Players will have to make the tough choice of siding with Kondo or Katsura in Rise of the Ronin, completing changing the content they can access.
During the mission Parting Ways, players will have to decide whether to side with Kondo or Katsura. It’s a tough choice to make, especially if you’ve grown attached to both characters. However, you’ll have to make up your mind eventually, and knowing how each choice affects the game will help. Fortunately, we’ve explained all of that below.
Should You Join Kondo or Katsura in Rise of the Ronin?
You should join Kondo in Rise of the Ronin if you want to support the Pro-Shogunate faction. However, if you want to support the Anti-Shogtunate faction, then join Katsura. While this choice doesn’t affect the ending, whoever you choose will unlock certain faction quests and close off others. So, it’s important you choose wisely.
If you choose Kondo, you will join the Pro-Shogunate faction. This will unlock unique Pro-Shogunate missions and get you access to certain characters. However, Katsura will become your enemy, as will all the other Anti-Shogunate members. Additionally, you’ll be locked out of Anti-Shogunate missions.
If you choose Katusra, you’ll join the Anti-Shogunate faction, and Kondo will be upset. You’ll then get access to Anti-Shogunate missions, as well as be able to build your Bond with Katsura. However, during the Ikeda Inn Incident mission, you’ll have to fight Kondo. Katsura will join you for the fight, making it a relatively easy encounter. Once you’ve defeated him, Kondo will give you another chance to join the Pro-Shogunate faction. If you decline, then you’re locked into the Anti-Shogunate faction.
Of course, none of this changes the game’s ending, so you don’t need to worry about that. You can also always head back to the Testament of Souls in a Longhouse and retry the Parting Ways mission to change your mind. This will allow you to access all the missions of the other faction you missed out on. Ultimately, just pick the character you prefer the most and who aligns with the characters you like more. That way, you’ll still have access to them and their missions.
That’s everything you need to know about whether to side with Kondo or Katsura in Rise of the Ronin. For more guides like this one, be sure to check out our Guide Hub.