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

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, mastering Naoe's skills can significantly enhance your gameplay, whether you prefer stealthy assassinations or direct confrontations. Here's a guide to the best skills to prioritize for Naoe, focusing on those available up to Knowledge Rank 3, which you can achieve quickly by engaging in open world activities in the starting regions.

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

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, these abilities provide ample opportunities to counterattack, deal enhanced damage, 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 formidable against both groups and single targets. Entanglement enhances affliction buildup, enabling you to manipulate even large enemies for extra damage. The other skills facilitate handling multiple foes, keeping them at bay, and 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 amplify damage output with the tanto, exploiting vulnerable enemies and even armored foes. Utilizing the R2/RT spin attack to target enemies from behind ensures maximum damage efficiency.

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 enable Naoe to manipulate guards effectively, clearing the path to your target. Use Shuriken to disable alarm bells or trigger explosives, Shinobi Bell to distract enemies, and Kunai for long-range assassinations. If spotted, deploy the Smoke Bomb for a swift escape or to chain multiple assassinations.

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 help Naoe stay undetected and reach objectives without alerting enemies. Faster climbing and reduced fall damage are universally useful, while the ability to slow time provides a safety net in crowded environments.

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 best paired with the Tanto, enhancing Naoe's ability to swiftly eliminate targets with the Hidden Blade. Dual assassinations and increased damage against tougher enemies make these skills essential, but remember to upgrade them to handle more resilient foes.

By focusing on these skills, you'll be well on your way to mastering Naoe's assassination techniques and becoming the ultimate shinobi in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. For further assistance, be sure to check out resources on The Escapist.