Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the next installment in the longstanding Assassin’s Creed franchise, is set to deliver an unprecedented gameplay experience with dual protagonists with distinct playstyles in a first for the series. Naoe, the game’s stealth specialist, will play like a traditional Assassin from the series’ old days. Meanwhile, Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ Yasuke will encompass gameplay from the franchise’s modern era, where intense action largely took precedence over stealth. These two protagonists will undoubtedly call for varying combat and assassination strategies if players hope to get the most out of each character’s playstyle.
Game Rant recently spoke with Charles Benoit and Thierry Dansereau, Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ game director and art director, respectively, about various combat and assassination strategies players can expect to implement when they encounter enemies in the game. During the interview, Benoit and Dansereau went into extreme detail about Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ dynamic stealth system, many of the game’s weapons and tools, and how the latest entry in the Assassin’s Creed series balances stealth gameplay with open combat scenarios.
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Stealth and Assassination Strategies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Despite featuring two playable protagonists in Naoe and Yasuke, stealth remains a cornerstone of gameplay in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. As the game’s Assassin, Naoe utilizes the silent, lethal efficiency of the shinobi, employing various tools and techniques designed to subdue targets without drawing attention to her location. While Assassin’s Creed veterans are likely familiar with the fundamentals of Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ stealth gameplay, the latest entry adds some elements to its mechanics that can throw even the most seasoned players for a loop.
When playing as Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the goal will always be to remain undetected at all times. Thankfully, Naoe has a handful of tools at her disposal that should allow players to stay hidden or hide themselves upon detection. When asked about Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ available tools and their roles in combat, assassinations, and stealth, Benoit replied,
The Kunai is my favorite, to kill an enemy in one shot at range; it’s like an assassination at range. We also have the Smoke Bomb, which is a classic, to either vanish or stun enemies to assassinate them one by one. The Bells are also useful to combine with assassinations. You can isolate an enemy by attracting him away from others, or position the enemy in a good spot if he’s protecting himself from the rain under a rooftop. Finally, we have the iconic shinobi tool, the Shuriken. It’s a good tool to create a distraction, break lights to cover you in darkness, and in combat, in combination with your quick shot, you can stagger enemies or make them fall off.
- Kunai: A silent, ranged assassination tool.
- Smoke Bombs: Used to escape or stun enemies for quick elimination.
- Bells: Can lure enemies into isolation, creating perfect assassination opportunities.
- Shuriken: Useful for distractions, breaking lights, and stunning enemies in combat.
There are numerous ways players can both avoid and escape detection as Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but that still doesn’t mean it will be as simple as it has been in past Assassin’s Creed entries. Assassin’s Creed Shadows features a world that is meant to feel more dynamic than ever, with elements like dynamic lighting and seasonal changes impacting the visual appeal of the game and its mechanics. This means players must always be on their toes, observing every detail before they decide to strike. As Dansereau stated,
Vegetation will be different depending on the season – it will bring different opportunities in gameplay for the player since the hiding areas will be modified. Weather states and the time of day will also have an impact on the gameplay in many ways. Fog, rain, night and seasons, to name a few, will affect AI detection and behaviors, which will offer a more dynamic and changing gameplay experience. For example, if you go into a castle during heavy rain, high-ranking enemies will seek cover inside buildings, while the basic enemy will stay out to stand guard during the storm, forcing you to adapt your approach.
The Assassin’s Creed series has long been known for its attention to detail, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows is taking that to the next level with a world that is not only detailed but also directly connected to the game’s mechanics. Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ AI overhaul also comes into play here, providing enemies with enhanced alertness, awareness, and responsiveness as players navigate the changes introduced with the game’s annual cycle. Furthermore, something Dansereau only indirectly mentioned is Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ lighting system, which is designed to discourage players from wandering too far out of the shadows as they attempt to approach unaware enemies.
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Combat Strategies and Weapon Specializations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The Balance of Naoe’s Stealth and Open Combat in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
As the presence of Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ dual protagonists implies, players may not always be able to lean on stealth as a reliable form of progression; they may find themselves in the middle of an open combat scenario instead. When asked about how the combat mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Shadows accommodate different player approaches in light of the contrasting playstyles of the two protagonists, Benoit gave special attention to Naoe’s stealth gameplay. However, although Yasuke has been designed to be more useful in open combat scenarios, Naoe has her fair share of tricks up her sleeve to help her in similar situations.
Using Naoe’s Deflect to put enemies in a vulnerable state and chaining with a Light Posture Attack to inflict what we call a “Weak Point” attack is probably the best way. As you build your character and unlock new gear and abilities, you’ll see good opportunities to mix and match “Perks” that can give you an edge, to quickly finish up enemies with Bleed affliction or the ability to perform an assassination while in combat, for example.
Despite Naoe’s obvious capability in Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ open combat scenarios, it’s still preferable for her to remain hidden as much as possible. After all, if she were just as viable out in the open as she is in stealth, there would be little room for Yasuke to make an impression. Nevertheless, players are bound to find themselves in plenty of situations as Naoe where open combat will be unavoidable. Benoit continued,
While hidden, Naoe has access to stealth takedowns with her different ways to assassinate and her Kunai. All of these remove a certain amount of health from the enemy, so the more you progress, the more you can one-shot your enemies. However, in open combat, Naoe must rely on her weapons – Katana, Kusarigama or the Tanto and Hidden Blade dual-wielding option. Using the best moves and abilities is key to finishing enemies quickly, since she doesn’t have that much armor and/or health to survive.
The Balance of Each Protagonist’s Distinct Playstyle in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Ubisoft has confirmed that it’s possible to play most of Assassin’s Creed Shadows with one character, and that may very well be the approach some players choose to take. On the one hand, Naoe offers a more traditional approach to gameplay in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, with a playstyle that prioritizes stealth and yet occasionally needs to fight in or escape open combat scenarios. Yasuke, on the other hand, has a more modern playstyle reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed‘s RPG era that gets players straight into the action.
The balance between these playstyles is delicate, because even though Assassin’s Creed Shadows is almost fully playable with only one of its protagonists, that may not be the best way to approach it. To strike that balance, Assassin’s Creed Shadows must ensure that Naoe and Yasuke’s distinct playstyles meet somewhere in the middle to encourage players to swap between the protagonists regularly. In response to questions about the situational benefits and drawbacks related to each of Yasuke and Naoe’s weapons, Benoit responded,
Naoe’s Katana can stab enemies through Shoji doors and the Tanto gives you access to Double Assassination. In terms of combat, the Katana is a strong 1 vs 1 weapon, the Kusarigama is good for crowd control, and the Tanto is quite fast but doesn’t stagger enemies. For Yasuke, it’s all about fighting. His long Katana is the fastest weapon, but more dedicated to a duel. The Naginata is versatile and can be good for 1 on 1, but also crowd control when things get dicey. The Kanabo is the strongest, but the slowest weapon. The Bow is an excellent ranged weapon for Yasuke, especially for stealth, but less powerful than the Teppo (gun), which is noisy and lethal but takes time to reload, and you can be overtaken quickly if you use it against multiple enemies at close range.
- Katana: Fast, but focused on one-on-one duels.
- Tanto: Quick weapon that is useful for double assassinations.
- Kusarigama: Most beneficial when used for crowd control.
- Naginata: A balanced weapon, effective in both duels and crowd fights.
- Kanabo: A devastatingly strong, slow weapon ideal for staggering foes.
- Bow: Great for silent ranged attacks but lacks power compared to firearms.
- Teppo: Lethal but loud, requiring careful use to avoid being overwhelmed.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ two distinct playstyles offer players a level of tactical flexibility that few entries in the franchise have attempted. Whether slipping through the shadows as Naoe or cutting through enemies head-on as Yasuke, each protagonist brings something unique, reinforcing the idea that there’s no single “right” way to play. The depth of the game’s stealth mechanics, dynamic environments, and diverse combat options suggests that players must constantly adapt, making every encounter feel fresh and rewarding.
- Released
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March 20, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
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