Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set in the turbulent Sengoku period of Japanese history, where warring clans vied for control of the country with little care for the civilians caught in the aftermath.
These harsh conditions bred hard times where unscrupulous bandits were willing to do anything to survive: including dressing in the traditional robes of Japanese wandering hermits known as Yamabushi to lure unsuspecting passersby into a false sense of security before robbing them and leaving them for dead.
These Yamabushi Imposters are a mid-late game organization of assassination targets in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and it’s easy to stumble across them when you’re far underlevelled to take them on.
However, when you’re up to the challenge, here’s where to find all of the Yamabushi Imposters so you can defeat them and claim their unique items for yourself.
How to learn about the Yamabushi Imposters
To start the road to learning about the organization known as the Yamabushi Imposters, you need to travel to Iga and visit Naoe’s village in Mibuno Vale. There you get a side quest where you track down Auntie Matsu called From the Ashes.
Then, after completing Matsu’s quest in Iga, you’re directed to speak to Genpaku in Yamato.
He tells you about the Yamabushi Imposters, a group of bandits wearing monk’s robes to ambush unaware farmers and peasants, robbing them of everything they own.
Yamabushi Imposters locations
Below we’ve embedded an interactive map showing the locations of the Yamabushi Imposters, before going into more detail about where to find and defeat each one:
On this page:
Pond Yamabushi location
The Pond Yamabushi is an elusive character who ambushes Naoe while she sits at the Kuji-Kiri meditating at the Three Trunked Tree in the mount Hiei area of Omi on the western shore of Lake Biwa.
He sneaks up and attacks you once you start the meditation mini-game at any level, but can be fought at level 40. Once he’s defeated, you get the Monk’s Amendment Katana and the Ration on headshot engraving.
Forest Yamabushi location
The Forest Yamabushi can be found at Nyu-Daimyojin Shrine to the east of Saika in Kii.
You need to walk past him and get ambushed by his followers before you can fight him, as he pretends to be injured at the entrance to the shrine. He wields a poison spear and can be tough since he has a large health bar – but as always, ability spam is your friend. As a reward you get the Izanami’s Salvation Naginata and buildup over half health engraving.
Mountain Yamabushi location
In an interesting change of pace, The Mountain Yamabushi has already been killed by the legendary Yokai, the Yuki Onna, or Snow Woman, and can be found in the crawl space of her cave in Omi.
Kawachi Kaza-ana Cave is between Ibu Highlands and Suzuka Foothills on the map and the easiest way to get there is to ride down the main road along Lake Biwa to Nomura Village to the southeast of Nagahama, then follow the river eastwards and you’ll eventually reach the Cave.
Inside, look for a hole you can crawl through (by holding the crouch button). Then all the way around the other side of the pit you find the Yamabushi.
Valley Yamabushi location
The Valley Yamabushi is killed as part of the “Monk’s Wake” quest where you find a house for Auntie Matsu in Iga.
First go to your old village in the Mibuno Vale area of Iga to collect the quest, then seek out Matsu at Hinotani Shrine to the south. Then you’ll get a quest marker for a summer house next to the shrine where you fight the Valley Yamabushi.
River Yamabushi location
The River Yamabushi is found between Ominesanji Outlook and where you find Genpaku Yoshino.
He’s standing next to a pool just down from the outlook, taking in the westward view. He drops Susanoo’s Torrent Bow and the Armor Piercing on Multiple enemies engraving.
Shadow Yamabushi location
Unlike the other Yamabushi, you get some clues about where to find the Shadow:
- He is lurking in Iga
- He is in Otogi Pass
- He is near Kasuga Shrine
You find Kasuga Shrine in the east of Otogi Pass, next to Mibuno Vale. Approach the temple grounds and you’ll see two genuine monks warning each other about a suspicious character with a hate-filled stare nearby.
Follow the path up through the shrine towards the viewpoint. There, waiting by a campfire near the top, you find the Shadow Yamabushi. He’s quite easy to sneak up on and assassinate, and drops the Yomi’s Retribution Kusarigama and the critical chance on consecutive hits engraving.
Village Yamabushi location
The Village Yamabushi is nearby, and you get three more clues:
- He was lurking in Iga
- He hides somewhere in Mibuno Vale
- He is at the Shinobi Training Ground
You find the training ground to the southeast of Naoe’s Village in Iga, with the Kakurega there being a convenient fast travel point.
As you reach the training ground, follow the stone stairs to the shrine at the summit and there you find the Village Yamabushi. However, don’t attack straight away.
Instead, investigate the discarded armour, cooking pot and scraps of paper in the vicinity of his meditations. It seems this bandit has truly adopted the teachings of a true monk and Yasuke and Naoe decide to spare him to serve out his penance in poverty. You get the damage on parry engraving, as well as information about the remaining Yamabushi as a reward.
Pathway Yamabushi location
Next, the Pathway Yamabushi is found in Kii, with the following clues:
- He is in Kii
- He is wandering east of Kumano Sanzan
- He travels around Shingu
You find Shingu all the way on the east coast of the map, right in the corner.
The Yamabushi is right in the middle of the area, to the left of where it says Shingu on the map and to the right of the huge temple. He drops the Izanagi’s Reach Naginata, as well as the health with headshot engraving.
Clifftop Yamabushi location
Finally, the Clifftop Yamabushi is just to the north, but you still get the requisite three clues:
- He is somewhere in Kii
- He is on the Iseji Trails
- He hides on the east coast of Kii
There’s a question mark right on the edge of the map, just past the bridge north out of Shingu, which is the Path of the Chosen.
Next to the path, you hear children discussing a Yamabushi attack where the perpetrator ran away up to a clifftop shrine like a monkey. Climb the Path of the Chosen, which is easier said than done – but if it looks like you’re at a dead end check for somewhere you can crawl into by holding the crouch button.
At the top of the gauntlet, you find the Yamabushi waiting by a campfire. Sneak up to land some assassinate damage on him, then clean up the kill. He drops the Lustrous Pearl Naginata as well as the knockdown on postured combo ender engraving.
With all of the formidable Yamabushi defeated, return to Genpaku and he’s relived at the news. You get 5000XP and the secluded shinto shrine ornament as a reward for completing the set.
For more Assassin’s Creed Shadows action, check out our other walkthrough guides as well as our pages on the Iron Hand Guild locations, the Godai Shinobi, and Nobutsuna’s Students locations.