"Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Tools and Upgrades Guide"

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, players have the exciting choice between playing as Yasuke or Naoe, each offering unique approaches to tackling challenges. Understanding the tools at your disposal and how to upgrade them is crucial for mastering the game. Here’s a detailed guide on all the tools available and the steps to enhance them.

All Tools in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, you'll have access to five distinct tools, two of which are unlocked through story progression:

Grappling Hook

Naoe's Grappling Hook is a game-changer for exploration, allowing you to latch onto structures and ascend without handholds. This tool is perfect for quickly reaching high vantage points and observing enemy movements. You can also swing across large gaps, making navigation through the game world more fluid and efficient.

Kunai

The Kunai is a powerful throwing knife ideal for stealthy players. It delivers instant kills to common enemies and, with upgrades, can penetrate the armor of tougher foes. This tool is essential for silently eliminating specific targets without alerting others.

Smoke Bomb

The Smoke Bomb is a versatile tool that can be used both defensively and offensively. Upon impact, it releases a cloud of smoke that breaks the line of sight with enemies, allowing you to escape or set up for surprise attacks. It’s invaluable for creating confusion in battle and executing stealthy assassinations.

Shuriken

Shurikens are the classic ninja throwing stars, perfect for navigating heavily guarded areas. While they don't hit as hard as Kunai, they can stagger enemies and trigger environmental hazards like alarm bells or explosive barrels. Upgrades can enhance their ability to ricochet, increasing their effectiveness in combat.

Shinobi Bell

For those who prefer misdirection over direct confrontation, the Shinobi Bell is a must-have. When thrown, it attracts enemies within its range, creating a perfect distraction. Upgrades can increase its reach and add a gold shimmer, drawing even more attention and clearing your path or setting up better crowd control.

Related: How to Play the Assassin’s Creed Games in Order

How To Upgrade Tools in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Image Source: Ubisoft via The Escapist

Upgrading your tools in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* involves using Mastery Points within the Tools skill tree. Note that the Grappling Hook is the exception, as it has a unique upgrade path.

Grappling Hook

The Grappling Hook’s only upgrade is found in the Shinobi Tree. For 2 Mastery Points at Knowledge Rank 2, you can unlock the Ascension Boost passive, which significantly speeds up Naoe’s climbing. This upgrade helps you ascend buildings more quickly and stealthily, reducing the chance of detection.

Kunai

To maximize the Kunai’s effectiveness, focus on upgrading its damage output. The Kunai Assassination Damage upgrades increase the health segments removed with each throw. Enhance its armor-piercing capabilities with the Armor Piercing passive skill, and ensure its durability with Everlast, allowing you to retrieve each Kunai without breakage.

Smoke Bomb

After unlocking the Smoke Bomb, extend its utility by upgrading its duration with Enduring Haze, adding 10 seconds to its effect. Further, the Widespread upgrade increases the area of effect, making it easier to obscure more enemies and create safer escape routes or attack opportunities.

Shuriken

With the Shuriken, the Bank Shot upgrade allows them to bounce between targets, increasing damage with each hit. The Triple Threat upgrade lets you throw three Shurikens at once for the cost of one, offering greater versatility in both stealth and combat scenarios.

Shinobi Bell

Upgrade the Shinobi Bell with Golden Bell to enhance its visual appeal and distraction capability. Follow up with Louder Chimes to extend its effective radius by five meters, attracting more enemies and creating larger windows for strategic maneuvers.

Mastering these tools and their upgrades will significantly enhance your gameplay experience in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. For more tips and guides, check out The Escapist.

*Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.*