Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings the ancient Japenese art of Sumi-e to life and challenges players to find five legendary animals that are truly hidden in the game’s beautiful landscape.
These special Sumi-e paintings are not just collectibles but a breathtaking journey through Japan’s most stunning environments.
Legendary Animals Sumi-e In AC Shadows
Sumi-e is a traditional Japanese ink wash painting technique. In this method, one draws the essence of the subject—an animal or a landscape—with minimal elegant strokes of the brush.
Players will create these paintings in Assassin’s Creed Shadows by carefully approaching and focusing on specific animals.
The five Legendary Sumi-e are special within themselves; each legend is tied to a specific site with particular spawning conditions.
Before embarking on your Sumi-e quest, keep these key tips in mind:
- Four of the five Legendary Sumi-e spawn only inside certain seasons at specific times
- Each location has about a 35% chance to spawn
- If they don’t show, run away more than 200m and come back
- Weather does not affect spawning in any way
- All Legendary Sumi-e is still available in free-roam play after the story is completed
Locations Of Legendary Animals Sumi-e In AC Shadows
1. Legendary Macaque (Wise Monkeys)
Region: Yamashiro
Specific Location: Little Leaf Glade, close to Sarumaru Shrine.
Precise Positioning:
- Located pretty much exactly at the Iga border
- Next to a small shrine that’s not a fast travel point
- Next to a river to the south, where you can find a Helix Key
- Best approached from the Iga side if you have a fast travel nearby.
Unique Characteristic: It is the only Legendary Sumi-e to spawn in any season, but only at night.
Spawn Details: Look for three wise monkeys in front of a Buddha Statue at the top of the shrine stairs.
2. Legendary Silver Fox
Region: Kii
Specific Location: Nakahechi Route, Kamimisu Inari Shrine
Precise Positioning:
- Located at the very southern tip of the map
- Of the two highest-level zones in the game.
- Conveniently located, fast travel point just across the road.
- It is surrounded by glowing fox statues that tell you that the event is active.
Unique Characteristic: It appears only during autumn nights.
Spawn Details: Find the fox sitting at the edge of the cliff near the top of the location.
3. Legendary Grey Heron
Region: Yamashiro
Specific Location: Wakasa, Lake Suigetsu
Precise Positioning:
- The northernmost point on the map.
- Between Obama and Mount Uchinakao.
- Quite far from fast-travel spots.
- Beautifully camouflaged against the snowy winter landscape.
Unique Characteristic: It only appears during winter days.
Spawn Details: The heron can be found camouflaged against the lake covered with snow.
4. Legendary Sakura Shika Deer
Region: Yamato
Specific Location: Yoshino
Precise Positioning:
- Located at the lower southern half of the map
- Near the Mountain Blossom Pagoda fast-travel point
- Situated in the Sakura Meadow
- Requires climbing to a small mountaintop
Unique Characteristic: Appears only during spring nights
Spawn Details: Identify by the deer’s glowing antlers against the nighttime scenery.
5. Legendary White Tanuki
- Region: Omi
- Specific Location: The Shimmering Fields, Shigaraki Hamlet
Precise Positioning:
- Located near the border of the Omi and Yamashiro regions
- Northwest of Iga
- Limited fast-travel options nearby
- Best approached via the road while crouching
Unique Characteristic: Appears only during summer days
Spawn Details: Often found lying on the ground; requires careful approach to prevent scaring away.
After collecting each Sumi-e, you will receive specific rewards, which mostly include Experience Points (XP) and other decoration items.
