I still recall the first time I stepped barefoot onto the dew-soaked grass of Izumi Settsu in 2026. The world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows stretched before me, impossibly vast and shimmering with feudal-era secrets. Yet, as much as the main story pulled me toward vengeance and honor, it was the side quests that truly made me live in that world. These weren’t mere checklists—each one wove a deeper tapestry of loss, loyalty, and little moments of beauty. And the rewards? Oh, the legendary gear and hideout cosmetics alone were worth every detour.
So, if you’ve ever wondered which side content to chase first, or how to unravel the elusive Butterfly Collectors, let me walk you through my adventure. I promise you’ll leave with a heart full of stories and an inventory bursting with treasures.
A Furry Friend and a Fading Memory
The first diversion I stumbled upon came almost as a whisper. Having preordered the game, I unlocked “Thrown to the Dogs” without even realizing its worth. At Tennoji Temple, a stray dog’s frantic barking pulled me off the path. Chasing that scruffy companion through the temple grounds felt trivial—until the moment he nuzzled against Naoe’s hand and became a permanent hideout resident. Who knew a simple preorder quest could forge such a bond?
But soon after, the game whispered of deeper introspection. “Before the Fall” introduced me to kuji-kiri—those serene meditation spots scattered across the regions. I knelt in the snow, fingers trembling over the controller as I matched fading button prompts. Then, Naoe’s childhood memories flooded back, raw and devastating. The flashback sequence left me wondering: is it possible for a simple mini-game to feel more profound than an entire cinematic? The answer, I found, was a resounding yes.
The Warrior’s Path and a Smuggler’s Lesson
Not every quest demanded introspection. “The Way of the Warrior” arrived with a simple, brutal request: kill 100 bandits across Izumi Settsu. I accepted it from a desperate farmer east of Sakai, thinking, “How hard can it be?” Famous last words. The bandits weren’t clustered in one convenient spot; they lurked near Old Kofun, on temple stairs, and along main roads. I learned to treat this quest like a slow burn—every exploration naturally racked up kills. By the time I hit the 50-bandit milestone and claimed a shiny new weapon, the region felt cleansed, and I felt like a true shadow.
Then came “Smuggler’s Run,” which taught me resource management by firelight. I had to tag supply caches in enemy strongholds like Katano Castle for my scouts to retrieve. The first time I crept into that fortress, I held my breath, marking crates while guards patrolled inches away. It was here, amid the tatami mats and torchlight, that I realized Shadows doesn’t just reward stealth—it demands it.
Chasing Butterflies: A Dark Circle of Crime
The Butterfly Collector questline wrapped me in a murderous mystery that spanned half the game. It began with “The Butterfly Collector,” a desperate search for a missing child near Osaka’s Fishermen’s District. When I finally found her, the poor soul had been targeted by a ring of assassins. This set off a chain of discoveries: “The Child Returns,” where I escorted a traumatized boy home; “The Paper Merchant,” where I interrogated a trembling merchant north of the Temple of Osaka; and “The Burnt Well,” which led me to a ransom note in the northern part of the city.
Each step peeled back another layer. I still remember standing over the body of Shucho, the first Butterfly Collector I defeated, feeling no triumph—only a hollow question: what turns someone into a collector of children’s suffering?
The trail led me to “Bamboo Grove Showdown,” where I faced Richo in a grove north of Osaka Castle. She meditated, calm and deadly, before our blades clashed. Freeing the child locked in a shed nearby, I followed her home to “For the Sake of Sake,” listening to her mother’s tearful thanks. Then, scouting the northwest Fishermen’s District, I uncovered the hideout and the name of my next target: Kacho. The Butterfly saga taught me that every side quest in Shadows is a thread in a much larger fabric.
Allies, Thieves, and Moral Dilemmas
Yaya’s quest, “The Stray Dogs,” became a personal favorite. After assassinating Wada Koretake during the main story, I found Yaya distraught. She’d been hunting shrine raiders who stole sacred artifacts—and when I finally cornered them, the game dropped a moral grenade in my lap: forgive them, or punish them? I stared at the screen, breathless. What would a true assassin do? What would Naoe do? The decision didn’t just change the quest’s outcome; it reshaped how I saw my protagonist.
Collections That Tell Stories
Beyond combat, Shadows hides its heart in collectibles. The Origami Butterflies quest, for instance, linked directly to assassination targets—each paper butterfly a breadcrumb toward a new victim. I spent hours scouring rooftops, the flutter of crimson paper guiding my blade.
Then there were the Jizo statues, tiny stone guardians lost across Izumi Settsu, Yamashiro, and Wakasa. Finding every last one felt like a pilgrimage. And the tea bowls? I loved bringing them to Sen no Rikyu, watching him demonstrate the turning of the bowl with such reverence. Each ornament vendor I visited became a small adventure—how could a simple ceramic piece make the hideout feel so much more alive?
Why These Side Quests Matter in 2026
Two years after its release, Assassin’s Creed Shadows still captivates. These side quests aren’t just filler—they’re the soul of feudal Japan. They taught me patience (“The Way of the Warrior”), made me weep (kuji-kiri flashbacks), and forced me to examine my morals (“The Stray Dogs”). So, as you step into Naoe’s tabi, ask yourself: Will you be the hero who saves every child? Or the ghost who punishes without mercy? The choice, my friend, is yours—and that’s exactly why I’ll keep returning to this world, long after the main story ends.