Assassin’s Creed Shadows presents players with a unique twist—two protagonists with contrasting abilities: Naoe and Yasuke. Following the initial missions where players try both characters, the narrative restricts gameplay to Naoe for about 8 to 10 hours. Afterward, both characters become available, and players can freely switch between them outside of combat.
Deciding which character suits a specific playstyle can be a challenge. This guide outlines the key traits, strengths, and best uses for each character, helping players make informed decisions based on gameplay preferences.
Choosing Between Naoe and Yasuke
Naoe and Yasuke each bring a distinct approach to gameplay. Naoe is designed for stealth and strategic maneuvering, while Yasuke thrives in direct confrontations. Instead of sticking to one protagonist, the most effective strategy is to utilize both based on the mission’s demands. Naoe is ideal for stealth sections and exploration, whereas Yasuke is built for intense battles and heavy combat scenarios.
Naoe Overview: Skills, Weapons, and Best Use Cases
Core Traits and Combat Style
- Primary Focus: Stealth, agility, and assassination.
- Best Suited For: Exploration, synchronization, and silent takedowns.
Naoe exemplifies the classic Assassin’s Creed formula. Agile and stealth-driven, she is tailored for quiet infiltration rather than head-on combat. Her skillset favors avoiding detection and using tools to gain tactical advantages.
Weapon Arsenal
- Katana: A balanced weapon, suitable for parrying and exploiting enemy vulnerabilities.
- Kusarigama: Effective for crowd control and repositioning enemies during group encounters.
- Tanto: Specializes in single-target elimination with fast, evasive strikes and enhanced assassination capabilities.
Each weapon supports Naoe’s stealth-driven playstyle, with enhancements through skill trees that add utility like armor penetration, vulnerability effects, and assassination upgrades.
Skill Set
Naoe’s development tree emphasizes stealth tactics. She can deploy tools such as smoke bombs, bells for distraction, and throwing weapons like kunai and shuriken. Her Shinobi and Assassin paths unlock abilities like:
- Climbing faster with the Grappling Hook
- Silent enemy relocation
- Underwater breathing
- Fall damage negation
- Bonus damage following deflections
These upgrades enhance Naoe’s effectiveness in stealth operations and exploratory missions.
When to Use Naoe
Naoe excels during moments that demand careful navigation and silent execution. Her proficiency in scaling heights and her ability to eavesdrop for intelligence makes her the superior option for synchronized viewpoints and stealth-heavy sequences. Her loadout allows efficient enemy elimination before open conflict begins.
Yasuke Overview: Skills, Weapons, and Optimal Scenarios
Core Traits and Combat Style
- Primary Focus: Strength, resilience, and frontal assault.
- Best Suited For: Large-scale combat, storming fortresses, and high-risk enemy encounters.
Yasuke presents a stark contrast to Naoe. Physically powerful and heavily armored, he is built for raw strength. His limitations in stealth and mobility are compensated by his combat dominance.
Weapon Arsenal
- Long Katana: Offers armor penetration and self-healing mechanics while bypassing enemy posture.
- Naginata: Polearm with excellent reach and area-of-effect damage, suitable for crowd battles.
- Kanabo: Heavy-hitting weapon with slower attacks but strong knockback and group damage.
- Teppo (musket): Long-range firearm that pierces armor and inflicts status effects like daze and bleed.
- Bow: Mid-range silent weapon with poison capabilities, suitable for picking off enemies from a distance.
These weapons emphasize Yasuke’s brute force, with ranged options compensating for his lack of stealth tools.
Skill Set
Yasuke’s Samurai tree enhances his battlefield presence. Upgrades include:
- Enhanced defensive abilities
- Knockback attacks
- Temporary invincibility
- Ability to break through barriers
- Access to execution-style finishing moves
These skills solidify Yasuke’s role as the ideal choice for chaotic combat scenarios.
When to Use Yasuke
Yasuke should be selected before entering large battles or when facing heavily fortified areas. His lack of stealth makes him ill-suited for reconnaissance or exploration, but his ability to deal and absorb massive damage makes him a reliable force during high-risk missions. Players should always switch to Yasuke before combat since changing characters mid-battle is not possible.
Final Thoughts: Switch Strategically for Success
Rather than committing to a single character, players are encouraged to switch between Naoe and Yasuke depending on the mission type. Naoe provides unmatched stealth and agility for silent infiltration and exploration. In contrast, Yasuke dominates in combat, capable of withstanding and delivering substantial damage in intense encounters.
Choosing the right protagonist at the right moment ensures that every mission can be approached with maximum efficiency and minimal risk.
Read about hidden features and mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.