There comes a moment in every assassin's life when the calendar becomes the deadliest weapon of all. In Assassin's Creed Shadows, the Winter Raiders aren't just another band of rogue samurai—they are a seasonal nightmare, a pack of icy wraiths who only crawl out of their lairs when the Kii region is blanketed in snow. Forget tracking them in spring or summer; these villains apparently have an allergy to warm breezes and cherry blossoms. Talk about being picky with their schedule! If Naoe or Yasuke dreams of wiping them out, they'd better grab a fur-lined cloak and watch the skies, because the hunt begins when the world turns white.
Veteran shadow-walkers know the drill: the quest kicks off in the sleepy coastal village of Gobo, tucked into the southeastern crook of Kii. An elderly man there spills the beans about a gang that terrorizes travelers exclusively during the frozen months. The moment the quest log updates, players face a deliciously absurd dilemma—wait for winter or gamble with chaos.
Now, listen closely, because this is where the real fun begins. Most gamers will dutifully let the season cycle do its work, stalking each target in their designated snowy spots. But here’s a little secret whispered among the shinobi elite: the entire crew hibernates together in a single cave during the warmer seasons, like bears who’ve swapped honey for bloodlust. Storming that hideout outside winter is the fastest way to finish the job… and the fastest way to get a blade through the ribs if you’re not careful. We’ll get to that death trap later.
The Icy Lineup: Where to Find Each Winter Raider
Each member of this frosty fraternity plays hard to get, but their hiding spots are rarely subtle. Below is a summary of their locations and the loot they cough up.
| Raider | Location (During Winter) | Key Reward | XP & Mastery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sobei | Gobo, southern Kii (prowls the poor quarters between docks and Dojoji Temple) | Sharpened Hail Epic Katana | 2,000 XP, 2 Mastery Points |
| Hayate | Road northeast of Kumano Hayatama Taisha, north of Shingu (elevated ambush spot) | Epic Teppo “Kagutsuchi’s Deed” | 2,000 XP, 2 Mastery Points |
| Yasha | Near the bridge northeast of Kawakami in northern Yoshino (Yamato region!) | Epic Naginata “Boreal Wind” | 2,000 XP, 2 Mastery Points |
| Akumu | Camp northeast of Takahara village, central Nakehechi Route area | Legendary Bow “A Thousand Cuts” + Knock Down Shot engraving | 2,000 XP, 2 Mastery Points |
| Jinbei | Cave on the southern coast of Kii, southeast of Tanabe (sea entrance) | Epic Kanabo “Pupil’s Promise” | 2,000 XP, 2 Mastery Points |
Let’s dissect these frozen horrors one by one, because each kill is a tiny masterpiece of seasonal vengeance.
Sobei: The First Frostbite
Sobei is practically screaming to be killed first. Since the quest starter lives in Gobo, the man patrols the same town, drifting through the poorer southern alleys with a pair of bodyguards who clearly don’t mind the cold. A clean double assassination from a rooftop—Naoe’s tanto flashing down in a drop kill—turns this into a 10-second ballet of silence. The Sharpened Hail katana that drops from his corpse practically hums with frost, making it a worthy souvenir.
Hayate: The Roadside Specter
Hayate treats the northern route out of Shingu like his personal toll booth. The trick here is to ride north across the bridge near Kumano Hayatama Taisha, then ditch the horse the moment the road bends toward the map’s dead end. Even in winter’s pale light, the man stands on an elevated perch, eyes scanning for travelers. Creep through the frozen shrubbery and you’ll be right under his nose before he can gasp. The Epic Teppo “Kagutsuchi’s Deed” is a firearm that barks like a thunder kami—perfect for players who enjoy a loud finish.
Yasha: The Lone Wolf in Yamato
Here’s where geography throws a snowball at your face. Unlike her chilly comrades, Yasha has abandoned Kii entirely and set up shop in Yamato, just northeast of Kawakami. The game drops a breadcrumb trail starting in Hongu’s shrine town, leading you to a letter that practically screams, “She’s near the bridge, dummy!” If you’re efficient, you’ll save Yasha for last to minimize region-hopping. Her “Boreal Wind” naginata slices with the whisper of a blizzard, and honestly, who doesn’t want a weapon named after a polar gale?
Akumu: The Arrow in the Snow
Akumu is the rangy nightmare of the central Nakehechi Route, holed up in a bandit camp just northeast of Takahara village. The moment you spot her, she’s already nocking an arrow, because she apparently hates close friends. Rush in like a maniac, or better yet, slink through the undergrowth until you’re close enough to see the frost on her bowstring. Her Legendary Bow “A Thousand Cuts” might be relatively weak for Yasuke mains, but the Knock Down Shot engraving turns every arrow into a tripping hazard. Worth it just for the schadenfreude.
Jinbei: The King of the Cave
The big boss takes the crown for most dramatic lair—a sea-slicked cave south of Tanabe that feels like the belly of a frozen whale. Row a boat from town and drift inside; Jinbei waits near the entrance like a final exam. One quick assassination and the gang’s letterhead goes blank. The “Pupil’s Promise” kanabo drops with a heavy thud, and the 2,000 XP feels like a standing ovation.
The Reckless Shortcut: Turning the Seasons Off
Pause for a moment—imagine the audacity of a gang that only shows up when the temperature drops. Now imagine the sheer arrogance required to waltz into that same cave during summer and murder them all in one go. Because that’s exactly what you can do. During any non-winter season, the entire crew hides in Jinbei’s cave, packed together like festival dumplings. It’s the speedrunner’s dream: no fast travel, no waiting for snowflakes. But the risk is colossal. Multiple high-level targets, waves of grunts, and the cramped darkness of a cave make it a blender set to “puree.” Only the most battle-hardened Yasuke players should attempt this—preferably after three cups of sake.
The Cleanup and the Conscience
With all five raiders shivering in their graves, return to the elder in Gobo. He’ll hand over another heap of XP and a Mastery Point, plus 200 mon if you’re willing to take his blood money. But here’s the twist: the old man bears some responsibility for creating the Winter Raiders. He’s not just an innocent quest-giver; he’s part of the problem. Refuse the coins and you still get the full XP and Mastery Point, plus the smug satisfaction of moral high ground. The mon is negligible anyway—barely enough to buy a round of dango.
In the end, clearing out the Winter Raiders isn’t just about loot or levels. It’s about spitting in the face of a gang that thought the weather could protect them. They bet everything on the cold; you showed them that an assassin’s blade burns hotter than any summer. So shut the door on Kii’s frozen menaces and stride away with a bag full of epic weapons, because winter is nobody’s shield anymore. And hey, if you ever feel nostalgic, you can always visit the cave in July and reminisce about the pile of bodies you left behind.