In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Yasuke’s Naginata skills allow players to wield a formidable polearm, characterized by sweeping strikes and the ability to pierce armor, making it exceptionally effective for crowd control. Unlike the traditional Long Katana, the Naginata excels in encounters with multiple opponents, making it a prime choice for engaging groups of enemies during battles. Ubisoft has thoughtfully integrated a comprehensive Naginata Skill Tree that empowers players to customize Yasuke’s combat capabilities around this historic weapon.
This guide is designed for players aiming to master the Naginata skills in AC Shadows. Here, we will explore each ability within Yasuke’s Naginata Skill Tree, detailing their functions, required nodes for activation, and control schemes.
Explore the Naginata Skills for Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Knowledge Rank 1
The initial tier of Yasuke’s Naginata Skill Tree introduces three essential abilities that enhance basic damage and core attack mechanics, laying the foundation for subsequent advanced skills.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Man Army | Boosts damage by 15% when striking multiple foes. | Three Stages | Global Passive |
| Far Reach | Enemies struck by the tip of the Naginata take 15% more damage. | One Stage | Naginata Passive |
| Crescent Strike | Launches towards an enemy, swinging the Naginata in an arc to deal 35% ability damage while knocking them back. | One Stage | Naginata Active |
Knowledge Rank 2
This tier presents a pivotal skill that introduces a multi-hit combo, enhancing continuous damage output.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlwind | Perform a devastating combo by executing L1/LB then R1/RB, R2/RT, R2/RT, R1/RB, R2/RT, with each hit increasing damage by 5%. | One Stage | Naginata Passive |
Knowledge Rank 3
At this rank, players gain access to four new abilities, blending offensive enhancements with new attack strategies, with several abilities branching from the prior skills.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type | Branches From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combo Ender Armor Piercing | Boosts armor piercing on combo enders by 24%. | Three Stages | Global Passive | No previous branches |
| Lethal Reach | Enhances critical chance with Far Reach by 15%. | One Stage | Naginata Passive | Far Reach (Rank 1) |
| Impale | Impales an enemy, delivering 15% ability damage and transporting them up to 13 meters, rendering them Vulnerable after release. | One Stage | Naginata Active | No previous branches |
| Deep Cut | Modifies Crescent Strike to induce a bleed effect while increasing damage by 40%. | Two Stages | Naginata Passive | Crescent Strike (Rank 1) |
Knowledge Rank 4
The fourth tier introduces powerful movement-based attacks that amplify Yasuke’s adrenaline and enable rapid strikes.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type | Branches From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lethal Charge | Extends the reach of Impale, allowing for further enemy transport. | Two Stages | Naginata Passive | Impale (Rank 3) |
| Onslaught | Unleashes a flurry of 8 strikes on a single target, doing 15% ability damage per hit; effectiveness is halved against larger foes. | One Stage | Naginata Active | No previous branches |
| Rising Storm | Each hit from Whirlwind generates 10% of an Adrenaline Chunk. | Two Stages | Naginata Passive | Whirlwind (Rank 2) |
Knowledge Rank 5
This advanced tier equips Yasuke with skills that heighten his power, improve defense, and enhance enemy control mechanisms.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type | Branches From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piercing Momentum | Consecutive hits increase armor piercing by 2%. | Three Stages | Global Passive | No previous branches |
| Fatal Reach | Far Reach now generates 10% of an Adrenaline Chunk when hitting an enemy. | One Stage | Naginata Passive | Lethal Reach (Rank 3) |
| Stampeding Charge | Impale also pushes enemies along Yasuke’s path. | Two Stages | Naginata Passive | Lethal Charge (Rank 4) |
| Disabling Strike | Crescent Strike now knocks down opponents on impact. | Two Stages | Naginata Passive | Deep Cut (Rank 3) |
| Broader Onslaught | Onslaught remains fully effective against larger enemies. | Two Stages | Naginata Passive | Onslaught (Rank 4) |
Knowledge Rank 6
At the zenith of the Naginata skills, players unlock formidable techniques that facilitate continuous assaults and unblockable finishing moves.
| Ability Name | Function | Nodes | Type | Branches From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Onslaught | Onslaught can no longer be blocked or parried. | Two Stages | Naginata Passive | Broader Onslaught (Rank 5) |
| Persistent Storm | Following the first hit, pressing R1/RB or R2/RT in any order continues the Whirlwind. | Two Stages | Naginata Passive | Rising Storm (Rank 4) |
Unlocking Skills in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
In contrast to previous iterations of Assassin’s Creed, the skill unlocking mechanism in Shadows requires players to elevate their Knowledge Rank (KR) through various activities:
- Exploration of Temples, Shrines, and Kofun
- Completion of Kuji-kiri challenges
- Discovery of Hidden Paths
- Kata training sessions
- Engagement in main and side quests
Once the necessary Knowledge Rank is attained, players can unlock skills by expending Mastery Points, which are accrued by achieving in-game objectives. Note that advanced skills may require multiple Mastery Points to fully develop.