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Finding all the members of the Winter Raiders in Assassin’s Creed Shadows presents a distinctive challenge. As their name suggests, you’ll only encounter these characters during winter in their specific locations. Luckily, most of them are clustered within the same area on the map, allowing you to avoid switching seasons frequently while using fast travel to complete your tasks efficiently.
To begin the Winter Raiders quest, speak to the elder in Gobo, located on the southern coast of the Kii Region, in the southeast corner of the game map. This conversation will provide some initial clues to guide your quest. If you’re unable to pursue them immediately, remember to prioritize it when winter arrives again. Interestingly, there is a strategy to eliminate them outside of winter, though it carries a much higher risk.
Winter Raider Sobei Location & Rewards
Winter Raider Sobei is located in Gobo, making him an accessible target if you initiate the quest during winter. He patrols the "lower-income areas of Gobo," which can be found at the southern end of the town, situated between the docks and Dojoji Temple. If you’re new to Gobo, remember that it’s in the southeast part of Kii.
Sobei is usually accompanied by bodyguards, so if you approach him as Naoe, you should use your tanto to execute a double assassination on him and one of the nearby guards. I found this easiest to do through a drop attack. Taking out Sobei will reward you with the Sharpened Hail Epic Katana, 2,000 XP, and 2 Mastery Points.
Winter Raider Hayate Location & Rewards
The Winter Raider Hayate is found in the northeastern section of Kii. Known for ambushing travelers on the road, he’s relatively easy to locate if you know where to look. Head north from the Kumano Hayatama Taisha shrine and the nearby town of Shingu. You will cross a bridge and follow a road that leads to a dead end near the map’s edge, just southeast of the Yamato region.
Once you make it halfway along this road, it’s advisable to leave your horse and move carefully to catch Hayate by surprise. He typically rests in a higher elevation off the road, which allows you to use nearby bushes as cover for your ambush, even in winter. Eliminating Hayate grants you Epic Teppo Kagutsuchi’s Deed, alongside 2,000 XP and 2 Mastery Points.
Winter Raider Yasha Location & Rewards
In contrast to her fellow Winter Raiders, Yasha is located in Yamato and not Kii. Your first clue can be found in the shrine town of Kawakami, which is situated in the shrine town of Hongu by the river in northwestern Kumano Sanzan. Here, you’ll discover a letter with information that directs you to Kawakami for Yasha.
Yasha is near the bridge northeast of Kawakami, in northern Yoshino. If you prefer not to bounce between regions, you can save her for last since the other targets are in Kii. However, to fully engage with the quest, visiting Kawakami would be essential rather than heading straight to her location. Defeating Yasha rewards you with 2,000 XP, 2 Mastery Points, and the Epic Naginata named Boreal Wind.
Winter Raider Akumu Location & Rewards
Finding Akumu can be a bit trickier since she isn’t situated near notable landmarks, like rivers. You can track her down near the middle of the Nakehechi Route area. On your map, look for the village named Takahara. Northeast of this village, you’ll find a camp where Akumu and some bandits are present.
If you’ve already visited Takahara, you can fast travel to the Kakurega location there for convenience. Defeating Akumu will give you the Legendary Bow A Thousand Cuts, which, while not the strongest, can be effective in the right hands, along with the Knock Down Shot engraving, plus the standard 2,000 XP and 2 Mastery Points. Be cautious, as she relies on her bow, making her a threat at a distance.
Winter Raider Jinbei Location & Rewards
Jinbei, the leader of the Winter Raiders, can be found in a cave situated at the southern tip of Kii. I located the cave by approaching from the sea; it’s tucked away in an outcrop south of the town of Tanabe. If you take this route, you should rent a boat to navigate into the cave. Jinbei will be positioned near the sea entrance, and the easiest strategy is to execute an assassination and escape quickly. This will reward you with the Epic Kanabo Pupil’s Promise, another 2,000 XP, and 2 Mastery Points.
The cave contains additional loot for you to explore, but it also has numerous enemies. If you’re determined to take down the raiders outside of winter, you’ll discover that they huddle in the same cave as Jinbei during warmer seasons. Although this method can be the quickest way to finish your objectives, it also poses a significant risk due to the potential for multiple high-level foes and various standard enemies appearing together.
Once all Winter Raiders are dispatched, head back to the elder in Gobo. In addition to the rewards you’ve collected throughout your journey, turning in the quest grants you an additional XP boost and a Mastery Point. The elder also offers you 200 mon, but you have the option to decline this reward upon learning about his connection to the Winter Raiders.
The amount of mon is minor, so feel free to turn down the reward if you deem it appropriate—this choice won’t affect your XP and Mastery Points. Regardless, you will leave with a notable assortment of rewards for making the Kii region safer in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
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