Assassin’s Creed Shadows Abilities tier list

Assassin's Creed Shadows has a ton of character abilities. There's a handful of choices available for both Naoe and Yasuke, and not all of them are equally effective. Some are better due to their in-game effects, and this guide will help you prioritize skills that work better.

Disclaimer: Work in progress as more abilities get unlocked.

Assassin's Creed Shadows skills tier list explained

In Assassin's Creed Shadows, the available skills are classifiable into different categories. To divide them based on their in-game impact, I have used four tiers.

• S-tier skills are the best choices for Naoe/Yasuke, and they're the first ones you should look to master.
• A-tier skills are useful skills that can be considered as S-tier in certain situations.
• B-tier skills are decent skills at best, but they're not suited for the long run.
• C-tier skills are mediocre choices, and they can be avoided.

Assassin's Creed Shadows skill tier list for Naoe

S-tier skills

• Counter Attack: Lands a counter-attack with every attack you deflect.
• Dodge Attack: Lands a counter-attack with every dodge.
• Guard Breaker: Best Katana ability that works well with both Affliction perks and Engraving.
• Kunai Assassination Damage: Raises the ability of your tools, and they can one-shot enemies at Rank III.
• Everlast: Removes one of the major limiting factors of your tools as you can always retrieve them.
• Hidden Hand: A remarkable ability to land guaranteed kills.
• Leap & Escape Strike: The ability allows you to damage and reposition yourself at the same time.
• Cyclone Blast: The best AoE attack that knocks back the enemies, allowing Naoe to escape out of tight situations.
• Snake Bite: Amazing ability that lands a knockout and allows you the scope to perform a ground attack on the fallen enemy.

A-tier skills

• Reinforced Blade: This can be considered S-tier if you have struggled to take down large enemies.
• Doble Assassinate: Get the ability to double assassinate two enemies.
• Large Tool Bag: Useful ability that allows you to carry more Kunai.
• Vault: Allows you to proc Vulnerable, but the ability's usefulness depends on whether you're using Backstab.
• Prodigy: An extremely good ability that becomes more powerful once you invest in Assassin and Tools abilities.
• Shadow Piercer: Extends the Tanto's range in fights.
• Quick Strike: Allows you to land more strikes with the Kusarigama.
• Multi-Target Expert: This ability strengthens the damage potential of the Kusarigama.

B-tier skills

• Hand of Creed: Suits players with aggressive playstyle as it prevents enemies from denying assassinations if they see you.
• Vigor: This ability becomes better in the late game as you'll need to invest points in Tools and Assassin ability trees.
• Tool Professional: Raises the damage potential of your Kunai.
• Eviscerate: This ability is overpowered if you're fighting in an area with legends, but its usefulness reduces otherwise.
• Lightning Kicks: While this ability is good at crowd control, enemies can still target you while you're casting the move.
• Backstab: This ability is beneficial with Vault but not so good otherwise.

C-tier skills

• Rush Assassinate: Worst Assassin ability without any real value.
• Shoji Door Assassination: Let down by the extreme requirement of close range.
• Shuriken: Thanks to its extremely low damage potential, the Shuriken is useable only as a disabling tool.
• Tidal Wave: Tidal Wave is helpful in the early game, but it's weak in fights with multiple enemies.
• Heighten Senses: Requires the use of Adrenaline.
• Backstabber: The ability's usage potential depends on whether you're using Vault or Backstab.
• Shadow Barrage: Investing points into an auto-doge doesn't make much sense.
• Entanglement: The potential of this ability washes off as you'll almost always get swamped with enemies.
• Feral Outburst: Naoe will be left open to enemy strikes while performing the moves.
• Affliction Builder: Works well with Affliction builds.

Situational abilities

• Executioner
• Frontrunner
• Nightcrawler
• Smoke Bomb
• Shinobi Bell
• Melee Expert
• Affliction Effectiveness
• Momentum Builder
• Critical Thinker
• Gap Seeker

Assassin's Creed Shadows skills tier list for Yasuke

S-tier skills

• Payback: This is the best Long Katana ability to use as it helps with health restoration. This ability should be your priority while investing your Mastery points.
• Regeneration: Perfectly suits Yasuke's playstyle, as you can take enemies head-on without bothering about your health.
• Crescent Strike: Great ability for AoE crowd control, and you can also send out the enemies flying.
• Forward Momentum: Allows you to increase Kanabo's attack speed.
• Reload Speed: Must-use ability with the Teppo as it increases the base Reload Speed.

A-tier skills

• Adrenaline Builder: Yasuke depends heavily on his Adrenaline Chunks, and this is a great way to increase your Adrenaline Gain.
• Combat Expert: Increases melee damage and provides buffs to his weapons.
• Vigor: Similar to Adrenaline Builder, Vigor allows you to have more Adrenaline Chunks, which results in more abilities during combat.
• Heavy Impact: Allows you to take down large enemies and manage fights with mobs better.
• Far Reach: This guarantees that all your Naginata regular attacks will have bonus damage and help you gain Adrenaline.
• One Man Army: Boosts your damage against enemies, and the ability effect stacks up.
• Devastation: This ability upgrades to S-tier if you invest in Forward Momentum.
• Crushing Shockwave: Great choice once you level up other abilities that help you get more Adrenaline Chunks.
• Silent Arrows: While the ability is an S-tiered choice on its own, I don't like Yasuke having a stealth-based playstyle.
• Kyudo Master: If you want to go for ranged with Yasuke, this ability will help you get better reload speed and posture window.
• Explosive Surprise: Great at stopping enemy attacks by interrupting the animations.

B-tier skills

• Power Dash: It can be considered A-tier if you master it and manage to learn the art of repositioning yourself.
• Sheathed Attack: Useful ability best kept for the endgame.
• Stronger, Smarter: Allows you to perform more abilities but can be saved for use later in the game.
• Onslaught: Good against weaker opponents, but not much elsewhere.
• Impale: Great against enemies if you can isolate them.
• Spine Breaker: Good choice against Elite enemies, but not so useful elsewhere.
• Larger Quiver: Great ability to combine with Silent Arrows, but it's not my cup of tea.
• Marksman's Shot: Improves fire rate and allows Yasuke better mobility.
• Clear Mind: Slows down time and lands you better shots. It's not very useful outside a Bow build.
• Armor Buster: While the ability is great against isolated enemies, the animation is slow.
• Teppo Tempo: Good choice if you can attack and move consistently.

C-tier skills

• Samurai Showdown: This ability becomes redundant in the grand scheme of things.
• Whirlwind: The ability takes too long to land, and enemies can take you down easily.
• Slugging Rampage: The range is too short for it to become efficient in combat.
• Close Quarters: The ability is let down by its animation.
• Steady Hand: One of the worst abilities to use with Yasuke.

Situational Abilities

• Riposte
• Kick
• Bull Rush
• Battle Cry
• Impenetrable Defense
• Piercing Momentum
• Combo Ender
• Armor Piercing
• Ability Master
• Damage Reduction
• Swift Hand
• Staggering Blast
• Retreating Shot
• Serrated Arrows
• Poison Arrows
• Concussion Bullets
• Steel Bullets

The post Assassin’s Creed Shadows Abilities tier list appeared first on Destructoid.