Ubisoft really stepped into a hornet's nest with this one. People are arguing about historical accuracy, Yasuke’s status as a samurai, and Naoe’s stealth mechanics, but there's a specific aesthetic popping up in the gear sets that has people scratching their heads. We’re talking about the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Kabukimono influence. It’s not just a fancy skin or a pre-order bonus. It is a deep dive into a very specific, very rowdy subculture of Sengoku-era Japan that most Western gamers have probably never heard of.
If you’ve seen the trailers, you’ve seen the colors. The loud reds. The asymmetrical patterns. The "extra-ness" of it all.
That's the Kabukimono spirit.
Honestly, it’s refreshing. For years, Assassin’s Creed has played it relatively safe with "period-appropriate" robes that basically look like various versions of a hooded bathrobe. But with Shadows, the team is leaning into the Azuchi-Momoyama period’s obsession with flashiness. This was an era of transition. War was ending, and people were getting weird with their fashion.
Who were these people anyway?
Before we get into the game mechanics, let's get the history straight. You can't understand the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Kabukimono gear without knowing who the Kabukimono actually were.
They were basically the punks of the 16th century.
Literally translated as "the tilted ones" or "those who deviate," these were often masterless samurai (ronin) or low-ranking soldiers who decided that traditional social norms were boring. They wore women’s short-sleeved kimonos. They wore animal skins. They carried swords that were way too long to be practical. They had wild haircuts. They hung out in tea houses, got into street brawls, and generally made a nuisance of themselves.
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It wasn't just about looking cool. It was a middle finger to the rigid class system that Toyotomi Hideyoshi was trying to solidify. When you see Yasuke or Naoe sporting these vibrant, clashing patterns in the game’s DLC or gear packs, Ubisoft is tapping into that specific brand of rebellion. It’s a bit ironic, isn't it? An Assassin, who is supposed to "hide in plain sight," wearing the loudest outfit possible.
But that’s the trick. In the bustling streets of Kyoto or Osaka during this time, being a "tilted one" was a way to blend into a certain type of crowd.
Breaking down the Assassin's Creed Shadows Kabukimono gear
Let's look at what we actually get in the pack. It’s usually included in the Ultimate Edition or as a separate pre-order incentive. You get the Kabukimono Gear Set for both Naoe and Yasuke. You get the "Sekiryu" beast (a fiery-looking horse), and some ornaments.
Yasuke’s version of the armor is heavy on the lacquer and gold. It looks expensive. It looks arrogant. That fits his "tank" playstyle perfectly. If you’re playing as Yasuke, you aren't hiding. You’re kicking down doors and parrying kanabo swings. Wearing a suit of armor that screams "look at me" while you’re decapitating enemies is the ultimate power move.
Naoe’s version is a bit more restrained but still captures that "deviant" vibe. Her hood often features more intricate, colorful stitching than her standard shinobi gear. It’s a departure from the drab blacks and blues we usually associate with ninjas—which, by the way, is mostly a myth created by stagehands in Japanese theater. Real shinobi dressed like farmers or merchants.
Why the "tilted" look matters for immersion
Some players hate it. They say it ruins the "gritty" feel of feudal Japan. I'd argue the opposite.
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Japan in the late 1500s was vibrant. It was messy. It was a time of immense wealth for some and chaotic poverty for others. By including the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Kabukimono aesthetic, Ubisoft is acknowledging that Japanese history isn't just Zen gardens and silent warriors. It’s also flamboyant weirdos who wanted to stand out.
Think about the context of the game. We are dealing with the unification of Japan under Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga himself was often called the "Fool of Owari" in his youth because he dressed and acted like a Kabukimono. He wore mismatched clothes and hung out with commoners. So, having these gear sets in a game centered around his rise to power is actually a very smart, very subtle nod to his own history.
It makes the world feel lived-in.
The Gear Stats (As far as we know)
While Ubisoft hasn't released a full spreadsheet of every single stat point (they love to keep the final balancing a secret until launch), we can infer a few things based on the "Ultimate" gear patterns from previous games like Valhalla or Odyssey.
- Yasuke’s Kabukimono Armor: Likely focuses on "Stagger" resistance and "Heavy Attack" damage. In a game where the environment is destructible, being a heavy-hitter matters.
- Naoe’s Kabukimono Set: Probably leans into "Tool Capacity" or "Stealth Damage" after a smoke bomb.
- The Sekiryu Horse: Purely cosmetic, but it looks intimidating as hell when you’re charging into a village.
Managing the "historical accuracy" debate
Every time a new Assassin’s Creed drops, the internet loses its mind over accuracy. "Samurai didn't wear that!" or "That color didn't exist!"
Except, usually, it did.
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The Kabukimono were the direct predecessors to the Kabuki theater. If you’ve ever seen a Kabuki play, you know how over-the-top the costumes are. Those designs didn't come from nowhere. They were stylized versions of the street fashion from the era Shadows is set in. When you equip the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Kabukimono pack, you’re basically wearing the history of Japanese pop culture.
It’s also worth noting that the game uses a dynamic weather and season system. Seeing those bright Kabukimono reds against the white snow of a Japanese winter is going to look incredible. From a purely visual standpoint, it’s a masterstroke for the Anvil engine.
How to actually use this gear without feeling like a clown
If you’re worried about the gear looking too "video-gamey," there’s a trick. Assassin’s Creed usually allows for transmog (changing the appearance of gear while keeping the stats).
I suggest using the Kabukimono pieces for Yasuke during the large-scale military encounters. It fits his narrative arc as a foreigner who stands out no matter what he does. For Naoe, maybe save the flamboyant gear for the urban missions in Kyoto. It fits the "urban rebel" vibe much better than it does a stealthy infiltration of a mountain forest fort.
Basically, don't be afraid of the color.
The game is a fantasy grounded in history. The Assassin’s Creed Shadows Kabukimono content is a bridge between those two worlds. It allows the developers to give us something flashy to unlock while staying tethered to a real, documented social movement from the 1580s.
Practical Next Steps for Players
If you want to get the most out of the Kabukimono content, here is what you should actually do:
- Check your Edition: The Kabukimono pack is generally tied to the Ultimate Edition. If you bought the Standard Edition, don't panic. Ubisoft almost always puts these packs in the "Animus Store" for Helix credits a few months after launch.
- Look for the "Sekiryu" Beast: Don't just focus on the clothes. The mount that comes with this set is one of the more unique models in the game. It changes the "silhouette" of your travel significantly.
- Read the Item Descriptions: Ubisoft’s writers usually hide a lot of historical flavor text in the inventory menus. Read the descriptions of the Kabukimono swords—they often reference real-world legends or specific "tilted" gangs from history.
- Experiment with Photo Mode: The contrast between the Kabukimono colors and the game’s "Global Illumination" system is basically tailor-made for high-contrast photography.
- Watch for the "Kabukimono" NPCs: While you wear the gear, keep an eye out for NPCs in the game world who share the aesthetic. It helps you see where you fit into the social hierarchy of the game's version of Japan.
At the end of the day, Shadows is trying to show us a Japan that isn't just a postcard. It’s loud, it’s violent, and sometimes, it’s a little bit fabulous. Whether you’re playing as Yasuke or Naoe, leaning into that "tilted" lifestyle is a valid way to experience the end of the Sengoku period. Stop worrying about being a "silent" assassin for five minutes and enjoy the spectacle.