In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, Naoe thrives in the art of stealth and assassination, using shadows and specialized tools to outsmart her adversaries. However, she can also handle direct confrontations with strategic planning. To maximize Naoe's potential, here are the top skills to prioritize up to Knowledge Rank 3, which you can achieve swiftly by engaging with the open world activities in the game's starting regions.
Katana
- Dodge Attack – Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
- Melee Expert – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
- Counter Attack – Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
- Eviscerate – Katana Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points)
These skills transform Naoe into a defensive powerhouse, poised to counter aggressive enemies. If you excel at dodging and deflecting, you'll find ample opportunities to strike back, boost your damage, and conclude battles decisively with Eviscerate.
Kusarigama
- Entanglement – Kusarigama Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
- Affliction Builder – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
- Big Catch – Kusarigama Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
- Multi-Target Expert – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
- Cyclone Blast – Kusarigama Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 7 Mastery Points)
With these abilities, Naoe becomes formidable against both groups and individual targets. Entanglement is excellent for building affliction with the right weapon abilities, and its upgrades enable you to manipulate even larger enemies for extra damage. The other skills facilitate crowd control, keeping foes at bay while delivering impactful blows.
Tanto
- Shadow Piercer – Tanto Ability (Knowledge Rank 1, 5 Mastery Points)
- Gap Seeker – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
- Backstab – Tanto Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
- Backstabber – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
- Back Breaker – Tanto Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 3 Mastery Points)
These skills focus on enhancing the tanto's damage output, particularly against vulnerable enemies. Even armored foes will dread your blade, and using your R2/RT attack to maneuver behind targets ensures you can consistently exploit their weaknesses for greater damage.
Tools
- Smoke Bomb – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
- Larger Tool Bag I – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
- Shinobi Bell – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
- Enduring Haze – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
- Kunai Assassination Damage I – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
- Shuriken – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
These tools empower Naoe to manipulate guards effectively, clearing the way to her targets. Utilize Shuriken to disable alarm bells or trigger explosives, the Shinobi Bell to divert enemies, and Kunai for long-range assassinations. If detected, deploy the Smoke Bomb for escape or to chain multiple assassinations.
Shinobi
- Ascension Boost – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
- Vault – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
- Igan Roll – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
- Heighten Senses – Shinobi Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points)
These skills enable Naoe to remain undetected and reach her objectives swiftly. Faster climbing is advantageous in all scenarios, as is minimizing fall damage, and the ability to slow time provides a buffer for navigating crowded areas without detection.
Assassin
- Executioner – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
- Improved Ground Assassinate – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
- Double Assassinate – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
- Assassination Damage I – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
- Reinforced Blade – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 4 Mastery Points)
These skills are particularly effective when using the Tanto as a primary weapon, enhancing Naoe's ability to swiftly eliminate targets with the Hidden Blade. Double assassinations prove invaluable, as does the capacity to take down more robust foes. Exercise caution, as stronger enemies may resist assassination attempts until you further develop your skills.
With these prioritized skills across each tree, you'll transform Naoe into Japan's premier assassinating shinobi in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. For additional guidance, don't hesitate to visit The Escapist.
