As soon as I unlocked Yasuke in Assassin's Creed Shadows, I knew the game had shifted into a whole new gear. After spending the opening hours as Naoe – the agile, shadow-stepping assassin – suddenly I was this walking tank who could bulldoze through entire squads. But raw power only gets you so far without the right weapons. I immediately started hunting for the best gear to make Yasuke feel truly unstoppable, and what I found changed everything. Here’s my personal roundup of the absolute best early‑game weapons for Yasuke, covering every damage type, so you can storm through feudal Japan without ever looking back.

⚔️ The Long Katana Dilemma – Two Legendary Blades

Yasuke’s primary weapon slot demands something special, and luckily you can grab two legendary long katanas almost right after he joins your crew. The first one I got my hands on was Turquoise Zephyr, and honestly, it carried me well into the mid‑game.

• Location: Eagle’s Nest region of Yamashiro, in a legendary chest hidden inside a creek bed crevice near the Kuji‑kiri spot between Eagle’s Nest and Shoryuji.

• Why it rocks: Its legendary engraving makes successful parries push nearby enemies back, giving you instant breathing room during chaotic fights. Plus, it boosts adrenaline gain as you level it – an absolute lifesaver when you’re still learning Yasuke’s slower, more deliberate combat rhythm.

But if you’re willing to grind a few levels (you’ll need to be around level 22), Myth Slayer is the true king of early Yasuke weapons. I can’t overstate how ridiculously powerful this blade feels.

• Legendary engraving: Combo enders are postured and make enemies vulnerable. In practice, this means once you land a full combo, your next attacks deal massively increased damage – and many players (including myself) consider it the single best engraving in the entire game.

• Key stat: Adrenaline gain – you’ll be popping abilities constantly.

I recommend grabbing Turquoise Zephyr immediately as a bridge, then rushing Myth Slayer as soon as you hit the level requirement. Once you unlock its engraving at the Hideout forge, you can even transfer it to other weapons later, making it a permanent upgrade to your arsenal.

🏹 Ranged Fury – Blush of the Earth Bow

Secondary weapons are where Yasuke really diversifies, and the first legendary bow you can get is Blush of the Earth. I found it completely by accident while exploring a cursed‑looking tomb.

• Location: Complete the Makino Kurumazuka Kofun in Izumi Settsu (east of Takatsuki, in the Yawata Plains). Only Yasuke can navigate the underground traps, so don’t bother until you’ve unlocked him.

• Why it’s awesome: If you use the Clear Mind skill, this bow becomes a pinpoint sniper rifle. Even without that, the raw damage and adrenaline bonuses shred enemy health bars from a safe distance.

🔨 The Bonk Life – Rage of Red Mist Kanobo

Sometimes you just want to see enemies fly, and the Rage of Red Mist kanobo delivers that satisfying fantasy. I started using it for laughs, then realized it was actually one of the most efficient weapons in my loadout.

• Location: Genbu Highlands, Yamashiro. Head to the Grave of Buried Hopes, exit the southeast corner, and look for a legendary chest behind a large building in the woods.

• Legendary engraving: Fills adrenaline chunks at an insane speed – perfect for ability‑spam builds. Even if you later find a kanobo with a different engraving you prefer, you can move this one to your collection once the forge is fully upgraded.

🔫 Gunpowder & Grace – Cascading Fear Teppo

Teppos are weirdly underrated early on, but Cascading Fear changed my mind in a single castle raid. It’s the first legendary teppo you can easily get, and it scales beautifully as you upgrade it.

• Location: Genbu Highlands, southeast corner near the Kyoto border. Go to the Namikiri Fudoson Shrine; the legendary chest sits at the top of the hill directly behind the gigantic statue. If you hit Kinkakuji Temple, you’ve gone too far.

• Why you’ll love it: Even without a game‑breaking engraving, its pure damage output at range makes it a fantastic opener before you charge in with your katana.

🔱 The Spear Alternative – Cerulean Nexus Naginata

If you want a reach weapon that isn’t a giant hammer, the Cerulean Nexus naginata is your best early bet – and you don’t even need to hunt it down in the open world.

• How to get it: Open the Animus “Projects” menu (yes, it’s essentially a free Battle Pass). You earn Data Fragments by completing quick anomalies scattered across the map. Cerulean Nexus is only the fourth reward, so you’ll unlock it almost immediately if you focus on a few anomaly missions.

• Why it matters: Naginatas keep enemies at a safe distance and allow Yasuke to control crowds without being surrounded. This particular legendary scales very well, and since it’s basically handed to you, there’s zero excuse not to grab it.

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With this arsenal, Yasuke goes from merely tough to downright godlike. I’ve cleared entire forts without taking a scratch, and the variety keeps combat from ever getting stale. Whether you prefer the surgical precision of Myth Slayer, the crowd control of Turquoise Zephyr, or the explosive punch of the kanobo and teppo, these early‑game weapons will set you up for the entire campaign. Now get out there, find those legendary chests, and show the warlords what true power looks like.