To survive through feudal Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows and complete the storyline, one thing is certain — weapon variety is going to keep you hooked for long. Ubisoft’s latest addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise has two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke and both have their weapons set that match their combat style. To creep in the shadows with Naoe or smash your way through armored enemies playing as Yasuke, the weapon options are introduced to suit your approach. Let’s break down every weapon type you can wield in Assassin’s Creed Shadows and how to make the most of them.
In AC Shadows, you’ll switch between Naoe, the nimble shinobi assassin, and Yasuke, the towering samurai warrior. Each character has dedicated types of weapons aligning with their personalities and fighting techniques.
- Naoe focuses on speed, stealth, and precise strikes.
- Yasuke relies on brute force, range, and battlefield control.
Both characters can equip two weapons at a time, switching fluidly depending on the situation.
Naoe Weapons
Naoe’s toolkit is mainly for stealth players. While Yasuke charges into battle, Naoe moves around enemies and blends assassination with acrobatics.
Katana
- Bloodshade
- Carved Bone Katana
- Dragon’s Edge
- Eye of the Dragon
- Masked Death
- Snakebite
- Steel Blossom
- Yami no Kage
Naoe’s katana delivers quick, controlled strikes. She wields it in an inverted grip, lending her an assassin’s flair even in open combat. It’s her most balanced melee weapon — decent range and speed, with solid defensive capabilities thanks to parry-based skill trees.
Tanto + Hidden Blade
- Hatou Tanto
- Shinobi’s Fury
Tanto weapon is for fast-paced, close-range chaos. The tanto is valuable when paired with Naoe’s iconic Hidden Blade. Dual strikes, rapid combos, and the ability to perform dual assassinations make this loadout crucial for stealth attacks. Plus, it’s amazing for the high-pressure moments when you’re surrounded but still want to pull off surgical eliminations.
Recommended Legendary Tanto: Shinobi’s Fury – exceptional posture damage and a double weak-point strike.
Kusarigama
- Death Whisperer
- Eikyo Kusarigama
- Kaen Kusarigama
Versatility best defines this weapon. Light attacks let Naoe slice enemies up close with the sickle, while heavy swings unleash the ball and chain in wide arcs, crowd control is a lot easier with it. Its massive range allows you to pull enemies towards you or keep them at bay, giving Naoe an edge when stealth gives way to open combat.
Throwables (Tools)
- Kunai
- Shuriken
Naoe may lack typical ranged weapons, but her kunai and shuriken fill the place nicely for it. The kunai is deadly, and capable of one-shotting unarmored enemies, while the shuriken is good for disorienting foes mid-fight.
Yasuke Weapons
For anyone who loves power, Yasuke’s weapons will give you what you want. His combat style is built around strength and reach, he loves to smash down enemies on the field.
Long Katana
- Burden of Legacy
- Claw of the Dragon
- Myth Slayer
- Turquoise Zephyr
- Whisper of Muramasa
Yasuke’s signature blade is bigger, stronger, and great for duels. Unlike Naoe, Yasuke uses this katana usually, delivering heavy, armor-penetrating strikes. It’s the go-to for balanced melee combat and one of the most reliable choices against armored enemies.
Naginata
- Cerulean Nexus
- Ornate Bone Naginata
- Sage’s Reach
- Shade of Blight
Polearms fans will love this one. The naginata mixes a katana’s sharpness with a staff’s reach, making it Yasuke’s best weapon for crowd control. If you’re looking to thin out groups before charging in, this is your solid pick.
Kanabo
- Boulder Fall
- Daybreak’s Fury
- Kaen Kanabo
It is a wrecking ball in club form. The kanabo is slow but devastating. Its sheer power shatters shields, staggers foes, and can wipe out health bars in a few well-placed swings. Best used against bosses or heavily armored samurai but beware, its sluggishness leaves Yasuke open to counter-attacks.
Bow
- Barraging Bow of Wounding
- Daydreamer’s Grip
- Dragon’s Wrath
- Heartspiller
- Last Breath
Silent and deadly, the bow gives Yasuke a stealth option, letting him snipe enemies from a distance. Unlock Silent Arrows to defeat guards without raising alarms. It’s a great weapon for melee setups, providing flexibility in mixed-combat scenarios.
Teppo (Rifle)
- Hatou Teppo
- Repeating Fate
The teppo is Yasuke’s boomstick — high damage, loud, and good to make a statement as Yasuke. While it takes time to reload, its raw stopping power makes it invaluable against groups or to initiate chaos before leaping into melee combat.
How to Get Weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Chests: Regular chests contain randomized loot, while Legendary Chests, found in castles and hidden locations, guarantee fixed legendary weapons.
- Gear Vendors: Found in major cities like Sakai, vendors sell basic versions of all weapon types. Their stock improves as you level up.
- Enemy Drops: Elite enemies like ronins and guardians drop non-legendary weapons, especially in restricted zones.
- Quests: Story missions and side quests reward uncommon to legendary weapons. Always check your Objectives board for loot hints.
- Animus Projects & Exchange: It is a battle pass system where you can grind for exclusive, time-limited legendary gear.
- Store Bundles: Helix Credit bundles offer legendary weapons straight out of the gate.
Weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows scale with your character. Each weapon type has its Mastery tree. Investing points unlocks new abilities, like faster heavy attacks or critical damage gains. At your Hideout Forge, you can level up weapons to match your character’s current level. Further, you can customize weapons with Engraving perks that increase critical hits, status effects like poison, or adrenaline generation for ability spam.
Here are the weapon rarities in Shadows:
- Common
- Uncommon
- Rare
- Epic
- Legendary
Higher-tier weapons contain more engraving slots and special buffs, so they are the next weapons to pick to dominate late-game enemies.
