You're standing in a dimly lit room in the heart of Tamba, and the air is thick with the smell of herbal tea and betrayal. Yasuke, the towering samurai, is stumbling. The tea was spiked. As the edges of the screen blur, a figure steps out of the shadows: Nuno Caro. This is the moment many Assassin’s Creed Shadows players have been waiting for—the confrontation with the man who destroyed Yasuke’s past.
But then the game gives you a choice. Do you attack or threaten Nuno Caro?
If you're like most people, you're hovering over the controller wondering if this choice actually changes the ending of the game. Does it branch the story? Can you actually kill him right then and there? Honestly, the game plays with your emotions here, and the "choice" is a bit of a head-fake that has sparked plenty of debate on Reddit and Steam forums.
The Confrontation: What Happens if You Attack?
When you choose to attack Nuno Caro, Yasuke tries to summon the strength to draw his katana. It’s a visceral moment. You want that vengeance. You’ve spent hours tracking the Templar influence through Japan, uncovering the "Shinbakufu" and seeing the wreckage Caro has left behind.
But here’s the reality: Yasuke is drugged.
If you hit the attack button, Yasuke lunges, but his body fails him. He collapses. Caro stands over him, mocking "Oda’s giant," and basically gloats about how easy it was to catch him. It doesn’t lead to an early boss fight. Instead, it highlights the vulnerability of a character we usually see as an unstoppable force.
The Confrontation: What Happens if You Threaten?
Choosing to threaten Nuno Caro feels a bit more "samurai-like" to some players. Yasuke spits out words of vengeance, promising that Caro won’t leave Japan alive. It’s a classic cinematic stand-off.
Does it change the outcome? Nope.
Whether you attack or threaten, the scene ends the same way. The "Silver Queen," Hosokawa Tama, intervenes. She convinces Caro to let her "deal" with Yasuke. Caro, being the arrogant Templar he is, hands her a pistol and walks out, thinking he’s won. It’s a clever bit of narrative railroading by Ubisoft. They give you the illusion of agency to make you feel Yasuke’s frustration, but the story needs Caro alive for the final act in the "End of the Line" quest.
Who Exactly is Nuno Caro?
If you’re just skimming the main story, you might miss how deeply this guy's roots go. Nuno Caro isn't just a random Portuguese merchant; he’s a high-ranking member of the Portuguese Rite of the Templar Order.
Basically, while other Templars were obsessed with finding "Pieces of Eden," Caro had a different strategy. He wanted to control Japan by manipulating its faith and its leaders. He formed an alliance with the Shinbakufu—a secret group of extremists—and used them to hunt down the Imperial Regalia.
Why Yasuke Hates Him
For Yasuke, this isn't just "Assassin vs. Templar" business. It’s personal. Caro was a slaver. A flashback late in the game reveals that Yasuke and his mother were held on Caro's ship. When they discovered documents proving Caro’s Templar ties, he had Yasuke’s mother killed.
That’s why the prompt to attack or threaten Nuno Caro carries so much weight. It’s the culmination of a decade of trauma.
Can You Actually Kill Nuno Caro?
Yes, but not during the "Silver Queen" quest. You have to wait until the very end of the game.
The final confrontation happens at Takeda Castle in Tamba during the quest "End of the Line." Unlike the earlier scene where you’re helpless, this is a full-on boss fight. You’ll have to fight your way through his guards and eventually corner him.
Some players have complained that the ending feels abrupt. You kill him, he calls you by your slave name ("Diogo"), and Yasuke corrects him one last time: "My name is Yasuke." Then the credits roll. It’s a "classic" Assassin's Creed ending—short, bloody, and focused on the personal kill rather than a massive world-changing event.
Actionable Tips for the Nuno Caro Boss Fight
If you're struggling with the final mission in Tamba, keep these things in mind:
- Don't Rush the Gates: Takeda Castle is a fortress. If you try to run straight through the front, you’ll get swarmed. Use the verticality of the castle.
- The Silver Queen’s Role: Remember that Hosokawa Tama (The Silver Queen) is actually an ally. Her story is one of the more complex parts of the game; she’s only helping the Templars because they’re holding her brother, Mitsuyoshi, hostage.
- Gear Up: Before starting "End of the Line," make sure you've equipped the best gear for Yasuke's combat style. You won't be able to fast travel out once the final sequence triggers.
- The Choice Doesn't Persist: Don't stress over whether you attacked or threatened him earlier. It doesn't change your rewards or the ending cinematic.
The choice to attack or threaten Nuno Caro is really about how you want to roleplay Yasuke’s anger. Do you want him to be a man of action who swings first, or a warrior who uses his words as a promise of death? Either way, Caro's fate is sealed the moment he stepped onto Japanese soil.
If you’ve finished the fight, your next step should be checking your inventory for Masakado's Vengeance, the legendary amulet you get for completing the kill. It’s one of the best items for a high-damage Yasuke build.