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

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, players can choose between Yasuke and Naoe, each offering unique approaches to solving in-game challenges. Understanding the tools at your disposal and how to upgrade them is crucial for mastering the game. Here's a comprehensive guide to all the tools and their upgrades in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.

All Tools in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Players can access five different tools throughout the game, with two unlocked via story progression. These tools are:

Grappling Hook

Naoe's Grappling Hook is a game-changer for exploration. It allows you to latch onto structures and ascend without the need for handholds, making it easier to reach high vantage points swiftly. Use it to swing across large gaps, enhancing your mobility and strategic positioning against enemies.

Kunai

The Kunai is a lethal throwing knife ideal for silent takedowns. It can instantly kill common enemies, but upgrades are essential for dealing with armored foes. Its precision and damage make it a must-have for stealth missions.

Smoke Bomb

The Smoke Bomb is versatile, serving both defensive and offensive purposes. It can break enemy line of sight for escapes or be used in combat to create confusion, providing opportunities for surprise attacks and quick kills.

Shuriken

The Shuriken, a traditional ninja throwing star, is perfect for navigating heavily guarded areas. While it doesn't hit as hard as the Kunai, it can stagger enemies and trigger environmental interactions like sabotaging alarms or explosives. Its silent nature and upgrade potential for ricocheting make it invaluable.

Shinobi Bell

The Shinobi Bell is ideal for those who prefer distraction over direct confrontation. When thrown, it diverts enemy attention, clearing paths or setting up crowd control. Upgrades can enhance its range and effectiveness, making it a powerful tool for strategic gameplay.

How To Upgrade Tools in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

All tools, except the Grappling Hook, can be upgraded using Mastery Points within the Tools skill tree. Here’s how to enhance each tool:

Grappling Hook

The Grappling Hook's only upgrade, Ascension Boost, is found in the Shinobi Tree. For 2 Mastery Points at Knowledge Rank 2, this upgrade significantly speeds up Naoe’s climbing, reducing the chance of detection during ascents.

Kunai

To maximize the Kunai's effectiveness, focus on Kunai Assassination Damage upgrades to increase health segment removal per throw. Enhance its armor-piercing capabilities with the Armor Piercing passive skill, and use Everlast to ensure retrievability and durability.

Smoke Bomb

After unlocking the Smoke Bomb, upgrade it with Enduring Haze to extend its duration by 10 seconds, providing more time for strategic maneuvers. Widespread can further enlarge its area of effect, blocking more enemies from spotting you.

Shuriken

Upgrade the Shuriken with Bank Shot to enable ricocheting between targets, increasing damage with each hit. Triple Threat allows you to throw three Shurikens at once for the cost of one, enhancing your stealth and combat options.

Shinobi Bell

Enhance the Shinobi Bell with Golden Bell to improve its distraction capabilities. Follow up with Louder Chimes to increase its effective radius by five meters, making it more effective at luring enemies away.

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

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