Island 4 of The Forge — the Crimson Sakura Isles — launched on February 22, 2026, bringing a Japanese-themed landscape packed with new enemies, questlines, and a punishing endgame boss called Asura's Incarnate. The Shogun questline is the combat-focused progression track on the island, and finishing it is the only way to challenge that boss.
Quick answer: Complete at least four of the Shogun's five quests, then travel to the Shrine of Rootwarden and enter the boss queue to fight Asura's Incarnate.
Where to Find the Shogun on Crimson Sakura Island
The Shogun sits on a throne inside a temple on a sub-area called Shogun's Island. From the Island 4 spawn point, head right through the gate, then take a right at the fork. After passing the guards, make another hard right through a second gate — you should see the Shogun's castle straight ahead. The temple entrance is flanked by lion statues, and the NPC waits inside the Hall of the Shogun.
A useful landmark is the temple's roof, which is visible from a distance while you explore the red-leafed areas of Crimson Sakura. Once you cross a small river bridge and the scenery shifts from red to green, you're on the right path. It's worth visiting the Shogun immediately upon arriving on Island 4 so that any enemies you defeat along the way count toward quest progress.
All Five Shogun Quests
The Shogun assigns five sequential combat quests. You only need to finish four of them to unlock the Asura's Incarnate boss fight, but completing all five rewards additional gold and EXP. The enemies for the first four quests roam the Bamboo Cave area, located up and to the left of Maria's shop.
Quest 1 — Ape Menace
Kill 5 Mountain Apes. These enemies patrol the rocky peaks of Bamboo Cave. They hit hard with their fists, so don't underestimate them, even though this is the opening quest. Upgrade your weapon beforehand if you haven't done so recently.
Quest 2 — Savage Lands
Kill 15 Mountain Apes and 5 Savage Apes. Savage Apes are significantly stronger and spawn less frequently than their Mountain counterparts. Both types appear in Bamboo Cave. If Savage Apes are scarce, switching to a private server can help with spawn availability.
Quest 3 — Warrior Beasts
Kill 30 Samurai Apes and 15 Monk Pandas. The difficulty spikes here. Stock up on health and damage potions from Maria's Shop before heading out. Teaming up with other players makes a big difference — as long as everyone lands a hit on the enemy, the kill counts for each player's quest progress. Public servers are actually preferable for these combat quests because you're likely to find others working on the same objectives.
Quest 4 — Securing the Surface
Kill 35 Samurai Apes and 20 Monk Pandas. The same strategy from Quest 3 applies, just with higher numbers. Grouping up on a public server remains the fastest approach. After turning this quest in, the Asura's Incarnate boss fight becomes available — though you should still consider finishing Quest 5 for the extra rewards.
Quest 5 — The Cave's Maw
Kill 15 Brute Onis. Unlike the previous quests, these enemies are found in a different location. Head to the Holy Tree, enter the Holy Cave, and clear out the Brute Onis inside. This quest is optional for unlocking the boss, but completionists will want to check it off.
Shogun Quest Requirements at a Glance
| Quest | Name | Enemies Required | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ape Menace | 5 Mountain Apes | Bamboo Cave |
| 2 | Savage Lands | 15 Mountain Apes, 5 Savage Apes | Bamboo Cave |
| 3 | Warrior Beasts | 30 Samurai Apes, 15 Monk Pandas | Bamboo Cave |
| 4 | Securing the Surface | 35 Samurai Apes, 20 Monk Pandas | Bamboo Cave |
| 5 | The Cave's Maw | 15 Brute Onis | Holy Cave (Holy Tree) |
How to Reach and Fight Asura's Incarnate
Once you've completed at least four Shogun quests, head to the Shrine of Rootwarden. To get there, pass through Aurelia Hall, continue into Bamboo Grove, and take the first right turn after exiting the grove. A golden light marks the shrine — you can't miss it.
Approach the light, and you'll see an option to enter a queue for the boss battle. When the timer expires, you're teleported directly into Asura's Incarnate's Temple.
Boss Fight Strategy
Asura's Incarnate is the current endgame boss on Island 4 and drops the recipe for Shogun's Chestplate. The fight is demanding but manageable with the right approach. The boss's biggest weakness is low mobility, especially between attack animations. Exploit this by running toward the opposite corners of the arena whenever you need to heal, then re-engage once the boss slowly walks toward you.
It's entirely possible to beat Asura's Incarnate using late Island 3 equipment as long as you play patiently and don't rush. Totems are allowed in the arena, so place them as soon as you load in. Bringing friends — or cooperating with strangers in the same instance — dramatically reduces the time the fight takes. More players landing hits means faster damage output.
Preparation Tips for the Shogun Questline
Gear matters. Before starting Quest 3 and beyond, make sure you're carrying the best weapons available to you. Maria's Shop sells both health potions and damage potions — grab both. The Crimson Sakura update also introduced armor traits, where heavy armor reduces movement speed and stamina but offers more protection, while light armor boosts agility. Pick whichever suits your playstyle for these combat-heavy quests.
For mining-focused players, the other major questline on Island 4 belongs to Sensei Moro, which involves mining progressively harder rocks. The strongest pickaxe currently in the game is the Kitsune Pickaxe, a Legendary tool with 1,000 Mine Power, +10% Mine Speed, +85% Luck Boost, and three Rune Slots — though it costs 3,330,000 gold.
The Crimson Sakura Isles expansion is still in its first phase. A follow-up update is expected around March 9, 2026, which will add the Spirit Cave, a Goblin King boss, side quests, ore crafting, equipment traits, new runes, and more. For now, clearing the Shogun's questline and farming Asura's Incarnate for the Shogun's Chestplate recipe is the primary endgame loop on Island 4.