Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a diverse range of character abilities, with several options available for both Naoe and Yasuke. Not all skills perform equally well in gameplay, and some provide significant advantages. This guide is crafted to help you identify and prioritize the most effective skills for your character, ensuring optimal performance in various situations.
Disclaimer: This guide is a work in progress and will continue to evolve as additional abilities become available.
Overview of Assassin’s Creed Shadows Skills Tier List
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, skills can be categorized based on their in-game impact. For clarity, we classify these skills into four distinct tiers:
- S-tier: The top-tier skills for both Naoe and Yasuke that should be prioritized for mastery.
- A-tier: Highly useful skills that can excel in specific scenarios.
- B-tier: Average skills that are only situationally effective and may not hold up in the long run.
- C-tier: Weaker skills that are generally recommended to be avoided.
Naoe’s Skill Tier List in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
S-tier Skills
- Counter Attack: Deals a counter-attack with each deflected hit.
- Dodge Attack: Executes a counter-attack each time you dodge an enemy.
- Guard Breaker: An excellent Katana ability that synergizes well with Affliction perks and Engraving.
- Kunai Assassination Damage: Enhances tool effectiveness, allowing one-hit kills at Rank III.
- Everlast: Unlimited retrieval of your tools significantly boosts combat efficiency.
- Hidden Hand: Guarantees kills, making it a must-have skill.
- Leap & Escape Strike: Inflicts damage and allows repositioning simultaneously.
- Cyclone Blast: A superior AoE attack that creates an opportunity for escape.
- Snake Bite: A capability that knocks down enemies, setting you up for follow-up attacks.
A-tier Skills
- Reinforced Blade: A top choice for battling larger foes.
- Doble Assassinate: Enables simultaneous elimination of two enemies.
- Large Tool Bag: Enhances your inventory capacity for Kunai.
- Vault: Can activate Vulnerable status depending on your combat style.
- Prodigy: Gains more effectiveness with investment in Assassin and Tools abilities.
- Shadow Piercer: Increases the range of the Tanto in engagements.
- Quick Strike: Improves strike frequency while using the Kusarigama.
- Multi-Target Expert: Boosts damage output of the Kusarigama against multiple opponents.
B-tier Skills
- Hand of Creed: Suited for aggressive players, it prevents enemies from countering assassinations.
- Vigor: Becomes increasingly viable in late-game scenarios.
- Tool Professional: Enhances Kunai damage output.
- Eviscerate: Extremely effective in areas populated with legends, less so elsewhere.
- Lightning Kicks: While useful for crowd control, it still exposes you to attacks.
- Backstab: Not particularly beneficial unless paired with Vault.
C-tier Skills
- Rush Assassinate: Considered the weakest Assassin ability, lacking any real utility.
- Shoji Door Assassination: Hindered by the need for close proximity.
- Shuriken: Low damage means it’s mainly a disabling tool.
- Tidal Wave: Useful early on, but ineffective against larger groups in combat.
- Heighten Senses: Requires Adrenaline, limiting its practical use.
- Backstabber: Dependent on using either Vault or Backstab effectively.
- Shadow Barrage: Investment becomes futile due to auto-dodge constraints.
- Entanglement: Weakens significantly when facing multiple enemies.
- Feral Outburst: Leaves Naoe vulnerable during execution.
- Affliction Builder: Limited to specific builds, making it situational.
Situational Abilities
- Executioner
- Frontrunner
- Nightcrawler
- Smoke Bomb
- Shinobi Bell
- Melee Expert
- Affliction Effectiveness
- Momentum Builder
- Critical Thinker
- Gap Seeker
Yasuke’s Skill Tier List in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
S-tier Skills
- Payback: The optimal Long Katana skill for health restoration—invest your Mastery points here.
- Regeneration: Matches Yasuke’s aggressive playstyle, promoting front-line combat.
- Crescent Strike: Excellent for crowd control, launching enemies away.
- Forward Momentum: Boosts attack speed for the Kanabo.
- Reload Speed: Vital for enhancing the Teppo’s reload efficiency.
A-tier Skills
- Adrenaline Builder: Essential for increasing Adrenaline gain, particularly during combat.
- Combat Expert: Augments melee damage, providing crucial weapon buffs.
- Vigor: Similar to Adrenaline Builder, promoting higher Adrenaline capacity.
- Heavy Impact: Ideal for taking down large adversaries easily.
- Far Reach: Guarantees bonus damage on regular Naginata strikes.
- One Man Army: Amplifies damage against foes, with stacking effects.
- Devastation: Upgrades to S-tier with investment in Forward Momentum.
- Crushing Shockwave: Perfect after leveling up adrenaline-increasing abilities.
- Silent Arrows: Although an S-tier choice, stealth-based gameplay isn’t Yasuke’s forte.
- Kyudo Master: Enhances ranged capabilities, improving reload speed and posture windows.
- Explosive Surprise: Interrupts enemy attacks by interrupting their actions.
B-tier Skills
- Power Dash: Potential A-tier skill with effective mastery and repositioning.
- Sheathed Attack: Best reserved for late-game applications.
- Stronger, Smarter: Provides additional ability slots, valuable later in gameplay.
- Onslaught: Mainly effective against weaker opponents.
- Impale: Great for isolating and taking down enemies.
- Spine Breaker: Effective against elite enemies, less so in other encounters.
- Larger Quiver: Works well with Silent Arrows, but not universally essential.
- Marksman’s Shot: Enhances fire rate, improving overall mobility.
- Clear Mind: Slows time for better targeting, yet limited in versatility.
- Armor Buster: Effective against isolated foes, but slow in animation.
- Teppo Tempo: A solid choice for consistent attack and movement.
C-tier Skills
- Samurai Showdown: Becomes redundant in most scenarios.
- Whirlwind: Slow to execute, leaving you vulnerable to enemy strikes.
- Slugging Rampage: Short range hinders effectiveness in combat.
- Close Quarters: Limited by animation timing issues.
- Steady Hand: Among the least favorable skills for Yasuke.
Situational Abilities
- Riposte
- Kick
- Bull Rush
- Battle Cry
- Impenetrable Defense
- Piercing Momentum
- Combo Ender
- Armor Piercing
- Ability Master
- Damage Reduction
- Swift Hand
- Staggering Blast
- Retreating Shot
- Serrated Arrows
- Poison Arrows
- Concussion Bullets
- Steel Bullets
Frequently Asked Questions About Assassin’s Creed Shadows Skills
What are the best skills in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
The best skills for Naoe include Counter Attack and Dodge Attack, while Yasuke excels with Payback and Regeneration. Focus on mastering these S-tier skills for optimal gameplay.
How do I maximize my character’s abilities in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Prioritize S-tier skills for both characters and adapt your strategy based on the game’s progression. Investing Mastery points wisely will significantly enhance your combat effectiveness.
Are there skills that can be skipped entirely in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Yes, C-tier skills such as Rush Assassinate and Shoji Door Assassination are generally not recommended, as they lack practical utility.
How do situational abilities affect gameplay in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Situational abilities can provide necessary advantages in specific scenarios but are not essential to your core playstyle. Use them strategically based on the challenges you face.
Can skills be changed after selection in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
While some aspects of your build can be adjusted, it is crucial to spend Mastery points thoughtfully. Plan your build to ensure that the most impactful skills are prioritized early on.