Hello, fellow blade enthusiast. I have spent an embarrassing amount of my 2026 gaming time in Assassin's Creed Shadows, and I have the emotional scars to prove it. The game finally takes the franchise to Japan, and yes, it was worth the wait. You can sneak around as Naoe for a proper assassin fantasy, or play as Yasuke and solve problems by being a walking wall of muscle. Either way, you get a huge world, targets to eliminate, animals to pet, and skills to unlock. What could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot, if you ignore the tips below. No spoilers, I promise—just hard-earned wisdom from someone who has been spotted more times than a tourist in a ninja museum.

1. Improve Your Assassination Skills First

As the name of the series implies, assassinating people is a big deal here. Use your mastery points to unlock assassination skills for Naoe as soon as possible, so you can eliminate most enemies with ease. Yasuke does not rely on stealth as much, but he still has assassination abilities, and they are handy when you want to avoid a full-scale brawl. You can toggle an option for instant-kill assassinations, like in older games, but the upgrades come quickly enough that you probably will not need it. Shadows finds a good middle ground: some enemies die instantly, while others survive your blade and demand a proper fight. Is that not exactly what we want from a game called Assassin's Creed?

2. Be Careful Who You Try to Assassinate

Some enemies are built differently. Even with strong skills and gear, you cannot assassinate everyone from the front. A samurai with their guard up will shrug off your hidden blade, even if you are hiding in grass and they walk right past you. Others require a strike from above, or a specific angle, to take down properly. So, before you leap at the first helmet you see, ask yourself: is this target actually vulnerable, or am I about to become a human pincushion?

3. Use the Darkness

It is called Assassin's Creed Shadows for a reason. One of the best new mechanics is how much you can play with light. Extinguish flames, bump lanterns, and create large patches of darkness that make stealth dramatically easier. In complete darkness, you can even approach an enemy from the front and assassinate them before they realize they are in a video game. Eagle Vision makes the world clear as day for you while your targets stumble around like they forgot their glasses. Why fight fair when you can fight in the dark?

4. Equip a Tanto for Naoe

Your weapon choice matters, especially for assassinations. Each character can equip two weapons at a time, and while you should follow your personal preferences, I strongly recommend giving Naoe a tanto. With the right skill unlocked, she can perform double assassinations, taking out two enemies at once. That is not just efficient; it is pure poetry. Also, consider a Kusarigama for her, because spinning that chain around you repeatedly can kill a lot of people while keeping you safe. Who needs a shield when you have centrifugal force?

5. Unlock Every Kakurega You Find

Fast travel is essential in a game this big, but viewpoints are not always your friend. Many high points in cities are restricted areas, usually castles owned by important people who do not appreciate your parkour hobby. Instead of fast-traveling into a death trap, unlock Kakurega, the hideouts for you and your scouts. They cost money, but farming currency in Shadows is easy enough. Trust me, you will thank yourself later when you are not sprinting away from an entire garrison.

6. Manage Your Scouts

Your scouts are wonderfully useful. They can track mission objectives on the map and smuggle items from enemy bases back to your hideout. But you do not start with many, so manage them carefully. They reset when the season changes, and you can also refill them at a Kakurega for a small fee. Upgrade your main hideout to increase your scout count, and remember that you can force a season change to reset them for free. Is it cheating? No, it is called resource management with style.

7. Pay Attention to Civilians

Civilians talk a lot, and in Shadows, they are not just background noise. Activate subtitles, slow down, and listen. They gossip about events across the map, and some will give you rumors that lead to additional information or side quests. Have you ever ignored a random farmer and missed a whole adventure? I have. Do not be like me. Be the person who eavesdrops on every conversation and then casually walks away like a hero.

8. Explore the World with Naoe

Naoe is simply better at traversal. She has parkour skills, a grappling hook, and the ability to climb almost anything. Yasuke can reach high places thanks to his height, but he lacks her mobility. This means you should explore the map with Naoe and swap to Yasuke when combat or brute force is needed, not the other way around. Why struggle up a wall as a giant samurai when a nimble shinobi can do it in half the time?

9. Focus on Temples and Shrines

Despite all the stabbing, Shadows has plenty of calm areas, like temples and shrines. You also get peaceful mini-games such as Naoe's meditation and Yasuke's training, which are mostly quick-time events. These are not optional fluff. They award knowledge points, which you need to unlock stronger skills. Ignore them, and your character will be significantly weaker. Who knew that inner peace would be the key to outer violence?

10. Do Not Neglect Red-Diamond Marks

Some locations on the map are marked with a simple red diamond. They might not offer epic loot or a dramatic story, but they often contain resources for upgrading your gear and hideout. Even the smallest camp is worth investigating. And if you are feeling lazy, just bring Yasuke, barge in, and kill everybody quickly. Subtlety is a tool, not a religion.

Quick Summary Table

Tip	Why It Matters
Upgrade assassination skills	Makes Naoe deadly and Yasuke more flexible
Check your target	Some enemies cannot be front-assassinated
Use darkness	Extinguish lights for easy stealth kills
Equip a tanto	Enables double assassinations
Unlock Kakurega	Safe fast travel and scout refills
Manage scouts	Track objectives and smuggle loot
Listen to civilians	Free rumors and side quests
Explore as Naoe	Better climbing, parkour, and grappling
Visit temples and shrines	Earn knowledge points for stronger skills
Loot red diamonds	Resources for gear and hideout upgrades

So there you have it: ten tips that will save you from countless deaths, wasted scouting trips, and the shame of being outsmarted by a farmer with a rumor. Assassin's Creed Shadows rewards patience, preparation, and a little bit of theatrical chaos. Now go out there, pet every animal, extinguish every lantern, and make Japan your personal playground. Just remember: if you see a samurai with his guard up, maybe try the roof first. 🥷🏯