Assassin’s Creed Shadows marks the franchise’s inaugural journey to Japan, introducing fresh elements to the gameplay that fans have never experienced before. Whether you’re assuming the role of Naoe or Yasuke, it’s vital to have strong weapons and tools at your disposal to advance through the narrative of AC Shadows.
You can discover new weapons in various locations like castles and palaces, but enhancing your tools and ammo is equally important for effectively tackling enemies. Below is a guide on how to upgrade the gear for both Naoe and Yasuke, along with what you need to fully maximize their capabilities.
In AC Shadows, it’s easy to mix up tools and weapons, but they serve distinct purposes. Weapons, like the katana and tanto, can be found in chests or earned through quests and can be used endlessly by both characters. In contrast, tools, such as kunai and bows, are consumable items.
Both types of equipment can be upgraded but do so in different ways. Weapons are enhanced at the forge located in the hideout, whereas tools are improved strictly via the Mastery tab in the pause menu. Notably, not all Mastery sections pertain to tools; only Naoe’s Tools section and Yasuke’s Bow and Teppo sections are relevant.
You can enhance your tools by spending Mastery Points, similar to how you allocate points for Assassin and Kusarigama upgrades. These points accumulate through leveling up, finishing story missions, and defeating higher-level enemies like Samurai Daisho in castles.
Your play style in AC Shadows will significantly impact which tool upgrades are most beneficial. For example, if you frequently play as Naoe, focusing on her tools like kunai and smoke bombs is often the most effective strategy. Yasuke is generally more weapon-focused, with his Long Katana being his strongest asset.
Naoe’s kunai excel at eliminating enemies from a distance without detection, while shuriken are handy for stunning foes prior to an assassination. Smoke bombs serve as an escape mechanism during overwhelming combat situations, and if you find yourself running low on tools, increasing your tool capacity is wise.
You will initially level up rapidly in AC Shadows, but don’t let that give you a false sense of security regarding Mastery Points. As the game progresses, obtaining these points becomes more challenging, so spend them judiciously while planning your upgrade path for both Naoe and Yasuke.
How to Obtain the ‘In Case Of Trouble’ Trophy/Achievement
There’s also a silver trophy linked to upgrading your tools. While the trophy’s description might seem straightforward, achieving it requires substantial effort. To unlock the In Case of Trouble trophy, you must fully upgrade Naoe’s Tools Mastery section and Yasuke’s Teppo and Bow sections. Additionally, you need your Knowledge Level to reach the maximum of six to access this feature.
You can enhance your Knowledge Level by gathering Knowledge Points, which are earned through completing tasks indicated by orange markers on the map. If you’re at Knowledge Rank 6, you will need to spend a total of 70 Mastery Points on Tools, 86 for Bow, and 78 for Teppo, totaling 234 Mastery Points. If you haven’t saved enough, this will require considerable grinding.
Certain skills can only be unlocked by dismantling organizations on your Objectives board and finishing specific side quests, some of which are shared across different skill sets. Tools specifically need you to complete two out of the following three tasks: the Tournament side quest, destroying the Pirate Alliance, and dismantling the Kurai Eikyou.
To unlock Teppo, you must defeat both the Pirate Alliance and the Templars. Lastly, regarding the Bow, you need to take down both the Kurai Eikyou and Yokai organizations. Completing these tasks will unlock all the tools and ammo mastery skills.
Important Note
To achieve the Platinum trophy, you’ll also need to invest Mastery Points in areas like Naoe’s Shinobi skills in the Art of Ninjutsu. Therefore, you will need to allocate points in various areas to reach 100 percent completion.
