"Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Tools and Upgrades Guide"

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, players can choose between Yasuke and Naoe, each offering unique approaches to tackling challenges. Understanding the tools at your disposal and how to upgrade them is crucial for mastering the game. Here's a comprehensive guide to all the tools and their upgrades in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.

All Tools in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Players will unlock five different tools throughout the game, with two becoming available through story progression. Here's a breakdown of each tool:

Grappling Hook

The Grappling Hook is a pivotal tool for Naoe, enhancing exploration capabilities. It allows you to latch onto structures and ascend without needing handholds, making it ideal for reaching high vantage points and quickly navigating the environment. Use it to swing across gaps, providing a strategic advantage in positioning and evasion.

Kunai

The Kunai is a lethal throwing knife that delivers significant damage. It's perfect for silent takedowns of regular enemies. However, to effectively deal with armored foes, upgrades are necessary to enhance its penetration and damage output.

Smoke Bomb

The Smoke Bomb is a versatile tool that can be used both defensively and offensively. It creates a smoke cloud upon impact, breaking enemy lines of sight for quick escapes or setting up ambushes. It's invaluable for creating confusion in combat and executing stealthy assassinations.

Shuriken

The Shuriken, a traditional ninja throwing star, is essential for navigating heavily guarded areas. While it doesn't deal as much damage as the Kunai, it can stagger enemies and trigger environmental hazards like alarm bells or explosive barrels. Its silent nature makes it perfect for stealth operations.

Shinobi Bell

The Shinobi Bell serves as a distraction tool. When thrown, it attracts enemies within its range, allowing you to manipulate their movements. Upgrades can increase its range and visual appeal, making it even more effective at diverting attention and controlling crowds.

Related: How to Play the Assassin’s Creed Games in Order

How To Upgrade Tools in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Upgrading tools in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* is done through the Tools skill tree using Mastery Points, except for the Grappling Hook. Here’s how to enhance each tool:

Grappling Hook

The Grappling Hook's only upgrade, Ascension Boost, is found in the Shinobi Tree. For 2 Mastery Points at Knowledge Rank 2, this upgrade significantly speeds up Naoe’s climbing, making ascents quicker and less detectable.

Kunai

To maximize the Kunai's effectiveness, focus on Kunai Assassination Damage upgrades to increase the health segments removed per throw. Enhance its armor-piercing capabilities with the Armor Piercing passive skill, and use Everlast to ensure thrown Kunai can be retrieved without breaking.

Smoke Bomb

After unlocking the Smoke Bomb, upgrade its duration with Enduring Haze, adding 10 more seconds of cover. Further enhance its utility with Widespread, which increases the area of effect, allowing you to obscure more enemies at once.

Shuriken

Upgrade the Shuriken with Bank Shot to enable ricocheting between targets, increasing damage with each hit. Triple Threat allows you to throw three Shurikens simultaneously for the cost of one, enhancing your stealth and combat options.

Shinobi Bell

Enhance the Shinobi Bell with Golden Bell to make it more visually appealing and effective at drawing enemy attention. Follow up with Louder Chimes to extend its effective radius by five meters, increasing its crowd control potential.

That’s everything you need to know about the tools and their upgrades in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. For more tips and guides, be sure to check out The Escapist.

*Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.*