A deadly secret is hidden behind centuries-old etiquette in Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ “The Tea Ceremony” quest. As Naoe steps into the serene world of the Izumi Settsu tea house, every bow, every turn of the bowl, and every whispered word could expose her true identity-or lead her straight to the elusive Golden Teppo. Master the rituals, read your rivals, and choose your confrontation wisely: the fate of your mission-and your life-hangs in the balance.
Our Assassin’s Creed Shadows guide will tell you how to complete “The Tea Ceremony,” including the correct etiquette and who to confront.
’The Tea Ceremony’ walkthrough in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
In “The Tea Ceremony” quest of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players must infiltrate an elite gathering in Izumi Settsu as Naoe, maintaining a carefully crafted alias while participating in a traditional tea ceremony to uncover the identity of the Golden Teppo. The walkthrough involves greeting each guest-Otama, Satoko, and Wakasa-while consistently using the same name chosen earlier in the story to avoid suspicion. During the ceremony, players must perform a halfway bow when prompted and turn the tea bowl to the right twice before sipping, both actions reflecting proper etiquette and crucial for maintaining cover. The climax of the quest centers on deciding whether to confront Otama or Wakasa as the true assassin. Choosing to confront Wakasa is the correct path, leading directly to the next stage of the main storyline, while confronting Otama results in additional complications and a longer route to the same goal. Throughout, most dialogue choices have minimal impact, but attention to ceremonial details and the final confrontation choice are key to successfully completing the mission.
At the start of “The Tea Ceremony,” you’ll have a quick chat with Imai Sokun and then Imai Sokyu (and Akechi Mitsuhide). Before you start the tea ceremony itself, you’ll have to talk to the guests.
Just try to keep the fake name you used straight through the dialogue options, and you’ll be fine – there are no wrong answers here.
During the ceremony itself, you’ll have two etiquette choices to make: Bow halfway when the ceremony starts and then choose to turn bowl right twice when it’s your turn to drink. (Both of which you learned during “The Perfect Gift.”)
Note: The next section contains spoilers for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Should you confront Wakasa or Otama?
In the quest “The Tea Ceremony” in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you must decide whether to confront Otama or Wakasa as the suspected Golden Teppo. The correct choice is to confront Wakasa, who is the true target. Confronting Wakasa leads to a more straightforward conclusion, where she invites you to her home, allowing for a direct assassination. Choosing Otama results in chasing and killing her first, only to find a letter revealing Wakasa as the real target, which then triggers a follow-up mission to confront Wakasa at Osaka Castle. While confronting Otama is possible, it prolongs the mission and adds an extra step, making Wakasa the recommended choice for a smoother progression.
After the ceremony concludes, you’ll have to choose who to confront – who you think is The Onryo that fired The Golden Teppo.
- If you confront Otama, the Golden Teppo will escape and you’ll end up with an extra quest step.
- If you confront Wakasa, well, she’s the Golden Teppo and thus the “correct” answer here.
In the interest of working smarter and not harder, confront Wakasa, and then you’ll follow her to her house nearby.
Inside, walk around the wall while Wakasa is talking to find her teppo. After some more talking, you’ll assassinate Wakasa. I’m not going to get into the impossibility of just grabbing a matchlock gun off the wall and firing it here, but, trust me, I’ve yelled about it a lot. (Ed. note: He really has.)
If you chose to confront Otama instead, you’ll end up assassinating the wrong person, and then will have to find Wakasa later on inside Osaka Castle, which involves a lot more sneaking.
What secrets does ’The Tea Ceremony’ reveal about Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The Tea Ceremony quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows reveals deep layers of intrigue and cultural nuance within the Sengoku-era setting, blending stealth and social cunning. As Naoe infiltrates the elite tea gathering hosted by Imai Sokyu, players must master authentic tea ceremony etiquette-such as bowing halfway and turning the tea bowl to the right-to maintain her undercover identity. The mission’s core secret lies in identifying the true target among the guests-Otama or Wakasa-whose confrontation leads to two distinct endings, including a high-stakes assassination at Osaka Castle. This quest not only tests players’ knowledge of traditional customs but also their ability to navigate complex social dynamics, making it one of the most immersive and pivotal moments in the game’s narrative.
What hidden clues about the Onryo group does the tea ceremony reveal to me
During “The Tea Ceremony” quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, several hidden clues about the Onryo group are revealed through your interactions and investigation:
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The entire ceremony is orchestrated as a trap to identify the Golden Teppo, a key Onryo assassin responsible for a major attack on Naoe’s family.
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Clues to the Onryo’s methods and members are embedded in the guests’ conversations. For example, Lady Satoko openly mentions her skill with a teppo (rifle), hinting at the Onryo’s use of advanced weaponry and their willingness to blend into elite society under false pretenses.
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Wakasa, the true Golden Teppo, demonstrates knowledge of Osaka Castle and subtly invites Naoe to visit, indicating the Onryo’s reach into powerful political circles and foreshadowing a future confrontation at a significant stronghold.
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The mission emphasizes that the Onryo operate through deception, using false identities and infiltrating high society events, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe without careful observation and deduction.
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If you confront the wrong guest, you find a letter on Otama’s body revealing she was corrupt but not Onryo, underscoring the group’s ability to hide among other criminals and manipulate events to their advantage.
These clues collectively reveal that the Onryo are a secretive, highly skilled organization skilled at subterfuge and assassination, with deep connections in both criminal and noble circles.
