Ubisoft didn’t make Claws of Awaji a quick detour. This is end-game content designed to test your mastery of Assassin’s Creed Shadows before you step onto Awaji Island’s treacherous terrain. Think of it as Shadows’ true epilogue where the last door that only opens once you’ve proven you’re ready.
If you’ve been wondering exactly how to unlock it, what quests you need to check off, and what’s waiting across Osaka Bay, here’s a detailed walkthrough that ties it all together.
What are the prerequisites for unlocking Claws of Awaji in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
The DLC isn’t something you can stumble into midway. Ubisoft gated it behind several key milestones, ensuring players experience the full scope of the base game first. Before Konatsu’s “News from Hattori Hanzo” marker appears at your Hideout, you’ll need to:
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Defeat every target on both the Shinbakufu and Templar Target Boards.
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Complete all three personal arcs for Naoe, Yasuke, and Junjiro.
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Finish the League mission chain, which culminates in The Puppet Show.
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Hit level 35+ (recommended, though not a hard cap).
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Install the DLC patch.
Once these are met, a conversation with Konatsu in the Hideout kicks off the sailing sequence to Awaji Island.
Why is the “Out of the Shadows” quest mandatory before the DLC?
The last story beat of the base game is the “Out of the Shadows” epilogue quest, tucked inside the League > Tomiko branch. You’ll start it by speaking to Tomiko, gathering at least two allies, and watching the credits roll after a final cutscene.
That achievement which was literally called “Epilogue” isn’t just symbolic. It’s the hard unlock for the DLC. Until the credits run, Awaji Island simply won’t appear.
How do Naoe, Yasuke, and Junjiro’s personal questlines tie into Claws of Awaji?
Finishing each character’s arc isn’t just narrative housekeeping. It ensures you unlock their unique rewards, gear, and abilities before taking them into Awaji.
Here’s a breakdown of each:
| Character | Questline | Key Beats | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naoe | The Meaning of the Blade | Investigate Sakafuneishi Ruins, duel/forgive Hanzo | Master Assassin outfit, closure with Tsuyu |
| Yasuke | The Silver Queen → A Promise | Rescue Akechi Mitsuyoshi, retrieve heirloom katana, settle feud with Nuno Caro | Legendary katana, narrative closure |
| Junjiro | Leaving a Mark | Final League delivery (post-credits) | Unlocks mandatory step for “Out of the Shadows” |
Only after completing all three does the Hideout fully shift into “Awaji-ready” mode.
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What’s new on Awaji Island in Claws of Awaji?
Awaji feels deliberately different from Yamato. It’s smaller in square mileage but far more vertical, filled with chokepoints, ferries, and traps that force you to rethink traversal.
Highlights include:
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Sumoto Castle: The heart of the main story, capped by a brutal “Prison Break” questline.
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Yura Region: Swampy wetlands hiding Tsuyu’s key dig site.
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Okunoion Sasayama Shrine: Your first fast-travel point and one of the few safe overlooks.
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Hidden Rope Ferries: Instead of horses, cliffside ferries serve as quick links between coastal hubs.
Until you capture spy towers, there’s no Animus fast travel, so you’ll rely heavily on rooftops, rope routes, and the newly added tripwire detection skill — essential against poison-wire traps scattered across the island.
How much content does the Claws of Awaji DLC actually offer?
Ubisoft framed Claws of Awaji as a 10-hour story expansion, but that’s just the main path. Here’s what you’re realistically looking at:
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7 story quests ending with a multi-phase boss fight at Sumoto Castle.
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3 Bo-staff technique trials, unlocking new crowd-control combos for Naoe.
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9 side activities (spy caches, rogue taishō assassinations, shrine puzzles).
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Optional hunts for Legendary Bo staves and armor engravings.
If you’re a completionist — clearing ambushes, unlocking every shrine, collecting every scroll, expect 14–16 hours total. It’s compact compared to the base game, but intentionally dense.
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Claws of Awaji isn’t just more map to clear; it’s the culmination of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ story and a bridge to what’s next. By making you finish every major arc first, Ubisoft ensures the DLC feels like a reward rather than a distraction.
The payoff? A vertical island packed with traps, a fresh weapon focus, and a tight narrative that keeps the tension high for its 10–15 hours. If you’ve rolled credits on Shadows and want a proper epilogue that tests both skill and patience, Awaji’s rope ferries and castle walls are waiting.
Game Information: Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Claws of Awaji DLC
- Game Title: Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- DLC Name: Claws of Awaji
- Developer / Publisher: Ubisoft
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Ubisoft Connect)
- Base Game Release: November 2024
- DLC Release: September 2025
- Genre: Action-Adventure, Open World, Stealth RPG
- Content Length: ~10 hours main story, 14–16 hours completionist
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