Choosing whether to be Pro-Shogunate or Anti-Shogunate affects the fate of Japan in Rise of the Ronin. Luckily, we have you covered on which is the better choice.
Rise of the Ronin has a lot of choices for you to make, such as who you can romance or even who to spare. However, there is one key choice in the game that players must make, which affects the entire story: whether to align with the Pro-Shogunate or Anti-Shogunate factions. Below, we detail which faction you should side with and what happens if you side with either of them.
Should You Choose Pro-Shogunate or Anti-Shogunate in Rise of the Ronin?
You should pick the Pro-Shogunate side in Rise of the Ronin if you wish to ally with Matthew Perry, Ernest Satow, Taka Murayama, and Isami Kondo. However, choose the Anti-Shogunate if you want to side with Kogoro, Katsura, Ryoma Sakamoto, and Genzui Kusaka.
Choosing the Pro-Shogunate allows players to continue bonding with those aligned to the faction. Additionally, there is a greater chance that those allies will live through the conflict in the third act of the game. So, if you wish to associate more with these allies, choosing to help the Pro-Shogunate is the way to go. Furthermore, your choices reflect on the lives of your allies, too. By helping to keep Western forces in Japan, be wary that any of your liked characters on the Anti-Shogunate side may perish during the conflict in the story’s third act.
However, if you want to ally with the Anti-Shogunate, you will help your allies fight for Japan’s freedom from Western influence. The protagonist will want to drive out the Western forces and keep the country free from trade with the West. By choosing to help this side, you will bond more with allies that see Western forces as a threat. As mentioned above, by supporting the Anti-Shogunate, those who were once your friends on the Pro-Shogunate side may lose their lives in the last significant conflict of the game. So, be careful which side you choose.
Can You Switch Factions in Rise of the Ronin?
Unfortunately, you cannot switch between Pro-Shogunate and Anti-Shogunate in Rise of the Ronin. Once you have made your choice, it is set till the end of the game. Fortunately, you won’t have to officially decide until the last third of the game, giving you plenty of chance to make up your mind. Of course, as it is such an important decision, take your time picking which faction you wish to help.
Both the Anti-Shogunate and Pro-Shogunate have various benefits they share, including exclusive missions, further bonding with characters, and much more. Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and which characters you’ve grown to love over the course of the game.
Does Faction Choice Affect The Ending of Rise of the Ronin?
No, your decision to align with either faction does not change the overall outcome of the game. The game ends as the situation did in real life, regardless of which faction you chose to align with. Whether you choose Pro-Shogunate or Anti-Shogunate, the game still leads to the conclusion of the Shogunate forces surrendering. Therefore, choosing whichever side will bring different rewards and affect which characters will live and die throughout the story but will not change the ending of Rise of the Ronin.
That is everything to know about choosing the Anti-Shogunate or Pro-Shogunate in Rise of the Ronin. If you found this guide helpful and wish to see more on Rise of the Ronin, be sure to head to our Guide Hub.