Step into the fierce arena of Yamato where only the strongest survive – “The Tournament” in Assassin’s Creed Shadows challenges you to face off against formidable warriors in a battle for glory and rare weapons. Unlock this intense side quest by tracking down Gyoji near your Hideout, then prepare to prove your might through five grueling rounds of combat at the Ominesanji Temple. Will you emerge victorious and claim your place among legends?
How to start ’The Tournament’ quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
To start “The Tournament” quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you first need to progress through the main Shinbakufu storyline and eliminate at least seven Shinbakufu targets. After completing these assassinations, return to your Hideout in the Izumi Settsu region. Upon leaving the Hideout, you will encounter Gyoji on the road near Lost Hills, who will invite you to participate in his tournament by giving you the Tournament Invitation quest item. This will add the quest to your Objectives board under the People of Yamato section. Next, travel to the Ominesanji Temple in the Yoshino area of Yamato, where you will find Gyoji again. Speaking with him there will officially start the tournament, allowing you to begin the series of challenging fights to earn valuable rewards.
“The Tournament” is a big side quest that takes place in the second half of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ main story. It’s very rewarding, and will get you new weapons, XP, Anomaly completions for the Animus, an achievement, and a mastery unlock for Yasuke’s Kanabo and Naoe’s Tool tree:
- Constant Pressure upgrade for Forward Momentum (Yasuke)
- Triple Threat upgrade for Shuriken (Naoe)
The problem is that nobody seems to be sure what triggers “The Tournament” quest to start. We went hunting for it specifically after reading up on several theories, and found none of them to exactly fit our experience. That being said, we can tell you exactly what we did to eventually make it trigger, and theoretically you should have it appear if you do the same.
First, the thing you’re looking for with “The Tournament” is a quest marker that appears just outside of the Hideout, on the road after you load out of your base and into the main map. Gyoji will be waiting for you, and if you talk to him he’ll tell you his story. Basically, he wants you to enter his tournament and will give you an invitation that starts the quest.
Here’s what we did in the hours and moments before seeing “The Tournament” quest marker appear, which we think had a link to Gyoji finally showing up:
- Defeated our eighth member of The Shinbakufu (The Fox) – The Mourner, The Horseman, The Two-Faced (Akechi Mitsuhide), and The Noble were our only ones left standing when the quest started
- Returned to the Hideout (and checked The Shinbakufu board in the main house)
- Reached level 35
It seems that this quest is tied to either your progress through The Shinbakufu main quest or your level. However, it’s worth mentioning that we checked the map directly after killing The Fox and turning level 35 and the quest didn’t appear. It only appeared after we’d completed both of those other things and then loaded into the Hideout.
This quest is very finicky, and it’s likely people will be trying to determine the exact triggers for quite some time. In the meantime, however, use our trial-and-error method above to tick as many boxes as you can and – hopefully – spawn the quest for yourself.
Where to find ’The Tournament’ in Yamato
To find “The Tournament” in Yamato in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, first progress through the Shinbakufu main story missions until after you complete your seventh target mission. Then, speak with Gyoji near the entrance of your Hideout in Izumi Settsu to receive the Tournament Invitation quest item. After that, head to the Ominesanji Temple located in the southeastern part of the Yoshino sub-region in Yamato. At the temple, you will find Gyoji again near a ruined temple building; speaking to him will officially start the tournament quest. The Ominesanji Temple is the fighting arena where you will face multiple opponents in the tournament.
Once you have the invitation, you’ll get the usual clues on how to find the quest. The tournament is in the Yamato province, in southeastern Yoshino. If you don’t mind using a scout, place the cursor on the mountain range southeast of the word “Yoshino” on your map. If you’d like to save a scout, you can check out the map above for the indicator.
Fast travel to your nearest point and make the long trek to the hill where “The Tournament” takes place. Eventually, you’ll find Ominesanji Temple – which has its own Viewpoint – where you’ll encounter the tournament.
Now it’s time to prepare to fight. While this is not a Yasuke-only quest, it’s all about fighting, so he has a big advantage here. We recommend you play as Yasuke even if you usually opt for Naoe. Upgrade the gear and skills of whoever you want to battle as before you do anything else.
When you’re ready to fight, swap to the character you’d like to compete as and speak to Gyoji, who is sitting and watching two people fight, Shang Tsung-style.
All rewards in ’The Tournament’
The Tournament in Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a series of five challenging fights against skilled opponents, each rewarding you with powerful weapons upon defeat. The fighters and their rewards include Lady Masago with an epic Naginata, Lord Suguru granting an epic Long Katana and a rare Bow, Lord Hokuto offering an epic Kanabo, Lady O-Sen providing an epic Katana, and Lord Unkai awarding a legendary Naginata along with a special engraving. After defeating all five, you earn 5,000 XP and the “Test Your Might” trophy. Additionally, completing the Tournament unlocks the Arena Oscillation Anomaly, allowing you to face even tougher opponents for extra rewards.
After a brief cutscene, you’ll be able to enter the tournament yourself. All you need to do is ring the bell that sits on the opposite side of the arena from Gyoji. You’ll then battle a series of champions – although you’ll need to ring the bell between them, so it’s not one right after the other.
Below, we’ve created a table listing the main combatants in the tournament and the type of fighter they are. All combatants will match your level.
The Tournament in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a challenging side quest unlocked after progressing through the main Shinbakufu story missions and defeating key targets. To start, players must speak with Gyoji near the Hideout in Izumi Settsu, who will give a tournament invitation. The quest then leads to the Ominesanji Temple in Yamato, where players face a series of five increasingly difficult fights against skilled opponents. Success in the tournament rewards valuable weapons and experience points, making it a rewarding test of combat skills. Players are advised to reach at least level 30 and equip strong weapons and tools before entering the arena to improve their chances of victory.
| Fighter number | Fighter name | Fighter weapon style | Fight reward |
| 1 | Lady Masago | Naginata | Exotic Naginata of Wonders (epic naginata) |
| 2 | Lord Suguru | Katana and bow | Onimaru’s Katana of Aspiration (rare long katana) and Barraging Bow of Service (rare bow) |
| 3 | Lord Hokuto | Kanabo | Stunning Kanabo of Bewilderment (epic kanabo) |
| 4 | Lady O-Sen | Dual katanas | Warrior’s Katana of the Brute (epic katana) |
| 5 | Lord Unkai | Naginata | Vengeful Foe (legendary naginata) |
When you’ve killed all five combatants in the tournament, speak to Gyoji to complete the quest and earn 5,000 XP in addition to your other winnings.
If you have the “Arena Oscillation” Anomaly quest from The Legacy, you can ring the bell again to fight more combatants. Just be warned that these warriors will also be the same level as you and, potentially, have allies in the ring with them.
What secrets does the ‘The Tournament’ hold in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
“The Tournament” in Assassin’s Creed Shadows holds several intriguing secrets tied to its unlocking and the lore behind it. The quest only appears after you have eliminated all seven members of the Shinbakufu main targets, making it a late-game challenge that rewards dedicated progression. The tournament is hosted by Gyoji, a character who reveals that the Ominesanji Temple was once used by Lord Unkai, a former monk, to punish enemies through combat, giving the event a dark historical significance.
The tournament itself is a series of five grueling duels against formidable warriors who have taken over the temple, each fight testing your combat skills and strategy. Notably, playing as Yasuke is recommended due to his durability and combat prowess, which is essential to survive the tough opponents. The fights are structured to allow breaks between rounds, and your supplies are automatically replenished before each duel, adding a tactical layer to the challenge.
Completing the tournament grants valuable rewards including new weapons, significant experience points, and unlocks a mastery skill for Yasuke, enhancing his combat capabilities further. Additionally, defeating the final opponent unlocks the “Test Your Might” achievement/trophy, marking the quest as a prestigious accomplishment within the game.
In summary, “The Tournament” conceals secrets of late-game progression gating, historical lore tied to the temple’s past, and a demanding combat gauntlet that yields high-value rewards and achievements for players who conquer it.
What hidden lore or backstory does Gyoji reveal about the tournament’s origins
Gyoji reveals that the origins of the tournament in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are deeply tied to the dark history of the Ominesanji Temple, which was once used by Lord Unkai, a former monk, to punish his enemies through combat. This backstory connects the tournament to a ritualistic and brutal legacy, where the temple served as a place of trial by combat rather than mere sport. The role of Gyoji as the tournament’s host echoes the traditional role of sumo referees in Japan, who historically acted not only as officials but also performed religious and ceremonial functions, consecrating the combat space with Shinto rites. This blend of combat, ritual, and spiritual authority enriches the tournament’s lore, framing it as more than just a fight-it is a continuation of an ancient, sacred tradition of judgment and discipline through battle.
