You can tackle every mission solo in Team Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin solo, but it doesn’t hurt to have some allies. Since different allies are in opposing factions and depending on the choices made in some missions, you can miss recruiting them. The good news is that you can use Mission Replay in the longhouse to return to previous missions and make different choices.
Mission Replay becomes available in Chapter 2 via Testament of the Soul. You can also view Ronin missions here and check a timeline of events and potential new choices to make. Without further ado, here are all of the allies and how to unlock them.
All Allies and How to Unlock Them
| Ally Name | How to Get Them |
|---|---|
| Ryoma Sakamoto | The first ally you forge a Bond with. Unlocked by completing the Ronin Mission, “Curtain Falls, Curtain Rises.” |
| Gonzo | During the Ronin Mission, “Curtain Falls, Curtain Rises”, ensure that you spare Gonzo. Later, you can recruit him in the Bond Mission, “The Bad Bunch.” |
| Kogoro Katsura | Unlocked by siding with him in the Ronin Mission, “Follow Your Blade Twin.” Requires completing “The Plot to Assassinate Harris” and is only available when choosing to be Anti-Shogunate. |
| Deishu Takahashi | In Chapter 2, speak to Deishu at the Military Academy in Kanda, Edo. Partake in a training match to unlock him as an ally. |
| Isami Kondo | Unlocked by completing the Ronin Mission, “The Shogun’s Journey to Kyoto.” |
| Alexandria Moreau | Unlocked by finishing the Ronin Mission, “An Intoxicating Flower.” |
| Toshizo Hijikata | Also unlocked by completing the Ronin Mission, “The Shogun’s Journey to Kyoto.” |
| Soji Okita | Also unlocked by completing the Ronin Mission,, “The Shogun’s Journey to Kyoto,” to round out the trio of Shinsengumi allies from the same. |
| Aritomo Yamagata | Unlocked by completing the Ronin Mission, “The Fire Attack.” |
| Hirobumi Ito | Also unlocked by completing the Ronin Mission, “The Fire Attack.” |
| Eiichi Shibusawa | Unlocked after finishing the Bond Mission, “Something to Show the World.” |
| Jules Brunet | Unlocked after finishing the Ronin Mission, “Cultural Exchange.” |
| Akikatsu Manabe | Don’t kill Naosuke Li and then complete the mission, “The Watchman’s Bond.” Return to the Testament of the Soul afterwards to unlock Manabe as an ally. |
| Yoshinobu Tokugawa | After completing the Ronin Mission, “A Show for the Shogun”, the Shogun becomes an ally to accompany you on missions. |
| Genzui Kusaka | Unlocked after completing the Bond Mission, “The Way of the Warrior.” |
| Jigoro Kano | Unlocked after the Bond Mission, “Strength in Softness.” |
| Shinpachi Nagakura | After completing the Ronin Mission, “The Forbidden Gate Rebellion”, Nagakura becomes available as an ally. This is only available on the Anti-Shogunate path. |
| Shinsaku Takasugi | Available upon completing the Bond Mission, “Try Your Luck,” which becomes available after you reach Sakura Inn in the mission, “Follow Your Blade Twin.” |
| Kaishu Katsu | Complete the Ronin Mission, “Meeting Kaishu Katsu” to add him as an ally. |
| Kiyotaka Kuroda | Finish the Bond Mission, “Something to Show the World.” |
| Koto Nakazawa | Unlocked after completing the Ronin Mission, “Temper, Temper.” |
| Motsugai Takeda | Available as an ally after finishing the Bond Mission, “In Search of New Discoveries” mission. |
| Yasusuke Sawamura | Finish the Bond Mission, “In Search of New Knowledge” to unlock Sawamura. |
| Tesshu Yamaoka | Becomes an available ally after completing the Ronin Mission, “Temper, Temper.” |
| Ernest Satow | Unlocked upon completing the Bond Mission, “A Priceless Treasure.” |
| Toranosuke Shimada | Complete the Bond Mission, “The Three Blades of the Era” to unlock Shimada as an ally. |
| Matthew Perry | Unlike other individuals in the Obei faction, Matthew Perry becomes available upon starting the Bond Mission, “Test of Friendship.” |
| Sana Chiba | Finish the Ronin Mission, “Deadly Blade, Demon Belle.” |
| Toshimichi Okubo | After completing the Ronin Mission, “Damsel in Distress”, Okubo becomes an ally. |
| Rutherford Alcock | Available after finishing the Bond Mission, “A Prize Beyond Reach.” |
| Takamori Saigo | Becomes an ally after finishing the Ronin Mission, “The Satsuma-Choshu Alliance.” |
| Hajime Saito | Unlocked by completing the Ronin Mission, “Burgeoning Betrayal.” |
Rise of the Ronin is available for PS5. Check out our review here.