Best Skills to Get First for Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

In the thrilling world of *Assassin's Creed Shadows*, Naoe embodies the essence of stealth and precision, making her a master of the shadows. While her skills lean heavily towards silent takedowns, she's also equipped to handle direct confrontations with the right strategy. For those eager to harness Naoe's full potential, here's a guide to the best skills to prioritize up to Knowledge Rank 3 in *Assassin's Creed Shadows*.

Best Skills to Get First for Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

These early skills, achievable up to Knowledge Rank 3, can be unlocked quickly by engaging consistently with the open-world activities in the starting regions.

Katana

• Dodge Attack – Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
• Melee Expert – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Counter Attack – Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Eviscerate – Katana Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points)

These skills transform Naoe into a defensive powerhouse, ready to capitalize on aggressive enemies. If you excel at dodging and deflecting, you'll find ample opportunities to counter, amplify your damage with buffs, and decisively end fights with Eviscerate.

Kusarigama

• Entanglement – Kusarigama Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
• Affliction Builder – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Big Catch – Kusarigama Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Multi-Target Expert – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Cyclone Blast – Kusarigama Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 7 Mastery Points)

These skills make Naoe a formidable opponent against both groups and individual targets. Entanglement is key for building afflictions with the right weapon abilities, and upgrading it allows you to manipulate even larger enemies for extra damage. The other skills enhance your ability to manage multiple foes, keeping them at bay while delivering impactful strikes.

Tanto

• Shadow Piercer – Tanto Ability (Knowledge Rank 1, 5 Mastery Points)
• Gap Seeker – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Backstab – Tanto Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Backstabber – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Back Breaker – Tanto Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 3 Mastery Points)

These skills are designed to maximize damage with the tanto, enhancing your ability to exploit vulnerable enemies. Even armored foes will dread your blade, and using your R2/RT attack to spin behind ensures you can consistently target their backs for increased damage.

Tools

• Smoke Bomb – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
• Larger Tool Bag I – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Shinobi Bell – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
• Enduring Haze – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Kunai Assassination Damage I – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Shuriken – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)

These tools empower you to manipulate guards effectively, paving the way to your target. Use Shuriken to disable alarm bells or trigger explosives, the Shinobi Bell to distract enemies, and Kunai for long-range assassinations. If spotted, deploy the Smoke Bomb to either escape or initiate a chain of assassinations, giving you the upper hand.

Shinobi

• Ascension Boost – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Vault – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
• Igan Roll – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
• Heighten Senses – Shinobi Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points)

These skills ensure you remain undetected while navigating towards your objectives. Faster climbing is invaluable in various scenarios, as is reducing fall damage. The ability to slow down time provides a crucial margin for error when moving through crowded areas.

Assassin

• Executioner – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Improved Ground Assassinate – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Double Assassinate – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Assassination Damage I – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Reinforced Blade – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 4 Mastery Points)

These skills are particularly effective when paired with a Tanto as your primary weapon, enabling swift and lethal strikes with the Hidden Blade. Dual assassinations are a valuable asset, as is the ability to take down larger, more resilient foes. However, remain cautious, as you'll eventually encounter enemies with higher health that may resist assassination attempts until you further upgrade your skills.

With these skills under each tree, you'll be well on your way to becoming the ultimate assassinating shinobi in *Assassin's Creed Shadows*. For more tips and strategies, be sure to check out The Escapist.