Assassin's Creed Shadows Critical Encounter Quest Guide (How to Unlock Rufino)

The next Assassin’s Creed Shadows story drop adds a new ally named Rufino to the game, and his Critical Encounter questline is much more expansive than the previous story drops the game has seen. This free update adds a brand-new set of assassination targets to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Rufino joins the League as an ally once everything is done.

Rufino is voiced by Robbie Daymond from Critical Role, and he was originally created for a promotional Assassin’s Creed Shadows one-shot campaign prior to the game’s launch. Now, Rufino has been fully realized in the official world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, teaming up with Naoe and Yasuke to take down another branch of the Templar Order. Here’s how you can unlock Rufino as an ally in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Where To Meet Mitsuhide (Friend Of My Enemy Walkthrough)

The beginning of a big turmoil in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

How to Start the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Critical Role Quest

Assassin's Creed Shadows Critical Encounter Quest Location-1

The Critical Role quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is called A Critical Encounter. You can start this quest by talking to Rufino at the Hideout. He’s sneaking around in some bushes near the Hideout’s entrance, but the objective marker floating above his head gives his position away.

You can start this quest at any time after you complete the “Way of the Blacksmith” quest and unlock Yasuke as a playable character. This quest deals with the Templar Order, however, so it’s a good idea to complete some of Yasuke’s personal quests before speaking to Rufio for the sake of the story.

How to Destroy the Research in A Critical Encounter

Assassin's Creed Shadows Critical Encounter Ship-1

Rufino’s first task for you is to destroy some research aboard a ship off the coast of Osaka. You can complete this quest as either Naoe or Yasuke, but Naoe is the better fit since there’s a lot of climbing and sneaking involved.

To reach the ship, teleport to the nearby synchronization point at Osaka and then commandeer a small boat to head out to sea. Climb up the side of the ship and activate Eagle Vision to scan the ship for enemies and objectives. There are three research crates to destroy aboard the ship, and each is marked with a blue dot.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Critical Encounter Boss-1

Once you destroy each research crate by tossing a kunai or shuriken at it, meet up with Rufino at the front of the ship. He’s being harassed by a named enemy, so it’s time for quick mini boss. Dispatch the Contractor and speak to Rufino to complete the quest.

Hunting the Hunters

Assassin's Creed Shadows Seta River Killers-1

This isn’t the end of the Critical Role story drop in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, however. Naoe and Yasuke must work with Rufino to take down eight new assassination targets branded as the Seta River Killers. You can see each of these targets on the objectives board.

Once you eliminate every target, the Critical Role storyline will conclude and Rufino will join your team as an ally that you can summon during combat. He wields a pistol and inflicts bleed on enemies, making him one of the best allies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. You’ll also get a Critical Role banner for your Hideout and a new teppo for Yasuke as a quest reward.