In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the best items you can find are legendary loot. You can pick between two main characters, and it’s important to get the best gear for whichever one you choose.
This guide is about Naoe, one of the main characters, and talks about 8 amazing items you can get early in the game.
Before we get into the details, you should know that this guide might give away some small parts of the story, especially about the main antagonist called the Shimbaku Fu.
If you don’t want to know anything about the story before you play, you might want to come back to this guide later.
Understanding Legendary Gear in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows employs a level-scaling system for both enemies and loot.
This means that all gear remains relevant regardless of when you acquire it during your journey. However, legendary weapons and armor offer distinct advantages over their non-legendary counterparts.
Legendary items always come with a unique perk, which is typically more dynamic and playstyle-specific than standard gear.
This encourages players to build their character around certain gameplay identities, adding depth to the RPG elements of the game.
While the accessibility of these items depends on your character’s level, most of the gear discussed in this guide can be found in the first or second zones of the game.
The open-world nature of Assassin’s Creed Shadows allows for some flexibility in exploration, so you may encounter these items at different points in your playthrough.
Upgrading Your Gear
It’s crucial to remember that as you progress through the game, you’ll need to upgrade your weapons and armor at the forge in your hideout to keep them relevant to your character’s level.
This process can be quite costly, especially when upgrading multiple pieces of gear. For tips on managing your resources effectively, refer to the “Wish I Knew Sooner” video on the Legacy Gaming channel.
Early Legendary Armor Options
Peasant Clothes Armor (Osaka Castle)
Located in the northern part of Iumi Setsu, Osaka Castle is one of the first full-size castles you’ll encounter.
To obtain the Peasant Clothes armor, you’ll need to assassinate three samurai daou within the castle grounds. Once completed, you can access the shinobi chest in the main building (tenshu).
The Peasant Clothes armor features the “Assassination with Attack” perk, granting each attack a 3% chance to remove one health segment on hit. This is particularly useful in the early game when enemies may take more hits to defeat.
Peasant Hat (Takatsuki Castle)
Takatsuki Castle, found in the far north of Iumi Setsu, is surrounded by a moat and offers a unique layout. After defeating three samurai daou, you can claim the Peasant Hat from the shinobi chest in the tenshu.
The Peasant Hat’s perk grants an additional 100% of an adrenaline chunk upon entering combat. While not as impactful as some other perks, it provides a small boost at the beginning of each encounter.
Tools Master Gear Armor (Katano Castle)
Katano Castle, a smaller fortress in northern Iumi Setsu, requires defeating only two samurai daou to access the shinobi chest.
The Tools Master Gear armor found here has an interesting perk: whenever you assassinate a target, you automatically throw a kunai at the closest enemy, potentially killing them.
This perk is incredibly useful in the early to mid-game, especially when dealing with multiple enemies.
Tools Master Mask (Wada Castle)
Wada Castle, located in western Iumi Setsu, is part of the Wada Torataki quest line. This larger castle requires defeating five samurai daou to access the shinobi chest.
The Tools Master Mask features a perk that prevents shuriken from breaking on hard impacts, allowing for easier retrieval after throwing.
Early Legendary Weapons
Igan Sunset Tanto (Tuzuku’s Lair)
Hidden in the northern part of Iumi Setsu, Tuzuku’s Lair is a small bandit hideout that’s easy to miss. Clearing out the few enemies here grants access to a legendary chest containing the Igan Sunset Tanto.
This weapon’s perk is specific to tanto gameplay and ties into one of Naoe’s tanto masteries. When equipped, your escape strike will slow down time, allowing for quick repositioning before re-engaging enemies.
Death Whisper KusariGama (Amagasaki Castle)
Obtained through the main quest line, specifically by defeating Wada Koritake (the first Shimbaku target), the Death Whisper Kusari Gama grants a 200% damage bonus on enemy collisions.
This means enemies take extra damage when they hit environmental objects as a result of attacks with this weapon.
Shinobi’s Fury Tanto (Osaka Castle)
Acquired by defeating Wakasa, likely your second Shimbaku target, the Shinobi’s Fury Tanto is an excellent early-game weapon.
Its perk makes enemies vulnerable a second time after using a weak point attack, creating opportunities for devastating combos.
Steel Blossom Katana (Yamazaki Castle)
The Steel Blossom Katana is obtained later in the game by defeating Eay Sadoki, the third Shimbaku target.
This weapon grants an instantly charged posture attack after a vault, encouraging a more acrobatic playstyle.
Strategies for Getting Legendary Gear
- Explore Thoroughly: Many legendary items are hidden in castles and fortresses. Take the time to explore these locations fully, using your observation mode to identify key targets and items.
- Master Stealth: When infiltrating castles to defeat samurai daou, use stealth to your advantage. Utilize hiding spots, aerial assassinations, and environmental distractions to avoid alerting entire garrisons.
- Adapt Your Approach: Each castle and fortress presents unique challenges. Be prepared to switch between stealth and combat as needed, and make use of Naoe’s diverse skill set.
- Upgrade Strategically: As you acquire legendary gear, be selective about which pieces you upgrade. Focus on items that complement your playstyle and offer the most significant benefits.
- Engage with the Main Story: Some of the best legendary gear is obtained through main quest progression. Don’t neglect the story in favor of pure exploration.
- Utilize Both Characters: While this guide focuses on Naoe, remember that you can switch to Yasuke for certain encounters. This can provide tactical advantages in some situations.”
Conclusion
Like the other Assassin Creed games, this one has lots of amazing gear for players to find and use. By getting these powerful items early in the game, you can make Naoe much stronger in fights and play the way you like best.
Don’t forget that all gear stays useful throughout the game, so feel free to try different combinations as you play through the story.
As you keep exploring feudal Japan, look out for these special items and others that fit how you want to play.
Whether you like sneaking around, fighting head-on, or doing a bit of both, there’s great gear for every style. With these strong weapons and armor, you’ll be ready to tackle all the tough challenges coming your way in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
