Assassin's Creed Shadows: Pirate Alliance Quest Guide for 2026

In 2026, the tides of Wakasa still whisper the same bloody invitation. Assassin's Creed Shadows remains a game built around the quiet art of assassination, and after the prologue the player is handed a sprawling list of Shinbakufu targets and optional side groups. Among the most rewarding diversions is the Pirate Alliance quest, a side chain that begins only after the player reaches the Wakasa region. It sends the assassin hunting four pirates, then asks for patience, story progress, and one final conversation. The reward is not just loot but a special key that opens a legendary chest somewhere along the Shattered Coast.

The Wakasa coast unspooled beneath the assassin's feet like a scroll dropped by a careless calligrapher, and every inlet seemed to hide another name to cross off.

Starting the Pirate Alliance 🏴☠️

If the quest has not yet appeared, the player can travel to the northwestern edge of Wakasa, a place called Sotome Gate. Near the beach sits Tsuruga, and just past the bridge north of the Tsuruga Tower viewpoint, a notice board carries the quest marker. Accepting it adds the Pirate Alliance to the objective menu. Alternatively, the quest can begin through the main story when the player meets a Biwa Master, who offers the same task. The list of pirates can also surface while hunting The Performer, though the notice board route marks them immediately.

Hunting Kage ⚔️

The first target is Kage, said to be west of Obama port. On the map at 1x zoom, Obama city sits a little to the left of the Wakasa label. The player heads to its western port and takes control of a boat. Sailing west past the tip of a neighboring island leads to Kage's ships in open water. Three vessels wait there, and stealth is difficult. The recommended approach is to bring Yasuke and simply beat everyone, Kage included. The three pirate ships sat in the open water like iron beetles pinned to a blue lacquer tray, and there was no elegant way to pry them loose.

Hunting Lopo Cruz 🏴☠️

Lopo Cruz is another pirate marked by the Pirate Alliance. He can be found on a secluded island north of the Shattered Coast, with Nariu's Lair on its western edge, between the other island connected to the mainland. The player can start from the western mainland or take a boat directly to the middle. Starting from the mainland means fighting many more pirates. Taking a boat to the middle is cleaner: Lopo Cruz sits on a small boat, and the assassin can climb aboard and finish him, completing that part of the quest.

Hunting Little Kappa 🗺️

Little Kappa waits in central Shattered Coast inside Maizuru's Lair. Zooming the map to 3x and moving just to the right of the word Coast reveals the area. A few guards must be defeated first. Little Kappa is tougher, with eight HP bars. A smart tactic is to approach from the southern exit, sneak inside, and shoot him with one Kunai to bait him. When he comes close, an explosive barrel can end the fight.

Finding Sen 🎣

After the other three pirates fall, Sen's location is revealed: Yura Fishing Village. It sits near the sea on the northeastern edge of Tamba. From the Fukuchiyama area in northern Tamba, the player can take the river northwest and then northeast. Yura Fishing Village is peaceful, and Sen is easy to find. The player can talk to him and either spare or kill him. Neither choice changes the outcome or the rewards. Sen is not even mentioned to the quest-giver at the end, so the decision is purely personal.

Continuing the Pirate Alliance 📜

Once all four pirates are defeated, the objective menu does not hand over rewards. Instead, it asks the player to progress the story further. Two things are required. First, finish the quest line to recruit Oni-Yuri, which also begins in the same city as the Pirate Alliance and is called Sweet Lies. Second, continue the main story of Wakasa until the player assassinates The Fox, also known as The Performer or Takeda Motoaki. During that same stretch, another pirate named Samemaru is killed with Yasuke. After these steps and the earlier pirate assassinations, the player returns to the Biwa Master at Saifukuji Temple on the northwestern edge of Wakasa to end the quest and collect the rewards.

Using the Key 🗝️

When the Pirate Alliance ends, the Biwa Master gives a special key that opens a specific chest on the map. The chest is on the western side of the Shattered Coast, where the river between two islands turns north for a short section. The fastest route is to return to Yura Fishing Village and take one of the boats. From there, the player sails to the middle of the two big islands until reaching the gap. At the northern end of the river, another Biwa player waits. Enter the cave, jump down into the water, and go below the spikes. On the other side, a legendary chest yields a legendary trinket for Yasuke. The key felt like a dormant cicada in the assassin's palm, waiting for the right cave to wake it.

In 2026, the Pirate Alliance remains one of the more layered side quests in Assassin's Creed Shadows. It asks for sharp map reading, a tolerance for messy fights, and a willingness to wait for the main story to catch up. For players who enjoy the hunt more than the reward, that may be exactly the point.