Assassin's Creed Shadows: Tools and Upgrades Guide

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, players can choose between Yasuke and Naoe, each offering unique gameplay styles and approaches to problem-solving. Here’s a comprehensive guide on all the tools available and how to upgrade them to enhance your gameplay experience.

All Tools in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Players will have access to five distinct tools in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, with two tools unlocked through story progression. Here's a detailed look at each:

Grappling Hook

Naoe's Grappling Hook is a game-changer for exploration, allowing you to latch onto structures and ascend without needing handholds. This tool is perfect for reaching high vantage points quickly and efficiently, ideal for observing enemy movements. It also enables you to swing across large gaps, enhancing your mobility.

Kunai

The Kunai is a lethal throwing knife that delivers significant damage, crucial for stealthy takedowns. It's perfect for silently eliminating weaker enemies, but upgrading is necessary to penetrate the armor of stronger foes, ensuring you remain undetected while dealing with threats.

Smoke Bomb

The Smoke Bomb is a versatile tool, useful both defensively and offensively. It creates a smoke cloud upon impact, breaking enemy lines of sight to facilitate escapes or create opportunities for surprise attacks and assassinations during combat.

Shuriken

Shuriken, the traditional throwing stars, are essential for any shinobi. While they don't deal as much damage as Kunai, they can stagger enemies and trigger environmental effects like sabotaging alarms or detonating barrels. Upgrades allow them to ricochet, increasing their effectiveness in crowded areas.

Shinobi Bell

The Shinobi Bell serves as a distraction tool. When thrown, it lures enemies away with its sound. Upgrading it can increase its range and add a golden shimmer, making it more effective at diverting attention and managing crowds.

How to Upgrade Tools in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

All tools in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* can be upgraded using Mastery Points via the Tools skill tree, except for the Grappling Hook. Here’s how to enhance each tool:

Grappling Hook

The only upgrade for the Grappling Hook is found in the Shinobi Tree. For 2 Mastery Points at Knowledge Rank 2, you can unlock the Ascension Boost passive, which significantly speeds up Naoe’s climbing, making ascents quicker and less detectable.

Kunai

To maximize the Kunai's effectiveness, focus on upgrades like Kunai Assassination Damage, which increases the health segments removed per throw. Enhance its armor-piercing capabilities with the Armor Piercing passive skill, and use Everlast to ensure thrown Kunai can be retrieved without breaking.

Smoke Bomb

After unlocking the Smoke Bomb, upgrade it with Enduring Haze to extend its duration by 10 seconds, providing more time to act within the smoke. Further enhance it with Widespread to increase the area of effect, blocking more enemies from spotting you.

Shuriken

Upgrade the Shuriken with Bank Shot to enable ricocheting between targets, increasing damage with each bounce. Triple Threat allows you to throw three Shurikens at once for the cost of one, offering more options in stealth and combat scenarios.

Shinobi Bell

Enhance the Shinobi Bell with Golden Bell to improve its ability to attract enemy attention. Follow up with Louder Chimes to increase its effective radius by five meters, making it more effective at luring enemies away.

Understanding and upgrading these tools will significantly enhance your gameplay in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. For more tips and guides, check out The Escapist.

*Assassin’s Creed Shadows* is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.