To assassinate Akechi Mitsuhide and the Horseman in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, complete “Topple the Traitor” for Mitsuhide, then take on “The Man Behind the Mask” for Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the Horseman. Don’t mistake either for “Temple of the Horseman”: that earlier main quest sends Naoe after Oda Nobunaga at Honnō-ji.
Which Horseman mission do you need?
| Goal | Quest | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Assassinate Akechi Mitsuhide | “Topple the Traitor” | Castle infiltration, a Yasuke-led chase and a multi-phase fight that switches to Naoe. The player chooses who kills Mitsuhide. |
| Assassinate the Horseman | “The Man Behind the Mask” | Travel to Kuramadera Temple to confront Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who is sitting in the open. |
| Find the earlier main quest | “Temple of the Horseman” | Naoe infiltrates Honnō-ji and fights Oda Nobunaga; this is not Yoshiaki’s assassination quest. |
The PowerPyx walkthroughs identify Yoshiaki as the target of “The Man Behind the Mask,” while the Assassin’s Creed Wiki associates him with the Horseman designation. The similar quest names are easy to confuse, so select by target and objective, not by the word “Horseman” alone.
How to assassinate Akechi Mitsuhide
Unlock and start “Topple the Traitor”
First complete “The Peasant Who Would Be King.” Then open the Objectives Board and select “Topple the Traitor” in the Shinbakufu group under Akechi Mitsuhide. Find Hideyoshi at his camp along the road from Oyamazaki Village, following the river, and speak with him. Choose “Let’s go” to begin. PowerPyx lists the quest at recommended level 35 with a reward of 1,000 EXP; these are walkthrough-reported in-game details. See the Topple the Traitor walkthrough.
Reach the castle
Your route depends on which character you use to approach the castle:
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- Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles.
- Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
- Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
- As Yasuke: Fight through the enemies toward the castle.
- As Naoe: Turn left and follow the outside wall. At the castle, use the grappling hook to reach the first roof, move to the south side, and drop through the open window. Go down the ladder directly ahead to advance the story.
Chase Mitsuhide and win the fight
Control switches to Yasuke for the pursuit. A horse is available at the bottom of the stairs, but PowerPyx says Mitsuhide cannot escape either way and that projectiles cannot hit him during the chase. He stops at the dock in Oyamazaki Village.
- Move out of the line of the sand attack. The walkthrough describes a sand attack followed by a charged heavy strike. When Mitsuhide raises his sword with both hands, move to one side rather than staying directly in front of him.
- Dodge his countering flourish. If he blocks with a counter, dodge away instead of continuing your attack.
- Adapt when control changes. Once Mitsuhide’s armor breaks, the fight switches to a faster Naoe phase.
After Mitsuhide is defeated, you decide who kills him. The movement and attack advice here comes from the cited walkthrough, not personal testing; difficulty, patch state and player build can affect how the encounter feels.
Rank #2
- ENTER FEUDAL JAPAN - Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- MASTER COMPLEMENTARY PLAYSTYLES - Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
- MAKE INFORMATION YOUR WEAPON - Travel the world and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions
- BUILD A PLACE TO CALL HOME - Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s buildings layout, decorations, and accessories.
How to find and assassinate the Horseman
“The Man Behind the Mask” unlocks after “Topple the Traitor.” It concerns Ashikaga Yoshiaki, described by the walkthrough as the last Shinbakufu member. Travel north from Kyoto to Kuramadera Temple, at the top of the mountain in the Genbu Highlands. PowerPyx locates Yoshiaki sitting in the open in front of the temple, with no way to sneak up on him. Its guide gives no detailed combat strategy, so prepare for a direct encounter and follow the prompts in your game rather than relying on a stealth approach. The walkthrough lists recommended level 35 and 1,000 EXP as the quest reward. See the The Man Behind the Mask walkthrough.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens in “Temple of the Horseman”?
“Temple of the Horseman” is a separate, earlier main quest. PowerPyx places it after “Belly of the Beast”: Naoe meets Mitsuhide near Shōryūji, infiltrates Honnō-ji and fights Oda Nobunaga. Afterward, Tomoki presents a choice between finding Junjiro and going to Mitsuhide. The quest is listed as number 21, recommended level 12, with a 1,000 EXP reward; those figures are guide-reported game details. None of this is the later Yoshiaki assassination. For the mission sequence, see the Temple of the Horseman walkthrough.
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Quick Recap
Rank #4
- BECOME A FEARSOME PIRATE- Strike fear in your foes as you board and sink enemy vessels as Edward Kenway, captain of the Jackdaw. Whether blending into crowds or leading daring assaults, switch between silent takedowns and fierce brawls as you effortlessly wield swords, pistols, and the Hidden Blade. With a cast of historical pirate legends at your side, defy empires amidst the age-old conflict opposing Assassins and Templars.
- A CLASSIC REBUILT FOR AN ENHANCED EXPERIENCE- Combat has been rebuilt for more dynamic encounters, emphasizing parries and takedowns, while stealth and parkour have been improved for smoother escapes and assassinations. Continuously upgrade the Jackdaw to face powerful enemy ships with enhanced naval mechanics featuring new alternate fire modes. Quality-of-life additions also address previous pain points, ensuring your experience is improved.
- THE CARIBBEAN LIKE NEVER BEFORE- Whether you’re sailing the open seas or journeying across untamed lands, discover a seamless open world built with the latest Anvil engine. Take in sweeping vistas as you brave stormy waters, dive into underwater shipwrecks, or push through dense tropical jungles. Enhanced by features such as Dolby Atmos and ray tracing, every scene feels more immersive, bringing the world’s beauty to life.
- EXPANDING EDWARD’S ADVENTURE- Building on top of the original story, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced introduces exclusive new content. Familiar faces will return, with new storylines dedicated to fan-favorite characters such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet. Unexpected allies will also cross your path, as three officers join you on your journey as part of the main narrative. More surprises await, such as new sea shanties, pets, a photo mode, and more.
Rank #3
![Assassin's Creed Shadows [PlayStation 5]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cgBmgsqGL._SL160_.jpg)
- Experience an epic, historical action adventure in feudal Japan and become a deadly Shinobi assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open game world in chaotic times
- Sneak as a Naoe to not be discovered, use your agility to confuse your opponents and stretch down your opponents with deadly precision and power as a Yasuke
- Use information as weapons and build your own spy network to have eyes and ears everywhere and find your targets easier and recruit new allies on the go with unique skills to help you with your missions
- Create a fully customizable hideaway for your growing Shinobi league, where you train recruits, craft new equipment and interact with important characters; set the room layout, decoration and accessories yourself
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