"Quick XP Gains and Fast Leveling in Assassin’s Creed Shadows"

Author: Hannah Apr 25,2025

*Assassin's Creed Shadows* offers a plethora of skills for players to unlock and master, making it essential to earn XP quickly to level up your Samurai and Shinobi characters. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to maximize your XP gains in the game.

What Awards XP in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Answered

In *Assassin's Creed Shadows*, you can earn XP through a variety of actions and activities. From killing enemies and assassinating targets to completing quests and engaging in side content, every action contributes to your XP. However, the XP awarded varies, so it's crucial to focus on the most rewarding activities. You can preview the XP rewards for quests and activities by hovering over them in the map or objectives tab. The most lucrative XP sources in the game are castles and optional assassinations.

How to Get Fast XP from Castles in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Sakamato Castle awards 3,000 XP in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.

Sakamato Castle awards 3,000 XP in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.
Japan in *Assassin's Creed Shadows* is dotted with numerous castles, each teeming with basic and elite enemies, including Samurai Daisho that you must eliminate. Completing a castle not only rewards you with thousands of XP but also allows you to access high-tier loot from the area's chest. Every enemy killed within a castle contributes to your XP, with elites and Samurai Daisho offering significant bonuses, typically around 250 XP. Additionally, synchronizing at high points within these castles grants a few hundred XP and serves as fast travel points.

To optimize your XP farming from castles, consider these tips:

  • Choose the right protagonist: Naoe’s Eagle’s Vision can help you quickly locate and tag Samurai Daisho for stealthy assassinations. Enhance Naoe’s assassination damage to ensure instant kills.
  • At lower levels, Yasuke can clear castles faster. Intentionally get detected, engage in open combat, and let an NPC sound the alarm to draw enemies to you.

With these strategies, you can earn up to and beyond 4,000 XP in just a few minutes, making castles an excellent source for rapid XP gains.

Assassinating Targets Nets Large XP Bonuses in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Naoe perches to assassinate an enemy from above, Image via Ubisoft

Naoe perches to assassinate an enemy from above, Image via Ubisoft
In addition to the main quest targets, *Assassin's Creed Shadows* features numerous optional assassination targets. Discover these targets by interacting with specific NPCs and using scouts to track their locations. Utilize fast travel points like Kakurega to get close to your targets quickly, then ride your mount to reach them and execute the assassination swiftly.

Each assassination not only counts as completing a quest, awarding you around 2,000-3,000 XP, but also grants additional XP similar to that of killing elite enemies. Completing a group of assassinations and returning to the quest giver will reward a significant bonus, typically around 5,000 XP, making this another efficient way to boost your XP.