Yasuke’s unique Long Katana skills in Assassin’s Creed Shadows showcase his relentless and dynamic combat approach, distinctively characterized by brute force rather than the traditional grace seen among samurai. With a Long Katana designed to harness his formidable strength, players can excel in battle through a comprehensive Katana skill tree. Ubisoft has crafted this skill framework to enable gamers to master an array of techniques, including powerful slashes and effective defensive counterattacks.
This guide is crafted to assist players in exploring and advancing Yasuke’s Long Katana skills within the game, detailing each skill available in his skill tree, including how to attain various Knowledge Ranks and the methods for unlocking them in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Yasuke’s Long Katana Skills in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Knowledge Rank 1
The inaugural tier features three essential abilities that establish the groundwork for Yasuke’s katana combat techniques.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheathed Attack | Hold LB/L1 and press R1/RB or R2/RT to execute a powerful strike from a sheathed position that disrupts an enemy’s guard. | 1 | Long Katana Passive |
| Power Dash | Dash toward a single enemy to deal 70% ability damage, then reposition to leave them vulnerable. | 1 | Long Katana Active |
| Riposte Release | Release LB/L1 immediately after blocking to perform a rapid counterattack. | 1 | Long Katana Passive |
Knowledge Rank 2
At this level, players gain two abilities: one enhancing overall melee damage and another empowering the defensive capabilities of Riposte.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat Expert | Boosts melee weapon damage by 9%. | 3 | Global Passive |
| Energizing Defense | Increases Riposte damage by 40% and restores 5% health after a Riposte. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
Knowledge Rank 3
This rank introduces powerful enhancements, featuring an upgraded Sheathed Attack and the introduction of a three-hit combo.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrenaline Builder | Boosts Adrenaline gain by an additional 15%. | 3 | Global Passive |
| Sheathed Posture | Activating R1/RB or R2/RT after a Sheathed Attack converts it into a Posture Attack, increasing damage by 20%. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
| Payback | Delivers a sequence of three powerful strikes, each inflicting 49% ability damage while restoring 10% health. | 1 | Long Katana Active |
Knowledge Rank 4
Abilities at this tier become significantly more potent, featuring armor-piercing strikes and fearsome counterattack options.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samurai Showdown | Provokes up to three enemies causing them to take 15% ability damage each. | 1 | Long Katana Active |
| Armor Avoidance | Power Dash gains 100% armor piercing capability and deals 40% more damage. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
| Overrun | Increases Payback damage proportionally based on missing health, boosting total Payback damage by 40%. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
| Defensive Strike | Riposte guarantees critical hits against Flurry Attacks, adding 60% more damage. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
Knowledge Rank 5
Abilities reach a critical point here, delivering armor-busting attacks alongside boosts to Adrenaline generation.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melee Weapon Armor Damage | Increases armor-inflicted damage from melee weapons by 3%. | 3 | Global Passive |
| Adrenaline Boost | Executing a Sheathed Attack generates 50% of an Adrenaline Chunk on hit. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
| Shatter | Augments Samurai Showdown’s armor damage by 50%. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
| Unstoppable | Prevents Payback from being blocked or parried. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
Knowledge Rank 6
The final skills enhance Yasuke’s taunting abilities and enable him to execute chained Power Dash attacks.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call of Honor | Allowing Samurai Showdown to taunt up to four enemies at once. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
| Chained Power Dash | Implements a secondary chain to Power Dash attacks. | 2 | Long Katana Passive |
Unlocking Skills in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
To unlock Yasuke’s Long Katana skills in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players must enhance their Knowledge Rank (KR). Unlike previous entries in the series that relied on experience points (XP), Shadows utilizes KR levels, which can be increased through the following activities:
- Performing Kata activities, and exploring Temples, Shrines, Kofun, Kuji-kiri, and the Hidden Path
- Completing main and side quests
Upon attaining the required KR level, players must spend Mastery Points to unlock skills. These points are earned through XP and by accomplishing specific objectives, with certain skills requiring more than one point for access.