How to Complete the Kuji-Kiri Meditation Quests in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Early on in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you can encounter Kuji-Kiri spots where Naoe can perform meditation and complete flashback quests. Each of these quests is a special stealth mission designed to teach you the skills of the shinobi, although some might prove a little tricky.

Where to Find Kuji-Kiri Mediation Spots in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

While Naoe’s quest requires you to complete four Kuji-Kiri meditations to view all the flashbacks, the specific spots you visit don’t matter. Regardless of which spots you visit, the flashbacks will always play in the same order at the first four.

When you first gain access to the map in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, your first task is to find Tomiko in her homestead, but you can tackle a few of the meditation quests before you get to her. There's a fourth nearby too. These are not the only locations to find meditation spots, but they’re the easiest to access immediately.

The first Kuji-Kiri spot is just north of your starting point in Makinoodera Temple. Head straight down the path from the temple and you will reach a junction. Take the left and you’ll reach a torii gate marking some stairs. Head up these stairs to the Eboshigata Shrine and the first Kuji-Kiri spot is straight ahead of you on the cliff edge.

The second spot is the Rolling Glen, which you will likely pass on your way Tomiko’s. The path west of the first Kuji-Kiri spot will take you to another road that heads north past the Tennoji Temple. Once past the temple, you’ll reach a junction. Head right and eventually the Kuji-Kiri spot will be on the left.

The third spot is incredibly easy to find. Once you’ve reached Tomiko’s Homestead, head all the way to the east to find the spot next to a waterfall.

The fourth can be found in Kawachi Heights to the southeast of the hideout. Head back out of the hideout and return south (turn left from the hideout) and continue until you reach a bridge. Take the path left of it. When the path forks, go left and take another left at the immediate crossroads. Follow this road until you cross a bridge and see a lantern at a fork in the road. Head right through a torii gate and continue up the hill to find this spot.

How to Complete the First Kuji-Kiri Meditation Quest

Initially you have to follow Mitsu to retrieve a katana. After the cutscene, you’ll need to climb the hills while avoiding enemies along the way. Once you pass a bridge, immediately duck into the bushes on the left and follow them up the hill to avoid the enemies that start walking down towards you. At the end you’ll find a dead body and a cutscene will begin.

After the scene, continue along the path. As soon as you pass a stream, go prone into the grass on the left and follow this until you reach a rock blocking your path. This is probably the toughest part of this flashback because there are a lot of guards in the area. But if you keep moving and stay vigilant for the immediate soldiers, you should be fine.

Wait until the visible guards turn away from you and crawl across to the grass on the right. Keep moving through the grass, following the paths up the hill and dodging any guards who might walk in your direction. Eventually you’ll reach a bridge. Check back on the guards to make sure no one is looking at you, then dash across the bridge. From here, you’re safe to continue along the path. You’ll encounter more cutscenes and an easy fight.

How to Complete the Second Kuji-Kiri Meditation Quest

While the first quest was easy, the remaining Kuji-Kiri meditation quests in Assassin’s Creed Shadows will test your stealth abilities a little more.

After the cutscene, go and speak to Mitsu and you’ll get a marker for the shrine. Follow it until you see people running away, mentioning that bandits have taken over the shrine. You’ll need to stay out of their way to retrieve Mitsu’s scroll. There are two main areas you need to worry about, the entrance area and the main shrines.

In the starting area, there is a bandit patrolling. Stick to the left and move between bushes when he’s looking away until you reach the river. Don’t worry about the other two, they’re too distracted.

At the river, you’re free to continue upwards without being seen. However, as you approach the top area with the three shrines, you ideally want to be on the right. The scroll you want is in the furthest right shrine, and the best way to grab it is to hug the far wall, and slip around the corner to quickly grab it.

To leave, retrace your steps, and now you have quicker route across the river as there is a set of stairs going up to the main area. Repeat the process of crossing through the bushes and then return home.

How to Complete the Third Kuji-Kiri Meditation Quest

This quest sees you infiltrating an outpost in the snowy mountains under the instruction of Momochi Sandayu. Speak to him at the top of the stairs before returning down the hill and climbing the ladder on the left.

The first sequence introduces you to swinging with the grappling hook. You’ll need to swing from the first rock to the next, before using two swing points in quick succession. This is a good opportunity to practice grappling a second point in mid-air, as there are no consequences to missing the jump. After landing in the haystack on the other side, slip through a gap in the bushes, cross the bridge and head left up the hill. Eventually you’ll be able to climb a ladder onto a rock with a fallen log. Use this log to reach a grapple point and swing into the outpost.

The route through here is mostly linear, but it is easy to trip up and end up on the ground or in a place you shouldn’t be. From the watchtower, hop to the next wall, quietly slip past the guards in this section (they don’t turn around) and jump through the hole in the wall. Now hook up to the roof of the building.

From here, do not leave the rooftops. Instead, swing from here to the opposite roof, jump to the tree and then swing to the right-hand building in the next area. Here you can eavesdrop on some enemy soldiers from the roof. After they’re done, swing to the large watchtower and climb up. Again, do not land in the lower areas. Stay on the higher levels.

After examining the body, you can jump from the watchtower, slide through the forest and follow a path back to Sandayu, completing the flashback.

How to Complete the Final Kuji-Kiri Meditation Quest in Assassin's Creed Shadows

There’s a lot of plot to start this final Kuji-Kiri meditation quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The choices aren’t consequential, although Naoe does seem cooler if she speaks up for Iga. You’ll then have to fight another Iga member in a duel. Focus on parrying and dodging over going on the offense.

Eventually, you’ll be placed at the bottom of a fort with Naoe’s father. Head up the scaffolding and follow the hill upwards. You can find a tree at the top that allows access to the fort. After another scene with your dad, the stealth mission begins.

Use your grappling hook to climb up the large tower, jump to the next and hop down to the next ledge. This next part requires you to be quick as well as stealthy, as you’ll need to distract a guard to slip by unseen. Ignore the gap in the fence (this only leads to you walking into a guard) and instead go to the locked gate at the end. Whistle to the guard and immediately climb the gate. Hop to the next ledge, duck into the shadows and quickly (but quietly!) move to the other side and climb another gate. If you’re too slow, the guard will come back and see you, so be careful. The two guards on the second ledge are too distracted to notice you if you don’t approach them.

After eavesdropping, the general advice for the next part is stick to the rooftops. Turn right, cross the ledge to the roof, jump to the next one on the left. Jump the wall, climb the gate, then follow the rooftops around to the far building in the next courtyard. Drop down on the far side and slip into the window to complete the quest.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is now available for PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.

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