All Twisted Tree locations and rewards in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

TL;DR

  • Begin with ‘Inside Help’ quest under The Fool objectives to access The Twisted Tree storyline
  • Locate Ujimasa at Kiyomizudera Temple’s southern entrance for Takahashi clan intelligence
  • Seven Takahashi members require completion of five side quests for precise location reveals
  • Two clan members can be spared during assassination sequences for alternative outcomes
  • Start elimination chain with Takahashi Taro via ‘Help Needed’ quest in central Kyoto

Mastering the intricate assassination network of The Twisted Tree represents one of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ most engaging side narratives. This multi-stage elimination challenge begins in Yamashiro province and offers substantial rewards for methodical completion.

“The Twisted Tree” functions as a specialized assassination operation within Assassin’s Creed Shadows that activates upon reaching Yamashiro. While technically categorized under The Fool’s progression path on the Shinbakufu Objectives interface, it immediately generates its own dedicated tracking system once initiated.

Strategic preparation is essential before engaging this content. Players should ensure they’ve acquired adequate stealth equipment and combat capabilities through our Weapons Unlock guide to handle the diverse enemy types within the Takahashi clan.

Your journey into the Takahashi clan conflict begins with locating the informant Ujimasa, who possesses critical intelligence for infiltrating Yamazaki Castle. However, his assistance comes only after neutralizing the rogue samurai threat plaguing Kyoto’s outskirts.

To activate “The Twisted Tree,” players must first complete the prerequisite mission “Inside Help” located within The Fool’s section on the Shinbakufu Objectives board. This serves as the essential gateway to the broader assassination campaign.

“Inside Help” directs you to Kiyomizudera Temple positioned southwest of the Hills of Meeting landmark and southeast of Kyoto in central Yamashiro. Navigation is straightforward—follow the main roads from Kyoto while watching for temple architecture markers.

At the temple’s southern entrance, you’ll encounter Ujimasa disguised as a tour guide. The water selection dialogue presents three options, but none impact quest progression—choose based on roleplaying preference. He subsequently reveals detailed information about the Takahashi clan, a family of disgraced samurai terrorizing Kyoto’s citizens, and provides initial hunting coordinates.

The Takahashi elimination operation involves seven distinct targets, each with specialized quests for location discovery and separate assassination missions. This structured approach requires careful planning and sequential completion.

Notably, two Takahashi members present moral choices—they can be spared during assassination sequences rather than eliminated. These decisions may influence later game interactions and reward variations, adding strategic depth to your approach.

Substantial groundwork precedes precise target location acquisition. Five dedicated side quests must be completed to reveal exact positions of all seven Takahashi operatives. This investigative phase separates casual players from dedicated assassins.

Proper Class Guide selection significantly impacts your efficiency during these missions. Stealth-focused builds excel at infiltration, while combat-oriented classes handle direct confrontations more effectively.

Your Takahashi elimination campaign initiates with “Help Needed,” the introductory quest under Takahashi Taro’s designation. This first target establishes the pattern for subsequent operations.

Locate the mission-initiating merchant in central Kyoto, specifically west of Nijo Palace near a distinctive umbrella cart vendor. This merchant provides critical intelligence about Taro’s operations and patterns.

Time investment varies significantly based on playstyle. Efficient completion typically requires 2-3 hours for all seven targets, while thorough exploration may extend to 5-6 hours. Preparation through our Complete Guide can reduce this substantially.

Common mistakes include rushing assassination attempts without proper reconnaissance and neglecting alternative approaches for spareable targets. Patience and observation typically yield better outcomes than direct confrontation.

Begin your Takahashi clan hunt by navigating to the Southern Kyoto Kakurega area, where Jiro awaits just northeast of this location. His position places him conveniently close to the entrance, making him an accessible first target for players beginning this quest chain. Approach from the southern pathways to maintain stealth advantage.

  • Defeating Jiro rewards you with the essential Letter from Jiro’s Body document, the powerful Final Word of the Guardian teppo firearm, plus the highly valuable Armor Damage on Multiple Enemies and Improved Assassinate engravings that significantly enhance combat effectiveness against grouped opponents.
  • Pro Tip: Approach during nighttime for reduced guard presence and easier stealth takedown. The Improved Assassinate engraving particularly benefits characters specializing in stealth builds, increasing one-hit kill potential by approximately 15-20% based on your character’s stealth stat progression.

    Venture to Kyoto’s northern district where Shiro positions himself directly in front of Nijo Palace’s prominent tall structure featuring a viewpoint summit. This location offers multiple infiltration options – while frontal approach is possible, skilled players can utilize perimeter poles to execute devastating air assassination maneuvers from elevated positions.

  • Eliminating Shiro yields the standard Letter from Shiro’s Body, the exceptional The Untamable One katana blade renowned for its balanced stats, and the coveted Armor Piercing on Consecutive Kills engraving that progressively enhances damage output during extended combat engagements.
  • Advanced Strategy: The air assassination approach not only provides style points but also guarantees a silent takedown if executed correctly. Position yourself on the northwest pole for optimal angle, timing your jump when Shiro pauses during his patrol route. The Armor Piercing engraving stacks up to three times, making it ideal for players who favor aggressive combat styles in our Class Guide for assault-focused builds.

    While operating in northern Kyoto, proceed to Shokokuji Temple situated several blocks northeast of the Northern Kyoto Kakurega. Here you’ll encounter Goro, another Takahashi clan member positioned in the northwest sector of the temple ruins. Upon locating him, utilize the look trigger mechanism to initiate the moral choice sequence where you can elect to spare his life or eliminate him based on your character alignment preferences.

  • Choosing to spare Goro grants you the Raijin’s Refusal teppo firearm and the strategically valuable Damage after Headshot engraving. Importantly, his corresponding letter rests slightly southward, positioned just beyond the temple ruins’ perimeter walls and requires separate collection.
  • Decision Analysis: Sparing Goro provides karma benefits and unique dialogue options later in the questline, while killing him yields additional experience points. The Damage after Headshot engraving synergizes exceptionally well with precision-based weapons discussed in our Weapons Unlock guide, providing 25% bonus damage for 8 seconds following successful headshots.

    With the secondary family members neutralized, focus shifts to Takahashi Inoshichi located in western Kyoto within a secured compound. Intelligence from Goro’s recovered letter reveals a secret entrance to his father’s residence – specifically a concealed trapdoor accessible through the garden area. Inoshichi possesses substantial health reserves, rendering standard assassination attempts insufficient for immediate elimination.

  • Successfully defeating Inoshichi rewards the Letter from Inoshici’s Body, the mystical Kitsune’s Trickery amulet artifact, and the survival-focused Health for Samurai Mastery engraving that enhances durability during intense combat scenarios.
  • Combat Preparation: Prioritize eliminating all perimeter guards before engaging Inoshichi to prevent reinforcement calls. The secret garden entrance provides optimal stealth approach, while the Health for Samurai Mastery engraving provides gradual health regeneration during melee combat – perfect for players who prefer sustained engagements as detailed in our Complete Guide to defensive playstyles. Expect this encounter to take 3-5 minutes with proper preparation.

    After systematically dealing with all Takahashi clan objectives, return to Ujimasa at Kiyomizudera Temple in eastern Kyoto to culminate the quest initiated earlier in your journey. He will formally ally with your cause against The Fool antagonist and provide the crucial Yamazaki Castle Gate Key necessary for progression into restricted story areas.

    Progression Impact: This key unlocks significant late-game content areas and additional quest chains. Completion time for the entire Takahashi questline typically ranges 45-60 minutes depending on player skill level and exploration thoroughness. For comprehensive guidance on subsequent content, consult our updated Assassin’s Creed Shadows walkthrough and companion acquisition guides.

    Common Mistake Avoidance: Many players overlook Goro’s hidden letter, which contains valuable backstory and minor loot. Always thoroughly search perimeter areas after key encounters. Additionally, attempting Inoshichi without clearing guards first remains the most frequent cause of failure – patience in preparation pays dividends.

    Action Checklist

    • Complete ‘Inside Help’ quest from The Fool objectives board
    • Locate Ujimasa at Kiyomizudera Temple southern entrance
    • Initiate ‘Help Needed’ quest with merchant west of Nijo Palace
    • Complete five side quests to reveal all seven Takahashi locations
    • Execute assassinations, sparing two optional targets for alternative outcomes
    • Locate Jiro near Southern Kyoto Kakurega (approach from south at night)
    • Eliminate Shiro at Nijo Palace using air assassination from northwest pole
    • Find Goro at Shokokuji Temple ruins and decide to spare or kill
    • Collect Goro’s letter south of temple walls if spared
    • Use secret garden entrance to confront Inoshichi after clearing guards
    • Return to Ujimasa at Kiyomizudera Temple for key and quest completion

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