In the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, one of the most impactful affliction effects you can leverage is the Bleed effect. This mechanism can be amplified using various legendary items and common engravings, allowing players to create a formidable Naoe build. The primary weapon choices for executing this build are the Kusarigama and Tanto. While the Tanto excels in single-target engagements, the Kusarigama proves to be highly effective against groups of adversaries. Although there are best-in-slot weapons and armor for this build, numerous Epic-quality weapons boasting impressive bleed buildup percentages should not be overlooked.
Enhancing bleed effects primarily hinges on the strategic use of engravings, yet Naoe possesses particular skills within AC Shadows that boost affliction and, by extension, bleed buildup. Moreover, the Noh Masterstroke set stands as the premier choice for legendary armor, as it inherently features affliction effects that augment bleed damage. This melee-focused build does not heavily rely on stealth unlike traditional assassin builds but remains viable for players who activate Guaranteed Assassination.
Optimal Gear for a Naoe Bleed Build in AC Shadows
Top Bleed Weapons for Naoe
The Scarlet Fate ranks as the top legendary Tanto for Naoe’s bleed build, showcasing a high bleed buildup effect along with a strong inherent engraving that boosts attack impact. Numerous engravings are available for this weapon, but the Yukimitsu’s Revenge engraving stands out, rendering afflicted enemies vulnerable. This combination is particularly effective for targeting single enemies with bleed damage.
On the other hand, The Bloodletter is the ultimate Kusarigama selection for a bleed build, ideal when facing waves of enemies. Its intrinsic effect triggers bleed on entanglement, making it highly advantageous for immediate damage applications against larger foes. The Stone Heart Kusarigama engraving, acquired from a legendary item located in the Veiled Tumulus Kofun, effectively broadcasts bleed buildup through combo enders.
Ideal Bleed Armor & Trinket for Naoe
The cream of the crop for Naoe’s bleed build gear is undoubtedly the Noh Masterstroke Set. This armor is particularly effective at facilitating bleed through Tool interactions and grants an inherent effect that enhances Tool Bleed Buildup on kills. Notably, a common engraving from a merchant in Obama, Wakasa transforms all Tool affliction buildup into bleed buildup, amplifying the effectiveness of this set.
If you prefer a straightforward approach without hunting for all the legendary items, several excellent Epic-quality bleed options are readily available through the Obama merchant.
The Noh Masterstroke Mask is crucial for maximizing Adrenaline Chunks in combat, adding +20% upon inflicting affliction damage. There’s also a highly sought-after common engraving found through a rumor in Omi, which grants +25% bleed damage against afflicted enemies. For a more accessible alternative, a common engraving that provides a flat 20% buffer to affliction damage can be just as effective.
For a legendary trinket that synergizes with the Kusarigama skills and substantially increases adrenaline gain, the Flight of the Ubagabi comes highly recommended. This trinket boosts adrenaline gain by +1% for every mastery point invested in Kusarigama. Pair it with a common engraving that offers an additional +30% Adrenaline Chunk when hitting afflicted foes to ensure you frequently utilize abilities in combat.
Optimal Skills & Abilities for a Naoe Bleed Build
Top Global & Passive Skills for a Bleed Build
Investing in the right passive skills is crucial for maximizing bleed effects tied to Naoe’s weapons and Tools. Start with the Affliction Effectiveness passive from the Katana tree, which ramps up damage up to 12% against afflicted enemies. Transitioning to global passives, prioritize the Multi-Target Expert and Affliction Builder globals found within the Kusarigama tree. Notably, the Entanglement passive will significantly enhance the capability of the Bloodletter.
In the Tanto tree, you may choose to invest in the Backstab passive, although it isn’t critical. Focusing on the Tools tree is essential, particularly on the Kunai and Shuriken passives, which benefit greatly from the Noh Masterstroke buffs and have a high likelihood of inflicting bleed. Aim to acquire Tool Affliction Proficiency, enhancing bleed effects on your Tools by up to 9%. While there are no must-have Shinobi passives other than practical options like Igan Roll, they can still contribute to your overall playstyle.
Upon reaching Knowledge Rank 6, begin unlocking the Damage With Affliction global passive, which can amplify affliction damage, maxing out at 40% for optimum effectiveness.
In the Assassin tree, acquiring unique abilities for the Tanto and Kusarigama, such as Rush Assassinate and Double Assassinate, significantly enhances your combat tactics. Additionally, invest in as many Adrenaline Chunk-increasing passives found in the Vigor branch to ensure frequent ability usage, further boosting your advantage in battles.
Top Abilities for a Bleed Build
The most effective Kusarigama abilities for this build include Cyclone Blast and Scarlet Fate. Cyclone Blast works wonders by efficiently inflicting bleed on multiple enemies, making it a perfect choice when surrounded. Although Snake Bite serves as a good single-target ability, favoring Scarlet Fate is recommended for targeting individuals.
Given the melee-centric nature of this build, the Lightning Kicks Shinobi ability proves invaluable. If you seek to incorporate additional stealth tactics, consider adopting the Heightened Senses ability and allocating more points into the Assassin tree. Ultimately, Cyclone Blast should be regarded as the centerpiece of this build, particularly when paired with the Entanglement passive. Your overarching strategy for this Assassin’s Creed Shadows bleed build should focus on utilizing Cyclone Blast against groups, Entanglement on larger enemies, and Scarlet Fate for singular threats.