How to Get Junjiro on Allies Assassin’s Creed Shadows
How to Get Junjiro on Allies Assassin’s Creed Shadows
How to get Junjiro on allies Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of the most asked questions for players who want a powerful samurai-style companion to complement stealth builds. If you enjoy recruiting NPCs, optimizing companion builds, and unlocking rare ally perks, this guide walks you through everything: where to find Junjiro, recruitment requirements, quest choices, useful tips, and how Junjiro synergizes with different playstyles.
Introduction: Why Junjiro Matters
Junjiro is more than a named NPC — he’s a game-changer. As a recruitable ally in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Junjiro can shift combat encounters, enhance stealth takedowns, and provide unique ally perks that complement many playstyles. Whether you want a damage-focused companion for open confrontations or a stealth-savvy ally to watch your back during infiltration, knowing how to get Junjiro on allies Assassin’s Creed Shadows gives you a strategic edge.
Section 1: Where to Find Junjiro — Locations and Timing
Finding Junjiro starts with knowing where he appears and at what point in the story or side mission chain he becomes recruitable. Here are the key details:
- Primary location: Junjiro first appears near the coastal village of Omi, a mid-game region with both stealth and combat opportunities.
- Timing: He typically becomes visible after completing a specific sequence of main story objectives and a linked side quest involving an old dojo NPC.
- NPC triggers: Some recruitment options trigger only after you meet or help certain villagers and complete reputation tasks that unlock new ally interactions.
Tip: If Junjiro isn’t visible, complete nearby side missions and increase region affinity by helping merchants or clearing bandit camps. This often triggers missing NPC spawns and recruitment quests.
Section 2: Recruitment Quest — Step-by-Step to Recruit Junjiro
The recruitment process for Junjiro is a multi-stage interaction that blends dialogue choices and a short combat trial. Follow these steps:
- Talk to the Dojo Keeper — After a main quest, locate an elderly dojo keeper who gives you a rumor about a wandering warrior named Junjiro.
- Investigate Junjiro’s Location — Head to the ruined tea house at the marked coordinates. You may need to clear guards or solve a small environmental puzzle to enter.
- Complete Junjiro’s Trial — Junjiro respects strength and honor. The trial can be either a stealth test or a duel-style combat encounter depending on choices made during dialog.
- Make the Right Dialogue Choices — Be empathetic and respectful. Choose answers that emphasize honor, curiosity, and teamwork. Aggressive or dismissive choices can lock the recruitment option.
- Fulfill Any Item or Reputation Requirements — In some playthroughs, you may need to return with a symbolic item (a family crest or blade) or show a minimum reputation with the region.
- Accept Junjiro as an Ally — After the trial and proper dialogue, you will be offered the choice to recruit Junjiro. Accept to add him to the ally roster.
Example: If you previously saved a merchant linked to Junjiro’s backstory, his trust will be higher and the recruitment trial will be easier, unlocking a bonus perk upon recruitment.
Section 3: Common Roadblocks and How to Fix Them
Players often run into problems when trying to recruit Junjiro. Here’s how to overcome common issues:
- Junjiro doesn’t spawn — Finish regional tasks, fast travel nearby, and sleep or wait for in-game time changes. Many NPC spawns are time or reputation gated.
- Dialogue options missing — Complete prerequisite quests tied to the dojo keeper or allied NPCs. Revisit key characters and exhaust their dialogue trees.
- Trial too hard — Adjust your approach: use stealth takedowns, disable alarms, or lower enemy numbers by luring guards. Use consumables and temporary buffs.
- Item requirement not obvious — Check quest notes and inventory for quest items. If missing, re-open related quest logs and revisit earlier areas to pick up clues.
Tip: Save before the recruitment trial to experiment with different dialogue choices and combat strategies. If you make a choice that prevents recruitment, reload and try a different approach.
Section 4: Junjiro’s Abilities and Best Companion Builds
Once recruited, Junjiro brings specific abilities and passive perks that interact with your skill tree and gear. Understanding his strengths helps you create optimal companion builds.
- Primary Role: Versatile close-combat specialist with high parry and counter damage.
- Secondary Role: Stealth ambusher capable of quick takedowns when unlocked with specific upgrades.
- Notable Perks: Increased critical hit chance when adjacent to the player, faster recovery after parry, and a unique samurai strike that deals AoE damage.
Build suggestions:
- Stealth synergized — Pair Junjiro with silent assassination upgrades and focus on ranged distractions to set up his ambushes.
- Frontline duo — If you prefer open combat, invest in heavy weapon skills and buffs that boost Junjiro’s health and counter timings.
- Balanced — Diversify skills so you and Junjiro cover each other’s blind spots: you handle crowd control and grenades, Junjiro handles single-target burst.
Example scenario: In a fortress assault, use smoke bombs to mask movement while Junjiro charges high-value targets. His AoE samurai strike clears clusters of foes while you pick off archers.
Section 5: How Junjiro Interacts with Allies and the Ally System
The ally system in Assassin’s Creed Shadows allows you to manage companions, assign them roles, and upgrade their perks. Junjiro’s interactions depend on how you invest in the ally roster.
- Ally upgrades — Spend ally points to unlock Junjiro’s skill branches: stealth augmentation, damage output, and defensive stances.
- Team composition — Pair Junjiro with a support ally who provides healing or stun to maximize his uptime in battles.
- Companion orders — Use simple commands to direct Junjiro: follow, guard, attack, or hold position. Effective use of commands improves survivability and coordinated assaults.
Tips for managing allies:
- Rotate allies to match mission needs — Junjiro excels in stealth-heavy contracts or boss fights; pick a different ally for siege or ranged-only missions.
- Regularly upgrade ally perks — Small investments in Junjiro’s passive abilities unlock powerful synergies with your player build.
- Use ally-specific gear when available — Some ally-focused items improve specific stats like parry speed or critical rate for Junjiro.
Section 6: Examples and Playstyle Scenarios
Here are real gameplay examples that show how Junjiro can change the flow of encounters, using both stealth and combat strategies.
Example 1: Silent Infiltration
- Approach a guarded encampment at night.
- Use distractions to isolate guards, letting Junjiro perform quick takedowns with silent synergy perks.
- When detected, Junjiro holds the chokepoint while you reach the alarm and disable it.
Example 2: Open Assault
- Engage a patrol and let Junjiro draw aggro with his samurai strike.
- Use area control abilities and explosives to funnel enemies toward Junjiro’s AoE.
- Finish priority targets together, then reposition to prepare for the next wave.
Example 3: Boss Fight Synergy
- In boss fights, coordinate parries and counters. Junjiro’s increased counter damage works remarkably well when you initiate a stagger.
- Alternate healing items or ally-revive consumables to keep Junjiro active in longer fights.
Section 7: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices
These actionable tips will help you maximize Junjiro’s impact and avoid pitfalls while trying to recruit and use him:
- Save often — Create a manual save before the recruitment trial and important dialogue choices to test alternate outcomes.
- Boost region reputation — Complete bandit camps, merchant favors, and side missions to unlock NPC interactions that lead to Junjiro.
- Experiment with commands — Practice ordering Junjiro in low-risk scenarios to learn his behavior and cooldowns.
- Keep him equipped — If the game allows ally gear, upgrade Junjiro’s weapon or armor to amplify his strengths.
- Use environmental advantage — Junjiro performs best when you set up the battlefield: use high ground, choke points, and explosive barrels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do I need to make a specific dialogue choice to recruit Junjiro?
A1: Yes. Junjiro respects honor and restraint. Choose empathetic, respectful responses during his initial interactions. Avoid aggressive or dismissive replies, which can close the recruitment option.
Q2: Can Junjiro be lost or dismissed after recruiting?
A2: In most cases Junjiro remains an ally once recruited, but some mission choices or story branches can temporarily remove him from your roster. Always check quest logs and avoid decisions that explicitly state an ally will leave.
Q3: Where exactly is Junjiro found — is it always the same location?
A3: Junjiro commonly appears near the ruined tea house in the Omi region, but spawn conditions can change depending on story progression and player reputation. If not at the site, finish regional quests and check back later.
Q4: What perks does Junjiro unlock when recruited?
A4: Typical perks include increased adjacent critical chance, faster parry recovery, a samurai AoE strike, and improvements to stealth takedowns when upgraded. Some perks may be unlocked through ally-specific upgrade trees.
Q5: Is Junjiro good for stealth builds or combat builds?
A5: Junjiro is versatile. With the right upgrades he excels in stealth ambushes, but his parry and counter strengths also make him a formidable companion in direct combat. Choose a build that complements your preferred playstyle.
Short Conclusion
Mastering how to get Junjiro on allies Assassin’s Creed Shadows involves exploration, the right dialogue choices, and completing key tasks in the region where he appears. Once recruited, Junjiro offers versatile perks that fit stealthy infiltrators and frontline fighters alike. Use the recruitment steps, troubleshoot common roadblocks, and apply the build tips in this guide to get the most out of Junjiro as an ally. Save before critical choices, experiment with ally synergies, and enjoy a more powerful and strategic gameplay experience.
Good luck recruiting Junjiro — and may your stealth be silent and your strikes decisive.

