You’re sneaking through the high grass of feudal Japan, hidden blade ready, heart racing. Then, you see it. Two guys with fruit on their heads. They aren't legendary generals or deadly samurai. They're just two farmers in a field called AC Shadows Suika Lands, and they are absolutely losing their minds over melons.
If you’ve spent any time looking into Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you’ve probably seen the screenshots. They look fake. They look like a mod. But honestly, the Suika Lands are a very real, very weird part of the game that serves as a massive tonal shift from the blood and betrayal of the Sengoku period.
What Are the AC Shadows Suika Lands?
Basically, Suika Lands is a specific location in the northern Yawata Plains within the Izumi Settsu region. It's a melon farm. That’s it. But in the context of the game's "The Yokai" questline, it becomes the site of one of the most bizarre encounters in the entire franchise.
The locals are terrified. They've been whispering about a Bakemono—a monster—crawling through the fields. When you finally arrive as Naoe or Yasuke, you don't find a demon. You find two guys, one dressed in yellow and one in green, wearing hollowed-out melons as helmets.
They are the "Suika no Bakemono."
They aren't monsters. They are just incredibly dedicated farmers who have been "waging war" for generations over which melon is superior: the Suika (watermelon) or the Makuwauri (oriental melon).
Why the Game Sends You There
You’ll get sent to the AC Shadows Suika Lands by a monk named Mamushi. He’s a former demon hunter who’s basically "too old for this" and wants you to investigate various supernatural rumors.
It’s part of a larger quest chain called The Yokai. Most of the other targets in this quest are actually creepy—think Yuki Onna in the snow or the Kappa. But the Suika Lands mission is pure comedy. It's a "debunking" mission. You’re there to prove that what people think is a monster is actually just a couple of guys with a very specific hobby.
The "Melon Lord" Duel
Once you talk to these guys, they’ll force you to pick a side. It’s the ultimate low-stakes decision. Do you like watermelons or oriental melons?
- If you pick Suika: You fight the guy in yellow.
- If you pick Makuwauri: You fight the guy in green.
Honestly, the fight is a joke. They use katanas and move like standard enemies, but they’re only around level 25. If you’ve been upgrading your gear at all, you’ll breeze through it. The best part? You don't actually kill them. Even if you’re playing as Yasuke and you hit them with a massive kanabo, they just concede.
After you win, you are officially declared the "Melon Lord" of the season.
The rewards aren't half bad for a joke quest. You get 2,000 XP, 2 Mastery Points, and a Rare Engraving that boosts your damage after using an ability. It's a lot of loot for winning a fruit-themed argument.
Is This Even Historically Accurate?
This is where things get interesting. A lot of people on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) jumped on this as proof that Assassin's Creed Shadows is "disrespectful" to Japanese history.
But here’s the thing: the concept of the Suika no Bakemono actually exists in Japanese folklore.
The "watermelon monster" appears in the Buson Yōkai Emaki, a famous scroll of supernatural creatures by the artist Yosa Buson from the Edo period. While the game is set in the Sengoku period (a bit earlier than the scroll), Ubisoft is clearly pulling from actual mythology rather than just making up random fruit people.
The game treats it as a legend that turned out to be a misunderstanding, which is a classic Assassin's Creed trope. They take a myth and give it a "grounded" (albeit ridiculous) explanation.
How to Find the Suika Lands
If you're looking for the AC Shadows Suika Lands and can't find the marker, you aren't alone. It’s tucked away.
- Head to the Izumi Settsu region.
- Look at the far north of the Yawata Plains.
- If you have scouts, send them to the area just north of the river.
- If you’re traveling on foot, look for the Bamboo Cutters Watchtower fast travel point.
- Climb down the cliffs to the west and follow the road north.
Pro tip: This quest is seasonal. The farmers only show up during the Summer or Fall. If you go there in the middle of a snowy Winter, the fields will be empty, and you'll just be standing in the cold wondering where the melon guys are.
Why This Matters for the AC Franchise
For years, fans have complained that Assassin's Creed got too serious, or too magical, or too repetitive. The AC Shadows Suika Lands encounter is a callback to the "weird" side quests of the older games.
It reminds me a bit of the "No One Expects the Spanish Inquisition" vibe or the weird Easter eggs in Valhalla. It’s a breath of fresh air in a game that is otherwise about the brutal unification of Japan and the assassination of corrupt lords.
It also shows off the new Scout system. Instead of just having icons pop up on your map, you actually have to use your network of spies to find "rumors." Hearing about a "melon monster" from a villager and then actually finding it is way more satisfying than just checking off a box on a HUD.
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Moving Forward in the Yawata Plains
Once you’ve finished the Suika Lands quest, don't just fast travel away. The Yawata Plains are dense.
There are several other "Yokai" rumors nearby, including sightings of a Kappa near the water. If you're trying to clear the "The Yokai" organization board, you'll need to head back to Mamushi at the Nyoiji Daiji Temple after you've dealt with all the targets. Just be prepared—the rest of the questline isn't nearly as funny as the melon farmers.
If you're stuck or can't get the quest to trigger, check your season. Use the meditation feature or wait for the world to cycle into Summer. The "Melon Lord" title is waiting, and honestly, it's the most prestigious title you'll earn in the whole 60-hour campaign.
To get the most out of this area, make sure you've recruited at least three scouts in the Settsu region. This will unlock more precise "rumor" locations on your map, allowing you to find the hidden legendary gear chests tucked away in the bamboo forests surrounding the Suika Lands.