Should You Play As Naoe Or Yasuke In Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

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Struggling to determine whether Yasuke or Naoe better suits your playstyle in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? These distinct protagonists feature fundamentally different combat approaches, weapon specializations, and exclusive mission capabilities. Our detailed analysis provides strategic insights to optimize your character selection decisions.

The dual protagonist framework in Shadows represents a significant evolution from previous Assassin’s Creed titles. Unlike Kassandra and Alexios in Odyssey who shared similar skill trees, or the gender-swappable Eivor in Valhalla, Yasuke and Naoe embody completely separate combat philosophies. Even compared to Evie and Jacob in Syndicate, the gameplay divergence between these two characters reaches unprecedented levels in the franchise.

The narrative begins with structured introductory missions for each protagonist. Following their convergence in the main storyline, you gain the ability to alternate between Yasuke and Naoe through multiple intuitive methods:

• During exploration, access the inventory interface where a character swap prompt appears at the screen’s bottom—simply hold the designated button to transition between characters.
• When selecting fast travel destinations on the world map, different button combinations allow you to either maintain your current character or automatically switch to the alternative protagonist.
• Specific campaign segments present explicit choices regarding which character you’ll control for upcoming missions.
• Certain activities awarding Knowledge Points require specific character participation. Crucially, both Knowledge Points and Mastery Points (skill progression currency) apply universally across both character profiles.
• Notably, several allied characters and romantic interests remain exclusive to particular protagonists, creating narrative branches based on character selection.

Yasuke embodies the traditional samurai archetype, specializing in direct confrontation and overwhelming force. His combat proficiency makes him ideal for players who prefer aggressive, head-on engagement strategies rather than stealth-based approaches.

Primary Weapon Arsenal:

• Katana: Versatile balanced sword offering excellent damage and defense capabilities
• Kusarigama: Chain-sickle weapon providing extended reach and crowd control advantages
• Tanto: Swift dagger perfect for quick finishing moves and close-quarters combat

Yasuke’s combat style emphasizes breaking enemy defenses through sheer power, making him particularly effective against heavily armored opponents and in open battlefield scenarios.

Naoe represents the classic shinobi tradition, mastering stealth, agility, and precision strikes. Her gameplay focuses on avoiding direct confrontation while eliminating targets through strategic positioning and environmental manipulation.

Stealth Capabilities:

• Superior parkour mobility allowing access to elevated vantage points
• Advanced assassination techniques including silent takedowns and trap deployment
• Enhanced stealth mechanics making her nearly invisible when moving through shadows

Naoe excels in infiltration missions, fortress penetrations, and scenarios requiring minimal detection. Her toolkit proves invaluable for players who prioritize strategic planning over brute force.

Choosing between Yasuke and Naoe significantly impacts mission efficiency and success rates. Strategic character selection should align with mission objectives, environmental conditions, and personal playstyle preferences.

Mission-Type Recommendations:

• Yasuke: Fortress assaults, open combat scenarios, boss encounters, and missions requiring crowd control capabilities.
• Naoe: Infiltration operations, assassination targets, intelligence gathering, and missions with detection avoidance requirements.

Common Selection Mistakes:

• Using Yasuke for stealth-focused missions resulting in unnecessary combat
• Selecting Naoe for direct confrontation scenarios where her lower health becomes problematic
• Failing to switch characters when mission parameters change dynamically

Mastering the character switching system unlocks sophisticated tactical possibilities that transcend individual character limitations. Advanced players leverage both protagonists’ strengths to overcome challenges that would prove difficult with either character alone.

Synergy Strategies:

• Use Naoe to eliminate key targets and disable alarms before switching to Yasuke for the final assault phase.
• Employ Yasuke to create diversions while Naoe infiltrates through alternative routes.
• Coordinate character abilities to solve environmental puzzles requiring both combat and stealth capabilities.

Progression Optimization:

• Focus Knowledge Point acquisition missions with the character best suited for each activity
• Balance skill tree development to ensure both characters remain viable throughout the campaign
• Plan character-specific ally interactions to maximize narrative benefits and resource acquisition

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Should You Play As Naoe Or Yasuke In Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Master the dual protagonist system in Assassin's Creed Shadows with strategic character switching and playstyle optimization