Assassin's Creed Shadows is a massive shift for Ubisoft. We’re finally in Sengoku-period Japan, a setting fans have been begging for since the days of Altaïr. But here’s the thing: while you’re swapping between the shinobi Naoe and the samurai Yasuke, the world isn't just about them. You’re building a network. You’re essentially running a shadow war from the dirt up.
The "All Allies" system in AC Shadows isn't just a flavor text mechanic. It's the backbone of your progression.
Honestly, if you try to brute-force the game just using Yasuke’s club or Naoe’s hidden blade, you’re going to hit a wall. The game is designed around the idea of a "Shinobi League" or a spy network. You need eyes in the provinces. You need people who can forge papers, distract guards, or give you that one specific piece of intel that turns a suicide mission into a cakewalk.
The Shinobi League: Building Your Inner Circle
It starts with the Hideout. Think of it as your base of operations, but way more interactive than the homesteads we’ve seen in previous games. You don't just recruit random NPCs; you find specialized allies throughout the open world of 16th-century Japan.
These allies come with distinct archetypes. You’ve got your scouts, your muscle, and your specialists.
The scouts are probably the most vital. In a game where the HUD can be customized to be extremely minimal, having an ally who can mark enemy patrols or find hidden entrances to a fortified castle is a godsend. You’ll find these folks in tea houses or hiding in plain sight in bustling villages. Recruiting them usually involves a dedicated side quest—sometimes it’s a rescue, sometimes it’s proving your worth in a duel.
Then there are the specialists. These aren't just combatants. They are the craftsmen who upgrade your gear. In Shadows, your gear isn't just "found" in gold chests scattered across the map like it’s a looter-shooter. It’s earned. You need a blacksmith ally to work the tamahagane steel you find. Without that ally, your katana stays blunt.
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Why the Ally Network Changes the Stealth Loop
Let’s talk about how this actually plays out when you’re infiltrating a target. You’re looking at a massive fortress. It’s night.
If you’ve invested in your allies, you can actually send them ahead. This isn't like the Brotherhood mechanic from 2010 where a group of assassins just drops from the sky to kill everyone. It’s more subtle. You might have an ally who starts a fire on the opposite side of the compound. While the guards scramble to put out the flames, Naoe can slip through the rafters.
It feels organic. It feels like you’re a leader, not just a lone wolf.
Ubisoft has been very clear about the "Dynamic World" aspect. Allies react to the seasons. A scout who is effective in the summer might have a harder time finding cover in the winter when the leaves are gone and the snow makes every footprint visible. You have to account for that. It adds a layer of strategy that honestly makes the game feel more like a tactical RPG at times.
Key Characters You’ll Meet
While much of the league is made of procedurally generated or semi-randomized recruits, there are "Core Allies" who drive the narrative.
- The Spymaster: Usually the person handling your maps and contracts. They provide the "intel" layers.
- The Quartermaster: Handles the physical growth of your hideout.
- The Field Contacts: These are regional leaders who unlock fast travel points and local resources.
Building rapport with these specific NPCs unlocks unique perks. For example, high favor with a regional ally might mean that local Ronin won't attack you on sight, or perhaps the townspeople will lie to the authorities if they see you commit a crime. It’s a reputation system that actually has teeth.
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The Mechanics of Recruitment
You can't just walk up to someone and press a button. Recruitment is a loop of:
- Discovery: Hearing rumors in a tavern about a skilled warrior or a disgraced monk.
- Observation: Watching them from afar or tailing them to see if they’re actually useful.
- Intervention: Helping them with a specific problem—usually involving a corrupt official or a rival clan.
It’s a bit of a grind, but it’s the good kind of grind. The kind that makes the world feel inhabited. You start to recognize the names. You care if an ally gets captured during a mission because you’ve spent three hours upgrading their specific skill set.
Logistics and the Map
The map of Japan is divided into provinces. Your influence in these provinces is directly tied to the number of allies you have stationed there.
If you have zero allies in a specific region, you’re flying blind. The fog of war stays heavy. You don't know where the high-level gear is. You don't know which roads are heavily patrolled.
Once you establish a foothold with a couple of key allies, the map opens up. You see the supply lines. You see the weaknesses in the local Lord's defense. It makes the "world map" feel like a live tactical board rather than just a checklist of icons.
Managing Your Hideout
The hideout is where you interact with your league. It’s fully customizable. You can choose where to build the armory, the training grounds, and the gardens.
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But it’s not just aesthetic. The placement of these buildings affects the efficiency of your allies. Put the training ground next to the armory, and your recruits level up faster. It’s a light management sim tucked inside a massive action-adventure game. Some people might find it tedious, but for those who want to feel like they are actually building the Brotherhood (or the early version of the Hidden Ones in Japan), it’s exactly what the doctor ordered.
Common Misconceptions About Allies
A lot of people think allies are just "summonable" NPCs. They aren't.
They are passive and active influencers on the world. Some might never even draw a blade. They are there to provide information, resources, and environmental advantages. Don't go into Shadows expecting Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood 2.0. This is something different. It’s more about the "Shadow" part of the title.
Also, allies can die. This isn't a "fail state" for the game, but it is a setback. Losing a high-level scout because you sent them on a high-risk mission without proper support stings. It forces you to play more carefully.
Moving Forward With Your League
To really master the system, you need to focus on diversity. Don't just recruit five warriors. You need a mix.
Focus on getting a Translator early on if you want to understand certain intercepted messages. Get a Saboteur to handle the heavy gates of the larger castles. And most importantly, keep an eye on your Healer allies; they are the ones who reduce the "cooldown" time for injured recruits.
The depth here is surprising. It’s easily the most complex social system Ubisoft has put in an AC game in over a decade.
Tactical Steps for Your Playthrough:
- Prioritize Regional Intel: Before taking on a main story assassination, spend at least 30 minutes recruiting a local scout. The shortcuts they reveal are worth their weight in gold.
- Rotate Your Roster: Don't just use the same two allies. They get "fatigued" or can be spotted if they hang around the same area too long. Keep them moving.
- Sync Your Skills: Look for allies whose perks complement your playstyle. If you play as Yasuke and love the direct approach, find allies who can provide "Distraction" buffs to keep the heat off you while you're in the thick of it.
- Invest in the Hideout Early: It seems like a resource sink at first, but the passive bonuses to gear and health are essential for the mid-game spike.
The true power in Assassin's Creed Shadows isn't in your blade. It's in the people who tell you where to strike. Master the league, and you’ll master Japan.