In Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, combat might be your bread and butter, but the art of cooking is just as vital—at least for the skeleton crew. With Toya of Iga stepping into the role of both assassin and chef, the game explores a unique blend of stealth tactics and culinary expertise. This guide will delve into the intricacies of Toya’s dual roles, the importance of resource management, and how to turn every encounter into a recipe for victory.

---

1. Toya of Iga: The Assassin-Chef

Toya, a cursed pirate and skilled assassin, also takes up the mantle of the ship’s cook. His skills in the kitchen are paralleled by his expertise in stealth and combat. With the skeleton crew starving and resources scarce, Toya’s ability to craft meals from limited ingredients is just as crucial as his knife skills.

Key Abilities:

• Bird’s Song: A distraction tool that lures enemies away from patrol routes.
• Shadow Step: Allows Toya to teleport to marked enemies for swift eliminations.

Pro Tip: Use Bird’s Song to create safe paths for other crew members, then follow up with Shadow Step to eliminate isolated targets.

---

2. Cooking Under Pressure: Managing Scarce Resources

With the Inquisition burning the crew’s supplies, Toya is forced to craft meals from scraps. The dialogue highlights creative use of ingredients like dried rice, aubergines, and even fish soaked in soul energy.

Resource Strategy:

• Prioritize missions that reward soul energy to sustain the crew.
• Crafting meals with limited supplies boosts crew morale and may unlock temporary buffs or abilities.

Advanced Tip: Experiment with different combinations of ingredients to discover unique effects that can aid in tougher battles.

---

3. The Mentor and the Student: A Fishy Tale

Toya’s unexpected mentorship of a talking fish—who aspires to become a ninja—adds a layer of humor and depth to the story. This subplot isn’t just comic relief; it reinforces core themes of adaptation and teaching.

Key Lessons:

• Stealth: Mastering cover and movement without detection.
• Backup Plans: Always have an escape route during high-risk missions.

Strategy: Apply these lessons by using memory checkpoints frequently to test new tactics without severe consequences.

---

4. Combat and Cooking: Parallels in Preparation

Toya’s philosophy that cooking and combat require similar skills—adaptation, timing, and precision—is a recurring theme. Both rely on making the best of limited resources and executing plans flawlessly.

Combat Tip:

• Use Toya’s teleportation to bypass heavily guarded areas and target priority enemies first.
• Disguise poison as food to eliminate groups silently when opportunities arise.

---

5. Advanced Tactics: Exploiting Environmental Hazards

Levels in Shadow Gambit are designed with hazards like crumbling walls and explosive barrels that can be turned against enemies. Use Toya’s mobility to lure enemies into traps and unleash environmental kills.

Advanced Tip: Deploy distractions near hazards to bait enemies into dangerous areas, then trigger the hazards for multi-kills.

---

6. Resource Management: Balancing Soul Energy and Provisions

Soul Energy serves dual purposes: reviving crew members and enhancing abilities. Effective management is essential to survive long missions.

Resource Tip:

• Focus on missions that offer soul energy or ingredients as rewards.
• Upgrade Toya’s abilities to improve efficiency in both combat and resource gathering.

---

Conclusion: The Art of Cursed Cuisine

In Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, mastering both combat and cooking is essential to keep the skeleton crew in fighting form. By balancing resource management, stealth tactics, and Toya’s unique skills, you’ll turn every mission into a recipe for success. Embrace the duality of the assassin-chef and lead your crew to victory!