Assassin's Creed Shadows: Kata Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide

Whether that's the point of a martial arts meditation minigame is between you and Yasuke — but if you're hunting Knowledge Points rather than rhythm challenges, it's the single most useful thing to know before you start. All 18 Kata locations are fully documented on Map Master's Assassin's Creed Shadows Japan map.

Kata Is Yasuke-Only

Naoe cannot perform Kata. The activity doesn't exist for her — approach a Kata marker as Naoe and nothing happens. Yasuke unlocks after completing Act 1, and the markers won't appear on your map until he does, which is why the two Katas sitting in Izumi Settsu feel invisible during your first pass through the province.

On the map, they show as white question marks that flip to orange Kata icons once you're close. If you arrive as the wrong character, hold the character swap button from the inventory and switch on the spot rather than fast travelling away.

Knowledge Points are shared between both protagonists, so a Kata completed as Yasuke advances Naoe's skill tree too. The character restriction is on the activity, never on the reward.

How Each Kata Works

Every Kata begins with a teacher. Talk to the NPC, accept the training, and Yasuke runs through three weapon exercises — sequences of timed button presses and holds that you have to match. Get one wrong, and that sequence restarts.

The break between combos is what catches most people on their first attempt. The prompts pause, you relax, and then the next sequence starts before you've reset your hands. Complete all three cleanly, and the Knowledge Point drops.

Narratively, these are Yasuke learning weapon forms, and mechanically they do teach you real combos — the Kata you complete corresponds to combinations you can then execute in combat. It's the calmest activity in the game and the only one with no enemies in it at all.

The Auto Setting Completes Every Kata for You

From the world map, open System menu → Options → Gameplay → Quick Time Events → Auto.

With Auto enabled, Yasuke performs the entire Kata without a single input from you, and you still receive the full 250 to 825 XP and 1 Knowledge Point.

No penalty, no reduced reward. It also applies to Naoe's Kuji-kiri meditation sequences, which use the same QTE system.

There's a middle option too — Simplified — if you want the interaction without the precision.

Kata Locations Come Two Per Region

All 18 Katas are distributed evenly across Japan's nine provinces, two apiece. Izumi Settsu, Yamashiro, and Omi each hold a pair, and the pattern continues through the rest of the map.

That regularity makes them among the easiest Knowledge activities to plan around — clear a region's other objectives and you'll rarely be more than a short ride from both of its Katas.

Nothing is missable. Every Kata remains available in post-story free roam.

Kata and the Six Knowledge Ranks

Kata is one of seven activity types feeding Knowledge Rank progression, and the ranks get expensive fast. Reaching Ranks 2, 3, and 4 costs 10 Knowledge Points each. Rank 5 jumps to 15, and that's where the strongest skills start unlocking. Rank 6 is the ceiling, opening the final mastery tier for both characters.

Eighteen Katas is a substantial chunk of that total, and it pairs naturally with Horse Archery — the other Yasuke-exclusive Knowledge activity — for a single sweep as one character. Naoe covers Kuji-kiri and Hidden Trails, while Kofun tombs and Shrines are open to both.

Because the character restrictions split so cleanly, having both protagonists unlocked before you start seriously sweeping Knowledge activities saves a lot of unnecessary travel.

Good Form: One Kata Is Enough

The "Good Form" trophy unlocks on completing a single Kata. With Auto QTE enabled, that's a conversation and a short animation — comfortably the least demanding trophy in the game.