Genzaburo’s Soldiers: Find Locations and Rewards Guide

If you’re on the hunt for the Genzaburo soldiers in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, having a little guidance could make all the difference. There are five primary targets, including Genzaburo himself, and tackling them all solo will be quite the feat. This quest becomes available early in the game, but be prepared to invest time in leveling up before you can complete it.

The game is rich with side quests in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, and skipping them could leave you at a disadvantage regarding your Mastery Points. The goal is to maximize your points because any additional ones accumulated after reaching the final Knowledge Rank can enhance your basic stats. By the game’s end, if you work hard enough, you can evolve into a formidable shinobi or samurai, which is crucial for dismantling Genzaburo.

Initiating The Fallen Soldiers Side Quest

Where To Go & When It Becomes Available

The Fallen Soldiers quest will appear on your objectives board after defeating the Ox in the main storyline of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. You’ll first encounter Koshiro during the mission to take down the Ox, as he is part of the group of deserters that Naoe and Yasuke aim to save. However, this puts him in danger with the Genzaburo soldiers once that mission concludes, so you can talk to him to uncover the details.

Koshiro will be waiting at the Kyokaiji Temple, where you regroup during the quest. Return to the temple to talk to him, and he will unlock the People of Harima quest board, along with a new board for the Genzaburo Soldiers. One key difference with this quest compared to those involving Yokai is that you’ll only get the location of the first soldier initially, and you’ll need to complete the quests in sequence.

Keep in mind that the quest is recommended for players at Level 41 or higher; it’s likely you won’t be at that level since the Ox is around Level 26. While there are strategies for taking them out, it’s important to note that you are required to complete this quest using Naoe.

I’m not certain if you can pursue the next soldier out of sequence once their locations are revealed, but they will get progressively tougher, so keep this in mind. You must consult Koshiro before taking on Genzaburo himself, and I wouldn’t advise attempting to skip that conversation.

Finding The Scout

Level 43

The Scout is relatively easy to eliminate if you don’t want a long battle. You can find him in the Silver Lands, and moving close allows you to spot him as he plays the same instrument as Naoe. The area has plenty of bushes and tall grass for a quiet approach, regardless of the time of day. Once you take him down, you’ll receive a clue for locating the next target.

Rewards for completing this task include:

• 2000 XP
• 2 Mastery Points
• Vigilant Grasp (Epic Bow)

Finding The Swordsman

Level 43

The Swordsman stands near Mount Kasagata in Harima, close to the edge of the map. He is positioned on a bridge facing the direction from which you are likely to approach. For a successful assassination, wait until night, use the bushes to sneak past the bridge, and cross the river below.

When you’re close, approach him from behind to trigger the assassination prompt. If you cannot manage to assassinate him, be prepared for a tough duel since he is quite formidable. I typically recommend saving before engaging with the Genzaburo soldiers, so you can reload and retry the assassination if you miss it.

Completion of this task rewards you with:

• 2000 XP
• 2 Mastery Points
• Inari’s Bounty (Epic Long Katana)

Tracking The Teppo Expert

Level 45

This target can be a bit tricky. You’ll discover The Teppo Expert at the Kaya Shrine, also located in the Mount Kasagata area. However, the clues you initially receive will direct you to an area beneath the shrine, where you’ll need to eavesdrop for additional hints. Upon reaching the shrine, use your observational skills to spot The Teppo Expert’s exact location.

The time of day is crucial yet again. He will be accompanied by three soldiers. If you’re looking at his location from the shrine’s main area, it’s best to go around to the left to approach him from behind to avoid being detected by his companions. After eliminating him, expect the remaining soldiers to chase you; they tend to follow further than anticipated.

Successful completion yields:

• 2000 XP
• 2 Mastery Points
• Wave of Wasps (Legendary Teppo)

Locating The Poisoner

Level 41

Getting into position for the assassination of The Poisoner is a bit more challenging. Initially, you’ll be directed to a couple of boys who want to sneak into her biwa performance. This leads you to a spot where you can spot a hole in the wall to enter the Nishinomaru Gardens. From that point, it’s up to your skills to navigate the remainder of the area.

For the audience, your presence will go unnoticed, but The Poisoner and a roaming guard will catch sight of you. There is only one guard, and he circles the area, making him relatively easy to avoid. However, The Poisoner rests in the middle of the lake, which complicates sneaking up on her without being seen.

You’ll need to focus your attention on the largest tree along the bank nearest to The Poisoner. This tree cannot be directly climbed, but you must find a way to reach its upper branches. Go back behind it, and you should discover a pole that Naoe can scale, as shown in one of the images above. From there, progress to the tree behind the Poisoner, positioning yourself perfectly for an aerial assassination.

Final rewards include:

• 2000 XP
• 2 Mastery Points
• The Poisoner’s Message (Epic Bow)

Tracking Down Genzaburo

Level 43

You’ll need to approach Genzaburo to engage in conversation, which will likely lead him to challenge you to open combat. If you prefer stealth tactics like I do, you can run around the building when the fight begins and climb up to the roof. Stay hidden so Genzaburo can’t spot you, wait for him to start searching for you, and then carefully edge to the roof’s edge, awaiting the assassination prompt.

This strategy has proven effective for me. After the encounter, you’ll witness a brief cutscene featuring Koshiro, and the quest will conclude. The final rewards consist of 5000 XP, one Mastery Point, and two Legendary Engravings for your weaponry in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.