The best choices for each skill tree in Assassin's Creed: Shadows

As a gamer stepping into Assassin’s Creed: Shadows for the first time, the skill trees can seem a bit daunting at the outset. It’s not like the intricate web of abilities in Path of Exile 2, but still, the array of knowledge points and skill options might leave you scratching your head about what to do next if you’re just here for the assassin experience. Or perhaps you’re curious about which skills are truly beneficial. Regardless of your reason, we’ve got you sorted!

The best skills to unlock as early as possible in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows

In the game Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, there are two main characters – Yasuke and Naoe. You’ll have access to Naoe from the very beginning, but it may take a few hours to unlock Yasuke. Both characters boast up to six skill trees, most of which are associated with specific weapons. This article will delve into the lower-tier skills, those you’ll typically pick early in the game. As you progress further, you’ll need more time, exploration, and knowledge points to unlock additional skills. If you’re interested in skills for later stages of the game, I suggest checking out our specialized skill tree guide.

Katana

It’s beneficial to activate two key abilities for Naoe’s katana right away. First, opt for the Counter Strike. This enhances the main function of the katana: defensive blocking. A well-timed block will trigger a swift counterattack for Naoe, allowing her to inflict additional damage while dodging attacks. Second, select the Adrenaline Boost. Since Naoe represents the stealthy shinobi character in this game, she has less adrenaline compared to Yasuke, her samurai counterpart. Acquiring this skill will grant you additional adrenaline with each successful dodge, a resource that can be crucial in various situations.

Kusarigama

Naoe’s kusarigama is a crucial piece in her arsenal, particularly useful in critical situations where she faces multiple adversaries. Three essential skills are advised for mastery early on. The first one is called Entanglement. This skill enables you to tie up enemies and fling them in various directions. Press and hold the attack button during the strong attack sequence to engage it. Initially, it may seem counter-intuitive, but it proves incredibly beneficial when confronted by single opponents. The Entanglement skill empowers you to manipulate the battlefield and reposition adversaries for tactical advantage, even if that means knocking them down on their backs.

Following is a useful technique called Quick Strike, which addresses the Kusarigama’s main disadvantage in one-on-one combat. With Quick Strike, you can deliver a substantial amount of additional damage by pausing for a moment after an attack and following up with another strike to extend the combo. Lastly, we suggest Cyclone Blast, which leverages the Kusarigama’s strengths against groups of enemies. In this move, Naoe spins and swings the kusarigama, causing damage to all nearby adversaries. This maneuver will make enemies retreat when they might otherwise have you cornered.

Tanto

As a gamer, I’ve found the tanto to be an exceptional weapon, offering both defensive and offensive prowess. In my early gameplay, I strongly suggest unlocking three key skills from the skill tree. The first is Shadow Piercer, not only does it sound badass, but it’s incredibly useful. With this ability, I can hurl the tanto at an enemy, yank it back out, and make them susceptible to charged attacks. This vulnerability also grants me invincibility during the attack animation, allowing me to effortlessly dodge enemy assaults and slip away unscathed.

The second skill is called “Shadow Barrage.” With this skill, Naoe can automatically dodge up to 7 hits for the next 20 seconds. Essentially, it provides a temporary shield, allowing continued attacks. However, be cautious of grab attacks, as this skill doesn’t offer protection against those. Lastly, “Backstab” is a traditional assassin’s move. An enemy’s back is already a weak spot when landing a charged attack. Since the tanto is a mobile weapon, activating this ability enables you to strike enemies where it hurts them the most without having to make them vulnerable first.

Tools

Naoe possesses a variety of tools at his disposal, though not all are instantly accessible. To make full use of Naoe’s complete toolset, we suggest starting with these three key skills: Smoke Bombs, Shuriken, and Shinobi Bells. Once you’ve mastered those, here are three additional skills to consider:

– The Larger Tool Bag expansion will increase the number of tools Naoe can carry permanently, which is advantageous since having more tools is always beneficial.

Afterward, you’ll be ready to activate the “Quick Throw” ability. This talent enables Naoe to instantly toss a chosen item towards the closest adversary without needing to aim. This skill is particularly beneficial for swiftly deploying smoke bombs for an expeditious retreat or throwing shurikens to rapidly disorient enemies. Lastly, unlock the “Kunai Assassination Damage” enhancement. This upgrade boosts the damage inflicted when throwing kunai at an unaware enemy’s head. Essentially, this skill transforms the kunai into a potent instrument for silent, penetrative, long-range assassinations.

Shinobi

Instead of focusing solely on weapons and tools, Naoe possesses some valuable shinobi skills as well. A good choice for enhancing these abilities is the Igan Roll. This ability enables you to minimize fall damage by pressing the evade button prior to landing. Although it may appear as a skill only useful in certain scenarios, when you find yourself accidentally falling from a considerable height, you’ll be grateful for this skill.

This skill, called “Ascension Boost,” may seem straightforward, but it’s incredibly beneficial. It expedites Naoe’s ascent using her grappling hook, meaning she can quickly reach the rooftops and reduce the risk of being spotted – a crucial advantage for a shinobi. Lastly, we suggest the “Lightning Kicks” skill, which enables Naoe to knock out two adversaries simultaneously. This ability works on most enemies and grants Naoe temporary invulnerability during the animation, making her immune to damage. Stunned enemies will remain immobile for several seconds, providing an opportunity for a hidden blade strike, dealing substantial damage or breaking armor.

Assassin

Indeed, we’re talking about “Assassin’s Creed.” There’s a crucial detail about the skill tree you should know. The “Assassination Damage” ability is definitely worth unlocking as it boosts the damage of your assassinations, just as its name implies. This means you can quickly dispatch progressively tougher adversaries as the skill level advances. However, be mindful that in the game’s settings, there’s an option to enable the hidden blade to instantly kill any enemy regardless of their strength. If you ever choose to activate this setting, then the “Assassination Damage” skill becomes unnecessary.

As a seasoned gamer, I’ve got to say, this skill tree hides a gem – the legendary Double Assassination! With my tanto in hand, I can take down not one, but two foes standing side by side simultaneously. It doesn’t take a genius to see how handy this trick is when the situation calls for it. Another game-changer here is Reinforced Blade, which enables me to off enemies of substantial size. These behemoths are usually the ones posing the greatest threat, so being able to dispatch them without raising an alarm is invaluable.

Long Katana

Let’s dive into the various skill trees of Yasuke, starting with the Long Katana. Initially, it’s advisable to unlock three skills promptly. The first one is called a “Sheathed Attack.” In the beginning, using this skill while maintaining his guard will enable Yasuke to strike an attack that penetrates the enemy’s defense. As you progress, enhancements will allow you to power up this strike and eventually knock down foes.

Power Dash is an effective ability to acquire at the start. This move propels Yasuke forward and positions him behind an opponent, making them exposed for attack on their weak spot. Functioning somewhat like a radius attack due to all enemies in Yasuke’s path taking damage. Lastly, there’s Payback. With this skill, Yasuke attacks the enemy thrice, recovering 10% of his health with each strike. This healing significantly boosts your survivability during intense combat scenarios.

Naginata

Upon initial observation, the naginata’s broad, leisurely swings may appear as a vulnerability; however, don’t be deceived by this impression. This weapon boasts two advantageous abilities that significantly enhance its adaptability. The move called Crescent Strike, while dealing relatively low damage, offers an extensive reach and pushes enemies away. This trait can prove invaluable when you find yourself besieged and require some breathing room against a horde of adversaries.

On the opposite end, Whirlwind offers a potent series of strikes against a sole adversary. This is the optimal choice when you’re engaging a singular, formidable opponent using the naginata. Once both skills are accessible, the naginata transforms into an excellent tool for managing crowds or single targets.

Kanabo

One effective method for maximizing the destructive force of Yasuke’s kanabo is by mastering two key abilities. Firstly, Forward Momentum. This skill enhances your speed during a kanabo combo, enabling you to swiftly move past the initial weak strike and reach the powerful ones more quickly. The sooner you can start unleashing these blows, the more destructive you will be.

When we talk about something destructive, another impressive technique to master is called Devastation. This skill enables you to switch the attack type at the end of a combo from weak to strong or vice versa, resulting in an even more powerful finishing move. The last strikes in a kanabo combo are already its strongest, so enhancing them with this skill makes it even more destructive.

Teppo

For Yasuke, who is not as swift or agile as Naoe, having a ranged weapon proves essential. It’s advisable to always carry one preferred melee weapon paired with one ranged weapon of choice. More details on our weapon suggestions can be found in our analysis of why there isn’t a single best weapon in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. The teppo is among the two available ranged options. One skill that should be prioritized for early unlocking is “Larger Pouch,” which increases the maximum ammunition capacity.

For those seeking action-packed abilities, we suggest the skill “Armor Buster”. With this ability, Yasuke will reload his teppo and discharge a shot that demolishes the enemy’s armor. This powerful attack not only breaches the enemy’s defenses but also makes Yasuke invulnerable during the attack sequence, allowing for safe reloading even in the heat of battle. On the other hand, “Explosive Surprise” is an excellent choice for managing crowds. With this skill, Yasuke tosses a pouch of gunpowder that he then detonates, resulting in a powerful explosion.

Samurai

Yasuke is known for his mastery of weapons, and most of his skill trees are centered around his diverse range of weapon choices. However, the Samurai skill tree offers abilities that are broadly beneficial, regardless of your chosen weapon. You won’t need to stick exclusively to a specific weapon to make these skills valuable.

One particularly useful skill is called “Regeneration.” As its name suggests, activating this skill allows Yasuke to recover health by defeating enemies. Given your combat style, which frequently involves engaging multiple foes simultaneously, this skill will significantly boost your longevity in battles. Consider pairing it with the Long Katana’s “Payback” skill for additional healing effects.

As a gamer, War Kick has undoubtedly become one of my go-to moves. With this swift and powerful kick, I can send foes flying several meters away, creating some much-needed breathing room for myself. It’s perfect for interrupting deadly combos, pushing enemies into obstacles, or even sending them tumbling off rooftops and cliffs.

Brutal Assassination is another skill that certainly packs a punch, but it requires a bit more finesse. The essence of the move lies in catching an unsuspecting adversary off guard for an instant kill. This tactic works on most enemies, but remember, the tradeoff is that this move is incredibly loud. Expect nearby foes to be drawn towards the commotion, making it a fight before you know it. It’s best to use Brutal Assassination to take out the most dangerous enemy before the battle even starts.

Bow

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: “When it comes to Yasuke, the bow serves as an alternative ranged weapon compared to the teppo. It excels in taking out individual targets and offers Yasuke the sole opportunity for stealthy takedowns. Plus, having a Large Quiver is super beneficial because it boosts the maximum number of arrows I can carry – more ammo means more chances to score critical hits!

As a gamer, two abilities I’d suggest unlocking right away are the Marksman’s Shot and Silent Arrows for my character, Yasuke. With Marksman’s Shot, when I land a charged headshot, it triggers an instant follow-up headshot, perfect for eliminating lightly armored foes. The initial shot shatters their armor, while the second one finishes them off. On the other hand, Silent Arrows are crucial for stealth takedowns. These arrows bypass armor and deal massive damage to unsuspecting targets in the head from afar. It’s an effective method for neutralizing dangerous enemies before getting up close and personal.

2025-03-22 00:34

The best choices for each skill tree in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows