In the shadowy world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a band of rogue ronin known as the Kabukimono wreaks havoc across Izumi Settsu and Harima. Tracking down all eight elusive targets-from the Ghost General in Sakai to the enigmatic Laughing Man in Harima-not only tests your stealth and combat skills but also rewards you with rare weapons, powerful engravings, and unique abilities. Ready your blade and prepare to hunt these fearsome outlaws, as every assassination brings you closer to mastering the art of the assassin and unlocking legendary gear.
You can technically (accidentally) start the quest and board on your Objectives menu before you officially pick up the quest if you bump into any of the Kabukimono. The actual quest starts when you speak to a monk named Shin’nyo and he tells you about some troublesome ronin disrupting the social harmony.
Our Assassin’s Creed Shadows guide will tell you how to find all Kabukimono locations and what rewards you’ll get for doing so.
How to start ’The Kabukimono’ in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
To start “The Kabukimono” quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, head to Nishinomiya Shrine Town located in the far west of Izumi Settsu. There, speak with Shin’nyo, a monk standing outside the shrine, who will inform you about the trouble caused by a group of rogue ronin known as the Kabukimono. This quest becomes available early in the game and tasks you with hunting down several Kabukimono members scattered across the region. Initially, you will need to find and eliminate five of these targets in Izumi Settsu before progressing to the others in Harima. Engaging with Shin’nyo officially begins the quest and unlocks the objectives related to the Kabukimono hunt.
“The Kabukimono” has its own Objectives board, but it’s also a part of the People of Settsu Objectives board. That quest is also named “The Kabukimono,” and you’ll pick it up from a priest named Shin’nyo.
You’ll find him along the westernmost edge of Settsu in Nishinomiya Shrine Town straight west of Amagasaki Castle. He’s standing right at the entrance to Nishinomiya Shrine Town. When you speak to him, he’ll explain why the Kabukimono are dangerous and why he wants them dealt with.
There are a total of eight Kabukimono to find in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. You’ll be able to deal with five of them in Settsu, but the remainder will have to wait until you reach Harima.
In Settsu, you’ll find:
- Chief Cuckoo
- The Ghost General
- Ember
- Grave Dancer
- Big Sueki
When you reach Harima, you can find:
- Corrupt Blade
- Laughing Man
- Peacock
Below, we’ll show you where to find all Kabukimono targets in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, plus details about what rewards you’ll get for each of them. Also note that partway through the mission, you have a choice about whether or not you want to contact the remaining members to make the quest go faster (but also more difficult).
Where to find Chief Cuckoo
Chief Cuckoo can be found in the Katano area of the Izumi Settsu region, specifically at the Katano Oil Trading location just southwest of Katano Castle. He is often seen patrolling the courtyard of the oil trading compound, which is heavily guarded by multiple bandits and Ronin. Using scouts to track his movements can help pinpoint his exact location, and approaching at night makes it easier to sneak up on him. The best assassination spots are the rooftops surrounding the courtyard or near the well where he pauses briefly. Eliminating Chief Cuckoo rewards players with XP, Mon, and the rare Prancing Naginata weapon for Yasuke.
Chief Cuckoo is in Settsu, last seen in Katano, and involved in oil trading. Conveniently, there’s a Katano Oil Trading enemy base in Katano. (Katano is also where you’ll pick up “The Butterfly Collector” quest.) You’ll find him in that hostile area. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot him near some explosive barrels.
You’ll get the Prancing Naginata and the Damage After Dodge engraving for killing him.
Where to find The Ghost General
The Ghost General can be found in Sakai, located in the Izumi Settsu region of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. He typically roams between the Port of Sakai and the Money Changer District, often patrolling the shores of western Settsu. The area is hostile and filled with bandits, and the Ghost General is usually accompanied by a Ronin guard. Players can use scouts to track his exact location within these zones. Upon defeating him, players are rewarded with the Kabukimono’s Greed katana, an engraving, mastery points, and experience.
Your Objective board notes say that The Ghost General stalks the shores of western Settsu and disrupts incoming shipments of goods. That’s your clue to look at Sakai – specifically the Port of Sakai near the Money Changer District. You’ll find him wandering around the long pier of the Port of Sakai or the market stalls nearby.
When you kill him, you’ll get the Kabukimono’s Greed katana and the Adrenaline on Multiple Enemies engraving.
Where to find Ember
Ember can be found in the Izumi Settsu region of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, specifically in western Osaka near the Kojo Ruins and the Temple of Osaka. He is located in a small courtyard close to the western bridge leading into the Kojo Ruins, an area marked by a large fire and several explosive barrels. This compound is just southwest of Osaka Castle, near burnt buildings that make the location distinctive. Players can use vantage points to spot Ember, and a strategic approach involves climbing a nearby building to assassinate him or triggering an explosion by shooting the barrels as he passes by. Defeating Ember rewards players with the rare “Spark of Ember” teppo and a valuable engraving.
The Kabukimono named Ember is in Settsu, southwest of Osaka Castle, and can be found near burnt buildings. You’ll find him in southwestern Osaka near the Fisherman’s District (which is an area you’ll explore looking for origami butterflies for “The Butterfly Collector.”) Ember has his own little camp that is conveniently full (like, more than is reasonable) of explosive barrels.
You’ll get the Spark of Ember teppo and Armor Piercing on Consecutive Hits engraving when you kill him.
Where to find Grave Dancer
Grave Dancer can be found in Assassin’s Creed Shadows at the Sumiyoshi Shrine, located in the Izumi Settsu region of southern Osaka. He is typically seen wandering around the shrine area, often accompanied by a ronin companion. To locate him efficiently, players can use scouts at Sumiyoshi Shrine or approach from the nearby Tennoji Pagoda viewpoint, moving south along the coast. The shrine itself offers ample foliage and structures to aid in a stealthy approach before engaging Grave Dancer.
Grave Dancer gets a pretty straightforward set of clues for his location. He’s in Settsu, in Osaka (actually a bit southeast of Osaka), at the Sumiyoshi Shrine. You’ll find him hanging out at the shrine with a ronin buddy, but the temple itself isn’t hostile.
The reward for killing him is the Widower’s Solace katana and the Buildup on Consecutive Kills engraving.
Where to find Big Sueki
Big Sueki can be found in the Muko Post Town area of Izumi Settsu, specifically in a small garden courtyard north of Amagasaki Castle. He is often seen sitting with other ronin, enjoying drinks at the back of a tavern. To locate him precisely, players can use scouts or the observe mechanic once in Muko Post Town. The area is guarded by several ronin, making the approach challenging but rewarding, as assassinating Big Sueki grants valuable experience, mastery points, and a rare katana called Tactless Parley.
We saved Big Sueki for last because he is biggest pain to take out. He’s in Settsu, north of Amagasaki Castle, at an inn. You’ll find him in the eastern part of the Muko Post Town area. Finding him isn’t the hard part – it’s that he and his four ronin are all in a confined area and you can’t really take him out stealthily.
We had the most luck with tossing a smoke bomb into the garden, taking out Big Sueki quickly, and then running away. Even if you can’t take him out in one shot, hit-and-run is the way to go here – the numbers just aren’t on your side.
You’ll get the Tactless Parley katana and the Damage with Affliction engraving.
Should you contact the Kabukimono?
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, contacting the Kabukimono is a crucial step after eliminating the first five members of this rogue ronin group. Returning to the Nishinomiya Shrine in Izumi Settsu to leave a message initiates the next phase of the quest, where you must decide whether to hunt the remaining three Kabukimono leaders-Corrupt Blade, Laughing Man, and Peacock-individually or together. Opting to confront them simultaneously is generally recommended, as it saves travel time and can make the encounters more manageable, especially at higher levels. Successfully completing this part of the quest unlocks valuable skills and rewards, making it a strategic choice for players aiming to progress efficiently in the game.
After you kill your fifth Kabukimono, you’ll have a choice to make. You can leave a message at the shrine in Nashinomiya Shrine to call in the remaining three Kabukimono, or track them down one by one throughout Harima.
What you do here really comes down to how you fight them.
- Hunt the leaders one by one if you prefer a slower, sneaky, assassination-heavy approach.
- Gather them together if you want a big fight with multiple Kabukimono all at the same time.
If you gather them together, you’ll find them at lumber camp in southeastern Harima, southeast of Takagi Kofun and a good ways north-northeast of Kakogawa Estuary. You’ll still have a chance at some stealthing, but they’ll all be fairly high level and, chances are, it’ll end up in an all-out brawl.
If, instead, you want to tackle them one at a time, read on. We’ll also detail the rewards for each of the remaining Kabukimono below.
Where to find Corrupt Blade
Corrupt Blade can be found in the Harima region of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, specifically in the Habayama Camp located within the Kanki Burned Fields, southwest of Miki. This area is a small encampment where Corrupt Blade is usually guarded by a few Ronin, making stealth or careful combat advisable. Alternatively, if you choose to face the final three Kabukimono bosses together, Corrupt Blade will be located in a lumberyard southeast of Takagi Otsuka Fort, alongside The Peacock and Laughing Man. Both locations offer different tactical challenges and rewards, including the rare Kabuki Corruptor katana upon his assassination.
You’ll find Corrupt Blade in southeastern Harima, southwest of Miki in Habayama Camp. He’s a bit hard to get to since he’s in a hostile camp with several ronin. If you take them out carefully, you can whittle down his support until you’re only fighting him.
Killing him gets you the Kabuki Corruptor long katana and the Ration on Kill engraving.
Where to find Laughing Man
Laughing Man can be found in the Harima region of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, specifically at the Blackstone Cascades in the eastern part of Mount Kasagata. This location is a tranquil area near a cascade, northeast of the Inariayama Watchtower viewpoint and east of Lover’s Lake. Players can use scouts to reveal his exact position. Depending on your approach, Laughing Man may also appear with other Kabukimono members in a lumberyard southeast of Takagi Otsuka Fort if you choose to gather the targets for a joint confrontation. He is a level 23 target and part of the Kabukimono questline, rewarding players with XP, mastery points, and the Flight of the Ubagabi trinket upon assassination.
Your objectives will say that Laughing Man is in Harima, in eastern Mount Kasagata, in a camp near a cascade. You’re looking for Blackstone Cascades to the east of Lover’s Lake in north central Harima. His camp is small – just him and a buddy – and there is a big, convenient tree hanging over the top. Use that to assassinate him.
You’ll get the Flight of the Ubagabi trinket and the Adrenaline Gain for Kusarigama Mastery engraving.
Where to find Peacock
The Peacock Kabukimono in Assassin’s Creed Shadows can be found in the northern area of Harima, near the border with Tamba, specifically around the Northern Mount Kasagata region. He roams paths along this border, and players may need to cross into Tamba to locate him. The Peacock is usually accompanied by a single Ronin guard, making stealth assassination a viable approach. Alternatively, players can lure him to a lumberyard east of Takagi Otsuka Fort in Harima, where he can be confronted alongside two other Kabukimono bosses for a combined fight. Defeating the Peacock rewards players with 2000 XP, 2 Mastery Points, a rare Yumi Bow called “The Sleight of Hand,” and the “Buildup with Backstab” engraving.
You’ll find Peacock far in the north(west) of Harima near (north of) Mount Kasagata, and near the border of Tamba. He’ll be right along the main road leading north through Harima, so he’s pretty easy to reach. He’ll be standing near a bridge leading across the border.
Kill him for The Sleight of Hand bow and the Buildup with Backstab engraving.
Kabukimono rewards
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, completing the Kabukimono quest rewards players with a variety of rare and legendary weapons and engravings, each tied to the specific Kabukimono targets defeated. For example, Chief Cuckoo grants the Prancing Naginata, a rare weapon with a Yasuke damage engraving, while Laughing Man rewards the legendary trinket Flight of the Ubagabi, which enhances adrenaline gain for Kusarigama mastery. Other rewards include unique katanas, bows, and engravings that boost damage, adrenaline, or other combat abilities. Additionally, finishing the quest grants 5000 XP and unlocks powerful final-tier skills for both Naoe and Yasuke, enhancing their combat prowess significantly.
All that’s left is to head back to Shin’nyo at Nishinomiya Shrine Town to talk and claim your 5,500 XP.
Where are the most hidden Kabukimono locations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The most hidden Kabukimono locations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are primarily found in less obvious, tucked-away areas such as the Katano Oil Trading hostile zone southwest of Katano Castle, where Chief Cuckoo lurks around the back of several buildings and near a well-ideal for stealth kills from rooftops or shadows. Another notably concealed target is the Laughing Man, located at Blackstone Cascades in Harima, an area shaded by a large tree that offers perfect cover for air assassinations. Additionally, the Peacock roams the grass fields at the border between Harima and Tamba, a remote and less trafficked zone requiring careful approach. These locations contrast with more open or populated areas like the Port of Sakai or Muko Post Town, making them some of the most hidden and challenging Kabukimono spots to find and eliminate.
Why are some Kabukimono locations considered more hidden than others in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Some Kabukimono locations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are considered more hidden than others due to their placement in less obvious, secluded, or hard-to-reach areas that require careful exploration and stealth. These locations often include remote camps under viewpoints, dense natural cover like large trees near waterfalls, or border regions between provinces where the terrain is rugged and less trafficked. Such spots contrast with more open or urban areas, making the targets harder to spot and approach undetected. Additionally, the game’s use of similar-looking buildings and assets across regions can make distinguishing these hidden locations challenging without careful scouting. This design encourages players to use environmental clues and vantage points to locate and assassinate the Kabukimono effectively.
