Assassin's Creed Shadows doesn't exactly hand players a bottomless health bar, and that's where rations come in. These handy healing items are the main way Naoe and Yasuke patch themselves up after a rough scrap, and anyone who has spent a few hours dodging blade swings knows the difference between a comfortable stockpile and a panic-inducing empty pouch. Naoe starts with three rations, while Yasuke kicks things off with five. Players can top up their supply at supply boxes scattered around the world, which is usually enough for lower difficulty runs. Still, for folks who want a little extra breathing room—or who plan to play on tougher settings—the real question is how to raise max rations in Assassin's Creed Shadows. The answer is a side quest called Feast for Thought, and as of 2026 it remains the go-to route for hungry warriors.
The Short Version: Feast for Thought Is the Ticket
The side quest comes from Hong, a chef NPC in Obama, Wakasa. Players can find Hong in Obama, slightly northeast of Obama District Kakeruga. Before Hong will offer Feast for Thought, however, players need to defeat The Fox, also known as Takeda Motoaki. He is the Shinbakufu member from Wakasa. During The Fox mission, players meet Hong, and he helps them through that mission. Once the dust settles, Hong offers Feast for Thought, which sends Naoe and Yasuke across Japan to locate every Food Vendor.
Every Food Vendor is tied to this mission, so there's no random vendor-hopping. The goal is to collect all 16 ingredients for Hong. Once players have all 16, they return to Hong's restaurant in Obama, the same place where the quest began. The quest's explicit completion reward is 1000 XP, which might sound like small potatoes. The real prize, however, is the permanent bump to max rations. That's the juice worth the squeeze here, and it's why so many players put this side quest on their to-do list.
How the Ration Increases Work
It's not a one-and-done upgrade. Each new ration requires more ingredients than the last. Naoe unlocks her fourth ration after collecting one ingredient, but the fifth ration requires two ingredients, and so on. By the end of Feast for Thought, Naoe has a total of 9 rations and Yasuke has a total of 11. That's a hefty jump from their starting totals, and it makes both characters much more forgiving to play.
| Character | Starting Max Rations | Final Max Rations |
|---|---|---|
| Naoe 🥷 | 3 | 9 |
| Yasuke ⚔️ | 5 | 11 |
That table is the short answer for anyone who wants the numbers without the legwork. The longer answer is that players still need to track down every vendor and ingredient, because the upgrades roll in gradually rather than all at once. It's a bit of a grind, but it's not exactly rocket science. Follow the quest, hit up each Food Vendor, and the ration pouch grows.
Why Bother Raising Max Rations?
The base amount of rations may be enough for players on lower difficulty levels, especially if they are careful and make good use of supply boxes. But higher difficulty play is a different beast. More max rations means fewer trips back to supply boxes, more room for mistakes, and a better chance of surviving a messy fight. In practical terms, it's the difference between 'oops' and 'oh no'. Players who want to play fast, take risks, or simply stop worrying about running dry will find the extra capacity worth the effort.
It also helps that the quest sends players to Food Vendors across Japan. That means plenty of sightseeing, a few scenic detours, and a steady stream of ingredients. It's not the flashiest mission in the game, but it's a solid bit of housekeeping for anyone who wants their build to be battle-ready.
Quick Tips for the Grind
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🍱 Defeat The Fox first. Hong won't offer Feast for Thought until that mission is wrapped up.
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🗺️ Use quest tracking. Every Food Vendor is part of this side quest, so there's no need to guess.
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📦 Don't ignore supply boxes. They refill rations, while the quest raises the maximum capacity.
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🍣 Collect all 16 ingredients, then return to Hong's restaurant in Obama.
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📈 Expect 1000 XP at the end, plus the real reward: a bigger max ration pool for both Naoe and Yasuke.
For players jumping into Assassin's Creed Shadows in 2026, this side quest is still worth the legwork. It's not the most glamorous mission on the board, but a bigger ration pouch is an ace in the hole when the blades start flying. Naoe ends up with 9 rations and Yasuke with 11, which is a comfortable cushion for almost any scrape. In a game where one bad fight can snowball fast, that extra breathing room is no small thing.