Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ new combat overview details how abilities, attacks and weapons are tailored to the dual protagonists
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows has received a new combat overview
- The game’s dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, have their own unique skills and weapons
- Naoe or Yasuke share similar parries, but results vary
Ubisoft has shared new battle details for Assassin’s Creed Shadows prior to release on February 15, 2025.
In a new blog postgave the developer a deep dive into the fundamentals of the game’s combat system and discussed how weapons will change combat depending on the protagonist you play as; Naoe or Yasuke.
For basic offensive exercises, there are light and heavy posture attacks. Light attacks are fast and reliable and do small amounts of damage, but some enemies can easily counter them and get through to land attacks of their own.
Heavy attacks are useful for staggering enemies, but stance attacks seem to be most effective in combat. Holding the input will increase the ability to increase damage, can be held indefinitely, and is used to break an enemy’s blocking stance.
Ubisoft also explained that an enemy can be put into a “vulnerable state,” a short period during which the player can deal “devastating” damage.
While defending, both Naoe and Yasuke can use targeted dodges to avoid incoming blows, but Naoe’s dodges are “characterized by targeted rolls”, while Yasuke’s are targeted steps that keep his posture upright.
The protagonists also share similar defense mechanisms, but the results vary. When Yasuke parries a blow, the enemy bounces back, leaving him open to attacks, while Naoe requires her to turn to either side of the enemy.
Yasuke also has a unique blocking mechanic that allows him to “get behind his weapon” and resist oncoming attacks from kunai and arrows.
“These subtle differences in attack and defense make each character’s controls truly unique – and customizable to your ideal playstyle,” said Shadows’ game director Charles Benoit.
Although Naoe excels at stealth as a shinobi, able to defeat enemies with a barrage of attacks, but can become overwhelmed if surrounded due to her lack of armor and limited combat resources.
As a samurai, Yasuke can stay in the fight longer and is the only protagonist with the ability to switch weapons mid-combo via the link-attack ability, such as the Sheathed Posture Attack, a charged opening attack while his katana is still sheathed sit. .
As for weapons, Naoe has a versatile katana that unlocks the ability to assassinate enemies through shoji doors, a Tanto and Hidden Blades that unlock Double Assassinations, as well as a Kusarigama for crowd control. This extendable ball-and-chain can reach enemies at a distance and can unlock the Rush Assassinate ability to take out enemies from 10 meters away.
Yasuke has a long katana to match his size, a Naginata for crowd control, a Kanabo for breaking through defenses and armor, and a Yumi Bow for long-range attacks.
There is also the Teppo flintlock rifle for armor penetration, but it has a slow rate of fire and an even slower reload time.
Players can use all of these weapons against a number of enemy types, each with their own unique combat styles that you’ll need to learn as you progress through the game, including Outlaws, Ashigara Soldiers, Ronin, Samurai, Samurai Daisho, and Guardians.