Should You Play as Yasuke or Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces a significant change to the franchise: dual protagonists. Yasuke, the Samurai, and Naoe, the Shinobi, offer vastly different gameplay experiences, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right character depends on your preferred playstyle and the task at hand.

Yasuke the Samurai: Pros and Cons

Yasuke presents a compelling gameplay experience, unlike any other Assassin's Creed protagonist. His imposing stature and Samurai skills make him a formidable powerhouse in combat. Shadows' melee system, reminiscent of FromSoftware titles, allows for boss-like control, making Yasuke a force to be reckoned with. His crowd control and powerful melee attacks easily dispatch base enemies, and with upgrades, he efficiently eliminates high-tier foes like patrolling Daimyo. He's also proficient with a bow and arrow, offering effective ranged combat options.

However, Yasuke's strengths in open combat are offset by weaknesses in typical Assassin-style gameplay. His assassinations are slower and leave him vulnerable, and his parkour abilities are significantly limited compared to previous protagonists. While he can technically reach synchronization points, many prove incredibly difficult or impossible for him to access, hindering exploration.

Naoe the Shinobi: Pros and Cons

Naoe, the Iga Shinobi, embodies the classic Assassin's Creed assassin. Her agility and mastery of stealth and parkour allow for effortless traversal. With skill investments, she becomes a master of stealth, utilizing ninja-like skills and assassin tools.

Conversely, Naoe's lower health and weaker melee abilities make her vulnerable when detected. Facing multiple enemies can be overwhelming, often necessitating retreat and stealth to regain the upper hand. Her effectiveness relies heavily on avoiding direct confrontation.

When to Play as Each Protagonist

The choice between Yasuke and Naoe often depends on personal preference and the specific mission. Story progression may dictate which character is available for certain quests, especially in canon mode. However, certain situations favor one character over the other.

Naoe excels in exploration, her superior mobility facilitating faster map clearing, synchronization, and province discovery. For assassination contracts, she’s highly effective after reaching Knowledge Level 2 and investing in Assassin and Shinobi skills.

Yasuke shines in combat scenarios, particularly against powerful enemies like Daimyo within castles. His strength allows him to overcome these challenges more readily than Naoe, whether through direct combat or brutal assassinations.

In short: Naoe is best for exploration and stealth-based missions; Yasuke is ideal for open combat and challenging encounters. Ultimately, the preferred protagonist often boils down to individual player preference and whether they prioritize classic Assassin's Creed gameplay or the more RPG-focused combat.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on March 20th.