TL;DR
- Complete the Shinbakufu campaign arc and Twisted Tree quest to unlock Gennojo’s romance
- Always choose Naoe during key story moments to trigger relationship-building dialogue
- Navigate to southeast Kyoto near Ogura Pond to begin the Sake and Swords side quest
- Select strategic dialogue options that acknowledge your combat partnership with Gennojo
- Utilize Gennojo as a powerful recruitable ally with unique battlefield abilities
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Embarking on the journey to romance Gennojo in Assassin’s Creed Shadows requires understanding his complex background and the game’s relationship mechanics. This troubled warrior copes with past hardships through excessive sake consumption, presenting a redemption arc where players can demonstrate alternative life paths through meaningful interactions and shared combat experiences.
The romance system in Assassin’s Creed Shadows builds upon character affinity mechanics, where specific dialogue choices and quest completions gradually increase relationship levels. Unlike previous titles, romantic outcomes are tied directly to narrative progression and character-specific side quests that unlock after completing main story prerequisites.
Pro Tip: Romance options typically become available after reaching character affinity level 3, which requires multiple successful interactions across different quests. Gennojo’s romance path specifically activates after resolving his personal storyline involving sake dependency and finding new purpose.
Gennojo makes his initial appearance during the Shinbakufu campaign storyline where you pursue The Fool, a key antagonist faction member. Successfully navigating this narrative arc establishes the foundation for your future relationship development.
Critical path requirements include locating and conversing with Ise Sadatame and the Messenger, where your first encounter with Gennojo occurs. Though he vanishes mysteriously during this interaction, this establishes the character connection necessary for later romance progression.
Following this introduction, players must complete the assassination board targeting Takahashi Clan members as part of the Twisted Tree quest chain. This segment develops the trust and camaraderie between your character and Gennojo through shared objectives.
The pivotal romance-triggering moment occurs when confronting The Fool. Essential Strategy: You must control Naoe during this confrontation to enable Gennojo’s dialogue about your combat compatibility. Respond with the exact phrase “You might be right” to acknowledge this partnership and unlock his personal questline.
Common Mistake: Many players miss this opportunity by using the wrong character during the Fool elimination sequence. Always verify you’re playing as Naoe before critical story moments involving romance candidates.
Successfully triggering Gennojo’s interest leads to his dedicated side quest Sake and Swords, which forms the core of the romance progression. Fortunately, Assassin’s Creed Shadows provides clear waypoint markers for romance-related objectives, minimizing navigation frustrations.
For the initial Sake and Swords quest, travel southeast from Kyoto’s central district toward the rural settlement adjacent to Ogura Pond. The journey typically takes 3-5 minutes depending on your travel method and any random encounters along the route.

Upon arrival, initiate conversation with Gennojo to advance the relationship narrative. The dialogue tree presents multiple response options, but the most effective for romance progression is selecting “Depends what you’re offering” when presented with combat opportunities. This response demonstrates willingness to engage in shared activities while maintaining playful banter.
The quest immediately transitions to combat against ronin attackers. Combat Strategy: Position yourself to protect Gennojo during engagements, as demonstrating protective instincts increases affinity points. Use area-control abilities to manage multiple opponents while allowing Gennojo to showcase his combat prowess.

Following successful combat resolution, additional dialogue options emerge that deepen the emotional connection. Select responses that acknowledge Gennojo’s skills while gently challenging his self-destructive coping mechanisms.
Important Note: Beyond romantic developments, Gennojo functions as a recruitable ally/companion within Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ recruitment system. This dual functionality makes his romance path particularly valuable for gameplay optimization.
As a combat companion, Gennojo brings specialized abilities that complement various playstyles. His shadow-based techniques provide excellent distraction and crowd control options, especially effective when combined with Naoe’s stealth abilities or Yasuke’s direct combat approach.
Optimization Tip: Level Gennojo’s companion skills through repeated summoning in appropriate combat scenarios. His advancement directly correlates with romance progression, creating a synergistic relationship development system.

The romance culmination typically occurs across three sequential quests: Sake and Swords, Honor Among Thieves, and finally Stolen Hearts. Each quest advances both narrative intimacy and practical combat partnership.

Post-romance, Gennojo remains available as both a combat ally and recurring character for additional interactions. Successful romance completion often unlocks unique dialogue options during main story missions and provides access to character-specific gear and abilities.
Endgame Value: Romanced companions like Gennojo provide ongoing battlefield advantages and narrative depth throughout your Assassin’s Creed Shadows experience, making the investment in relationship building strategically worthwhile beyond emotional payoff alone.
Action Checklist
- Complete Shinbakufu campaign arc and locate Ise Sadatame with the Messenger
- Finish Twisted Tree quest and Takahashi Clan assassination board
- Eliminate The Fool as Naoe and select ‘You might be right’ dialogue
- Travel southeast from Kyoto to Ogura Pond village for Sake and Swords quest
- Choose ‘Depends what you’re offering’ and protect Gennojo during ronin combat
- Complete subsequent romance quests: Honor Among Thieves and Stolen Hearts
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » How To Romance Gennojo In Assassin’s Creed Shadows Complete guide to romancing Gennojo in Assassin's Creed Shadows with quest walkthroughs and combat strategies
