Assassin's Creed Shadows: Elder Empathy Quest - A Guide to Purifying Iga
As I ventured back into the vibrant yet perilous world of 16th-century Japan in Assassin's Creed Shadows, I was immediately struck by the game's commitment to portraying a living, breathing society. The bustling towns and serene countryside are a sight to behold, but this tranquility is often shattered by the presence of ruthless marauders. My journey took a decisive turn in the Iga region, where a simple act of kindness towards a stranded elder evolved into a personal crusade against the bandit scourge. This is the story of the Elder Empathy side quest, a mission that tested my resolve and my blades against a hundred foes.
Initiating the Quest
After completing the prologue and gaining the freedom to roam the expansive map, my travels led me back to Mibuno in the Iga region. It was on the road heading out of the north-west corner of the town that I encountered her—an elderly woman, seemingly abandoned and distressed. For those who might struggle to locate her, she is positioned directly south of the Gear Vendor in that part of the settlement. A conversation revealed the source of her anguish: bands of ruthless thieves had been terrorizing the local populace, stealing their peace and their livelihoods. Without a second thought, I pledged my assistance, and thus, the Elder Empathy quest was etched into my journal, trackable under the People of Iga Objectives board.
The quest's premise is straightforward yet daunting: eliminate 100 bandits within the Iga region. The benevolent elder promised substantial rewards for this Herculean task, structured in progressive tiers:
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🥇 First Tier (25 Bandits): 500 EXP and 750 Mon.
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🥈 Second Tier (50 Bandits): 225 Oakwood, 270 Silk, and an additional 500 EXP.
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🥉 Final Tier (100 Bandits): 750 EXP, 300 Tamahagane, and 300 Ironsand.
These materials are crucial for upgrading gear and expanding the hideout, making the grind immensely worthwhile.
Hunting Grounds: Bandit Locations in Iga
Iga might be the smallest province in the game, but it is teeming with hostile activity. My initial strategy involved a broad search. A reliable method to locate adversaries is to scan the map for areas marked with a red diamond, which signify enemy presence. However, a word of caution: these icons are not exclusive to bandits; they also mark locations of enemy soldiers, whose defeats do not count toward the quest tally. To efficiently reveal these points of interest, I made it a habit to scale every viewpoint in Iga, synchronizing the region and painting a clearer picture of the landscape.
Visually, bandits are distinct. They typically wear tattered, ragged clothing and lack the formal armor of soldiers. A common, almost mocking sight was finding them imbibing sake at all hours, though their drunken stupor should not be underestimated—they sober up with alarming speed once combat is initiated.
Through systematic exploration, I identified four primary hotspots where bandit presence is guaranteed. By creating a rotation between these locations, I found that completing the quest required approximately four to five full circuits. Here is a breakdown of these lucrative hunting grounds:
| Location Name | Approx. Bandit Count | Key Features & Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Chigachi Ruins (1) | 🗡️ 6 | Ideal for stealth assassinations (especially as Naoe). Rich in resources for the hideout—loot thoroughly! |
| Nabari Lookout (2) | 🗡️ 2-3 | Features a viewpoint for easy fast travel. A quick and reliable farm spot. |
| Camp North of Nabari Wilds (3) | 🗡️ 3-4 | Situated south of the river. Enemies are often drunk but become aggressive quickly. |
| Four Devils Lair (4) | 🗡️ 6+ | The most productive area. Bandits are scattered in tunnel networks—explore every crevice. Also resource-rich. |
Tactics and Completion
The key to efficiency was adopting a methodical approach. I would fast-travel to the Nabari Lookout, dispatch the few bandits there, then move systematically through the other locations. The Four Devils Lair proved to be the crown jewel for farming, with its dense enemy population and valuable crafting materials waiting to be claimed after each cleansing.
After my katana had tasted the resolve of the one-hundredth bandit, I returned to Mibuno. The elderly woman's relief was palpable. Reporting my success not only concluded the quest in the journal but also earned her personal gratitude, manifested as a final reward of gold and 2,000 Mon, a fitting bonus on top of the substantial loot and experience already garnered. The Elder Empathy quest is more than a simple extermination task; it is a narrative thread that connects the player to the plight of the common people in feudal Japan. It transforms the beautiful landscape of Iga from a bandit-infested territory back into a place where its inhabitants can, hopefully, live in the peace they deserve. For any shinobi or samurai looking to make their mark, this quest is an essential chapter in their legacy.
Data referenced from Eurogamer helps frame why grind-style side objectives like Assassin's Creed Shadows' "Elder Empathy" can feel satisfying when they’re tied to readable world signals—distinct enemy silhouettes, repeatable hotspots, and fast-travel loops—so your 100-bandit tally becomes a purposeful route through Iga rather than random wandering, with rewards that naturally feed back into gear upgrades and settlement progression.