If you’re looking for the most effective weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you’re in the right place. With eight different weapon types, the main characters, Naoe and Yasuke, can tackle various enemies with ease. Naoe specializes in leveraging enemy weaknesses, while Yasuke has a more extensive array of weapons to ensure he can endure in fierce battles. Curious about which weapons stand out in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? From katanas to tantos and kanabos, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide that covers the top weapon types and highlights the best options within each category.
All the Best Weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Below is a curated list of the top weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, including standout choices for each weapon type. Read on to discover how you can acquire them!
- Top Weapons for Naoe
- Katana: Bloodshade (Prevents afflictions from depleting over time)
- Kusarigama: Ocean’s Grip (+60% damage to enemies at a distance)
- Tanto: Shinobi’s Fury (Can execute two posture attacks on vulnerable foes)
- Top Weapons for Yasuke
- Long Katana: Crimson’s Edge (Causes bleeding; enemies below two health segments die instantly)
- Naginata: Vengeful Foe (+35% bleed buildup on successful parries)
- Kanabo: Venom Pillar (Instantly charges posture attacks through alternating strikes)
- Bow: Dragon’s Wrath (Charges arrows instantly)
- Teppo: Patient Harbinger (Can fire twice before needing to reload)
Keep in mind that these weapons are generally powerful, but their effectiveness can depend on specific builds. Some less powerful weapons may shine when paired with certain armor, engravings, and skills.
Location of Bloodshade Katana
The Bloodshade Katana can be found inside a legendary chest aboard a large ship located in the Izumi Settsu Region, just south of Amagasaki. Its unique capability to prevent afflictions from draining makes it an excellent choice for various builds, particularly for Naoe’s defensive combat style where consistent strikes aren’t always feasible.
Location of Ocean’s Grip Kusarigama
The Ocean’s Grip Kusarigama excels at inflicting heavy damage on distant enemies. You can obtain it by completing the Pirate’s Alliance Assassination questline. To unlock it, you’ll need to defeat the Fox, a key member of the Shinbakufu. Following that, you will unlock a side quest from Shido that leads you to hunt down various Pirate Alliance targets in the Wakasa region, particularly in the Shattered Coast. Defeating them all will reward you with the Ocean’s Grip.
Location of Shinobi’s Fury Tanto
This remarkable Tanto allows you to deliver two posture attacks on a vulnerable target, and it’s quite easy to obtain. Simply complete the early main quest with Naoe where you confront The Golden Teppo, which occurs after the choice between Otama or Wakasa.
Location of Crimson’s Edge Long Katana
The Crimson’s Edge Long Katana for Yasuke is awarded for defeating all of Nobotsuna’s students. To achieve this, advance through the main story until you complete the quest An Education, which becomes available in Azuchi during Act 2. Once all the students have been bested, return to him to claim this incredible sword.
Location of Vengeful Foe Naginata
This lethal Naginata is perfect for defensive players, as it builds up bleed on each successful parry. It’s a reward for completing the quest titled The Tournament, which you can find to the Southwest of the Hideout, after defeating at least nine Shinbakufu targets. In this quest, you’ll need to fight numerous foes in the Ominesanji Temple located in Southeast Yamato, and defeating the final opponent will grant you access to the Vengeful Foe Naginata.
Location of Venom Pillar Kanabo
The Venom Pillar Kanabo allows heavy-power posture attacks through an alternating strike combo, offering incredible damage output without sacrificing speed. To find it, head to Kajimiya Cemetery in the Southeast of Mount Hiei, in the Western Omi region. Locate the legendary chest where you can claim the Venom Pillar.
Location of Dragon’s Wrath Bow
This bow charges shots instantly and can be found as a reward for defeating the Tsutsui Agent, one of the targets in the optional Kurai Eikyou assassination subquest. You don’t have to initiate the quest to find and eliminate this enemy—simply go to the Retainer’s Quarters in Koriyama Castle, east of your Hideout. Defeat the Tsutsui Agent to acquire the bow.
Location of Patient Harbinger Teppo
This exceptional Teppo allows you to load two bullets simultaneously, enabling two shots before needing a reload. It is located in a legendary chest next to Kamikoga’s Ippon Sugi in Western Omi, just north of the Ago River Valley. Make your way there and press L2/Left Trigger to find the treasure marked by a golden light.
Top Assassin’s Creed Shadows Weapons for Naoe
Now, let’s discuss the most effective weapons for Naoe. She has access to three weapons: a regular Katana, a small Tanto, and a Kusarigama, which features a hooked sickle-like blade attached to a chain. All of these options are strong, and any one of them could serve you well during gameplay. Here’s how they stack up:
- Tanto: With its fast attack speed and the addition of two powerful Assassin’s Creed Shadows skills (Shadow Piercer and Shadow Barrage), the Tanto is exceptionally effective. However, its short reach means you must rely heavily on perfect deflections and dodges.
- Katana: A solid all-rounder, the Katana performs well in various combat situations due to its versatile moveset and greater reach compared to the Tanto.
- Kusarigama: While it provides modest damage, the Kusarigama is Naoe’s best choice for taking on multiple enemies at once, though it often feels slower and more complicated than the other weapons.
Remember, Naoe can also utilize her Hidden Blade for stealth takedowns and can rely on kunai for ranged assassination options. As you progress and level up, you can enhance these abilities by investing Mastery Points in the right skill trees.
Top Assassin’s Creed Shadows Weapons for Yasuke
Yasuke’s samurai background enables him to wield five different weapon types, giving him options for both close-quarters combat and ranged attacks. These weapons include the Long Katana, Naginata, Kanabo club, Bow, and Teppo gun. Here’s how we’ve ranked Yasuke’s weapons:
- Long Katana: Like Naoe’s equivalent, Yasuke’s Long Katana serves as his most versatile melee option, offering a suitable mix of reach, speed, and power. It can benefit from a variety of effective abilities and upgrades.
- Bow: Yasuke’s best ranged weapon, the Bow delivers consistent damage with a good fire rate compared to the slower Teppo. It has helpful abilities for sniping and short-range engagements, including Silent Arrows for ranged assassinations on weaker enemies.
- Naginata: Featuring the best reach among Yasuke’s melee options, the Naginata is perfect for dealing with multiple enemies, though it tends to be weaker overall than the Long Katana.
- Kanabo: This impressive-looking club is powerful but suffers from slow speed, making it challenging to use against quicker foes.
- Teppo: The ranged equivalent of the Kanabo, the Teppo provides higher damage than the Bow but is also slower and much noisier, attracting unwanted attention when used.
Among the differences between Yasuke and Naoe, the variety of weapons available to Yasuke stands out significantly. His Long Katana and Bow combo is particularly effective, providing strong melee and ranged options. However, players can also mix and match with the Naginata or Kanabo based on the need for reach or crushing power. As weapons are part of the ongoing development for the Animus projects, additional options may be introduced in future updates to Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
If you’re looking to enhance your gear, be sure to discover how to upgrade weapons and armor in Assassin’s Creed Shadows! Additionally, explore the meanings of Assassin’s Creed Shadows dialogue symbols for a better understanding of your conversations.
