Phantom Fist Kanabo in Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Complete Guide to This Legendary Weapon

In the sprawling world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, legendary weapons serve as both coveted trophies and game-changing tools that can dramatically alter your combat effectiveness. Among these elite armaments, the Phantom Fist Kanabo stands as one of Yasuke’s most formidable options, offering devastating posture damage that can break through even the most stalwart enemy defenses. Unlike many weapons that can be discovered through exploration or purchased from merchants, this mighty war club must be earned through martial prowess in a specific duel against a formidable opponent.

For players focusing on posture-based combat strategies—where breaking an enemy’s guard creates critical openings for devastating follow-up attacks—the Phantom Fist Kanabo’s unique ability to accelerate posture attack charging makes it an invaluable addition to your arsenal. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the precise steps needed to challenge and defeat Hozoin In’ei, the master wielder who currently possesses this legendary weapon, allowing you to claim it for your own conquest of feudal Japan.

Unlocking Nobutsuna’s Students: The Path to the Phantom Fist

The journey to obtain the Phantom Fist Kanabo begins with a significant side quest chain that many players might initially overlook while focusing on the main storyline. Nobutsuna’s Students represents one of the most rewarding optional quest lines in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, not only for its narrative depth but also for the exceptional weapons awarded throughout its completion.

This quest chain becomes available after you encounter the venerable combat master Kamiizumi Nobutsuna during the main story mission “An Education.” While this initial meeting advances the central narrative, the opportunity to pursue his wayward students emerges only after completing your primary business with Nobutsuna. A second conversation with the master unlocks the Nobutsuna’s Students side quest—a series of challenging duels against former pupils who have strayed from their master’s honorable teachings.

What makes this quest line particularly engaging is how it weaves into the game’s broader themes of honor, corruption, and redemption. Each student represents a different manifestation of how martial prowess can be misdirected toward destructive ends. This narrative approach transforms what could have been simple combat challenges into meaningful character encounters that enhance the world-building of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

For players who appreciate the game’s combat mechanics, Nobutsuna’s Students also serves as an advanced tutorial for mastering different weapon types. Each encounter forces you to adapt to a specific weapon and fighting style, effectively preparing you for the increasingly complex combat scenarios in later game stages. This design philosophy—rewarding mastery with tools for greater mastery—represents one of the more elegant progression systems in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

It’s worth noting that while the Phantom Fist Kanabo is specifically awarded for defeating Hozoin In’ei, completing the entire Nobutsuna’s Students quest chain yields additional legendary weapons that complement different play styles. This encourages thorough exploration of side content rather than cherry-picking specific rewards.

Hunting Hozoin In’ei: Location and Combat Strategy

With Nobutsuna’s Students active in your quest log, your specific target for obtaining the Phantom Fist Kanabo is Hozoin In’ei, a monk who has perverted his spiritual training into a path of violence. This encounter is deliberately positioned in a serene yet isolated location that creates a striking contrast between the peaceful surroundings and the violent confrontation that awaits.

Hozoin In’ei awaits within Choanji Yakushido, a temple-like structure located in the southeastern portion of Asuka Rocks Basin, south of Yamato and just before the river channel. This remote location requires some deliberate exploration to discover, reinforcing the thematic isolation of a monk who has strayed from his path.

While the quest marker generally points you in the right direction, the exact position of Nobutsuna’s students can sometimes vary slightly between playthroughs. To avoid unnecessary searching, it’s advisable to deploy your scouts to precisely pinpoint Hozoin In’ei’s location before making the journey yourself. This practical approach saves time and allows you to plan your approach more effectively.

Upon reaching the temple, initiating a conversation with Hozoin In’ei triggers the duel that will determine possession of the Phantom Fist Kanabo. The encounter follows a ritual format common to Nobutsuna’s Students quests—you must defeat the opponent using the same weapon type they wield, in this case, the Kanabo. This restriction creates a satisfying thematic symmetry while ensuring you’ve demonstrated sufficient skill with the weapon before claiming it as your own.

The duel itself presents a moderate challenge that tests your mastery of heavy weapon combat mechanics. Hozoin In’ei employs powerful, sweeping attacks that deal significant damage if they connect, representing the devastating potential of the Kanabo. However, these attacks also create openings that observant players can exploit. The fight rewards patience and timing—waiting for opportunities after his attack sequences rather than attempting to trade blows directly.

A particularly effective strategy involves using your special abilities (R2/RT) to create openings and deal significant damage. These abilities not only inflict substantial harm but also create windows of opportunity for follow-up attacks when Hozoin In’ei is momentarily vulnerable. This approach mirrors how you’ll likely use the Phantom Fist Kanabo once it’s in your possession, creating a satisfying gameplay loop that reinforces the weapon’s strengths.

Upon defeating Hozoin In’ei, the Phantom Fist Kanabo is automatically added to your inventory, ready to be equipped and used in your ongoing adventures throughout feudal Japan.

Phantom Fist Kanabo: Specifications and Combat Applications

Once claimed, the Phantom Fist Kanabo immediately distinguishes itself as one of the most formidable weapons in Yasuke’s potential arsenal. This legendary Kanabo boasts impressive base statistics that make it a powerhouse in direct combat: 1392 Weapon DPS provides solid foundation damage, while its truly exceptional 6125 Posture DPS represents one of the highest guard-breaking potentials in the game. The 7424 Ability Damage further enhances its effectiveness when paired with Yasuke’s special combat moves, while the +16.6% Vulnerable Damage bonus creates opportunities for devastating follow-up attacks after breaking an enemy’s posture.

However, what truly elevates the Phantom Fist Kanabo from merely powerful to potentially game-changing is its unique perk: faster charging of Posture Attacks. This seemingly straightforward benefit fundamentally transforms how you can approach combat against heavily armored or defensive enemies. The accelerated charge time means you can execute guard-breaking attacks more frequently, creating more windows of vulnerability where enemies take significantly increased damage.

This specialized functionality makes the Phantom Fist Kanabo particularly effective against elite enemies and bosses who rely on strong defensive postures. Where other weapons might struggle to create openings against such opponents, the Phantom Fist excels at systematically dismantling their defenses and exposing their vulnerabilities.

The Phantom Fist also includes a single engraving slot, accessible through the Blacksmith at your Hideout. This customization option allows you to further specialize the weapon toward your preferred combat style. Popular engravings for this weapon include increased posture damage, enhanced critical hit chance after breaking posture, or complementary perks that trigger health regeneration or status effects when successfully breaking an enemy’s guard.

Maximizing the Phantom Fist’s Potential in Combat

Once the Phantom Fist Kanabo is in your possession, adapting your combat approach to leverage its unique strengths can dramatically enhance your effectiveness against even the most challenging opponents in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The weapon’s specialized focus on posture breaking creates opportunities for distinctive combat strategies that might be less viable with other weapons.

Consider pairing the Phantom Fist with armor pieces and charms that complement its posture-breaking capabilities. Equipment that enhances heavy attack damage, reduces stamina consumption, or increases damage against vulnerable enemies creates powerful synergies with the Kanabo’s inherent strengths. Particularly effective combinations include the Oni Crusher armor set for its enhanced posture damage or the Breaker’s Charm for increased damage against staggered enemies.

When engaging in combat with the Phantom Fist, prioritize charged heavy attacks followed by swift combinations once an enemy’s guard is broken. This rhythm—heavy attack to break posture, followed by rapid strikes against the vulnerable target—maximizes the weapon’s damage potential while minimizing your own exposure to counterattacks. The accelerated charge time for posture attacks makes this approach substantially more viable than with standard Kanabos.

For players who enjoy ability-focused builds, the Phantom Fist’s impressive 7424 Ability Damage rating makes it an excellent complement to Yasuke’s special combat moves. Skills that focus on breaking enemy defenses become substantially more effective, and the Kanabo’s natural strength ensures that follow-up abilities deal maximum damage to vulnerable targets.

The weapon’s single engraving slot can be leveraged strategically based on your preferred playstyle. Those focused on pure offensive potential might opt for enhancements that increase critical hit chance or damage, while more defensive players might prefer perks that trigger health regeneration or temporary invulnerability after breaking an enemy’s posture. This customization option ensures the Phantom Fist remains relevant regardless of how your personal playstyle evolves.

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