Assassin's Creed Shadows: 17 Essential Tips Before You Start

17 Things to Know Before Playing Assassin's Creed Shadows

Feudal Japan is finally here in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and with it comes a whole new way to experience the franchise. Whether you're embracing the shadows as a shinobi or slicing through enemies as a samurai, there’s a lot to learn before stepping into this massive open-world adventure.

If you're about to embark on your journey, here are essential things you need to know before playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows!

1. Shadows Aren't Just for Show—Use Them

Stealth has always been a core Assassin’s Creed mechanic, but Shadows takes it to another level. When hidden in the darkness, enemies have a much harder time detecting you. Extinguishing lanterns and light sources can help you create better hiding spots, so use the environment to your advantage.

Pro Tip: Make sure to keep an eye on how the light shifts throughout the day—your best hiding spot might not always stay that way.

2. The Seasons Change More Than Just the Scenery

One of the coolest new mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the dynamic seasons, and they directly affect gameplay:

• Winter: Snow can reveal your footprints to enemies, but icicles can be shot down to distract or even eliminate foes.
• Spring & Summer: Vegetation is dense, making it easier to hide in tall grass.
• Autumn: Leaves on the ground can make sneaking noisier, so be mindful of where you step.

Each season comes with its own challenges and advantages, making strategic planning essential.

3. Progression is Tied to Knowledge, Not Just XP

Unlike previous games where leveling up was straightforward, Shadows introduces Knowledge Rank—a system that locks progression behind exploration and activities. You can’t just grind XP to unlock skills; you must engage with the world, complete contracts, and conquer castles to advance.

Bottom line: The more you explore and interact, the stronger you become.

4. Prioritize the Assassin Mastery Tree

For the first few hours, you’ll primarily play as Naoe, the shinobi. It’s best to focus on her Assassin Mastery Tree first, as it unlocks double assassinations, increased hidden blade damage, and more stealth-focused skills.

Tip: Even if you love Yasuke’s samurai combat, upgrading stealth first can make life a lot easier.

5. Your Hideout is More Than Just a Safe House

Your hideout serves as your central hub where you can:

• Recruit allies who can assist in battle.
• Upgrade weapons and armor.
• Expand facilities like the forge (for upgrading gear) and study (to increase scout capacity).

Unlocking and improving these areas early on will make the game much easier as you progress.

6. Kukuriga Are Your Best Friends

Kukuriga are small outposts scattered across the map that act as:

• Fast travel points
• Supply restocks
• Safehouses for resting

Whenever you find one, unlock it—they will save you a ton of time in the long run.

7. Contracts Are Worth Your Time

At each Kukuriga, you can accept contracts—side missions that offer XP, money, and unique rewards. Don’t ignore them!

Even if you’re focused on the main story, contracts are one of the best ways to earn cash and gear upgrades.

8. Scouts Are Essential—Don't Run Out

Your scouts help locate objectives, targets, and quests, but they have limited uses. If you run out, you’ll need to:

• Rest at a Kukuriga
• Pay to refill them
• Wait for the seasons to change (which resets them for free)

Keeping scouts available will make navigation much smoother.

9. Stealing Supplies is a Must

To upgrade your hideout and gear, you need resources like wood, crops, and metal. These can be stolen from enemy bases or marked for your scouts to retrieve.

Make looting a habit—your upgrades depend on it!

10. Gear Matters More Than Ever

Unlike previous games, gear perks in Shadows make a huge difference. Some perks include:

• Faster adrenaline gains for special attacks
• Higher assassination damage to one-shot tougher enemies
• Silent movement to stay undetected longer

Even if a weapon’s base stats seem lower, its perks might make it better for your playstyle.

11. Merchants Offer More Than Just Junk

Unlike older Assassin’s Creed games, merchants in Shadows rotate their inventory with the seasons.

Tip: Check back regularly—you might find rare weapons or armor that weren’t there before.

12. Allies Can Turn the Tide of Battle

Throughout the game, you’ll recruit allies who can join you in combat. They can:

• Distract guards for stealth
• Clear roadblocks
• Provide backup in fights

Choosing the right ally for the right situation can make a huge difference.

13. Don't Ignore Sketching Animals

One of the cooler side activities in Shadows is sketching wildlife. It doesn’t impact gameplay, but it’s a relaxing break from combat and adds to the immersion.

Plus, you can pet dogs and cats throughout Japan—what’s not to love?

14. The Forge is the First Upgrade You Should Unlock

At your hideout, the forge is where you improve your weapons and armor. Given how important gear is in Shadows, upgrading the forge early will give you a major advantage.

15. Playstyles Matter—Adapt Accordingly

With two main protagonists, Shadows offers two distinct playstyles:

• Naoe (Shinobi): Focused on stealth, agility, and assassination.
• Yasuke (Samurai): Built for head-on combat, blocking, and powerful strikes.

Switch between them based on mission objectives and enemy layouts—both have their strengths and weaknesses.

16. Some Features from Older Games Are Gone

If you're coming from Valhalla or Odyssey, expect a few big changes:

• No level scaling – Enemies don't level up alongside you.
• No naval combat – Ships exist, but there are no major sea battles.
• No dialogue choices – The story is more linear than Odyssey or Valhalla.

The focus is back on stealth, parkour, and precision combat.

17. Assassin's Creed is Finally "Assassin's" Again

For the first time in years, Shadows brings the series back to its stealth roots. If you've missed the classic assassination-focused gameplay, this might be the game that rekindles your love for the series.

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows is shaping up to be a massive and immersive experience, but knowing these tips beforehand can save you a lot of frustration. Whether you're sneaking through enemy camps as Naoe or cutting down foes with Yasuke, understanding these mechanics will help you make the most of your journey.

Are you excited for Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Let us know what you think!

Stay sharp, stay hidden, and keep up with the latest Assassin’s Creed news at Land of Geek Magazine!

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