Assassin s Creed Shadows Heads Will Roll Quest Walkthrough and Guide

In the shadowed stronghold of Amagasaki Castle, the final hunt for Wada Koretake unfolds in “Heads Will Roll,” the climactic mission of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ The Wounded questline. As Naoe, you must stealthily dismantle Koretake’s defenses, eliminate deadly snipers perched on castle rooftops, and confront the warlord in a tense duel where every choice shapes your alliances and the fate of Nobunaga’s soldiers. Will you side with Yaya or Mitsumune? The blade is sharp, and the stakes have never been higher.

In this Assassin’s Creed Shadows guide, we’ll walk you through how to complete the main “Heads Will Roll” quest and whether or not you should side with Yaya or Mitsumune when it comes to sparing or killing Nobunaga’s soldiers.

’Heads Will Roll’ walkthrough in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

The “Heads Will Roll” quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the climactic mission in the pursuit of Wada Koretake, leader of The Wounded faction. Players begin by infiltrating Amagasaki Castle, eliminating seven snipers positioned around the gates and rooftops to clear the way. The mission involves navigating the castle’s architecture stealthily while allies distract enemy forces. The final objective is to assassinate Wada Koretake, either through a stealth kill by baiting him into a vulnerable position or by engaging him in direct combat. After defeating Koretake, players face a critical moral choice that influences alliances, particularly involving whether to side with Yaya or Mitsumune, though the prisoner’s fate remains unchanged regardless of the decision. This mission combines high-stakes infiltration, dynamic combat, and narrative consequences, set against the immersive backdrop of a feudal Japanese castle.

To start the quest, follow the marker on your map until you reach an Animus portal. Interact with it.

After a lengthy cutscene, you’ll be dropped into a castle to assassinate Koretake. Your allies will fight a battle against Koretake’s soldiers on the ground, and you’ll start on the rooftops with one goal: kill the snipers at the gates. You’ll get markers on your screen for the locations of all six of these snipers, so work your way across the castle rooftops and take them out.

While you can assassinate many of these snipers to instantly kill them, you don’t need to remain incognito to progress. Because they’re snipers, they’re pretty simple to fight, as they don’t really have any good close-range combat options. They’ll also be distracted by your allies, allowing you to sneak up on them.

Once you kill them all, head to the main courtyard, which has all the yellow flags and curtains. Stay on the rooftops to the left and watch for more archers and snipers.

How to assassinate Wada Koretake in ’Heads Will Roll’

To assassinate Wada Koretake in the “Heads Will Roll” quest of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, begin by eliminating the snipers stationed around the castle gates-these are clearly marked on your map and can be taken out stealthily as you traverse the rooftops. Once the snipers are dealt with, make your way to the main courtyard, identified by yellow banners, where Koretake patrols with his guards. Use stealth tactics to thin out nearby enemies: sneak along the rooftops, utilize Eagle Vision to mark threats, and take out isolated guards to minimize detection risk. When the area is secure, find a vantage point-such as a rooftop or tall grass near Koretake’s patrol route-and wait for him to approach. Then, perform a stealth assassination from above or from hiding for a clean kill, which will trigger a cutscene and complete the objective.

Climb along the rooftops to the back part of the courtyard, behind a small building that Wada Koretake walks up to and pauses at on his loop. Assassinate the snipers and scouts in the area to reduce the likelihood that you’ll get caught. Beware that a beefy castle guard tends to roam here even if you stay stealthy.

Once the enemies are taken care of, climb up the small building and perch on the point overlooking the courtyard. When Wada Koretake gets close enough, assassinate him from your perch. This will bring you into a cutscene that will end the mission and lead to a choice.

Should you side with Yaya or Mitsumune?

At the climax of the “Heads Will Roll” quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you must choose between supporting Yaya or Mitsumune regarding the fate of Nobunaga’s soldiers. Mitsumune demands execution to avenge his fallen comrades, while Yaya advocates for mercy and forgiveness. Your decision here influences Yaya’s attitude toward you and affects your chances to recruit her as an ally later, though the execution proceeds regardless of your choice; siding with Yaya makes it easier to gain her trust in subsequent quests.

With Koretake dead, your allies have gathered all of his soldiers in the courtyard area. Mitsumune is looking to execute all of the soldiers, while Yaya and Kyonyo want to prove that they are different than Nobunaga and his goons.

Partway through the cutscene, you’ll get two dialogue options:

• “Justice must be served” (kill the soldiers, side with Mitsumune)
• “Killing them isn’t justice” (spare the soldiers, side with Yaya)

The game warns you that “this [choice] will impact Yaya,” but doesn’t give you any additional information. After playing the mission twice, we can tell you that Yaya wants the soldiers spared, and she’ll be pissed if you decide to support their execution. However, you won’t see how the decision impacts Yaya until later in the game – and it’s unclear how much of an impact it really makes, outside of her attitude in dialogue – though if you want to recruit her as an ally, go with “killing them isn’t justice.”

Regardless of your choice, Mitsumune and his goons will execute a soldier, and the cutscene will play out almost identically. The only difference is whether Yaya and Kyonyo blame you and Mitsumune, or just Mitsumune. Mitsumune is cold to you either way. Sparing the soldiers will make the fewest people mad at you – specifically Yaya, who is the only character the game explicitly calls out as being impacted by this choice long-term.

What secret tactics will help me succeed in the ’Heads Will Roll’ mission

Secret Tactics for Success in the ’Heads Will Roll’ Mission

Maximize Stealth and Preparation

• Prioritize stealth: Approach enemy positions quietly and eliminate snipers or guards from a distance before engaging in open combat. This reduces the risk of being overwhelmed by multiple foes.

• Train your weapon and crossbow skills as high as possible before the mission. High proficiency allows for more accurate headshots and effective use of specialized weapons like the fencing dagger and parrying dagger.

• Use alcohol and bathhouses strategically to boost stats and manage fatigue, ensuring you enter the mission at peak performance.

Combat and Equipment Tips

• Equip yourself with weapons that have high armor penetration, such as the jambiya or sharp dagger, for efficient head and neck strikes.

• Use defensive stances and shield tactics to minimize incoming damage, especially in multi-enemy scenarios. A tower shield or buckler can provide crucial protection against ranged attacks.

• Stun tough enemies with blunt bolts from a crossbow, then follow up with lethal strikes to the head or neck.

• Always keep your stamina above half during prolonged fights; retreat and recover when necessary to avoid being caught off guard.

Squad and Resource Management

• Choose squad members with high endurance or weapon skills to act as distractions or “meat shields” while you focus on priority targets.

• Stock up on healing items, bandages, and any trinkets that boost defense or agility before starting the mission.

Exploit Enemy Patterns

• Target already injured enemies with high-penetration attacks to quickly thin out enemy ranks.

• In boss or leader fights, use a combination of stunning attacks and precise strikes to maximize damage while minimizing risk.

By combining stealth, careful preparation, and tactical combat maneuvers, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of success in the ’Heads Will Roll’ mission.

What are the most effective combat setups for each chapter in ’Heads Will Roll’

Most Effective Combat Setups for Each Chapter in ’Heads Will Roll’

Chapter 1: Early Survival and Defense

• Shield + Axe Build: Start with a shield for strong defense and an axe for breaking enemy shields, which is a top priority early on.

• Defensive Stance: Use your shield to block and bash, reducing enemy stamina and fatigue while stunning them, making early encounters much safer.

• Sell Unneeded Gear: Keep only your shield, sell everything else for cash, and use defensive tactics to survive initial waves.

Chapter 2: Offensive Expansion

• Upgrade to Chainmail and Better Weapons: As you progress, invest in chainmail for better protection and consider adding a sword for versatility, as each weapon has unique tricks.

• Agility and Strength Focus: Aim for a character with at least 5 agility and 5 strength to handle more demanding encounters and complete side quests efficiently.

• Bleed or Critical Builds: Experiment with bleeding-based weapons (like ritual daggers) or critical strike builds for higher sustained damage, especially against tougher enemies.

Chapter 3 and Beyond: Specialized Builds

• Bleed Build: Use weapons and trinkets that inflict and prolong bleeding (e.g., ritual dagger, wolf teeth necklace). This setup stacks multiple bleed effects, amplifying your damage output significantly.

• Poison and Injury Focus: Consider a low-virtue, underhanded approach with poisons and injury-inducing weapons for crowd control and boss fights.

• Mastery of Stances: Adapt your stance-defensive against groups, offensive when you have the upper hand or need to break through armor.

General Tips Across Chapters

• Shield Bash Often: It’s one of the most overpowered skills, stunning enemies and draining their stamina.

• Use Alcohol and Rest: Manage fatigue with alcohol or rest actions, especially before tough fights.

• Craft and Upgrade Armor: If you have crafting skill, make or upgrade helmets and armor for better coverage and fewer penalties.

These setups will help you maximize survivability and damage output as you progress through each chapter of ’Heads Will Roll.’