The Lightning and Thunder quest marks Yasuke’s first playable mission in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, reintroducing him to the narrative with thrilling gameplay full of combat challenges. As Yasuke journeys through this mission, he engages in fierce battles leading up to his confrontation with Naoe. This mission prominently features melee combat, demanding players to exhibit brute strength rather than relying on stealth tactics. Success in this quest hinges on mastering parry mechanics, breaking enemy armor, and deploying abilities effectively to ease the combat experience.
This comprehensive guide focuses on strategies to overcome key adversaries during the Lightning and Thunder mission in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Overview of Lightning and Thunder Mission in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Beginning the Encounter – First Wave of Enemies

As the cutscene concludes, Yasuke immediately confronts five foot soldiers. A series of quick light attacks can swiftly eliminate these foes. Timing your parries when the white circle appears is crucial; successfully executing a parry stuns the enemies and opens them up for impactful follow-up strikes.
After dispatching the initial group, navigate past the wooden crates to encounter another four adversaries. Similar to the first wave, a mix of light and heavy attacks will suffice. However, if you find parrying too challenging, utilizing the dodge mechanics—by pressing Circle on PS5 or B on Xbox—serves as an adequate alternative, though it won’t leave enemies as open to counterattacks as a well-timed parry would.
Engaging Aoki Ujimasa

As Yasuke continues, he encounters Aoki Ujimasa, an imposing warrior surrounded by the usual foot soldiers. Aoki presents a formidable challenge with his heavy armor and powerful attacks, which are indicated by a red aura.
To effectively confront him, consider the following strategies:
- Start by eliminating the weaker foes to build your Adrenaline meter.
- Focus on breaking Aoki’s armored yellow bar before attempting to deal significant damage.
- Employ skills like Power Dash to break his defenses, as moves like War Kick are less effective against armored targets.
- Capitalize on Aoki’s vulnerability by dodging his strikes at the right moment to set up for counterattacks.
Ascending to the Tenshu
Once you subdue Aoki, follow the quest marker up the staircase. At the summit, you’ll face another group of lesser enemies, which can easily be handled with basic light and heavy attacks. After defeating them, sprint towards the door and break through to enter the Tenshu.
Upon entering, a cutscene begins, allowing Naoe and Yasuke to converse, effectively concluding the Lightning and Thunder quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.