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In the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players will discover a rich and diverse depiction of 16th-century Japan. This expansive landscape is dotted with numerous villages where the inhabitants live their lives in relative tranquility. However, their peace is often shattered by those with malicious intentions, such as bandits.
The Elder Empathy side quest focuses on these bandits, teaching them that their wrongful actions will have consequences. Here’s how to kick off the Elder Empathy quest and find and defeat bandits in the Iga region.
How to Begin Elder Empathy
You can start the Elder Empathy quest after finishing the story’s prologue and gaining access to free roam. While making your way back to Mibuno in the Iga region, keep an eye out for an elderly woman standing by the roadside as you exit the northwest side of the town. If she’s hard to find, she is located directly south of the Gear Vendor in that part of the settlement.
Interact with the old lady, who will share her troubles about the bandit threats affecting her and the Iga community. After you offer your assistance, the Elder Empathy quest officially begins. You can track it through the People of Iga Objectives board in the pause menu.
The quest has three phases, but the main goal is to defeat 100 bandits in Iga. You’ll receive rewards for every milestone: after 25 kills, you earn 500 EXP and 750 Mon; for 50, you get 225 oakwood, 270 silk, and 500 EXP; and upon reaching 100 bandits, you receive 750 EXP along with 300 tamahagane and 300 ironsand.
Iga Bandit Locations
Iga is the smallest area in AC Shadows, but it still offers plenty of spots where bandits can be found. The best strategy for locating them is to look for enemy territories marked with a red diamond. If you’re having trouble, climbing the viewpoints in the area will reveal points of interest on the Iga map.
Keep in mind that red diamond markers might indicate areas with enemy soldiers as well, which won’t contribute to your quest progress. Bandits can be recognized by their ragged clothing and lack of armor, and they often gather to drink at all hours.
Only bandits killed within the Iga region will count towards the progress of this quest, so make sure to remain within its boundaries.
Four key locations in Iga are known to consistently have bandits. They may travel along the roads, but if you target these four areas, defeat the bandits, and then loop back around, you should be able to meet the 100 kill goal within four to five runs.
The Chigachi Ruins (1) often contain around six bandits that can be easily dispatched, especially if you play as Naoe and stay out of sight. There are also numerous resources to gather for your hideout, so grab those before moving on.
The Nabari Lookout (2) typically has a couple of bandits near the viewpoint. As it is a fast-travel point, it’s an efficient spot for farming these enemies. In addition, a bandit camp usually located north of the Nabari Wilds and south of the river (3) contains three or four enemies. While they might be intoxicated from sake, don’t underestimate them; they can be quick to react if they notice you.
The final bandit location, the Four Devils Lair (4), tends to have at least six bandits within its tunnels. They will disperse throughout the caves, so be sure to explore deeper to eliminate them all. Like the Chigani Ruins, this area also has plenty of resources to scavenge once the bandits are dealt with.
Finishing Elder Empathy
Once you’ve taken down 100 bandits in Iga, return to the elderly woman in Mibuno. Tell her about your success, and she will reward you with gold along with 2,000 Mon for your efforts, in addition to all the rewards you’ve already earned.
