Seasons are excellent inclusions to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as they not only change the visual backdrop of the game, but also play a key role in its mechanics. Each of the four seasons occurs naturally in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but you can also shift the seasons when needed. Switching seasons has several benefits beyond making the temperature more comfortable.
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As you progress through your journeys as Naoe and Yasuke, the seasons will be integral to the story and the characters, given the number of shifts that occur with the seasons. From enemy behavior to wanted levels, your Scouts, and more, the seasons will dictate much of the action in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
What Are The Seasons?
Assassin’s Creed Shadows utilizes the four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn, as both a helpful indication of how much time has passed and a useful game mechanic.
Each of these four seasons changes the game, including how enemies react to the surrounding environment.
Icicles can be used as distractions or to hurt patrolling guards in the winter, while they wander their designated areas safely in the summer.
Keep an eye on the seasons and don’t be afraid to use them to your advantage when you need something. Seasons will change naturally while you play or can be changed manually when you choose.
How To Change Seasons & What Does It Do?
Each season is divided into two steps, which will cause a seasonal shift once both steps occur.
Season steps occur naturally by completing quests, fast-traveling, and completing side activities like Kuji-kiri.
You can manually change the season by holding down right on the d-pad until the prompt completes.
Doing so will immediately shift to the next season, thus causing the following changes:
- Your wanted level (Regional Alert) will be cleared
- Your Scout readiness will be reset to the maximum
- Vendors restock their gear
- All resources looted from castles and other areas will arrive
- All enemies and NPCs will respawn, as long as they are not unique (like Samurai Daisho in Castles)
- Local factions will refresh
When you’re wanted, you can change characters to avoid your wanted level with a specific character.
Alternatively, you can also use your Scouts to clear your wanted level if you don’t want to advance the season.
Essentially, advancing a season is the best way to wipe the slate clean and start over with new materials, gear, resources, and other items you’ll need to continue your journeys as Yasuke and Naoe.
While you do not need to manually advance seasons in most cases, the option exists so you can continue sending your Scouts on missions, locating new areas and targets, and keeping your progress moving.
It’s a good idea to manually advance the season if you have gained a few levels but haven’t had the time to buy new gear or fast travel. Refreshing the gear available to you will make the combat sections of the game much easier.
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