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Before you start Assassin’s Creed Shadows, keep six things in mind: Naoe and Yasuke suit different approaches, character level and Knowledge rank do different jobs, scouting makes guarded areas easier to read, and quiet movement is not always the fastest movement. Build your Hideout and settings around the way you want to play. These tips follow Ubisoft’s getting-started guide and its published explanations of stealth and parkour.
Choose your approach, not a universally “best” character
Naoe and Yasuke handle problems differently. Naoe is the more agile choice for stealth and parkour; Ubisoft says she can jump farther and reach higher. Yasuke is the heavier samurai, better suited to direct combat. The useful early question is whether you want to slip through a guarded space or meet its defenders head-on—not which character is best at everything.
The story keeps you with Naoe for a while before allowing free character switching. If playing as Yasuke sooner is a priority, follow the early main path and focus on the Shinbakufu objective circle on the Objective Board. Ubisoft outlines this progression in its five things to do first guide.
Know what level, Knowledge rank, and Mastery points do
Progression has two tracks that work together but are not interchangeable:
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- Character level raises base stats and determines eligibility for gear.
- Knowledge rank unlocks additional ability tiers. Orange-hexagon activities on the map raise this rank.
- Mastery points are spent on abilities in the relevant character tree.
If you feel underpowered, check your character level and whether your gear is suitable. If you want access to more abilities, look for orange-hexagon Knowledge activities and spend your Mastery points. Improving one track does not automatically advance the other.
Scout a guarded area before you commit
Both protagonists can use Observe to identify and tag enemies and highlight objectives or loot. With Naoe, Eagle Vision adds another way to find enemies behind obstructions and pick up relevant sounds. Use Observe to understand where people and targets are; switch to Eagle Vision when you need to locate someone you cannot see.
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Ubisoft Associate Game Director Simon’s advice is practical: “When in doubt, take a pause, observe the world around you, and only then should you decide what your next move should be.” Read Ubisoft’s stealth overview for its explanation of the mechanic.
Use parkour with noise in mind
High-profile parkour-up climbs and jumps make sound, so holding the parkour-up input as your default can work against stealth. Ubisoft’s parkour overview puts it plainly: “In our game, holding down the parkour up button like it’s a gas pedal is not the optimal way to do parkour.”
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When guards are close, consider parkour down to select a lower, safer point and land more quietly. A recovery roll can soften a high landing. High-profile movement can still be useful when speed matters more than staying unnoticed; choose the route for the situation rather than treating every climb as harmless. See Ubisoft’s parkour system overview for the movement details.
Build a Hideout that helps with resources and scouts
Hideout facilities and Kakurega serve different purposes, so pay attention to what each one provides:
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- Study: adds scouts.
- Upgraded Stables: let scouts collect tagged stockpiles at the end of a season. Tag large stockpiles if you want to use this benefit.
- Kakurega: replenish rations, tools, and scouts.
If you are running short, use a Kakurega for replenishment. If you want more help locating or collecting resources, invest attention in the Study and Stables.
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Ubisoft highlights several options worth considering rather than treating them as mandatory:
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- Guaranteed Assassination lets the Hidden Blade kill targets regardless of upgrades or enemy level. Turn it on if you prefer assassinations to be dependable; leave it off if you want those factors to matter.
- Dialogue icons control how much guidance appears during conversations. Adjust them to the level of on-screen direction you want.
- Area Loot gathers nearby loot with one button press, reducing the need to collect nearby items individually.
Ubisoft’s getting-started guide describes these options and other early priorities.
What can wait until later
You do not need to plan around endgame content before beginning the opening story. Ubisoft’s June 16, 2026 article on the final major update describes Black Tides and Domains; the Domains challenge is for players at level 30 or above. Treat that as later-game context, not a prerequisite for your first hours.
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