How to obtain the Winds of War Kusarigama in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

A comprehensive guide to obtaining the Winds of War Kusarigama in Assassin’s Creed Shadows with strategic insights and advanced tips

Introduction to the Legendary Kusarigama

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A comprehensive guide on acquiring the powerful Winds of War Kusarigama (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming || Ubisoft)

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Strategic weapon acquisition requires understanding both combat mechanics and mission requirements (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming || Ubisoft)

The Winds of War Kusarigama represents one of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ most distinctive legendary weapons specifically designed for Naoe’s combat style. Unlike many legendary items scattered throughout feudal Japan that demand extensive exploration or obscure side objectives, this particular weapon follows a more structured acquisition path tied directly to critical story progression. As a late-game reward, it serves as both a powerful combat tool and narrative milestone that reflects your journey through the game’s evolving conflicts.

What makes this Kusarigama particularly valuable isn’t just its statistical superiority but its specialized mechanics that complement specific playstyles. Legendary weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows typically introduce unique combat properties that can fundamentally alter your approach to encounters, and the Winds of War follows this tradition with mechanics tailored to aggressive, posture-focused combat against heavily armored opponents.

Prerequisite Mission Requirements

Your journey toward obtaining this powerful weapon centers around eliminating a key antagonist known as the Wise, a prominent member of the Onryo/Shinbafuku organization. This target represents more than just another mission objective—their elimination marks a turning point in your campaign against the shadowy factions controlling feudal Japan.

For comprehensive mission assistance, consult our detailed Darkness Falls quest walkthrough to ensure optimal preparation

Accessing this critical mission requires specific progression through the main narrative. To track the quest, navigate to the Shinbafuku circle menu interface and select the mission located beneath The Wise’s portrait. Important progression note: This mission only becomes available after you’ve successfully completed three prerequisite quests—Temple Stories, Restless Spirits, and The Lost Envoys. Attempting to bypass these requirements will leave the mission inaccessible regardless of your exploration efforts.

Mission Walkthrough: Obtaining the Weapon

Your operational starting point is Kokofuji Temple, where you must locate a distinctive leaning tree positioned southwest of the main temple structures. Upon reaching this environmental marker, interact with it to initiate the mission sequence, which presents the critical strategic choice of protagonist selection. This decision isn’t merely cosmetic—it fundamentally alters mission parameters, enemy placements, and primary objectives based on whether you choose Yasuke or Naoe.

Selecting Yasuke transforms the mission into a combat-intensive confrontation requiring you to identify The Wise through direct engagement and systematic elimination of their protection details. This approach favors players who have invested in Yasuke’s combat tree and prefer straightforward tactical encounters over subterfuge. Conversely, choosing Naoe shifts the mission toward stealth-oriented gameplay focused on unraveling a conspiracy through infiltration, eavesdropping, and non-lethal intelligence gathering where possible.

Successfully navigating either approach culminates in eliminating The Wise, which concludes the mission and triggers the reward distribution sequence. Among these rewards, the Winds of War Kusarigama automatically enters your inventory, ready for immediate equipping and testing against whatever resistance remains in the area. Mission completion typically requires 20-35 minutes depending on your chosen approach and combat proficiency.

Winds of War Kusarigama Stats and Abilities

  • Posture Attacks against Dazed enemies shatter armor protection – This specialized mechanic allows you to bypass enemy defenses when you successfully daze opponents through consecutive strikes or specific skill combinations. Against heavily armored samurai or fortress guards, this property can turn prolonged battles into rapid eliminations.
  • Single engraving slot accessible through Hideout Blacksmith customization – Visit your headquarters’ blacksmith to apply one perk that complements your combat style. Strategic engraving choices might include damage amplification against specific enemy types, stamina cost reduction for repeated attacks, or special effect triggers on successful posture breaks.

The armor-breaking mechanic deserves particular attention since it synergizes with numerous combat skills in both protagonists’ ability trees. When an enemy enters the dazed state (typically indicated by a visual stagger effect and audio cue), switching to Posture Attacks with this Kusarigama ignores their armor value entirely, dealing damage directly to their health pool. This makes the weapon exceptionally powerful against boss-level enemies with multiple armor segments or fortress commanders wearing full battle regalia.

Advanced Combat Strategies and Optimization

Practical Combat Applications: Maximize this weapon’s effectiveness by combining it with skills that reliably daze enemies. Yasuke’s heavy attack combos or Naoe’s stealth takedowns often create daze opportunities that you can immediately capitalize on. Against shield-bearing enemies, use sweeping attacks to circumvent their defenses before triggering the posture attack sequence.

Common Strategic Mistakes: Many players waste the engraving slot on generic damage bonuses rather than specialized perks that enhance the weapon’s unique mechanics. Another frequent error involves attempting posture attacks against non-dazed enemies, which results in significantly reduced damage output. Always confirm the dazed status (character wobbling with stars visual effect) before committing to posture attacks.

Advanced Optimization Tips: For Yasuke builds, pair this Kusarigama with armor that enhances posture damage or reduces skill cooldowns. Naoe users should consider stealth damage multipliers or assassination technique enhancements. The weapon particularly excels in fortress infiltration scenarios where you might encounter multiple armored guards in succession—breaking one enemy’s armor often creates crowd control opportunities against their companions.

Engraving Selection Strategy: Your single engraving choice should address your most frequent combat shortcomings. If you struggle with stamina management during extended combos, consider stamina cost reduction. For players focusing on boss encounters, armor penetration or damage amplification against elite enemies proves more valuable than general purpose bonuses.

Alternative Legendary Weapons Guide

While the Winds of War Kusarigama serves Naoe specifically, numerous other legendary weapons await discovery throughout your journey. Each offers unique mechanics and playstyle adaptations that can diversify your combat approach.

Explore our additional Assassin’s Creed Shadows weapon acquisition guides:

  • Complete walkthrough for obtaining the Celestial Blade Naginata in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
  • Step-by-step guide to acquire the Vengeful Foe Naginata in AC Shadows
  • Detailed instructions for finding the Claw of The Tides Long Katana in AC Shadows
  • Methodology for securing the Loyal Traveler Long Katana in AC Shadows
  • Comprehensive guide to obtaining the Whisper of Muramasa Long Katana in AC Shadows
  • Acquisition strategy for the Turquoise Zephyr Long Katana in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
  • Walkthrough for earning the Myth Slayer Long Katana in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Each legendary weapon introduces distinct combat dynamics that may better suit particular mission types or personal playstyle preferences. Experimentation with multiple legendary options often reveals unexpected synergies and tactical possibilities throughout the campaign’s various challenges.

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