Assassin’s Creed Shadows Ending Explained

Here is a detailed summary of the campaign of Assassin’s Creed Shadows along with its ending explained.

The story of Assassin’s Creed Shadows plays out during the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the late 16th century in Japan. This period was marked by efforts to form a sense of national unification. Yasuke and Naoe act as the two main protagonists for this journey you are about to embark on. Naoe is a fictional character existing as one of the dual protagonists. Yasuke was an important historical figure. Let us look at the Assassin’s Creed Shadows ending explained.

Assassin’s Creed Story Campaign

The Story of Naoe and Yasuke

Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a deep dive into the destinies of Naoe and Yasuke, their final battles, and the impact of their choices on Japan’s future. Yasuke was an African man who arrived in Japan and immediately earned recognition for showing prowess as a warrior. Yasuke’s story revolved around his purpose of self-identification and bringing peace to the province of Japan. After proving his worth, he served as a member of the inner circle under the lordship of the warlord Oda Nobunaga. He was a loyal samurai who took pride in serving a powerful warlord in a foreign area.

During Nobunaga’s campaign against the Iga clan, Naoe was caught in the crossfire of a deadly assault on her village. This ultimately blinds Naoe with rage and drives her on a quest of vengeance as she finds an affiliation with the Assassin Brotherhood. Her story revolved around restoring peace to her homeland by any means necessary.

Brief Understanding of the Campaign

Both Naoe and Yasuke begin their quests on the opposing sides of the same spectrum, but the tension between them soon comes to ease. During the mission ‘Temple of the Horseman’, one of the major encounters of the story occurs. This is when the former underling of Oda Nobunaga, Akechi Mitsuhide, betrays him and launches a surprise attack at him during his tea party at Honnoji Temple. The event is given the infamous title of the Honnoji Temple incident.

This is, however, the moment where Yasuke gains a visual of Naoe’s hidden blade. While Naoe leaves the premises following the demise of Lord Oda Nobunaga, this moment etched the beginning of an alliance between the two. Once their common enemy comes to light, their faction breathes with a single motive. To eradicate the evil figures of the land and shine order brightly, wading away the shadows of chaos.

Shibakufu

The Shibakufu organisation was directly responsible for plaguing Japan and bringing misfortune to the beautiful land. While the group has numerous diverse representatives, they all share the same goal. Through certain events in the game, it is evident that they share no fondness for each other but are allies for their goals.

While some desired wealth and power for either themselves or their families, others used the strength in the faction to carry out their sense of revenge. As we progress further through the story, Yasuke and Naoe manage to take down 10 out of the 12 Shibakufu members with the help of their allies.

The Last Members of the Shinbakufu

Akechi Mitsuhide, the traitor

As we enter the finale of the immersive story, the only two members of the faction are the betrayer, Akechi Mitsuhide, and the mysterious leader, who is yet to show his face. When you reach the 12th main quest of the game, ‘Fall of the Shinbakufu, ‘ the finale quest of this mission, ‘Topple the traitor, ‘ lets you have your final showdown with the traitor.

During this mission, you get to infiltrate his castle, after which you chase him as he flees away on his horse before finally coming to a halt by Oyamazaki Village. The final confrontation before the duel gives the gist of his motives behind betraying Oda Nobunaga. After you finally defeat him, with his dying breath, he finally reveals the leader of the Shinbakufu clan, Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the Former Shogun

Both Yasuke and Naoe had previously spoken to Ashikaga Yoshiaki during a sumo match after the completion of The Rising Tide mission. A few of his words proved to be hints for his major reveal in the future. One of his statements about how people rallied behind those who remained standing foreshadowed his exact objective.

When you finally confront Ashikaga, he doesn’t fight back but rather surrenders. In exchange for his life, he demands compensation. Even an untrusting and rage-filled Naoe is all ears when he reveals his understanding of her desire to find another shadow like her who wields the same hidden blade. His fear of the second shadow led him to make such an offer, knowing well and good that only Naoe and Yasuke could take her down.

While Naoe was content with the information, Yasuke made no such promise and was determined to put an end to the Shinbakufu for good. Ashikaga, however, had one more trick up his sleeve, where he mentions the Templar Order, which Yasuke had been pursuing. Yasuke and Naoe then leave him with some bitter words for dessert and leave the clan less and valueless Ashikaga alone as they make their way to finish their stories.

True Meaning Behind the Ending

Yasuke’s True Ending

Yasuke’s quest reaches its final stage during the mission ‘My Name is Yasuke. This is where he gets his long-awaited opportunity to confront his past and finally avenge his mother’s death. In one of his earlier quests, ‘Dark Waves, Black Ships, ‘ he acquires vital information regarding his mother’s demise, which ultimately leads him to Wakasa. The entire quest acts as a path of self-reflection on his journey to becoming a samurai.

As he scours the land, he gathers information on the perpetrators and gets insight into the location and identities of the masterminds behind his mother’s untimely demise. A climactic battle narrates the final verdict on the chapter of Yasuke, composed by the death of Nuno Caro. He lay waste to Nuno’s remains with his final words, “My name is Yasuke”, leaving content and with closure after avenging his mother. Yasuke’s next chapter lies in providing his loyalty towards the Assassin Brotherhood.

Naoe’s True Ending

Naoe finds the lair of the Assassin’s Brotherhood. All her efforts in trying and opening the locked layer were in vain, leaving her disappointed. She rests by the rock as she gets lost in a moment from her dark past. Through reflection, she remembers details about her mother being a former member of the league and a way the tomb can be unlocked. Coming back to the present, she enters the tomb.

A scroll hidden in the depths of the tomb reveals how her mother hadn’t died the night the league had fallen. She then encounters a familiar face, Hattori Hanzo. Hanzo reveals to her how he was responsible for hiring the Shinbakufu due to his love for her mother. He couldn’t stand the fact that Tsuyu chose Nagato, a lower-class Jizamurai. He then took the decision which he would later live to regret.

Raged by his words, she challenges him to a duel. However, when posed with the opportunity to kill him once and for all, she resists and instead lets him live. She realises how poisonous the path of revenge is and decides to team up with Hanzo to search for her mother, Tsuyu.

Post Credit and Animus

Once both the personal quests of Naoe and Yasuke are done. They return to the hideout and look relaxed for the first time throughout the game’s duration. They receive a letter from Hanzo saying that he is ready to pursue Tsuyu when she is. While the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, the story of Naoe and Yasuke only seems to be beginning. More answers could come to light with the release of the DLC called the ‘Claws of Awaji’. This may take Naoe on the journey to find her mother as well.

Shadows has now introduced the new animus Ego, which is much different from its counterparts. This allows the player to access the game from a single menu. Quests are integrated within this menu. If and when completed, they would provide you with data fragments. The game also introduces us to two entities, Ego and the Guide. The Guide, as the name suggests, acts as a guide, guiding us on our path through the game.

There is also an unnamed entity revealed, referred to as ‘her’. This entity seems to be on a pursuit of misusing the bleeding effect while intently laying waste to us. It is still unclear as to whether ‘Her’ is an alter ego to the Guide as they shared the same voice. While Ego makes a strong claim that the Guide turned the human against her, the Guide says that they let the human freely choose to do what they desires. Ego, however, seems to have a tinge of fear regarding how far the human has come.

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We provide the latest news and create guides for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Meanwhile, you can check out the following AC Shadows articles or catch us playing games on Twitch and YouTube:

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• Who Are the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Protagonists? Everything We Know About Yasuke and Naoe
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