Should you forgive or punish the Shrine Raiders in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? You’ll come across a side quest “Stray Dogs” where you cross paths with a group of Shrine Raiding thieves, and the game throws the choices your way: do you show mercy to raiders, or deal out punishment?
The decision you make here directly impacts your ability to recruit Yaya—one of the game’s most useful allies and turns how part of your journey plays out. While there’s no “wrong” way to be an assassin, there’s a smarter choice here to build the best team possible. Let’s discuss both options and figure out what forgiving or punishing the Shrine Raiders in AC Shadows will mean for you, your crew, and your shot at surviving the next big fight.
What Happens If You Forgive the Shrine Raiders?
After you and Yaya catch the monk leading the small band of holy-site burglars, Yaya will turn to you and let you call the shots. If you choose “We forgive him,” Yaya will be happy because she wants to give the monk a chance rather than kill him for his wrongdoings.
Yaya values life and second chances more than retribution, so this move will win her over big time. She’ll agree to join Naoe’s The League group of freedom fighters, unlocking her as a recruitable ally. Having Yaya in your corner is no small thing. Not only will she remain at your hideout, but you can summon her mid-battle whenever you find the situation tough to soak up enemy attention and dish out some damage.
Gameplay-wise, Yaya is a great distraction when you’re in a bind—summon her, and she will keep enemies busy while you make a slick getaway. Sure, forgiving the Shrine Raiders won’t net you any loot or bonus side quests, but securing Yaya’s loyalty gives you a good companion and strategic advantage you don’t want to miss.
What Happens If You Punish the Shrine Raiders?
If you decide to punish the Shrine Raiders instead, Yaya is not going to take it well. Even though Yaya herself still shows mercy, your decision to push for punishment will leave her disappointed. She won’t go rogue or anything, but she will decide that you and your crew are too brutal for her tastes. The result will be no Yaya recruitment in The League. So, you lose out on having her as a recruitable ally permanently.
To rub salt in the wound, you don’t even get to punish the raiders yourself. Yaya lets them go with a warning, leaving you with no big win—just a missed opportunity and a subtle “I’m not mad, only disappointed” from Yaya. Not befriending Yaya means no extra strength in battle, no good interactions at the hideout with her, and no mid-fight distractions when things become hard. While it won’t stop you from finishing the game or getting the canon ending, it’s not a good ending either.
Should You Forgive or Punish the Shrine Raiders in AC Shadows?
Yes, you should forgive the Shrine Raiders in Assassin’s Creed Shadows because it’s the recommended choice. There’s no actual upside to punishing the Shrine Raiders. Yaya disapproves, and you lose the chance to recruit her for the rest of the game as she won’t appear again. Furthermore, AC Shadows isn’t exactly flooded with helpful allies who can join the combat to pull aggro when you are one mistimed parry away from death.
If you want the best experience and a good ride through challenging missions, recruiting Yaya by showing mercy here is hands-down the better move as she can be very helpful in the encounters to come. It is also in line with Yaya’s core belief that peace beats needless bloodshed. So, unless you want to roleplay the grumpiest assassin in feudal Japan, go ahead and forgive the Shrine Raiders.
