The Best Abilities In Naoe’s Shinobi Mastery Path In Assassin’s Creed Shadows

The debate over whether ninja or samurai are cooler is one that will never end in the eyes of fans of Japanese media from anime to games. Payers won’t have to choose completely in Assassin’s Creed Shadows because they can swap between Yasuke and Naoe whenever they want, granted players make it through the first act.

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As a shinobi though, Naoe works best in the shadows and several other skill trees will assist players in becoming the best ninja she can be in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. One skill tree is literally called Shinobi. So, to help players maximize Naoe’s potential without wasting Mastery Points, here are the best Shinobi abilities to obtain on the double.

6

Ascension Boost

Climb Faster

When players open up the world and start controlling Naoe, they will have the Grappling Hook ability unlocked through the Shinobi skill tree. It’s not the best grappling hook in a video but it sure is useful when trying to scale mountains or large castles in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Above it is an upgrade called Ascension Boost which allows players to climb slightly faster.

This is useful for exploring purposes and to avoid detection on a mission. One of the most thrilling feelings players can have is climbing a tower with seconds to spare before an enemy’s location meter turns red. For daring ninjas willing to take on the challenge, Ascension Boost is a necessary upgrade.

5

Shallow Water Breathing

Hide In The Water By Using A Reed

Shallow Water Breathing is another useful skill for players wishing to pass through areas undetected. This will give Naoe a reed she can breathe through while going through shallow water. It’s a classic ninja move that Assassin’s Creed Shadows uses well but it’s a bit useless in areas with no water or winter seasons when things freeze.

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No matter if it’s a moat, pond, or sea bay, water can be scary in a video game though. Even knowing there are no sea creatures to harm Naoe in the game may not be enough to stop the fear for some players as it is built into their DNA. Growing up in the 90s with Sonic the Hedgehog and its underwater countdown clock could have affected a few young minds.

4

Igan Roll

Negates Some Fall Damage

The one thing that is missing from Assassin’s Creed Shadows as an open-world game is a glider. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild set a new bar for traversal in open-world games and more games should follow suit. While players can’t glide on a kite with Naoe, they can at least assist her fall via the Igan Roll skill.

After ascending most Viewpoints in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players can descend into a bale of hay or water. Sometimes that isn’t the case though and players need to jump down from a height that can harm them or even kill them. Igan Roll lessens fall damage while its upgrade, Ninja Fall, negates damage completely. It’s a shame Assassin’s Creed Shadows has fall damage at all considering another recent open-world game, Monster Hunter Wilds, doesn’t.

3

Heighten Senses

Slow Down Time

One of the coolest femme fatales in video games is Bayonetta from her titular series. Dodging at just the right time will slow things down via a mechanic called Witch Time, allowing players to counter. Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t have a slow-mo feature as extravagant as Witch Time but players can make do with Heighten Senses.

Heighten Senses, when activated, will slow time down, allowing players to sneak past enemies without triggering an alarm right away. If players kill an enemy, the effect will dissipate, or if time naturally runs out. Further upgrades down this path can increase how much time players will have with Naoe to maneuver at this slowed pace.

2

Lightning Kicks

Knockdown Two Enemies

Lightning Kicks is an offensive ability in Assassin’s Creed Shadows that will attack enemies with two quick kicks. The kicks won’t do much damage but players can use it strategically in a few ways. One, there is a chance to stun enemies with this attack, giving players a small window to deal some damage without retaliation.

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Two, if players are high on a wall or by water, they can launch enemies away with these kicks, potentially killing them. Three, players can knock over others or take damage if they hit walls. Upgraded can make Lightning Kicks more powerful, so the ability is worth considering for tactical players out there.

1

Prodigy

Increase Ability Damage

Prodigy, for the Shinobi skill tree, will only affect Lightning Kicks. The skill will increase the attack power of active abilities, like Lightning Kicks, but this applies to all moves across the other skill trees. That’s why it’s a killer skill to get and there is an adjacent skill worth getting to aid active abilities too: Efficient.

Efficient will reduce the cooldown of an ability once activated. To use an active ability, players need Adrenaline and the ability must be ready after a cooldown. It’s a typical gameplay loop for an RPG with a skill tree.

Released

March 20, 2025

OpenCritic Rating

Strong