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The Foxis one of the end-game Shinbakufu targets inAssassin’s Creed Shadows. Reaching him involves a multipart questline filled with stealth opportunities, combat, and some minor political intrigue, all centered on the town of Obama in the Wakasa region.
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The Fox is one of the more straightforward Shinbakufu targets, but they are not initially available for hunting. Read on to learn how to begin this storyline and successfully complete the missions leading to his eventual defeat.
After this one, you won’t have too much left to clean up before moving on closer to the endgame. Time to see what’s under yet another mask.
How To Start The Fox’s Questline
To initiate the Fox’s quest path, players must complete “Lords of Azuchi,” a mission associated withYasuke’s backstory. Once this prerequisite is met, the mission “Red Walls” becomes available. It’s strongly recommended to be at least level 32 before tackling this storyline, as the enemies encountered throughout the Wasaka region can be quite difficult.
Once unlocked, open your Shinbakufu screen and select ‘The Fox’ as your next target. The game will prompt you to locate Nagahide in Wasaka, a coastal area northwest of Omi.
Use a scoutto locate Nagahide, and then travel to Obama. From there, make your way north across the river to his estate. Upon entering, prepare to defend him from a group of attackers. Fortunately, Nagahide himself will assist in the fight, which makes it a fairly manageable encounter.
After the battle, you’ll be given a cutscene. Your response in the followingdialogue doesn’t impact the storyline, so feel free to role-play to your heart’s content. Nagahide suggests you speak to an information broker named Chef Hong.
Chef Hong can be found operating a food stall in Obama back across the river. Playing as Naoe at night makes him much easier to find: you can utilize her parkour skills to scamper across rooftops until you locate the distinctive red lanterns that adorn Hong’s street.
Speak with Hong and enjoy a meal while gathering intel. He’ll offer two more leads: a pirate group led by a bandit named Samemaru and a series of attacks on the Niwa family. Regardless of how you respond, your choices will not affect the outcome. This interaction unlocks the next two missions,Smuggler’s GambitandRevenge,which can be completed in either order.
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Smuggler’s Gambit
You can’t, of course, simply waltz into Samemaru’s house and poke him with your hidden blade. You need to first find his secret hideout. Head north of Obama, then veer northeast of Hiruga Bay’s little island to find his pirate hideout.
Once inside, stealth is optional but recommended. Search for two clues: the first is inside a building on the western edge of the hideout, and the second can be found in a house to the east alongside the cliff. Read both items to finish this branch of the quest.
Use your Observe skillto more easily find possible clue locations.
Next, travel to Tsuraga Castle in Wakasa, which you can easily reach by heading east from Sotomo Gate. The castle grounds are publicly accessible, so there’s no need for stealth or violence when approaching the nobles who live there.
Stay alert for enemies using ranged weapons, as they can cause substantial damage while you’re distracted by melee targets.
Speaking to Nagahide’s cousin will trigger an ambush, and you’ll need to defend the Niwa family from multiple waves of attackers. Once the threat is neutralized, speak to Nagahide’s cousin again to learn about a recurring melody tied to each attack. They recommend visiting Saifukuji Temple to find the musician.
Saifukuji Temple is your next destination, nestled among forested hills west of Obama. On your way,you may encounter a villagerasking for help reaching the temple. Assisting them is optional, but grants a smallreward of 20 mon.
At the temple, seek out a Biwa player seated beneath a tree overlooking the lake. He’ll perform a familiar tune and identify its composer: Takeda Motoaki. As luck would have it, Motoaki has also been seen dealing with pirates recently. The Fox, then, is unmasked.
The game calls this Shinbakufu “The Fox” and “The Performer” between dialogue and menu descriptions, but it’s the same character.
The Performer
Return to Hong’s noodle stand in Obama to meet Nagahide once again. Before beginning this mission, ensure you’re well-stocked on rations and supplies, as agreeing to proceed will lock you into this final mission.
Samemaru will launch a sudden assault on the town, prompting a fast-paced chase as Yasuke. Pursue andeliminate the pirate leader, but watch out for their unstoppable attacks, which are always followed up by a knife-throw.
After the battle, player control shifts back to Naoe. Use your Observe skill to highlight two objectives—one to the east, the other southeast. Both paths lead to your target. The southeastern route is easier, though slower, involving following a woman back to the estate without engaging guards. The eastern route sees Naoe interrogating a nobleman who gives her the location, but also calls a number of guards to try and stop her.
Use Observe one last time to locate The Performer. Interact with the notes in his house to trigger a cinematic exchange between the two characters. The Fox is a somewhat sympathetic character, but regardless as to your dialogue choices, the encounter will still culminate in a challenging boss fight.
Takeda Motoaki wields a poisoned katana and employs several unblockable moves. Watch for his kicks, which often initiate a dangerous four-strike combo. He’s powerful, but none too fast. Take your time and keep your distance until you’re ready to strike. The Kusarigama might be a good weapon option for its extra range. Once Motoaki is defeated, you’ll be treated to one last cutscene.
Defeating The Fox unlocks multiple follow-up missions and rewards:
