential. Additionally, employing the Howl of the Dragon legendary amulet along with steel teppo bullets post-armor destruction can stagger Tomeji, creating openings for powerful critical attacks.
Tomeji’s Hidden Rewards
Upon triumphing over Tomeji, players will be rewarded with the Templar’s legendary kanabo, Boneshaker. This weapon is distinguished by its unique combo ender perk engraving, which is especially effective against larger, heavily armored adversaries.
Moreover, those who successfully defeat all of Tomeji’s captains, either before or after facing the boss, will receive Tomeji’s Prize, a letter that reveals the location of a hidden treasure Tomeji concealed at either Yura Castle during different seasons or Sumoto Castle throughout spring and autumn.
The treasure at Yura Castle can be located in a western storage kura, which typically serves as a locked resource depot for scouts. Meanwhile, the treasure at Sumoto Castle is found within the stable kura. Players can expect to find the items atop supplies positioned near the kura’s entrance, resulting in rewards such as the Master Fisherman’s Kasa legendary helmet, along with the Last Stand engraving perk, which allows Yasuke to evade death at a cost of health until defeating an enemy.
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