Discover Every Iron Hand Spot and Their Rewards in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

“The Iron Hand Guild” is a quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows that you can pick up from Imai Sokun in Settsu after you unlock Yasuke.

After the events of “The Tea Ceremony,” Imai Sokun will know that you’re more than just a merchant. He’s looking to use your special skills against an imposter using his family’s name to do (shady) business.

Our Assassin’s Creed Shadows guide will tell you how to find all four Iron Hand Guild merchant locations, how to spare them all, and where to find the elusive Iron Hand himself.

How to start ‘The Iron Hand Guild’ in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

“The Iron Hand Guild” has its own Objectives board, but it’s also a part of the People of Settsu Objectives board. That quest is also named “The Iron Hand Guild,” and you’ll pick it up from Imai Sokun, who you met in “Searching Sakai.” You’ll have to wait until after you complete “Mibuno Showdown” as Yasuke — the quest where Yasuke discloses his past actions to Naoe — for the quest to appear.

Once the quest unlocks, you’ll find Imai Sokun at his home in Sakai. He’ll explain that someone is forging documents and conducting business in his family’s name and he wants you to put a stop to it by finding information from the imposter’s allies.

There are a total of five Iron Hand Guild members to find in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. They are scattered across the map, so you’ll have to do a lot of exploring and leveling before you can get to them all.

Below, we’ll show you where to find all Iron Hand targets in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, plus details about what rewards you’ll get for dealing with each of them. Not necessarily killing them, mind you…

Should you kill the merchants working for The Iron Hand?

Imai Sokun explicitly asks you to spare the merchants as you investigate the Iron Hand. He’ll be happier — and have different dialogue — if you spare them, but you won’t fail the quest if you kill them.

That said, some will require a bit of work to not kill.

Where to find Merchant Tamao

Merchant Tamao is in Yamashiro at a brewery in Kyoto that is west of Honpoji Temple. The spot you’re looking for is directly to the west of the temple — like one block over. He’ll be hiding, but you can eavesdrop on his workers to find out he doesn’t like it when his stuff gets smashed. Lure him out by smashing his stuff.

If you’re okay with killing him (Naoe isn’t — she calls him innocent), you can just wait out in the open and stab away. If want to spare him, you’ll have to break some pots and then immediately hide. When Tamao comes out, sneak up behind him, grab him, and knock him out.

You’ll get the Letter Regarding Kyoto, unlock the Zashiki Hideout Room (if he’s the first you took out), and pick up some mon.

Where to find Merchant Kin-n0-suke

Your first stop for Merchant Kin-no-suke is in Wakasa, northeast of Onyu Pass. The hideout you’re looking for is a nondescript camp along the southern river in central Wakasa. Head in, kill the goons, and loot the Letter from Bandit Chief. That will point you to a merchant in Obama.

Head to Obama on the west coast of Wakasa. You’ll find the merchant — who is Merchant Kin-no-suke — just north of the Kara Market. Speak to him and select give bandit letter. During the cutscene, he’ll take you to his warehouse a little to the west and then wander off. Duck inside for the Letter Regarding Obama. (Hey look, I’m on a watchlist now!)

Picking that up will complete Merchant Kin-no-suke quest(s) and earn you the Armor Damage after Ability engraving.

Where to find Merchant Ginroku

Merchant Ginroku is all the way at the edge of the map in Miyzau Bay in the northwest of Tamba. Head into town along the west side of the river. You’ll find Merchant Ginroku’s shop along the right (east) side of the road. Loot the Letter Regarding Tamba to wrap the quest and pick up the Ammo on Kill engraving.

Where to find Merchant Kanta

Your first step in finding Merchant Kanta is to find a missing ship. It was in Omi’s Lake Biwa (the giant lake that is basically all of Omi) and should’ve passed by Okishima — the cat island right in the middle of the lake.

Head over to the west side of the island a little south of the bay. Clear out the pirates and loot the Shipping Manifest.

Next, you’re headed to Otsu Port, also on Lake Biwa. It’s at the southern end of the lake on the west side, just a little north of the Mouth of Seta and the Seta Bridge. You’re looking for the Rice Shipyard about halfway through town.

This is another tough one if you’re trying to avoid (most) bloodshed. Work your way around and take out the various guards (Imai Sokun didn’t say anything about them). Wait until you get Merchant Kanta isolated, grab him, and knock him out.

You’ll get the Critical Chance under Half Health engraving.

Where to find The Iron Hand

With the merchants all addressed, you have all the information you need to take on The Iron Hand himself. You’ll find him in central Tamba in Fukuchiyama. The problem is, he’s in the massive Fukuchiyama Castle. Luckily, you should find him on the southern edge. If he’s not in the warehouses in the middle, you’ll find him in the garden to the southeast.

You don’t have to worry about subtlety anymore, so you can go as loud as you want to take out The Iron Hand. You do have to deal with the small crowd of baddies that surround him, though. The good news is, he only has one health chunk, so it’s possible to take him out with a kunai or an arrow without getting your hands dirty.

You’ll get the Letter from Iron Hand, the Bloody Business long katana and the Damage with Poisoning engraving.

The Iron Hand Guild rewards

All that’s left is to head back to Imai Sokun in Sakai to get your reward of the Fujin’s Tempest trinket, the Damage for Alerted Provinces engraving, and a piece of gold (that you can use in place of upgrade materials and mon at the Forge).

For more Assassin’s Creed Shadows guides, see our running lists of Lost Pages, Kuji-kiri, and armor locations. Or see our full Assassin’s Creed Shadows walkthrough, and our guides on how to get all companions and romance options.