Rise of the Rōnin Guide | How to Unlock Akikatsu Manabe as Ally

A guide on how to unlock Akikatsu Manabe as Ally in Rise of the Rōnin.

Game Guide by Groot on Aug 18, 2025

Akikatsu Manabe serves as both your first enemy and final ally in Rise of the Rōnin. His recruitment represents a unique situation where a former antagonist joins your cause.

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His availability depends on specific choices made during Chapter 1, making him one of the more complex allies to unlock.

How to Unlock Akikatsu Manabe

To get Akikatsu Manabe, you must first finish the "Wildfire" Main Mission and then "The Watchman" Bond Mission. But in Chapter 1, a very important choice has to be made about his recruitment. You must not kill Naosuke Li when you attack him during "The Sakurada Gate Incident" Main Mission. This decision is necessary for Akikatsu Manabe to be available later on.

Rise of the Rōnin, Rise of the Rōnin Guide, How to Unlock Akikatsu Manabe as Ally, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Weapons and Combat Style

Akikatsu Manabe fights with a katana as his primary weapon and throwing knives as his secondary weapon. His throwing knives deal lightning damage and can make enemies immobile, providing both direct damage and crowd control capabilities during combat encounters.

Rise of the Rōnin, Rise of the Rōnin Guide, How to Unlock Akikatsu Manabe as Ally, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Blessing Ability

His blessing is called "Hidden Menace" which minimizes the sounds created by your movement. This blessing makes you more effective during stealth missions when you prefer to avoid direct confrontation with enemies. The reduced movement sounds help you remain undetected while navigating through enemy territories.

Rise of the Rōnin, Rise of the Rōnin Guide, How to Unlock Akikatsu Manabe as Ally, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Combat Training

Akikatsu Manabe will teach you the "Gikei-ryu" combat style for your katana. This combat technique belongs to the Shinobi skill tree, which represents one of the most specialized skill trees in the game. The Shinobi techniques focus on stealth and precision combat approaches.

Rise of the Rōnin, Rise of the Rōnin Guide, How to Unlock Akikatsu Manabe as Ally, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Additional Rewards

When you reach the third bond level with Akikatsu Manabe, he will teach you the "Kneeling Vow" gesture. At maximum bond level, he provides two dexterity skill points. These rewards enhance both your character's social expression and physical capabilities.

Rise of the Rōnin, Rise of the Rōnin Guide, How to Unlock Akikatsu Manabe as Ally, PS5, Gameplay, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Strategic Considerations

Focus on secret tasks and situations where dodging direct battle is helpful to get the most out of Akikatsu Manabe. His gift and fighting style are similar to ninja ways of getting things done, so he's good for players who like to sneak up on enemies instead of attacking them directly.

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