Your objective in Assassin’s Creed Shadows as both Naoe and Yasuke is to dismantle the Shinbakfu and seek vengeance for the heartbreak that’s affected their lives. The journey is long and may take a while, but this isn’t considered the game’s definitive conclusion.
Once you have taken out each member of the Shinbakfu, Naoe and Yasuke will still have personal matters to resolve concerning their "individual journeys." These elements are significant to the storyline and ultimately contribute to the game’s epilogue.
Understanding the Epilogue of Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The epilogue kicks off right after your final, brief confrontation with The Horseman, the last target from the Shinbakfu. Although this ending might seem underwhelming, it marks the beginning of the epilogue, where you will be engaged in some personal quests.
You may think that finishing just Naoe and Yasuke’s personal quests is sufficient to complete the epilogue. However, you actually need to finish three sets of quests: Naoe’s, Yasuke’s, and Junjiro’s. That’s right—favorite adopted brother Junjiro plays a vital role in this segment, and you’ll need to complete his missions, too.
Once you finish all three questlines, which are fairly expansive and best tackled alongside the main story, a final mission will unlock that ties up the storyline and serves as the completion of the epilogue. Here’s what you need to know to reach that stage.
This ultimate epilogue mission also unlocks Naoe’s Master Assassin outfit, making it worth your while.
Naoe’s Epilogue Mission: The Meaning of the Blade
Naoe’s concluding epilogue mission, The Meaning of the Blade, unlocks after you wrap up the main storyline and her personal quests, which involve locating old assassin hideouts. After completing all of that, you’ll head to the Sakafuneishi Ruins in Asuka Rocks, Yamato.
Upon your arrival, you will access a vault previously used by the assassin order and have an encounter with Hanzo Hattori. Here, you’ll face a choice: forgive him or attack him. Either option leads to the same outcome, but if you want to skip a challenging boss fight, choosing to spare him will quickly move the scene along and conclude Naoe’s epilogue.
Yasuke’s Epilogue Missions
Yasuke’s epilogue features several missions related to Duarte de Melo, but the ones that can only be done after the main storyline start with The Silver Queen, which can be triggered in The Silver Lands. This mission is mostly dialogue, but it introduces Yasuke’s principal rival, Nuno Caro.
Nuno Caro was mentioned in earlier personal quests related to Yasuke, but this set of quests and his eventual defeat are all part of the epilogue.
A Promise
The next section of Yasuke’s epilogue involves looking for someone named Akechi Mitsuyoshi, who you’ll find in Kamekama Castle. This mission is straightforward—storm the castle filled with foes and make your way out with Mitsuyoshi at your side. Once you locate him by the tenshu, you’ll need to ensure his safe escape from the area.
Once you’ve rescued him, Mitsuyoshi will request that you retrieve his katana, located north of Kameyama. This part is also simple; just combat your way to the katana, pick it up, and return to unlock the final part of Yasuke’s epilogue.
End of the Line
Finally, you’ll tackle the last segment of Yasuke’s journey, culminating in a mission to assassinate Nuno Caro, found in Takeda Castle in Tamba. You can anticipate facing numerous enemies on your way to Caro.
Be cautious as alarms can sound off in the castle, bringing in Guardians to complicate your mission. There will be enough enemies to deal with, so avoid raising your Wanted status.
Progress through the enemies to reach Caro, where a cutscene will shed light on Yasuke’s background. After clearing out his men, you’ll chase him to the top of the castle, leading to an exciting boss fight.
Junjiro’s Personal Missions
Junjiro plays a crucial role in completing Assassin’s Creed Shadows and unlocking the epilogue. You’ll notice a range of side quests associated with him, most of which are quick and easily marked on the map. Here is a list of Junjiro’s missions:
- Raise A Cup – Found at the Hideout
- Eyes On The Future – Found at Makinoodera Temple, where you met Sorin
- A Different Kind Of Samurai – Found just outside the Hideout
- Soup For Sorin – Found in Yuasa, in the Kii region
- The Pilgrimage – Found in Kumano Sanzan, in the Kii region
- Leaving A Mark – Found at the Hideout
These tasks are quite straightforward and won’t require much critical thinking. However, after completing all of Junjiro’s missions alongside Naoe’s and Yasuke’s personal stories, you will unlock the final epilogue quest in the game.
It is best to tackle Junjiro’s missions as they come up, as you’ll earn XP and avoid feeling like it’s a grind. If you find that Junjiro’s next mission is yet to appear, make some headway in the main story.
Out of the Shadows
The last primary quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is aptly called Out of the Shadows and can be accessed by speaking with Tomiko at the Hideout. You have the option to engage with everyone in the Hideout either as Yasuke or Naoe, based on your preference.
Before returning to Tomiko, explore the Hideout and converse with everyone you encounter. This will trigger the final cutscene of the quest, featuring Yasuke, Naoe, and Junjiro as they contemplate their future. Completing this mission means you have successfully finished Assassin’s Creed Shadows and will receive the "Epilogue" trophy or achievement as a reward.
