How to Complete Ideals and Reality (Bond Mission) in Rise of the Ronin
For her first Bond Mission with your Ronin, Princess Atsuko needs your help. And she doesn't like to be kept waiting.
Rise of the Ronin takes a stab at crafting an elaborate narrative with well-realized characters. Its Bond Missions are where the game lets its supporting cast take center stage, often giving the Ronin a few tasks that showcase their motivations.
Taking a peek into what makes these individuals tick can also grant very useful rewards and gear at any stage of the game, making building bonds with those around you a great idea. These missions may also influence the story based on the choices you make.
Princess Atsuko of the Satsuma Clan
Your Ronin is first introduced to Princess Atsuko in Edo during the story mission Those Who Gather At Edo. Under attack from Naosuke Li and the Blue Demon, the princess is crucial to maintaining the Satsuma Clan‘s integrity and positioning it against the Shogunate.
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Defending her from the Blue Demon and his men allows your Ronin to begin building a bond with her. She is always found at the Satsuma Clan Estate in Edo, northwest of the Veiled Edge Banner in this area.
Along with her beloved cat, Princess Sato, Atsuko proves to be a tenacious leader and loyal friend. She is also charming and witty, capturing the hearts and minds of her clansmen and ensuring their loyalty to the anti-shogunate cause.
After you meet with Kaishu Katsu and your subsequent alliance with him, Princess Atsuko sends for you, requesting that you meet her at her estate to assist her. Head on over to begin the first Bond Mission with this charismatic leader.
How to Complete Ideals and Reality in Rise of the Ronin
Meet with Atsuko at the Satsuma Clan Estate to start the mission. Atsuko informs your Ronin about trouble over at Katsu‘s estate and implores you to help.
You will have to manually ride over with the princess to Kaishu’s estate where you run into a trio of miscreants creating problems for the residents. Deal with them and follow the quest markers into Kaishu’s manor to find that he is under attack.
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One of the Satsuma seems unable to handle the presence of a shogunate official in Edo, not recognizing Katsu as an ally. Join Katsu in dealing with Hanjiro Nakamura.
He wields quite a nasty Odachi, so adjust your combat style accordingly and use Katsu as a distraction to attack him whenever his attention is diverted. You will soon bring him to his senses, after which the princess steps in.
Watch the ensuing cutscene to witness Atsuko in her element as Satsuma’s leader and end the mission. You are rewarded with 1600 Coins, 345XP, an excellent weapon based on your primary weapon, a showpiece for your Longhouse, Black Sand Steel, and Silver Coins for your efforts.
Building your bond with Atsuko can yield a lot of handy rewards as it progresses. While you cannot train with her at dojos as she is a non-combatant, handing her gifts from time to time and completing further Bond Missions down the line can help you improve your Bond Level with her and collect all of the rewards she offers.
Atsuko is not the only member of Rise of the Ronin’s cast that you can build a bond with. Some can even reward you with new gear, for example.
For more on the game’s bosses, Bond Missions, and story missions, check out our Rise of the Ronin guides and craft a story for the ages with your Ronin.
