Naoe vs. Yasuke: Which Assassin’s Creed Hero to Pick?

When deciding between Naoe and Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it’s crucial to understand their distinct play styles. Your choice really depends on how you prefer to engage with the game: Naoe excels in stealth and agility, while Yasuke focuses on brute strength and combat. Below, we delve into the key differences between these two characters.

Choosing Naoe or Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

In general, playing as Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the more advantageous choice due to her stealth capabilities and lethal nature. With her parkour skills, navigating the environment becomes a breeze. As a true Assassin, she embodies the essence of sneaky infiltration and close-quarters takedowns, making her the star of the show.

Conversely, Yasuke is suited for players who prefer a more direct approach, engaging enemies head-on while exploring 16th-century Japan. If you enjoyed the combat style of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, where you can deliver powerful kicks, Yasuke might be your go-to. However, he has some drawbacks compared to Naoe, often feeling less integrated into the game’s narrative.

Key Differences Between Naoe and Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

In short, Naoe is a stealthy shinobi who wields melee weapons and various tools, while Yasuke is a fierce samurai, adept with both melee and ranged weapons. Here’s a detailed look at the key similarities and differences between them:

• Stats: Yasuke has a higher health pool, deals more damage, and possesses more Adrenaline for abilities than Naoe.
• Naoe’s arsenal: Katana, Tanto, and Kusarigama—all designed for single-target damage. These weapons are upgradeable with Ironsand.
• Yasuke’s weapons: Long Katana, Naginata, Kanabo, Teppo, and Bow. His melee options, especially the Naginata, can handle both single and multiple foes, upgraded with Tamahagane. The Teppo and Bow are effective for ranged attacks, enhanced with Oakwood.
• Hidden Blade and Assassinations: Naoe is the only character with a hidden blade, allowing for various assassination techniques and stealth takedowns. Yasuke does not have this capability, but he can unlock a powerful assassination skill in the Samurai skill tree.
• Tools: Naoe can utilize Kunai, Smoke Bombs, Shinobi Bells, and Shuriken, while Yasuke has access to specialized ammunition types, including various arrow types for his bow and different bullet types for his teppo.
• Quests: Several main quests involve both characters, but often you must choose one to progress. Depending on your choice, your play style and objectives may change. For example, Yasuke might create a distraction while Naoe sneaks in, with some quests designed for specific characters.
• World activities: Both can gather Lost Pages in Temples and complete Shrines for Knowledge Points, though Yasuke’s limited agility might hinder his page collection. Unique tasks are designated for each character: Naoe can tackle specific parkour challenges, while Yasuke can engage in martial arts exercises.
• Eagle Vision: Only Naoe can see enemies through walls using Eagle Vision, though Yasuke can still mark objectives within his line of sight.
• Parkour: Naoe boasts full parkour abilities and a grappling hook, while Yasuke’s climbing skills are limited, restricting his exploration.
• Wanted status: Naoe and Yasuke maintain separate wanted statuses in regions, allowing you to switch characters to avoid conflict in some areas.
• Swimming: Both can swim, but only Naoe can dive in shallow waters for extended periods.
• Going prone: Both can lie down, but only Naoe can perform a dodge roll while prone.
• Obstacles: Naoe can navigate through tight spaces, while Yasuke can break through barriers with his strength.
• Moving bodies: Moving a body is slow for Naoe, but Yasuke does so with ease.

As you progress through the story, you will switch between both characters. It’s essential to know how to alternate between them in Assassin’s Creed Shadows to make the most of your gameplay experience.

Both characters will also feature in the upcoming DLC, which you can read more about in our Assassin’s Creed Shadows roadmap.