Assassin's Creed Shadows: 10 Essential Beginner Tips (2025)

With a suitably cynical tone, I would be the first to say that if you've played one Assassin's Creed game, you've played them all. That is pretty much always the case, but occasionally, there is a game in the series that takes a few liberties with the tried and tested formula, and in the case of Shadows, these are changes for the better.

The game plays rather similarly to Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima series, offering a blend of stealth, action and exploration. But, it still has a strong, familiar spine that makes this game quintessentially AC.

So, whether you're a veteran assassin back for more fun in the Animus, or a newbie looking for a new game to pour all your time into, we have a few helpful tips to make sure you hit the ground running.

10 Unlock Viewpoints

What A View

This game may be a curveball as far as AC games go, but this is still an Assassin's Creed game, and that means climbing to the top of high buildings and using that vantage point to unlock/discover more areas on the map.

These Viewpoints are a means of building up a network of fast travel points, which will make traversing the map a little less of a slog, and the earlier you do this, the better. Mainly to avoid you traveling as the crow flies up sheer rock faces and through thickets of bamboo to get anywhere.

You'll also find contacts that will offer a fast travel point if you're willing to pay for their services, but these viewpoints are by far the most cost-effective option.

9 Change Your Equipment Regularly

The Right Tools For The Job

When it comes to equipment in AC Shadows, whether that be weapons, armor, or trinkets, you'll want to jump into your inventory every now and then to make sure you aren't rocking gear that is significantly under-leveled.

AC Shadows employs a loot system not too dissimilar to Hogwarts Legacy, where the drops are random and the stats of each piece of loot scales with the player as they level up. So, in short, you'll always find loot that is marginally better than what you already have.

You can use the Forge at the Hideout to upgrade something if you really like it, but generally speaking, it's quicker and easier to just use what the game gives you as you explore and change things when needed to stay ahead of the curve.

8 Steadily Build Up Knowledge Points

Knowledge is Power

Assassin's Creed Shadows does something a little bit quirky with its skill tree, and it's a decision that I personally loathe as it basically leads to a whole lot of mindless busywork, but I digress.

You'll need to gain Knowledge Points to unlock new tiers of your skill tree, so unlocking them in sequence with just Mastery Points simply isn't an option.

You can earn these Knowledge Points in a variety of ways, such as doing flashback quests and meditating, praying at shrines in temples, finding hidden pages in castles, or completing Paths of Valor.

It's a rather attritional process, so it's best to get on top of it early. So, every time you see that blood orange map marker, be sure to drop in there and clear it out before heading onward.

7 Your Observe Function Is Your Friend

Litter Markers Everywhere

When clearing out an enemy-filled area or exploring a new densely-packed region, it can be rather tricky to discern where all the good stuff is, whether that be chests, codex entries, or materials for the hideout.

This is why you should constantly be making use of your observe feature, which is actioned by holding the L2/LT button on console. When you do this, a slew of little colored circles will mark the area, allowing you to decide which path is the most lucrative to ensure you leave nothing worth having behind.

It makes finding pages, shrines, and special enemies/targets a lot easier, and if you're still having no luck, you can also make use of your Eagle Vision to locate enemies and loot.

6 Make Use Of Your Scouts

Secrets Revealed

One thing that AC Shadows does when it comes to exploration, which is a little novel, is asking the player to effectively use their detective skills to find targets and quest givers using the vast world map at their disposal.

It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack, as you only get a few vague tips to identify a broad region. But that's where your scouts come in handy, as you can use them to examine an area and determine whether that's where you should be heading. Effectively ensuring you don't make a trip somewhere and find nothing.

Then, when you aren't using them for finding markers, you can use them to transport huge bundles of resources from enemy camps to your hideout, allowing you to build new buildings at your base that could prove to be super useful.

5 Be Aware Of Region/Enemy Levels

See A Skull, Run Like Hell

One thing that AC Shadows does particularly badly, at least in my opinion, is level gating. Let me be clear, level gating is fine, but if done badly, it can be a real pain point.

In AC Shadows, the game will say that certain quests are fine to do based on your level, only to put you up against an enemy that can one-shot you with a basic attack. Or, you might wander into an area with a mandatory story quest, only to find that every enemy can kick your ass with their eyes closed.

So, it's important to be aware of these levels, and if you can avoid taking on stuff above your station, you should. The game really doesn't facilitate fighting above your level for an added challenge; it's just far too unbalanced.

4 Kunais Are Key

Hey, Catch!

As you might have guessed, stealth is a pretty important factor when it comes to progression in AC Shadows, and while you can go into every encounter bold and brash, it's often more trouble than it's worth. Especially considering how agile and deadly you can be from the shadows.

Instant assassinations and nimble footwork will serve as your bread and butter here, but there will be occasions where you'll look around the environment and ask yourself 'How the heck can I kill them all the way over there.'

The answer is simple, Kunais. These throwable tools can kill most enemies in an instant, allowing you to stay undetected. Plus, you can use them to trigger explosives around the area too.

So, I suggest unlocking the skill that expands your tool bag and always keeping these stocked when you are clearing out camps.

3 Make Use Of Pathfinder

Show Me The Way

While I'm not always a fan of a game that literally draws a line from the player to the desired map marker, but when it comes to huge open worlds such as this one, the option is actually appreciated.

In AC Shadows, you'll need to travel long distances across the map, and let me tell you. Traveling as the crow flies, whether it be on foot or by horse, is just not worth your time.

The camera will have a fit, your horse will fight you at every turn, and you'll end up in a bamboo thicket having to chop yourself out or climbing up a rock face for ten minutes straight.

It's better to bite the bullet and let the game map out the easiest and quickest path for you. It might lead to some long and dull horseback rides, but it's the lesser of two evils. Trust me.

2 Don't Hoard Your Mon

Spend With Careless Abandon

Whether it's Elixirs in Final Fantasy or your Master Balls in a Pokémon game, gamers have a tendency to hoard certain items and currencies just in case they need them down the line.

I suspect there will be a lot of players that will do the same with Mon, the in-game currency used in AC Shadows, but this is a PSA to all players: you don't need to tighten the purse strings.

You see, in the early game, there are only a few things you can actually use money for. You can use it to buy rations and cosmetics from traders, use it alongside materials to upgrade gear, purchase roaming hideout fast travel points, or use it to refill your Scouts.

In my book, the last two are the only options that are worthwhile, and even if you purchase every fast travel point and liberally refill your scouts when needed, you'll still have all the cash you need. So, in short, spend with careless abandon, as there is no downside.

1 Don't Rush To Unlock Yasuke

Naoe Is Way Cooler, Trust Us

As you'll have gathered from the opening gambit of AC Shadows, this story is two-pronged and allows you to play as two main characters. However, it takes a little while before you can unlock the little warmonger in training, Yasuke.

It might be an exciting prospect to have access to a new character with an alternate skill set to the Shinobi assassin you begin proceedings as, but I'm here to effectively burst your bubble. They suck.

Playing as Naoe is a lot more fluid, dynamic, and enjoyable, whereas Yasuke plays like a lumbering brute that doesn't mesh well with the setting, making travel a slog. He can be handy in a combat situation, but that's about the only area where this beefy dude shines.

So, if you planned to mainline the story to unlock them as fast as possible, save yourself the bother, as they aren't worth the hassle.

10 Images

10 Images

Assassin's Creed Shadows

Action

Stealth

RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Franchise

Assassin's Creed

Platform(s)

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC

Released

March 20, 2025

Developer(s)

Ubisoft Quebec

Publisher(s)

Ubisoft

Engine

AnvilNext

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

PC Release Date

March 20, 2025

Xbox Series X|S Release Date

March 20, 2025

PS5 Release Date

March 20, 2025

X|S Optimized

Yes

Number of Players

1

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown