Deep within the shadowy world of feudal Japan, Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers players a compelling blend of stealth, strategy, and historical immersion through its meticulously crafted quests. Among these, “A True Igan” stands as a pivotal mission in Naoe’s journey, testing her shinobi skills while advancing the mysterious Kuji-kiri storyline. Located just east of your hideout, this quest serves as a masterclass in the game’s stealth mechanics, requiring precise movements, tactical eavesdropping, and the skillful use of Naoe’s newly acquired grappling hook.
The mission not only provides valuable Knowledge Points upon completion but also deepens our understanding of the political intrigue surrounding the Kunimiyama Fort occupation. Whether you’re struggling with guard patrol patterns or simply looking for the most efficient infiltration route, this comprehensive guide will walk you through each step of A True Igan, ensuring you emerge from this delicate reconnaissance mission like a true shadow of feudal Japan.
Table of Contents
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Mission: Meeting Sandayu and Acquiring the Grappling Hook
A True Igan begins with what appears to be a simple meetup but quickly evolves into a critical infiltration assignment. The quest marker will lead you to a staircase east of your hideout, where Sandayu awaits at the summit. This initial conversation serves as more than mere exposition – it equips Naoe with the grappling hook, a transformative tool that dramatically expands your traversal options throughout the remainder of the game. The exchange with Sandayu is brief but sets the stakes clearly: information about the Igan fort must be gathered, and stealth is non-negotiable.
Once the cutscene concludes, you’ll want to make your way toward Kunimiyama Fort. While multiple approach routes exist, the direct forest path offers the most efficient and naturally concealed approach. As you near the outer perimeter of the fortress, resist the temptation to cross the obvious bridge – guards patrol this area vigilantly. Instead, look below for a wooden beam running beneath the structure. This unassuming path represents your first test of the grappling hook’s utility, allowing you to climb up and navigate to the rooftop on your right. This vertical thinking becomes essential throughout not just this quest, but the entire game, as Assassin’s Creed Shadows consistently rewards players who explore all dimensional spaces, not just the ground level.
Infiltration Techniques: Mastering Stealth in Kunimiyama Fort
Upon reaching the watchtower’s vicinity, you’ll encounter your first genuine stealth challenge. The game’s systems shine here as you must read patrol patterns and utilize environmental cover. A conveniently positioned tree branch offers the perfect jumping point – time your leap carefully to land directly on the first outer tower without alerting nearby sentries. From this vantage point, drop down into the camouflaging bushes below. While eliminating guards is possible, it creates unnecessary risk during this reconnaissance mission; patience and observation serve you better.
From your concealed position, watch the bridge guard’s patrol pattern. When he turns his back, seize your opportunity to dash through the hole in the wall directly ahead. This positioning places you perfectly for the first critical objective: gathering intelligence through eavesdropping. Two soldiers near the wall will engage in conversation, revealing that the tower has been under occupation since an initial attack. This contextual information enriches both the gameplay and narrative experience, providing clues about the political situation while justifying your infiltration.
After absorbing this intelligence, utilize your grappling hook to ascend the building before you. From this elevated position, identify another patch of tall grass near the second bridge – your next concealment spot. The timing here becomes crucial as you must monitor two guard patterns simultaneously: one patrolling the bridge and another stationed near the gate beyond. Wait for the bridge guard to move toward the gate, then execute a three-part maneuver: cross the bridge swiftly, grapple up the gate structure, and leap onto the rooftop of the building across the way. This sequence showcases how Assassin’s Creed Shadows integrates vertical movement into its stealth systems, creating multi-dimensional puzzles rather than simple two-dimensional patrol avoidance.
Gathering Intelligence: Eavesdropping and Discovering the Leader’s Fate
From your newly acquired rooftop position, approach the barricades to trigger the second eavesdropping opportunity. This conversation reveals critical plot information – the Igan leader has been killed, and his body remains at the tower’s summit. This intelligence transitions smoothly into your next objective: personal verification of the leader’s demise. The quest design here elegantly connects narrative revelation with gameplay progression, ensuring each action feels purposeful within the broader story.
To reach the main tower, use your grappling hook or identify climbable wooden beams to swing toward the structure. The ascent involves straightforward climbing mechanics, but the vertical scale offers breathtaking views of the fortress and surrounding landscape, rewarding your efforts with both gameplay progression and visual spectacle. At the tower’s peak, you’ll discover the Igan fort leader’s body, confirming the information gleaned through eavesdropping. Naoe’s acknowledgment of this grim discovery triggers your final objective: reporting back to Sandayu.
Escaping the fortress demonstrates Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ commitment to providing multiple gameplay options. From the tower, locate the north-facing beam with a hay pile directly below – a classic Assassin’s Creed escape mechanism that provides both safety and style. After landing, simply retrace your steps to Sandayu’s position. Your report initiates a brief but meaningful montage depicting Naoe’s continued shinobi training, elegantly concluding the A True Igan quest while foreshadowing her developing skills for challenges ahead.
| Quest Stage | Key Objective | Stealth Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Initiation | Meet Sandayu and get grappling hook | Follow the staircase, no stealth required |
| Approach | Reach Kunimiyama Fort perimeter | Use forest path, climb under bridge via wooden beam |
| First Intelligence | Eavesdrop on soldiers near wall | Use bushes for concealment, wait for patrol to pass |
| Repositioning | Reach second eavesdropping point | Time bridge crossing with guard’s back turned, use grappling hook for vertical movement |
| Second Intelligence | Listen to conversation behind barricades | Stay on rooftop, remain out of guard sight lines |
| Verification | Find leader’s body at tower top | Standard climbing, no special techniques required |
| Escape | Return to Sandayu | Use hay pile for safe descent, then direct path back |
Quest Rewards and Progression Impact
Completing A True Igan grants you a single Knowledge Point – a valuable currency for improving Naoe’s abilities in her skill tree. While this might seem modest, these points accumulate to unlock powerful techniques that dramatically expand your gameplay options. More significantly, this quest advances the Kuji-kiri storyline, a narrative thread that runs throughout Naoe’s journey in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The mission’s conclusion, showing Naoe’s continued training, serves as a thematic bridge to her growing capabilities as a shinobi, integrating gameplay progression with character development.
The quest also serves as a practical tutorial for stealth infiltration, eavesdropping mechanics, and grappling hook traversal – skills that become increasingly important in later, more complex missions. By introducing these mechanics in a controlled environment with clear objectives, the game prepares you for the escalating challenges ahead while building your confidence with Naoe’s unique movement and reconnaissance abilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I alert the guards during the A True Igan quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
While A True Igan strongly encourages stealth, alerting guards won’t result in automatic mission failure. However, combat will significantly complicate your objectives and may require you to retreat and reset enemy awareness. If detected, you have several options: engage in direct combat (though Naoe may be outnumbered), use smoke bombs to create an escape opportunity, or retreat to a hiding spot until guards return to their regular patrol patterns.
The fortress design includes multiple concealment options – bushes, hay piles, and rooftops – that can help you regain stealth after detection. For players struggling with the stealth approach, it’s possible to eliminate guards silently one by one to clear paths, though this takes longer and risks chain detection if bodies are discovered. The mission is designed primarily as a reconnaissance task rather than an assassination assignment, so maintaining stealth aligns with both optimal gameplay and narrative coherence.
Can I complete the A True Igan quest with Yasuke instead of Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
A True Igan is specifically designed as a Naoe mission and cannot be completed with Yasuke. This quest focuses on shinobi infiltration techniques and reconnaissance – skills that align with Naoe’s character development and gameplay specialties. The mission serves as an important character-building moment in Naoe’s journey, showcasing her growing proficiency with traditional shinobi tools like the grappling hook.
Throughout Assassin’s Creed Shadows, character-specific missions are used to develop each protagonist’s unique narrative arc and introduce gameplay mechanics tailored to their abilities. While you’ll find opportunities to freely choose between Yasuke and Naoe in many missions, story-critical quests like A True Igan remain character-locked to preserve narrative integrity and provide tailored gameplay experiences. If you’re finding Naoe’s stealth gameplay challenging, consider investing Knowledge Points in her stealth-focused abilities before attempting this mission.
