Embark on a perilous hunt for the elusive Winter Raiders in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a band of formidable foes terrorizing the Kii region. This guide will lead you through each Raider’s location, detailing their whereabouts and the valuable rewards you’ll earn for bringing them to justice. From the snow-covered paths patrolled by Hayate to Jinbei’s hidden coastal cave, prepare to track down and eliminate each member of this dangerous group, uncovering a deeper conspiracy along the way.
Winter Raiders Quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
This quest takes place in the southwest part of the map, in the Kii region. When you arrive, look for Rin and talk to her. She’ll lead you to the village elder speak with him to kick off the quest The Winter Raiders. If you begin this quest in any season other than winter, you’ll find all the raiders hiding out in the Sandanbeki cave. Once the mission begins, your first task is to locate the home of Yasha’s contact. Head northwest from Kumano Sazan to a small shrine town by the river. To spot the right house, just hold the left trigger. Once you’re inside, read the letter to form a connection and move the story forward.
Sobei Location and Rewards
If you start the quest in winter by speaking with the elder, Winter Raider Sobei is a good first target he’s located in Gobo. He patrols the poorer areas of the town, which are in the southern part between the docks and Dojoji Temple. If you haven’t been to Gobo before or learned about the raiders through other means, you can find the town in the southeast part of the Kii region. Sobei usually has bodyguards with him, so if you’re playing as Naoe, it’s a great opportunity to use your tanto for a double assassination, take out Sobei and one of his guards at the same time. Defeating Sobei rewards you with the Sharpened Hail Epic Katana, 2,000 XP, and 2 Mastery Points.
Hayate Location and Rewards
You can find the Winter Raider Hayate in the northeastern part of Kii. He’s been ambushing travelers along the road, so he’s not too difficult to track down if you know where to look. Start by heading north out of Kumano Hayatama Taisha and the nearby town of Shingu. Cross the bridge and follow the road that leads toward a dead end near the southeastern edge of the Yamato region. Hayate will be somewhere along this route.
Once you’re about halfway there, it’s a good idea to hop off your horse and move stealthily. Hayate tends to hang out on higher ground beside the road, and there’s plenty of shrubbery nearby you can use for cover. Even in winter, you can pull off a solid ambush this way. Taking him down rewards you with the Epic Teppo Kagutsuchi’s Deed, 2,000 XP, and 2 Mastery Points.
Yasha Location and Rewards
Unlike the other Winter Raiders, Yasha is located in the Yamato region not in Kii. Your first lead comes from a contact in the shrine town of Kawakami. To get started, head to Hongu, a riverside shrine town in northwestern Kumano Sanzan. There, you’ll find a letter with more info that points you toward Kawakami.
Yasha herself can be found near the bridge northeast of Kawakami, in the northern part of Yoshino. Since she’s the only raider outside of Kii, you might want to save her for last to avoid too much backtracking. But if you’re following the full investigation, stopping by Kawakami first adds some extra context before you track her down. Defeating Yasha rewards you with 2,000 XP, 2 Mastery Points, and an Epic Naginata called Boreal Wind.
Akumu Location and Rewards
Akumu can be a bit trickier to find since she’s not camped out near a major landmark like a river. You’ll want to head toward the center of the Nakehechi Route area. If you go to where “Nakehechi Route” is labeled on your map, you’ll come across the village of Takahara. Just northeast of there, you’ll find a camp where Akumu and a group of bandits are holed up.
She’s a ranged fighter who primarily uses a bow, so getting in close before engaging is key, she can be deadly from a distance. Taking down Akumu rewards you with the Legendary Bow: A Thousand Cuts (a weaker Yasuke legendary weapon, but still fun to use if you like bows), along with its special Knock Down Shot engraving. You’ll also earn the usual 2,000 XP and 2 Mastery Points.
Jinbei Location & Rewards
Jinbei is the leader of the Winter Raiders, and you’ll find him hiding out in a cave on the southern coast of Kii. The easiest way to reach it is by sea look just south of the town of Tanabe, where the cave is tucked into a rocky outcropping along the shoreline.
If you take this route, head into Tanabe, grab a boat, and row directly into the cave from the water. Jinbei is located near the sea entrance, making this a great opportunity for a quick and clean assassination. Take him out, then make a fast getaway to wrap up the Winter Raiders quest. Defeating Jinbei rewards you with the Epic Kanabo Pupil’s Promise, plus 2,000 XP and 2 Mastery Points.
Once you’ve taken out all the Winter Raiders, head back to the elder in Gobo to wrap up the quest. In addition to all the rewards you’ve collected along the way, turning in the quest will earn you another chunk of XP and 1 more Mastery Point. The elder also offers you 200 mon as a reward but after learning about his role in the rise of the Winter Raiders, you’ll have the choice to either accept the money or turn it down.
