Master Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Top Tips and Tricks After 100+ Hours That Every Newbie Needs to Know—Unlock the Secrets to Dominate Feudal Japan!

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has taken the gaming world by storm, plunging players into the breathtaking yet brutal landscape of feudal Japan. With its dual protagonists—Naoe, the stealthy shinobi, and Yasuke, the formidable samurai—this latest installment in Ubisoft’s iconic franchise offers a rich tapestry of exploration, combat, and intrigue. Whether you’re a seasoned assassin or a newcomer stepping into this sprawling open-world adventure for the first time, the game’s depth can feel overwhelming. But fear not! After sinking over 100 hours into Assassin’s Creed Shadows, I’ve uncovered a treasure trove of tips and tricks that’ll help newbies hit the ground running and conquer Japan like a pro. From mastering stealth to optimizing your gear, here’s everything you need to know to thrive in this epic saga.

1. Get to Know Your Protagonists: Naoe vs. Yasuke

The heart of Assassin’s Creed Shadows lies in its dual-protagonist system. Naoe excels at stealth, wielding tools like the grappling hook and smoke bombs to slip through enemy lines unnoticed. Yasuke, on the other hand, is a powerhouse in open combat, capable of smashing through foes with brute force. For newbies, it’s tempting to stick with one character, but the game rewards versatility. Early on, you’ll spend most of your time as Naoe (Yasuke unlocks after about 10 hours), so focus on honing her stealth skills. Once Yasuke joins the fray, use him for missions requiring direct confrontation. Pro tip: Check the mission type before diving in—castles marked for Naoe favor sneaking, while Yasuke’s are built for brawls. Switching between them keeps your gameplay dynamic and prevents frustration.

2. Prioritize Synchronization Points

If you’ve played any Assassin’s Creed game before, you know the drill: climb high, synchronize, and unlock the map. In Shadows, this is more crucial than ever. Synchronizing not only reveals fast-travel points (a lifesaver in Japan’s vast wilderness) but also grants XP to boost your early-game stats. For newbies, make it a habit to scale every viewpoint you spot—pagodas, castle towers, or cliffs. The time invested pays off when you can zip across the map instead of trudging through dense forests on foot. Bonus: The views of feudal Japan are jaw-dropping, so take a moment to soak it in.

3. Embrace the Hideout: Your Secret Weapon

Your hideout isn’t just a pretty base—it’s a game-changer. Early on, build the Forge to upgrade weapons and armor, keeping them relevant as enemies get tougher. As you progress, invest in other structures like the Armory or Scout Barracks for passive bonuses (think free resources or extra scouts). Newbies often overlook this mechanic, but upgrading your hideout boosts your efficiency across the board. Collect resources by looting chests and completing contracts, then pour them into your base. Petting animals you encounter—like dogs or deer—also unlocks them as hideout companions, adding a fun personal touch.

4. Master Stealth with Naoe’s Toolkit

Naoe brings classic Assassin’s Creed stealth to life with a modern twist. Her Eagle Vision (activated with R3 on PS5 or V on PC) highlights enemies, treasures, and hiding spots, making it your go-to tool for planning infiltrations. Pair this with the Smoke Bomb (unlock it early in the Mastery Skill Tree) to escape hairy situations or set up multi-kill ambushes. The grappling hook is another must-use—swing across gaps or drop onto unsuspecting guards with lethal precision. For newbies, practice going prone in tall grass or tight spaces; it’s a new feature that keeps you hidden from patrols. Stealth is your friend—master it, and you’ll breeze through early missions.

5. Don’t Sleep on Yasuke’s Combat Prowess

Once Yasuke enters the scene, combat becomes a whole new beast. His strength lies in breaking enemy posture with heavy attacks, opening them up for devastating finishers. Newbies should focus on unlocking skills like “Posture Breaker” in his Samurai Tree to maximize this advantage. When enemies glow yellow, that’s your cue to unleash a special ability for massive damage. Yasuke can’t match Naoe’s agility, so stick to roads instead of scaling cliffs—he’s more likely to smash through a wall than climb it. Stock up on rations (the game’s health potions) from loot boxes or merchants, as his aggressive style eats through health fast.

6. Loot Everything—Yes, Everything!

Japan is littered with loot, and newbies should grab it all. Chests, resource piles, and even dead enemies yield crafting materials, money (Mon), and throwables like Kunai or Shuriken. After a kill, check bodies to replenish your ammo—Kunai headshots are a stealth godsend, and Yasuke’s arrows pack a punch. Selling excess gear to merchants also nets you Mon to unlock Kakuregas (safehouses doubling as fast-travel points). Early on, turn on the “Area Loot” setting in the menu to vacuum up nearby items with one button press—it’s a quality-of-life tweak you’ll wish you’d known sooner.

7. Use Seasons to Your Advantage

Shadows introduces a dynamic seasonal system that affects gameplay. Summer offers lush cover for stealth, while winter’s snow can betray your footsteps. You can’t change the time of day, but you can switch seasons via the map menu or fast travel. This resets scout deployments, refreshes resources, and alters the environment—say, turning a summer pond into a frozen winter trap. For newbies, experiment with seasonal shifts to make tough missions easier, like using a snowstorm to mask your approach on a guarded castle.

8. Scout Smart, Not Hard

Scouts are your eyes in the field, helping you pinpoint quest objectives or gather materials. Newbies often waste them on trivial tasks, but here’s the trick: Save them for main quests or high-value targets. Contracts—quick, seasonal missions—yield far more resources than scout smuggling, so prioritize those instead. If you’re short on scouts, spend 200 Mon at a Kakurega to replenish one. When seasons change, unused scouts automatically collect goodies, so plan your deployments strategically.

9. Unlock Key Skills Early

Knowledge Points (earned from activities like praying at shrines or completing Kuji-Kiri meditations) unlock new skill tiers for Naoe and Yasuke. For Naoe, grab “Double Assassinate” to take out two guards at once and “Assassination Damage I” to down tougher foes. Yasuke benefits from “Posture Breaker” and “Adrenaline Rush” for combat dominance. Newbies should also nab global skills (on the left side of each tree) that boost all weapons—think extra health or faster stamina regen. These small investments pay massive dividends as you level up.

10. Explore, but Stay on Path

Japan’s wilderness is gorgeous but treacherous. Stick to roads and use the Pathfinder tool (toggle it on to trace a guiding line to your objective) to avoid getting lost in forests or stuck on cliffs. Horses struggle off-road, so resist the urge to shortcut through rough terrain. Along the way, hit up orange icons on the map—temples, shrines, and Kofuns—for Knowledge Points and loot. Newbies should balance exploration with progression; straying too far can leave you underleveled for the main story’s escalating difficulty.

Bonus Tip: Check the Codex

Buried in the menu, the Codex is a goldmine of Japanese history and lore, complete with museum-quality artwork. It’s easy to skip, but it deepens your connection to the game’s world. For newbies, it’s a reminder that Assassin’s Creed isn’t just about stabbing—it’s about stepping into history.

Final Thoughts

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a sprawling, ambitious adventure that rewards patience and strategy. For newbies, the key is to lean into its systems—master Naoe’s stealth, unleash Yasuke’s fury, and build a hideout that fuels your journey. With these tips, culled from over 100 hours of play, you’ll go from fumbling novice to feudal Japan’s deadliest assassin in no time. Ready to carve your legend into the Sengoku era? Dive in and—Unlock the Secrets Everyone’s Raving About Below!