In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players encounter three primary types of afflictions: daze, bleed, and poison. Among these, poison stands out as a formidable affliction showcased in various epic and legendary gear for characters Naoe and Yasuke. Naoe, in particular, possesses remarkable equipment that can form one of the top poison builds in AC Shadows. This includes the legendary Stone Heart Kusarigama and the Violent Night Katana, both of which benefit from affliction-boosting engraving buffs. Although this build emphasizes legendary gear, numerous epic items can also support an effective poison setup.
Naoe’s optimal builds in AC Shadows often feature the versatile legendary Kusarigama options, with the poison build being no exception. The Stone Heart Kusarigama excels at distributing poison to nearby foes in melee combat while also proving effective against single targets. This build also utilizes a distinct common engraving that applies poison damage to all Tools, enhancing their effectiveness.
Top Poison Weapons for Naoe in AC Shadows
Combine the Stone Heart Kusarigama with the Violet Night Katana
The Stone Heart Kusarigama is a perfect fit for any poison-focused build, being the only poison-centric legendary Kusarigama in AC Shadows. This weapon boasts an inherent 18% poison buildup rate and its legendary effect spreads poison buildup to adjacent enemies upon completing a combo. Enhance the weapon’s poison capabilities by applying the engraving from the Bloodletter Kusarigama, which modifies the affliction triggered by the weapon to induce Poison upon entanglement.
In addition to the Kusarigama, the legendary Violet Night Katana should also be included in the best poison build. This weapon serves as an exceptional option for single-target poison damage, featuring an 18% poison buildup stat. It also automatically triggers poison on any enemy whose attack you deflect. To amplify its poison effects, consider using the engraving from the Bloodshade Katana to prevent poison buildup from diminishing over time.
Best Poison Armor & Trinket for Naoe
Equip the Mamushi Snake Set & Bone of the Fallen Warrior
This build leverages the unique characteristics of the Mamushi Snake Set, which comprises the legendary Mamushi Snake Robes and Hood. Notably, the Mamushi Snake Robes release a poison cloud when an enemy investigates a corpse, making them one of the game’s most distinctive armor effects. Engraving this armor with the effect from the Noh Masterstroke set will spread affliction buildup whenever you take down an afflicted enemy. Though the Mamushi Snake Hood increases ally ability cooldowns, it’s one of the few viable uses for headgear in this setup.
Deploy Oni-Yuri as much as possible when she’s fully upgraded since she leaves behind poison clouds when incapacitating enemies. Much like your Mamushi armor’s ability, these clouds will affect any enemy who examines corpses, making the build effective in both stealth and direct combat situations. If you’re not frequently using Oni-Yuri, consider swapping out the Mamushi Hood for the Noh Masterstroke Mask as a solid alternative.
To inflict poison damage with Tools, utilize the armor engraving “All Tool Affliction Buildup Is Poison,” which can be purchased from a merchant in Nagahama, Omi.
For the finest poison-boosting legendary trinket in AC Shadows, consider the Bone of the Fallen Warrior obtained from the Shadows Exchange. If you’re not interested in paid gear, many other trinkets can also work well. The Bone of the Fallen Warrior triggers poison buildup on successful posture attacks, making it incredibly powerful for a poison-centric build. Tatsu’s Triumph and Flight of the Ubagabi are also great legendary trinket options within the game, though you’ll want to adjust your armor engravings accordingly.
Ideal Skills & Abilities for a Naoe Poison Build
Maximize Affliction Globals & Use Cyclone Blast for Efficient Poison Distribution
As with all affliction builds for Naoe and Yasuke in AC Shadows, it’s crucial to invest in key passive skills related to afflictions. These include the Katana Affliction Effectiveness global, Affliction Builder Kusarigama global, and Damage with Affliction features found within Knowledge Rank 6 globals. If using the previously mentioned engraving, focus your mastery points on Tools and prioritize the Tool Affliction Buildup passive. Additionally, ensure you maximize Naoe’s Adrenaline Chunks in the Assassin tree.
When it comes to abilities, make sure to use Cyclone Blast as your primary skill since it effectively spreads poison to surrounding enemies, creating chaos among foes. Heightened Senses is also a valuable Shinobi action, as this build is equally advantageous for stealth and melee scenarios. With the poison clouds and Oni-Yuri performing much of the heavy lifting, you won’t depend heavily on removing Assassination Health Segments. Overall, the poison build for Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows stands out as one of the most enjoyable and adaptable affliction builds available.