After the intense mission “Heads Will Roll,” a new challenge awaits in Assassin’s Creed Shadows with the side quest “The Stray Dogs.” Join the hunt in Osaka’s Fisherman’s District to find Yaya under attack, then embark on a thrilling chase to retrieve a precious Kanzashi from the elusive Tetsuo. Will you persuade Yaya to join your cause? Discover the full walkthrough and Kanzashi location to master this pivotal quest and unlock a powerful ally in your journey.
Where to find Yaya in ’The Stray Dogs’
To find Yaya in “The Stray Dogs” quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, head to the Fisherman’s District in western Osaka, north of Sakai and just south of the Temple of Osaka. When you arrive, you’ll find Yaya engaged in combat with enemies. Assist her by defeating the foes, then initiate a conversation to progress the quest. This location is the starting point for helping Yaya and eventually recruiting her as an ally.
The first thing you need to do in “The Stray Dogs” is find Yaya after “Heads Will Roll” – the pre-requisite quest, which you’ll complete during the assassination of The Wounded. You’ll find her north of Sakai, in the western part of Osaka, in the Fisherman’s District. The objective is a straight shot north from the Sakai Kakurega.
Once you reach the city area, you’ll find Yaya doing what she does best: smashing heads. Help her kill the remaining enemies and then talk to her.
Should you punish or forgive the shrine raider in ’The Stray Dogs’?
In the quest “The Stray Dogs” in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players face a choice to either punish or forgive a shrine raider who stole from a shrine. Although Yaya, a key character, always chooses to forgive the raider, your decision impacts her opinion of you and whether she can be recruited as an ally. Forgiving the shrine raider is considered the best choice, as it aligns with Yaya’s peaceful philosophy, keeps her approval, and leads to the most favorable outcome in the game. Punishing the raider does not yield any positive benefits and risks losing Yaya’s permanent support, making forgiveness the recommended path for players seeking the optimal experience.
While you’re talking with Yaya, you’ll be asked to pass some judgement on a shrine raider who has – as the name suggests – stolen from a shrine.
Just like in “Heads Will Roll,” you’ll be given a bit of a false choice here.
- If you say “we forgive him,” you and Yaya will agree and send the raider away.
- If you say “we punish him,” Yaya will push back and suggest that you spare him so he can learn a lesson. Regardless of what you pick, the thief is spared.
Despite a notification saying “this will impact Yaya,” we were able to recruit her as an ally at the end of the mission both when we voted to punish the thief and when we replayed the mission and voted to save him. But if you’re trying to make Yaya as happy as possible, we suggest you go for forgiveness – especially if you angered Yaya during ’Heads Will Roll’ by voting to execute the guards.
Kanzashi location in ’The Stray Dogs’
In the side quest “The Stray Dogs” in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Kanzashi is located in the northern part of Izumi Settsu, specifically inside the Church of Takatsuki. To retrieve it, players must head to this church, find Tetsuo who is holding the Kanzashi, and confront him. After talking to Tetsuo inside the church, he attempts to flee with the Kanzashi, prompting a chase. Successfully catching him and retrieving the Kanzashi completes this part of the quest and helps in recruiting Yaya as an ally.
After talking to Yaya and following her, she’ll send you to find a Kanzashi, which is being held in the Church of Takatsuki.
Travel to the Takatsuki Kakurega and head directly west. You’ll find a little fort area that has guards posted outside. Climb the walls and hang out on the rooftops. On the eastern side of the fort (to the right from the front gate), you’ll find a tall building that has a large stone Christian cross stuck into its front yard.
Enter the building via the front door or a window on the top floor. On the main floor of the church, you’ll find Tetsuo. Confront him and he’ll run from you.
At this point you’ll be told to “chase Tetsuo.” But this isn’t like other Assassin’s Creed games where the goal is to catch up and assassinate the poor guy. Instead, just follow close behind until he reaches the edge of town, where Yaya will come out of nowhere to lay his ass out.
Should you side with Yaya or Tetsuo in ’The Stray Dogs?’
In “The Stray Dogs” quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you face a choice between siding with Yaya or Tetsuo, but this decision has limited impact on the overall outcome. Yaya, a warrior you help in the Fisherman’s District of Osaka, asks you to retrieve a stolen kanzashi from Tetsuo, who then flees. You chase Tetsuo until Yaya intercepts him, leading to a dialogue where you can choose to encourage forgiveness or punishment. While these choices slightly alter dialogue and Yaya’s responses, they do not change the quest’s conclusion. Ultimately, choosing to “work together” with Yaya secures her as an ally, regardless of whether you side with her or Tetsuo during the chase.
You’ll be given another dialogue choice here where you can say “you need to forgive each other” to Yaya and Tetsuo, or you can tell Yaya “you need to take responsibility.” Your choice changes Yaya’s dialogue slightly, but won’t impact the actual quest at all, despite the “this will impact Yaya” warning.
After you resolve things with Tetsuo, you’ll be given another dialogue wheel, and this choice actually matters.
- If you say “let’s work together,” Yaya will join you at the Hideout (and in-combat, on a cooldown) as an ally.
- If you say “I wish you well,” she won’t become an ally.
Yaya is very good at knocking enemies over, which can be a huge boon if you get into combat as Naoe, so we highly recommend you pick her up as an ally. Once you tell her to join you, you’ll finish the quest and Yaya will join your crew.
What secrets does the Kanzashi hide in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The Kanzashi in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, retrieved during the “The Stray Dogs” quest, is more than just a decorative hairpin-it symbolizes a key to gaining Yaya as a companion and represents a pivotal moment of alliance and trust. While the Kanzashi itself does not appear to hold secret powers or hidden techniques explicitly detailed in the quest, its retrieval from Tetsuo and the choice to cooperate with Yaya unlocks her companionship, which is crucial for progressing in the game. This quest and the Kanzashi serve as a narrative device to deepen the player’s connection with Yaya and influence the story’s direction.
What is the significance of the Kanzashi in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The Kanzashi in Assassin’s Creed Shadows holds significant narrative and gameplay importance. It is a cherished hairpin that belonged to Yaya’s late husband, making it a deeply personal and symbolic item for her. Retrieving the Kanzashi from Tetsuo during the “The Stray Dogs” side quest is crucial because it serves as the key to gaining Yaya’s trust and securing her as a valuable companion in your hideout. The quest involving the Kanzashi also presents moral choices that influence Yaya’s approval and willingness to join your cause, emphasizing themes of forgiveness and alliance. Thus, the Kanzashi is not just a collectible but a pivotal element that strengthens your team and advances the story.
