In the world of *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, Naoe embodies the art of stealth and assassination, thriving in the shadows while skillfully using her tools to overcome any challenge. Though primarily a master of stealth, Naoe can also handle direct confrontations with strategic planning. For those looking to maximize Naoe's potential, here are the top skills to prioritize in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.
Recommended Videos: Best Skills to Get First for Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
To kickstart your journey with Naoe, focus on acquiring skills up to Knowledge Rank 3. These can be unlocked swiftly by engaging consistently with the open-world activities in the starting regions.
Katana
- Dodge Attack – Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point): Enhances your defensive capabilities, allowing you to punish aggressive enemies.
- Melee Expert – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points): Boosts your melee combat effectiveness.
- Counter Attack – Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points): Perfect for those skilled in dodging and deflecting, offering opportunities to counter and deal significant damage.
- Eviscerate – Katana Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points): A powerful finishing move to end battles decisively.
These skills make you a formidable defensive force, ready to turn the tables on any aggressive adversary.
Kusarigama
- Entanglement – Kusarigama Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point): Ideal for building affliction and controlling enemies.
- Affliction Builder – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points): Enhances your ability to afflict enemies.
- Big Catch – Kusarigama Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points): Increases your control over larger enemies.
- Multi-Target Expert – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 1/2/3 Mastery Points): Perfect for dealing with multiple foes simultaneously.
- Cyclone Blast – Kusarigama Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 7 Mastery Points): Unleashes devastating damage on groups or single targets.
Master these skills, and you'll become a force to be reckoned with, adept at handling both groups and individual threats.
Tanto
- Shadow Piercer – Tanto Ability (Knowledge Rank 1, 5 Mastery Points): Amplifies damage, especially against vulnerable enemies.
- Gap Seeker – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points): Enhances your ability to exploit weaknesses.
- Backstab – Tanto Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points): Increases damage when attacking from behind.
- Backstabber – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1/2/3 Mastery Points): Further enhances your backstabbing capabilities.
- Back Breaker – Tanto Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 3 Mastery Points): Deals devastating damage to armored enemies.
These skills focus on maximizing your damage output with the Tanto, making even armored enemies vulnerable to your attacks.
Tools
- Smoke Bomb – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point): Ideal for escaping or setting up assassinations.
- Larger Tool Bag I – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points): Increases your tool capacity.
- Shinobi Bell – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point): Lures enemies away from your path.
- Enduring Haze – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points): Extends the duration of your Smoke Bomb.
- Kunai Assassination Damage I – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points): Enhances your long-range assassination capabilities.
- Shuriken – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points): Useful for disabling alarms and triggering explosives.
Utilizing these tools effectively allows you to manipulate and control your environment, making your assassinations smoother and more strategic.
Shinobi
- Ascension Boost – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points): Speeds up your climbing, crucial for stealth missions.
- Vault – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point): Enhances your mobility and reduces fall damage.
- Igan Roll – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point): Provides agility and evasion in tight spots.
- Heighten Senses – Shinobi Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points): Slows down time, giving you more room for error in crowded areas.
These skills enhance your stealth and mobility, ensuring you can navigate through Japan undetected.
Assassin
- Executioner – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points): Increases your assassination efficiency.
- Improved Ground Assassinate – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points): Enhances your ground assassination capabilities.
- Double Assassinate – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points): Allows you to take out two targets simultaneously.
- Assassination Damage I – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points): Boosts your assassination damage.
- Reinforced Blade – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 4 Mastery Points): Strengthens your Hidden Blade for tougher targets.
These skills are best paired with a Tanto, enhancing your ability to swiftly eliminate targets and handle larger foes, though caution is advised as you progress against enemies with higher health.
With these skills under each tree, you'll be well on your way to becoming the ultimate assassinating shinobi in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. For more tips and strategies, be sure to check out The Escapist.
