The Claws of Awaji expansion for Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers plenty of new mechanics, many of which weren’t present in the base game. One addition is three treasure puzzles that require players to find unmarked locations on the map using vague clues to obtain unique legendary items.
Somewhat reminiscent of the papyrus puzzles from Assassin’s Creed Origins or the Treasure Hoard Maps from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the Tomeji’s Prize, Nowaki’s Memento, and Yasuhira’s Secret letters in Claws of Awaji can be found while exploring the island, but locating the exact treasure spots can still be challenging. This guide covers everything needed to find those locations and retrieve treasures for both Naoe and Yasuke.
Where to Find Claws of Awaji Letters With Clues
Before beginning the search for the Claws of Awaji hidden legendaries, players first need to collect the letters. There are three of them, and each comes in three pieces, gradually adding more clues. Obtaining the letters is straightforward: some drop from ambushing enemies, which are plentiful on Awaji, while others can be found in enemy outposts (use the Observe key to spot a white quest-item clue) during exploration.
Pieces of the secret letters can be viewed at any time in the inventory of either playable character, under the quest item section in the bag.
In short, there’s generally no need to specifically hunt for the Tomeji’s Prize, Nowaki’s Memento, and Yasuhira’s Secret letter pieces, as most players will collect them naturally during exploration in the first few hours of the DLC. Once all the letters are gathered, it’s time to solve their mysteries and claim the rewards in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Claws of Awaji – Tomeji's Prize Letter Text, Location, and Reward
Let’s start with Tomeji’s Prize. Here’s the description from the quest letter items that players find:
“A letter from Tomeji.
He has hidden an item of great value in one of Awaji’s castles. (1/3)
It resides in Yura Castle during winter and summer and Sumoto Castle in spring and autumn. (2/3)
It is in the stable kura in Sumoto Castle, or the western storage kura in Yura Castle. (3/3)”
The Tomeji’s Prize is arguably the easiest of the three to locate, as it gives players the exact places to search for the item. The only trick is to go to Sumoto or Yura Castle during the correct season — and to retrieve a key to the respective kura first, which can randomly appear at various spots or be carried by random enemies.
For players struggling to find the exact location of the stable kura in the enormous Sumoto Castle, it is marked on the map image above. The kura is in the southeastern part of the castle, right next to a stable with some crops. The western storage kura is easier to find in Yura Castle, but its exact spot is marked on the map as well.
While exploring the castle’s kura in search of the item, note that it’s not a chest on the ground to look for, but a golden object placed high on top of the materials in the kura vaults. Use the Observe button during the search to avoid missing the reward.
Some players reported that when searching for an item in one of the castles during the appropriate season, they still couldn’t find it, which instead spawned in the other castle during the respective season. This could be a bug, or perhaps the item was simply overlooked on the first attempt.
The reward for the Tomeji’s Prize letter in Claws of Awaji is a bit underwhelming, given the promising “item of great value” description. Players receive the Master Fisherman’s Kasa legendary helmet for Yasuke, fitting for those who prefer a wandering ronin look. Its engraving is “Avoid death but lose health until killing an enemy,” which is quite useful considering how much harder the Claws of Awaji expansion is.
Claws of Awaji – Yasuhira's Secret Letter Text, Location, and Reward
Now, onto the second letter, Yasuhira’s Secret, which reads as follows:
“A letter from Yasuhira’s Spies.
The spymaster has prepared boats around Awaji’s shoreline, one of which contains a valuable outfit. (1/3)
The outfit is under a twisted tree near one of the boats. (2/3)
The outfit is near the boat on the west coast, on the border of Sumoto and Fukura regions. (3/3)”
A good starting point for the item’s location is the Wrecked Boat location on the island’s western shore. From there, follow the shoreline left toward the point where the Sumoto and Fukura regions meet on the map. You will soon notice a single twisted tree surrounded by several boats. Use the Observe key to reveal the golden treasure beneath the tree.
The reward for unveiling Yasuhira’s Secret is the Master Fisherman’s Outfit, legendary armor for Yasuke. Its unique engraving is “25% damage reduction when surrounded by four or more enemies,” which is quite useful, as many of the shinobi ambushes in Awaji involve four enemies at once. It’s also valuable in the intense combat scenarios in Claws of Awaji, where Yasuke often faces multiple foes. The outfit has a stylish look as well, catering to those who prefer the wandering ronin aesthetic over a hardened warrior appearance.
Claws of Awaji – Nowaki's Memento Letter Text, Location, and Reward
Finally, here’s everything needed to find the Nowaki’s Memento reward, which is a legendary item for Naoe. Here’s the letter’s full text:
“A letter from Nowaki.
She has constructed a hiding place for her prized kusarigama.(1/3)
The trees point the way to her hiding place. (2/3)
The path to her hiding place begins at the fork in the road west of Kanaguchi Village, the one with five stone lanterns. (3/3)”
This is arguably the hardest location to track down, as the starting point with five stone lanterns lies quite far west of Kanaguchi Village, closer to the Trail of Eshima map marker. In addition, following the pathway to the hideout can be tricky, so players might prefer to use the Iwaya Castle synchronization point instead, if available.
Jump down, cross the small pond near the training grounds (there are also some enemies), climb the fence, and head straight into the bushes. Shortly after, players will reach a sunny clearing near the water, where a large nest made of branches rests. This is where the reward for Nowaki’s Memento in Claws of Awaji can be claimed.
Nowaki’s prized weapon is the Ophidian Feeder, a legendary kusarigama for Naoe, with the unique engraving “Rush Assassination triggers a slowdown effect.” Because of this effect, the engraving is compatible only with kusarigama weapons, as the Rush Assassination ability requires a kusarigama to close the distance to the target before assassinating them. The Ophidian Feeder also grants a bonus to Critical Damage and features a distinct appearance that many players find appealing.