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There are five legendary animals in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Each appears at a specific landmark during a particular season and time of day—except the Wise Macaques, which can appear at night in any season. Play as Naoe, approach without startling the animal, then use the in-game observation action to draw it; these are sumi-e encounters, not fights.
All five legendary animal locations and spawn conditions
Use the province and landmark as your map-navigation anchors. The locations and conditions below are reported by both PowerPyx and Gamepressure. Their nearby landmarks differ slightly in some cases, so look around the named area if the animal is not immediately visible.
| Legendary animal | Province and location | Season | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grey Heron | Wakasa, Lake Suigetsu; south of Tsuruga village | Winter | Day |
| White Tanuki | Omi, The Shimmering Fields, near Shigaraki Hamlet; northeast of the hamlet | Summer | Day |
| Wise Macaques | Yamashiro, Little Leaf Glade, at Sarumaru Shrine | Any season | Night |
| Sakura Shika Deer | Yamato, Yoshino; near the meadow southeast of the Mountain Blossom Pagoda viewpoint | Spring | Night |
| Silver Fox | Kii, Kamimisu Inari Shrine, south of the Kamimisu Heights viewpoint | Autumn | Night |
How to draw a legendary animal
- Switch to Naoe. The encounter is a sumi-e drawing activity.
- Meet the listed season and time condition. Four animals have a specific season and day-or-night window; the Wise Macaques require night but have no seasonal restriction.
- Approach slowly. Avoid startling the animal and move close enough for the interaction prompt.
- Use the in-game observation action. Follow the prompt for your input device and settings; PowerPyx gives L2/LT as controller examples.
Completing all five drawings unlocks the A Rare Occurrence achievement or trophy, according to the two guides. Sumi-e also lets you unlock wild animals for display in your hideout, as described in Ubisoft’s hideout overview.
What to do if a legendary animal does not appear
- Verify the conditions. Check that you are at the right landmark and that the season and time of day match the table.
- Refresh the area. Fast travel away and return. PowerPyx also recommends riding at least 200 metres away before coming back.
- Retry at a clear time of day. PowerPyx reports that visits near dawn or dusk may fail and suggests waiting until the next day.
- Allow for a non-guaranteed spawn. PowerPyx estimates an approximately 35% chance of appearance within the required season and time window. This is a guide-reported estimate, not an official Ubisoft spawn rate; the animal may take multiple attempts.
PowerPyx says weather does not affect the spawn. The location and condition information is cross-checked against Gamepressure, whose guide was last updated 10 April 2025; PowerPyx published its guide 19 March 2025. Game updates may change behavior, and Ubisoft’s cited hideout overview does not provide a complete location list.
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Quick Recap
Rank #3
Assassin’s Creed Shadows - Limited Edition (Amazon Exclusive), Xbox Series X
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- 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.
Rank #2
Sale
Assassin's Creed Shadows Standard Edition for Playstation 5
- 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.
#1 Best Overall
Assassin’s Creed Shadows - Limited Edition (Amazon Exclusive), PlayStation 5
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- 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.
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