Decoding Assassin's Creed: Shadows, Scouts, and Strategies

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In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, Scouts serve as valuable resources that players can utilize for various tasks, such as gathering materials, identifying objectives on the map, and reducing wanted levels. Scouts play a crucial role in the game, so it’s important to grasp how they function, including how to regain them and how to expand the maximum number of Scouts available for Naoe and Yasuke.

To assist you, we’ve created a comprehensive guide on Scouts in *AC Shadows*. This guide covers their purpose, how to use them effectively, and ways to acquire more Scouts when you’re out.

What Scouts Do in Assassin’s Creed Shadows and How to Use Them

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Scouts in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* have various functions, some of which unlock as you progress in the game. Here’s an overview of their key uses, along with any necessary requirements:

Identifying Objectives:
- If an objective is hidden on the map, hold the Square/X button to have a Scout look in a specified area. If the objective falls within the marked circle, it will be visible on the map. You can find it without this help, but it saves time. If the Scout doesn’t locate the objective, it will still be used. You can expand the search area by deploying more Scouts.
Transporting Tagged Resources:
- Inside enemy castles, camps, and bases, you may encounter large resource crates that your characters cannot carry. While remaining anonymous, you can use two Scouts to have them collect the crate and add it to your resources at the end of the season. Upgrading your stables reduces this cost to just one Scout, making it easier to collect resources in the game.
Reducing High Alert/Wanted Status (requires Kakurega upgrade level 2):
- Once you build and upgrade the Kakurega at your hideout to level 2, you can use Scouts to lower any character’s “Wanted” level in high alert regions.
Refilling the Hideout Stash Box:
- Your stables include a stash box that is replenished with random materials and resources from any unused Scouts at the end of each season. This means you get a small reward for not using them. As you enhance your hideout, the rewards in the stash box improve.
  - Mon (Hideout level 2)
  - Base resources (Hideout level 4)
  - Crafting/upgrades resources (Hideout level 6)
  - Gear (Hideout level 8)

Among these options, we suggest focusing on smuggling materials. It offers the best return on using Scouts, while employing them to find objectives or reduce wanted levels typically saves time without significant benefits.

How to Acquire More Scouts in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows scouts

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

To obtain more Scouts in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, you can wait until the end of the next Season or purchase them back at the Kakurega outposts you’ve unlocked throughout the game. To do this, interact with the colorful pouches hanging on the walls. Refreshing Scouts costs 200 Mon each, but by constructing a Nando, one of the Assassin’s Creed Hideout rooms, you can reduce the price by 30%.

These upgrades require time and resources. In the early game, you’ll primarily rely on Season changes to get new Scouts, which typically refresh about every hour. Remember that while unused Scouts contribute to minor gains in the stables’ stash box, it is generally better to use them for other tasks.

How to Increase Your Maximum Number of Scouts in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows scouts

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

To increase the maximum number of Scouts in *AC Shadows*, you should construct one of the following buildings at your hideout:

Study: Building the Study provides one new Scout, with two additional Scouts available through future upgrades, totaling three Scouts.
Kakurega: The initial construction of the Kakurega grants one free Scout, but subsequent upgrades do not.
Stables: The stables come pre-built, but upgrading them to level 2 reduces the smuggling cost from two Scouts to one. While this doesn’t raise your maximum number, it enhances the efficiency of the Scouts you have.

This approach can raise your limit to a maximum of six Scouts. With strategic use, this should be more than sufficient to help you advance in the game.

Need further assistance with the journeys of Yasuke and Naoe? Learn how to earn Assassin’s Creed Shadows Knowledge Points or explore the best weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.