"Quick XP Gains and Leveling in Assassin’s Creed Shadows"

Author: Aurora Apr 10,2025

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, mastering the art of leveling up your Samurai and Shinobi is crucial for enhancing your gameplay. To accelerate your XP gains, you'll need to engage in a variety of activities and prioritize those that offer the most substantial rewards. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to maximize your XP earnings in the game.

What Awards XP in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Answered

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, XP can be earned through numerous actions and activities. From eliminating enemies and assassinating targets to completing quests and engaging in side content, every action contributes to your XP pool. However, the XP rewards vary significantly, so it's essential to focus on the most lucrative activities. You can preview the XP rewards for quests and activities by hovering over them in the map or objectives tab. The most efficient ways to earn XP quickly are by tackling castles and executing optional assassinations.

How to Get Fast XP from Castles in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Sakamato Castle awards 3,000 XP in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Sakamato Castle awards 3,000 XP in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.
Throughout Japan in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, you'll encounter numerous castles, each heavily guarded by basic and elite enemies, including Samurai Daisho. Completing a castle by killing the required number of Daisho allows you to access a chest filled with high-tier loot. Castles are a goldmine for XP, offering thousands of XP just for completion, not to mention the additional XP from defeating each enemy, especially elites and Daisho, which can yield around 250 XP each. Synchronizing at high points within castles also grants XP and serves as fast travel points, enhancing your mobility across the map.

However, castles can be challenging. Here are some tips to maximize your XP gains:

  • Choose your protagonist wisely. Naoe's Eagle’s Vision ability helps in quickly locating and tagging Samurai Daisho, making stealth assassinations more efficient. Enhance Naoe's assassination damage through mastery and engravings to ensure instant kills.
  • At lower levels, Yasuke is better suited for clearing castles quickly. Trigger the alarm bell to draw enemies to you and engage in open combat to swiftly accumulate XP.

With these strategies, you can potentially earn up to and beyond 4,000 XP in just a few minutes at a castle.

Assassinating Targets Nets Large XP Bonuses in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Naoe perches to assassinate an enemy from above, Image via Ubisoft

Naoe perches to assassinate an enemy from above, Image via Ubisoft
In addition to the main quest assassinations, *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* features numerous optional assassination targets. These can be discovered by interacting with specific NPCs and using scouts to track targets. Utilizing fast travel points like Kakurega can get you close to your targets quickly. After a short ride on your mount, you can execute the assassination, earning an XP bonus of around 2,000-3,000 XP per target, plus additional XP for the kill itself. Completing an entire group of targets and returning to the quest giver will net you a significant XP bonus, typically around 5,000 XP.