Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Ranking the Best Allies for Naoe

In the vast open world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke build a network of allies that form the Kakushiba ikki, a league of assassins united by the theme of found family. Among the six allies Naoe can summon in combat, each offers a unique blend of active and passive abilities. Choosing the right ally to deploy can mean the difference between a flawless stealth mission and a chaotic brawl. But which of these allies truly deserve the precious upgrade resources? And which ones synergize best with Naoe’s agile, stealth-oriented playstyle? After countless hours testing each companion across various missions and difficulty levels, a clear hierarchy emerges.

Ibuki: The Steady Swordsman

Ibuki is the most straightforward of the bunch, a traditional katana wielder who deals reliable impact damage with every swing. His combat presence is practical rather than flashy – he can break enemy armor near his summon point, a benefit that becomes noticeable on higher difficulty tiers. Yet, is reliability enough to earn a permanent roster spot? For most players, the answer is no. Ibuki functions well as an extra distraction and damage dealer, but compared to allies who can completely flip the battlefield in Naoe’s favor, he feels like a safe fallback rather than a game-changing pick. His value is undeniable in drawn-out fights where armor values are high, but once you experience what other allies can do, Ibuki often remains benched.

Katsuhime: The Explosive Specialist

Introduced as a ranged expert, Katsuhime’s actual combat style is much more up-close and personal. She enters the fray with a stunning explosion that dazes nearby enemies, a tactic that rewards careful summoning placement. Once present, she alternates between firing her teppo and kicking away aggressors to reload. The visual flair of her ricocheting bullets can make scuffles more entertaining, but her overall impact pales next to more specialized allies. Katsuhime occupies a middle ground – she can momentarily disrupt a crowd and draw attention, but doesn’t provide the overwhelming utility or guaranteed kills that elevate others. She is a solid backup when you need to break up a tight formation, but rarely the first choice when the mission gets tough.

Oni-yuri: The Mistress of Slumber

What if you could turn an entire patrol into sleeping targets ripe for assassinations? Oni-yuri answers that question with her devastating sleep gas cloud, which she deploys at the player’s chosen location with seemingly no cap on the number of enemies affected. The tactical possibilities are breathtaking – lure a group, deploy Oni-yuri, and methodically ground-assassinate each guard without raising an alarm. This ability reshapes encounters entirely, especially in heavily guarded castles where a single mistake can trigger a cascade of reinforcements. While her poisoner background hints at other utilities, this one active skill alone makes her an A-tier ally for any stealth-focused run. The only downside is that the sleep effect requires careful positioning, but when executed right, it’s a thing of beauty.

Gennojo: The Ghost’s Guardian

Gennojo is an anomaly – he doesn’t directly fight enemies, and that’s precisely his strength. Summoning him bathes Naoe in a suite of passive stealth enhancements: enemies have a harder time detecting her, and servants are prevented from raising alarms. His sole active ability creates a dazzling projectile that resets enemy alertness, essentially giving players a second chance after a near-detection slip-up. Can any other ally keep a stealth streak alive as reliably? Not even close. For players who embrace the ninja fantasy and want to ghost through entire compounds, Gennojo is the unquestionable crown jewel. In a game where detection often feels inevitable, his presence changes the rules, allowing Naoe to move with unprecedented freedom.

Yaya: The Knockdown Queen

Yaya is the first ally players recruit, and she often remains the best companion for the bulk of the journey. Her specialty is singular and brutally effective: knocking targets to the ground. With a combination of shoves and kicks, she repeatedly puts enemies flat on their back, and a downed foe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a free ground-strike kill. Why overcomplicate combat when Yaya turns every duel into a rhythm of dodge, knockdown, finish? Because Naoe can weave around opponents with her nimble movements, the strategy becomes even deadlier – evade until Yaya creates an opening, then unleash a fatal follow-up. This simple loop trivializes many challenging fights, including those against large brutes and samurai commanders. Yaya may not be fancy, but her consistency earns her a top-tier recommendation for any player who prefers direct confrontation.

Yagoro: The Master Assassin

If Yaya is the reliable workhorse, Yagoro is the showstopper. Recruiting him is a lengthy, demanding endeavor, but the reward is nothing short of game-breaking. His initial summon instantly assassinates an enemy with three or fewer health bars. Once upgraded, he can perform the same feat on two enemies with five or fewer health bars each – and that covers nearly every non-boss threat in the game. Imagine entering a heavily guarded room and deleting its two strongest defenders with a single ally call, all while Naoe simultaneously targets a third. The synergy is so potent that long-standing stealth challenges dissolve into trivial clean-up operations. Is there any ally more satisfying to deploy? For those who tire of prolonged combat or want to execute flawlessly synchronized takedowns, Yagoro is peerless. His ability to warp the rules of engagement makes him the absolute best investment for a versatile, high-impact squad.