Kofuns are one of the many different interactive location types inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsthat award Knowledge Points. These are some of the more complicated puzzle-style areas that will be familiar if you’ve played previous games in the franchise. Kofuns are unique in that sometimes they can only be completed by Yasuke due to his ability to lift and move jars and crates, while other times Yasuke cannot fit through the entrance, in which case you’ll have to use Naoe. Kofuns are designed somewhat like mazes, often requiring you to backtrack and open barricaded rooms.

Some Kofuns are accessed as you progress through themain campaign inAC Shadows,such as the Megalithic Vault, while others are in obscure locations around the map.Each Kofun also has its own unique legendary item reward, and these are typically some of the best weapons in the game. Kofuns can sometimes be disorienting, with narrow hallways and sharp turns that all look very similar. The reward for each Kofun coincides with which character can complete it, and they also award a Knowledge Point.

A Clay horse in AC Shadows that tells you a Kofun is nearby

All Assassin’s Creed Shadows Kofun Locations & Rewards

Kofuns Are Found In Every Major Region Of AC Shadows

There is a Kofun in each of the major regions on theAssassin’s Creed Shadowsmap, but they can be tricky to find if you don’t know exactly where to look. Many of these are hidden in obscure locations, but if you’re traveling or exploring, look for the clay animals along the paths as you progress.

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These are signs that a Kofun is nearby, and you canfollow the clay horses to find the entrance. Here are all the Kofun locations and who you’ll need to use to complete them, i.e.,Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Yasuke or Naoe.

Naoe and Yasuke in front of the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey map.

Old Kofun

The Old Kofun in Izumi Settsu is likely going to be the first one you will actually be able to explore. you may complete it early on with Naoe and will run into it as part of the"Prayer for Omi"quest. It’s located slightly east of Sakai, next to the Tomb of the Ancients. Naoe can squeeze through this entrance and find the chest for the Amaterasu’s Blessing legendary trinket, whichgives you +10% damage per unused ability slot.

Makino Kurumazuka Kofun

The Makino Kurumazuka Kofun is located in the starting region, Izumi Settsu, and will be one of the first you come across (as well as the Old Kofun). It can be found east of Takatsuki and can be found quite easily if you fast travel to the Kakurega there and head across the river.

This Kofun requires Yakuse to enter, andyou’ll have to pick up the oil jars at the top of the stairs to blast open the entrance.The reward for the Makino Kurumzuka Kofun is the Blush of the Earth Bow, Extend Clear Mind duration by 5 seconds.

Naoe from Assasin’s Creed Shadows with Yaya

Ancient Tomb Of Nanjo

The Ancient Tomb of Nanjo is found in the Yamashiro region, and it’s another Kofun for Naoe that can be found southwest of Kyoto. This Kofun awards a legendary tanto called Yukimitsu’s Revenge, whichcauses afflicted enemies to become vulnerable.

Afflictions include Bleed, Daze, and Poison effects and can be buffed with various abilities, passives, weapons, armor, and trinkets.

AC Shadows Yasuke standing At a Kofun Entrance

Takagi Kofun

The Takagi Kofun is in the next major region you’ll probably enter while exploring the vast world ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows.It is found in Harima, connected to the Takagi Otsuka Fort, and you will be in hostile territory, so be careful when entering.

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Your best bet is to go in Teppos blazing with Yasuke and eliminate all the enemies, as youwon’t be able to sneak in with Naoe. The reward for the Takagi Kofun is the Death’s Bloom legendary teppo, which has drastically reduced reload time.

Naoe Assassin’s Creed Shadows looking interested at camera.

Azuchi Hyotanyama Kofun

The Azuchi Hyotanyama Kofun is located east of Azuchi in the Omi region and can best be found by taking the Azuchi Kukarega fast travel and heading directly east toward the edge of the map. Once there,you’ll need Yasuke to blow open the entrance, and once you track down the chest, you’ll be rewarded with the Heartspiller legendary bow, which makes all charged arrows deal posture shot damage.

Ishibutai Kofun

The next Kofun on the list is the Ishibutai Kofun, one of two Kofuns located in the Yamato region, along with the Megalithic Vault. This is located south of Takatori in the Asuka Rocks Basin, and you’ll need to use Naoe for this as it’s another narrow entryway. The reward for this is the Masakado’s Vengeance trinket, which increases damage based on unspent mastery points and is possiblyone of the most OP trinkets in the game.

Megalithic Vault

The Megalithic Vault, also in Yamato, can be found west of Todaiji, though you will be required to head this way to complete the main Onryo target board made of all the main Shinbukufu bosses. This Kofun can be completed by Yasuke and rewards the legendary Elegant Samurai Outfit armor, whichincreases posture damage per adrenaline chunk​​.

Veiled Tumulus Kofun

The Veiled Tumulus Kofun is found in the northern reaches of the world map in the Wakasa region. If you’ve made it as far north as Obama, you can find this Kofun aftercrossing over the bridge toward Mount Uchinakao. This Kofun can be completed with Naoe and awards the Stone Heart legendary kusarigama, which spreads affliction to nearby enemies on a combo ender.

All Legendary Kofun Location Rewards & Details

From Death’s Bloom To Blush Of The Earth, These Are Some Of The Best Items In AC Shadows

The reward for completing each Kofun is a unique legendary item for the respective character that completes the maze/puzzle. Ultimately,these are some of the best legendary items in the gameand will often be a much better option than anything you have on hand already.

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Some highlights from this list are the Death’s Bloom teppo, which reloads faster than any other gun in the game, and the Masakado’s Vengeance trinket gives Naoe increased damage for each unspent Mastery Point. There is significant upside potential here, given the amount of Mastery Points in the game.

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Extend Clear Mind duration by 5 seconds

+10% damage per unused ability slot

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Afflicted enemies are vulnerable

Drastically reduce reload time

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Charged arrows deal posture shot damage

Increases damage based on unspent Master Points

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Increases posture damage per adrenaline chunk

Stone Heart Kusarigama

Spread affliction on combo ender

For some reason beyond my understanding, you can’t see item names or descriptions before completing a given Kofun (at least as of this writing). If any of these items look enticing, just remember to mind the minimum level requirement for its given region, as there are often hostile enemies inside the later-game Kofuns. Also, depending on your navigation skills, you may want to consider lighting candles in theAssassin’s Creed ShadowsKofuns on your way through to keep track of where you’ve been.

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Set during Japan’s Sengoku period, two distinct protagonists—Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai—must navigate political intrigue and violent clashes between the Assassins and Templars. Players can switch between stealthy, shadow-based gameplay with Naoe and Yasuke’s direct combat approach, exploring the duality of their missions in a beautifully rendered open world​.