- 10. The Best Gear? Raid Castles!
- 9. Smoke Bombs = Instant Cheat Code
- 8. Petting Animals Actually Does Something!
- 7. Skip Explorer Mode Unless You Love Getting Lost
- 6. Yasuke = Instant Easy Mode
- 5. Want Better Skills? Raid Temples!
- 4. Hate RNG Assassinations? Turn On Instant Kills
- 3. Save Your Scouts for Smuggling
- 2. No Day/Night Skip? Here’s a Workaround
- 1. Grappling Hook Is Life
- Final Thoughts
So, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is finally here! Reviews are mixed, but let’s be real—if you're into the franchise, you're probably diving in anyway. Whether you're a stealth master or just slashing your way through, there are some things the game just doesn't spell out for you. But don’t worry, we got you covered with 10 key tips to make your journey smoother, deadlier, and a whole lot more fun!
10. The Best Gear? Raid Castles!
Some of the best legendary gear in Assassin’s Creed Shadows comes from castle raids—and the loot is always the same. One of the best armor sets early on? Katano Castle, just west of the starting point. This fortress is super easy to clear, and if you do, you’ll grab the Tool’s Master Gear (Legendary Light Armor).
Why’s it so good? Because every time you assassinate someone, it automatically throws a kunai at the nearest enemy, essentially giving you a built-in double kill mechanic without even needing to unlock the double assassination skill! It’s like free stealth kills on autopilot. If the armor ever starts feeling weak, just upgrade it at the blacksmith—it's cheap and totally worth it.
9. Smoke Bombs = Instant Cheat Code
Smoke bombs in Assassin’s Creed games have always been OP, and Shadows is no different. These bad boys let you blind enemies, set up free assassinations, and basically vanish into thin air. Some enemies might try to walk out of the smoke, but they’ll still be dazed long enough for you to land free hits.
The best part? Smoke bomb refills are everywhere, especially in enemy camps, so don’t be shy about chucking them whenever you need a quick escape or an easy kill.
8. Petting Animals Actually Does Something!
Love petting random animals in games? Well, in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, doing so lets you unlock them for your hideout! This works for wild animals too—you can sneak up, pet them, and they’ll basically become part of your home base. There’s no real gameplay advantage, but if you want your hideout swarming with Akita puppies, go wild! It’s like Pokémon, but fluffier.
7. Skip Explorer Mode Unless You Love Getting Lost
In Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, turning off quest markers made for a cool, immersive experience. In Shadows, though? It’s just a pain. The world is dense, navigation is tricky, and objectives can be frustratingly vague.
If you don’t want to waste time aimlessly wandering, switch to Guided Exploration Mode in settings. You’ll still get all the fun of the world, just without the endless “where the heck am I supposed to go?” moments.
6. Yasuke = Instant Easy Mode
At first, you’ll spend most of your time playing as Naoe (the stealthy assassin). But once you unlock Yasuke, you might wonder—should I even bother switching? The answer is YES!
Naoe is great for stealth, but Yasuke is an unstoppable tank. He’s got mountains of health, multiple long-range weapons, and a skill that lets him auto-block all attacks for a while. When you just want to brutally wreck everything in sight, switch to Yasuke. It’s basically God Mode without a cheat code.
5. Want Better Skills? Raid Temples!
Unlocking new abilities requires Knowledge Points, and the fastest way to earn them? Clearing out temples and meditation quests.
Temples are easy—just pray at a few shrines and you’re done in minutes. Meditation quests are a bit slower, but totally worth it for abilities like Double Assassination (Tanto) or the Shinobi Bell (to distract enemies). Also, killing castle leaders gives you free Mastery Points, so castles are your go-to for powering up fast!
4. Hate RNG Assassinations? Turn On Instant Kills
Old-school Assassin’s Creed fans hate that modern entries don’t always guarantee instant assassinations. If that bugs you, Shadows has an easy fix—just turn on Instant Kills in the difficulty settings.
Yes, it makes the game easier, but if you just want that classic “stab = dead” experience, this is the way to go.
3. Save Your Scouts for Smuggling
Scouts are super valuable, so don’t waste them on random searches. Instead, use them for smuggling resources. When you raid castles, outposts, or abandoned camps, you’ll find caches of valuable loot that require scouts to extract.
Once seasons change, you’ll get huge payouts, making scouts the best investment for farming resources. Pro tip: buy extra scouts from your HQ before raiding a big castle so you don’t run out.
2. No Day/Night Skip? Here’s a Workaround
For some reason, Shadows doesn’t let you manually switch between day and night (at least not easily). If you need time to pass, just find a safe spot and idle for a while. It’s a bit annoying, but hey, gotta do what you gotta do.
1. Grappling Hook Is Life
One of the best traversal tools in the game is the grappling hook, but only Naoe can use it. If you're playing as Yasuke and come across an area you can't reach—switch to Naoe to climb up.
This hook makes sneaking into castles and moving around WAY easier, so get comfortable using it early on. It’ll save you a ton of frustration in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Assassin’s Creed Shadows throws a lot at you, and not everything is obvious right away. But with these tips, you’ll have an easier time navigating Japan, assassinating enemies, and making the most of both Naoe and Yasuke. Got any other must-know tricks? Drop them in the comments!
Now, get out there and be the deadliest shinobi you can be!
