Pirate Alliance Board: My 2026 Replay Diary of Sneaky Nonsense

Look, I’m just a simple player with a suspicious amount of patience for stealth games and an even more suspicious amount of time spent falling off rooftops. In 2026, I went back to Assassin’s Creed Shadows for a fresh run, and the Pirate Alliance target board in Wakasa remains one of my favorite detours. It starts with Shido the Biwa master, a man who plucks strings and guilt with equal skill. You meet him while hunting one of the Shinbakufu targets, Takeda Motoaki—aka The Fox. Once The Fox is off the board, Shido has a request: clean up the Pirate Alliance, a gang of coastal raiders making Wakasa’s coastline feel like a bad neighborhood with excellent seafood. The quest board stares at me like a disappointed teacher until I finish it.

To unlock the board, talk to Shido after eliminating The Fox. You’ll get the main clues for five targets: Kage, Lopo Cruz, Little Kappa, Sen, and Oni-yuri. At first, only four appear on the board; Oni-yuri needs the ‘Sweet Lies’ quest in Tsuruga. This board matters because it unlocks skills for both Naoe and Yasuke, plus a legendary Kusarigama and other epic loot. There’s also a hidden treasure thread running through the quest, so eavesdrop like a nosy neighbor and listen for treasure talk.

Kage is a devout Samemaru supporter who promised his brother he’d spend his days hunting treasure on the Shattered Coast. He’s west of Obama in the bay leading to the trading port, chilling on a cluster of small boats. You can dive down to reach him without becoming a pincushion, and it’s much easier at night. Honestly, night stealth is just daytime stealth with better excuses. Killing Kage awards the Brotherly Pride Epic Katana and the Common Damage on Consecutive Hits engraving.

Lopo Cruz is also west of Obama, at Nariu’s Lair on a docked boat. He’s meeting with his crew when you arrive, and you can listen in to hear about the secret treasure all these pirates are chasing. After the chat ends, it’s just Lopo on the boat, which makes sneaking aboard and taking him out feel almost rude. Almost. Killing him awards the Oceans Grip legendary Kusarigama, which deals 60% damage to enemies over 3 meters away. That’s the kind of reward that makes me whisper “worth it” to no one in particular.

Little Kappa is in Maizuru’s Lair in the Shattered Coast. There’s another chance to sneak in and hear two goons gossiping about when they’ll search for treasure again, which is the game’s way of nudging you toward the hidden loot. You can take Little Kappa out with a simple Shuriken throw if you hit the explosives while he’s standing right next to them. Otherwise, get close or go loud and fight the whole camp. He drops the Kappa’s Hammer Epic kanabo, with +24% armor piercing on posture attacks.

For Sen, speak to the Jesuit priest who was held hostage at Little Kappa’s camp. He’ll point you toward a small fishing village far west in Tamba, northeast of Fukuchiyama. When you arrive, villagers praise Sen’s actions, which strongly implies you should not kill him. Turns out he got his wife killed because he was greedy, so he quit piracy for good to help the village. Between you and me, that’s the most complicated “target” on the board.

Oni-yuri is the final lock on this pirate-flavored door. Complete ‘Sweet Lies’ and find all the poisoned food before speaking with her. Naoe defends her in canon mode, even though the poisoning is about as subtle as a smoke bomb in a library. Keep following Oni-yuri’s quests to learn about her poisonous ways and her father. She actually joins your crew as an ally at the end, and you get the Lash of Deception Epic Kusarigama.

After all five targets are handled, return to Shido. Completing the board gives 5000 XP, but the real prize is the key he hands over. Use it in Koromodako Cave on the Shattered Coast, west of Maizuru’s Lair, to open a legendary chest. The two standout drops from this whole adventure are the Oceans Grip Kusarigama and the Fujin’s Tempest amulet.

You also unlock two skills. Naoe gets Widespread, a Smoke Bomb enhancement that increases the radius to 10 meters. That skill practically begs me to cause trouble. Yasuke gets Quick Aim, a Teppo passive that speeds up reloading and can rank up to increase Teppo damage by 60%. In 2026, this board still holds up as a great little stealth sandbox with treasure, drama, and one very disappointed Biwa master. The coastline keeps whispering treasure rumors, and I keep listening. Anyway… I should probably go open that chest before I forget where the cave is.