In **Assassin’s Creed Shadows**, players are introduced to two distinct characters: **Naoe** and **Yasuke**. The game starts by immersing you in the storyline of both heroes; however, you will primarily play as Naoe during the initial eight to ten hours. Once you progress sufficiently, you gain the ability to switch between these characters at will.
This guide aims to explore the key differences between Naoe and Yasuke, enabling you to determine which character aligns better with your gameplay style.
Naoe vs Yasuke: Which Character to Choose?
Naoe: The Stealthy Shinobi
1) Mastery of Stealth and Agility
Naoe embodies the stealth-driven gameplay that has become a hallmark of the Assassin’s Creed series. As a trained shinobi, she excels in agility and exploration, allowing her to eliminate enemies with surprising precision. Her gameplay style emphasizes stealth, enabling players to approach situations with careful planning.
2) Combat Style and Weaponry
Equipped with a katana, tanto, and kusarigama, Naoe showcases efficiency in combat. The katana thrives in fluid counterattacks, while the kusarigama effectively handles multiple adversaries, particularly in crowded encounters. Her tanto is especially lethal for executing stealth kills, making her formidable in taking down unsuspecting targets.
3) Skill Set and Abilities
Naoe’s skill set revolves around stealth and agility. She can scale vertical surfaces using a grappling hook, gather intel through eavesdropping, and create diversions using kunai and smoke bombs. Her **Eagle Sense** is invaluable, highlighting threats and points of interest to give her a strategic advantage in stealth scenarios.
4) Ideal Scenarios for Naoe
Players who prefer a stealthy approach to missions will find Naoe most satisfying to wield. If your strategy involves sneaking, using distractions, and executing silent takedowns, Naoe is your character of choice. Additionally, her superior agility makes her exceptional for exploration and synchronizing viewpoints across the expansive game map.
Yasuke: The Fearless Samurai
1) Emphasis on Strength and Direct Combat
Contrastingly, Yasuke is crafted for intense direct confrontations. As a powerful samurai, he thrives in head-on combat scenarios, relying on strength and endurance. Unlike Naoe, Yasuke favors a more aggressive gameplay style, focusing less on subtlety and more on overpowering adversaries.
2) Combat Weapons and Techniques
Yasuke’s arsenal is indicative of his brute force. His katana can slice through heavy armor, while the naginata excels in dealing with multiple foes simultaneously. Additionally, he wields a kanabo, a heavy club that inflicts significant damage, though it requires a slower swinging motion. For ranged combat, Yasuke uses a bow for medium distances and a teppo for long-range engagements.
3) Strengths and Combat Abilities
Yasuke’s skill set focuses on tanking damage and delivering high damage output. He is capable of charging through enemy lines and has a notable ability to self-regenerate during fights, which allows him to endure even in the midst of chaotic encounters.
4) Optimal Situations for Yasuke
Yasuke appeals to players who enjoy straightforward, powerful melee combat. However, his lack of stealth capabilities and grappling proficiency makes him unsuitable for exploration and reconnaissance missions, limiting his effectiveness in situations that require stealth.
Choosing between Naoe and Yasuke isn’t a question of which character is superior, but rather which is more appropriate for the task at hand. Naoe excels in stealth and scouting, while Yasuke shines in open combat scenarios. An optimal strategy involves leveraging both characters based on the demands of each mission: utilize Naoe for quiet assassinations and Yasuke for fierce, melee confrontations.