Japan AC Shadows Map
AC Shadows: Do you have to play as Yasuke?
Is playing as Yasuke required to finish Assassins Creed Shadows? On this page of the guide you will learn whether the black samurai is a mandatory character in the missions and what elements of the game force the choice of this protagonist.
Last update:
Yasuke's aggressive fighting style in Assassins Creed Shadows may not appeal to everyone, and as a result, the question arises - is switching to Yasuke mandatory to complete the main storyline? We also inform about optional activities reserved for Yasuke that aren't available to Naoe.
The page contains minor spoilers about the game's prologue and the general structure of later story missions. However, we do not reveal any information about how Yasuke's story might end.
- Is Yasuke required in the main missions?
- Are there missions only for Yasuke?
- Side activities and actions for Yasuke
Is Yasuke required in the main missions?
Just a reminder, you will play as Yasuke at the very beginning of the game. You have to play through the entire prologue consisting almost entirely of a series of battles. After completing the prologue and starting the first act, you won't be playing as Yasuke for a long time - the only playable character will be Naoe.
Yasuke returns as a playable character at a certain point in the main campaign (the final part of act 1). From this moment on, the following may happen:
- Some story missions or parts of them may force you to play as Yasuke. This primarily concerns those situations where you have to participate in a series of battles. You have to complete these sequences as Yasuke so you can return to playing as Naoe.
- The game may allow you to choose a hero for a specific main mission (example in the picture). You can do that for the entire mission or just a part of it, for example, catching the main opponent associated with a given quest. Then you can choose Naoe even if Yasuke seems like the more obvious candidate.
Are there missions only for Yasuke?
- From the moment of unlocking the samurai, you may see missions related to Yasuke in the journal. They have their own category on the board (the picture above).
- Completing all of Yasuke's story missions is necessary to unlock his epilogue. You don't have to deal with these missions right away - you can leave them for later.
- Apart from advancing in the main plot, you can unlock optional missions. Some side missions are available only to Yasuke. You can learn about this from the quest giver, who may, for example, tell you that they want to talk exclusively with the samurai. You need to switch to Yasuke to complete these missions. This does not apply to all side quests - in many of them there is full freedom of choice for the protagonist.
Side activities and actions for Yasuke
- Kata activities will appear on the map. They are only available for Yasuke and can be treated as an equivalent of meditation and Kuji-kiri flashbacks available to Naoe.
- Yasuke can be helpful in situations where you can make use of his strength.
- Yasuke can lift red explosive jars and move them, for example, to barricades, where they can be detonated. Another good example is moving wardrobes and large obstacles (example in the picture). This may reveal a new passage or collectible.
- In the situations mentioned above, you can switch to Yasuke only for a brief moment and after performing the action, return to Naoe.
We also recommend checking out the Naoe and Yasuke page. There you will find the historical background of both characters, as well as a comparison of gameplay styles and the most important differences between them.
You are not permitted to copy any image, text or info from this page. This site is not associated with and/or endorsed by the Ubisoft or Ubisoft Quebec. All logos and images are copyrighted by their respective owners.
Copyright © 2000 - 2025 Webedia Polska SA for gamepressure.com, unofficial game guides, walkthroughs, secrets, game tips, maps & strategies for top games.