In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Naoe and Yasuke can develop their skills and playstyles by unlocking and upgrading Abilities. These abilities are tied to Mastery Paths, which allow players to specialize in different combat and stealth techniques.
Character Progression
When Naoe and Yasuke accumulate enough Experience Points (XP), they both level up simultaneously and each gain a Mastery Point. Since they share the same XP pool, leveling up one character automatically levels up the other. This ensures that both characters progress at the same pace, allowing players to freely switch between them without worrying about uneven character growth.
Gaining XP and Mastery Points
XP and Mastery Points can be earned from various sources, such as:
- Completing quests
- Eliminating targets
- Participating in world activities
- Defeating notable enemies, such as Samurai Daisho
Some activities grant extra Mastery Points, allowing players to accelerate their progression and unlock new skills faster.
Abilities and Their Roles
Abilities are represented in the Mastery Menu with different icons:
- Diamond-shaped abilities are Active Abilities, which can be equipped and used in combat.
- Round-shaped abilities are Passive Abilities, which are always active once unlocked.
Each weapon type has two ability slots, allowing players to assign unlocked Active Abilities to customize their playstyle.
Unlocking and Upgrading Abilities
Abilities often have multiple ranks, meaning they can be upgraded further by spending additional Mastery Points. Some of the most powerful abilities require higher Knowledge Ranks before they can be unlocked. Knowledge Ranks represent the mental growth of Naoe and Yasuke. Certain abilities and upgrades will only become available after reaching specific Knowledge Ranks. Players can gain Knowledge by participating in non-combat activities such as:
- Finding Lost Pages in temples
- Praying at Shrines
- Kuji-kiri Meditation for Naoe
- Learning new Kata for Yasuke
Since Knowledge is shared between Naoe and Yasuke, growing one character’s knowledge benefits both.
Once players reach Knowledge Rank 6, all abilities in the Mastery Paths become available. However, progression does not stop there. A Knowledge Path unlocks, offering new passive skills to further refine playstyle and maximize stats.
Mastery Paths
Each character has Mastery Paths that allow players to customize their abilities to fit their preferred playstyle. By investing Mastery Points into these paths, players can unlock both active and passive abilities.
- Active Abilities: These require Adrenaline Chunks to be used in combat and provide powerful effects.
- Passive Abilities: These grant permanent bonuses that enhance combat effectiveness, survivability, or stealth capabilities.
Mastery Paths cover different combat and stealth aspects, including weapon proficiency, assassination techniques, and ranged combat.
