Assassin's Creed Shadows
Action RPG
Assassin's Creed Shadows separates character levels, Knowledge and Mastery, so more combat is not always the answer to a locked skill. Scouts and hideout development also make exploration more efficient. Keep manual milestone saves, use the objective board to follow each character's journey and distinguish normal post-story cleanup from New Game Plus, which restarts story progress and discovered locations.
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What should you understand before starting Assassin's Creed Shadows?
Knowledge opens higher skill tiers, while Mastery points purchase the skills; scouts help find objectives and gather hideout resources. Use a scout with Guided Exploration off for its trophy. The updated game supports NG+ after the main journeys, but ordinary post-story cleanup does not require that reset.
Compare post-story cleanup options →SPOILER-LIGHT PLANNING
Build the systems that make exploration easier
Use these checkpoints to protect the playthrough without revealing the story's outcomes.
Separate Knowledge from Mastery
A supply of skill points cannot bypass a Knowledge-rank requirement. Mix exploration activities with combat and quests so both progression tracks develop rather than grinding enemies against a locked skill tier.
Use scouts before exhausting a search
Read the objective clues and deploy scouts in the indicated area. They also have resource functions for the hideout. Complete the scout-information trophy with Guided Exploration disabled, then use the guidance setting you prefer.
Retain milestone saves
Keep files across the major character journeys and before important final objectives. This protects a useful campaign state if an objective or trophy has not registered, without relying exclusively on the latest autosave.
Finish cleanup before the NG+ reset
Ubisoft added NG+ after launch. It carries character and hideout progression but resets the story, objective board and discovered locations. Complete the current world's desired tasks before starting that separate replay.
Content reviewed 2026-11-07. Updated Shadows base campaign and free New Game+; Claws of Awaji has separate completion work.
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Before you start
PLAYTHROUGH PLAN
Before You Start checklist
Set up your save plan
Assassin's Creed Shadows supports manual saving. Check slot and location limits first, then preserve a milestone save where the game permits it; not every title supports rotating backups.
Protect the completion route
Assassin's Creed Shadows allows a forgiving standard cleanup route, but tracking optional progress as you go still reduces endgame backtracking.
Know the last safe checkpoint
Assassin's Creed Shadows has no major point-of-no-return trap in the normal route, so progress can be paced without hoarding every task for one checkpoint.
Choose difficulty deliberately
Assassin's Creed Shadows does not require a specific difficulty for the standard trophy or achievement route, so choose the setting you will enjoy.
Budget 50–80h base platinum estimate
Use Assassin's Creed Shadows's 50–80h base platinum estimate estimate as a planning range, not a promise. Exploration, difficulty and optional goals can move the total substantially.
Spoiler-free warning
Install current updates and retain manual milestone saves. Use a scout with Guided Exploration disabled for Scouting Mission, then choose preferred guidance. New Game+ is available after all main character journeys and the epilogue; it resets story and map discovery, not just a single quest.
BEGINNER GUIDE
10 things I wish I knew before starting
The useful systems, early mistakes and easily missed details worth understanding before you commit dozens of hours.
Read the whole objective clue
The objective board supplies region and landmark clues rather than always a precise pin. Use that information before sending scouts or travelling across a large province.
Develop Knowledge alongside character levels
Knowledge activities unlock access to higher skill tiers. A combat-heavy route can leave those tiers closed even when the character has spare Mastery points.
Spend scouts on useful searches
Deploy them near the area described by a lead, not randomly across the map. A sensible search area improves the value of the available scout resource.
Use the two characters' strengths
Naoe's stealth and movement differ from Yasuke's direct combat toolkit. Switch approaches when the activity permits instead of forcing one character through every problem.
Read gear perks before upgrading
An item's useful bonuses can matter more than its rarity colour. Match the equipment to the weapons and approach you actually use before committing resources.
Build the hideout for practical benefits
Read each building's function and upgrade requirements. Resource gathering is easier to prioritise when the next improvement has a clear gameplay purpose.
Treat seasons as part of the world
Environmental conditions affect available opportunities and routes. If an activity lists a seasonal condition, return under that condition instead of assuming it is broken.
Keep a save after important milestones
Use more than the latest autosave across long journeys. A separate milestone file is useful when checking an objective, achievement or branch before moving much farther.
Do the scout trophy before enabling constant guidance
The relevant information-gathering action needs Guided Exploration off. Complete that small requirement, then select the guidance level that makes exploration comfortable.
Distinguish an epilogue from a replay
The main journeys lead into an epilogue and a completed world. NG+ is an intentional reset with carryover, not a button needed merely to finish remaining side activities.
- Status
- Verified
- Last verified
- 2026-11-07
- Official: Ubisoft — title update 1.0.7 and New Game+
- Official: Ubisoft — exploration and scouts
- Official: Ubisoft — progression systems
- Official: Ubisoft — Nintendo Switch 2 release
- Guide: PowerPyx — base trophy roadmap; launch caveats superseded by updates
COMMON QUESTIONS
Assassin's Creed Shadows FAQs
Does Shadows have New Game Plus?
Yes. The free update added it after completion of the main character journeys. Launch-era statements that it is absent are outdated.
Why is a skill locked when I have points?
Its Knowledge-rank requirement may not be met. Knowledge and the points used to purchase Mastery skills are separate progression systems.
Does Guided Exploration prevent every trophy?
No. The scout-information requirement specifically needs the scout system available. Disable guidance for that action, then select the preferred setting again.
Can you continue exploring after the epilogue?
Yes. Normal post-story free roam supports remaining activities without restarting the campaign.
Does New Game Plus keep the discovered map?
Ubisoft's replay explanation says discovered locations and story/objective progression reset while character and hideout development carry forward.