Assassin’s Creed Shadows stars two protagonists, and one of them is adept at all things related to the assassin fantasy. Naoe, a shinobi, possesses the sort of skillset one would associate with the most elite of the Assassin Brotherhood. Stealth, assassination, and subterfuge are but a few of the tricks up her sleeve.
If sticking to the shadows and striking unseen are more your style, Naoe is the obvious choice. If you have more of a bull-in-a-china-shop approach, you can check out Yasuke’s ability guide. If you’re happy with Naoe’s description, read on to see all available abilities for the star shinobi.
Every Naoe Ability Explained
Katana
Ability Name
Ability Type
Number of Ranks
Knowledge Rank Required
Description
Katana Mastery
Passive
8
N/A
Increase Katana damage by 3%
Melee Expert
Passive
3
1
Increase damage with Melee Weapons by 2%
Dodge Attack
Passive
1
1
Press R1 after a Dodge to launch a fast counter-attack and quickly get back to the enemy
Tidal Wave
Active
1
1
An extremely fast strike dealing 25% ability damage and making the enemy Vulnerable
Affliction Effectiveness
Passive
3
2
Increase damage on Afflicted Enemies by 2%. An enemy is Afflicted when suffering from Bleed, Poison, or Daze
Generator
Passive
2
2
Dodge Attacks generate 25% of an Adrenaline Chunk on hit
Counter Attack
Passive
1
2
Press L1 at the last moment to turn your Deflect into a counter-attack
Second Wave
Passive
2
3
Tidal Wave can now be chained 2 times in a row
Eviscerate
Active
1
3
Strike an enemy, dealing 75% ability damage and pushing them away. Half as effective on large enemies
Momentum Builder
Passive
3
4
Increase damage with consecutive hits by 1%
No Mercy
Passive
2
4
Successful Dodge Attacks make the target Vulnerable
Guard Breaker
Active
1
4
Unleash 9 strikes, each dealing 10% ability damage and breaking armor. Half as effective on large enemies
Outclass
Passive
2
4
Eviscerate now has its full effect on large enemies
Swift Step
Passive
2
4
Counter Attack can now be performed on flurry attacks
No Quarter
Passive
2
5
Guard Breaker now has its full effect on larger enemies
Smokescreen
Passive
2
5
Can now drop a smoke bomb after the push
Unstoppable
Passive
2
6
Guard Breaker can no longer be blocked or parried
Third Wave
Passive
2
6
Tidal Wave can now be chained 3 times in a row
Hardened
Passive
2
6
Counter Attack can now be performed on unstoppable attacks
Kusarigama
Ability Name
Ability Type
Number of Ranks
Knowledge Rank Required
Description
Kusarigama Mastery
Passive
8
N/A
Increase Kusarigama damage by 3%
Affliction Builder
Passive
3
1
Increase Affliction buildup by 1%
Entanglement
Passive
1
1
Before hitting an enemy with a Posture attack, hold down R1 or R2 to entangle them. Throw regular enemies in any direction using the Right Stick
Feral Outburst
Active
1
1
Launch Naoe towards a single enemy an unleash a flurry of 4 strikes dealing 20% ability damage each
Big Catch
Passive
1
2
Entanglement now has its full effect on large enemies
Exposed Wound
Passive
2
2
Feral Outburst’s final strike makes the target Vulnerable
Quick Strike
Passive
1
2
After any attack, momentarily pause and then press R1 or R2 to launch 2 extra strikes
Multi-Target Expert
Passive
3
3
Increase damage when hitting multiple enemies by 3%
Cyclone Blast
Active
1
3
Swing the Kusarigama in large circles around Naoe, dealing 8% ability damage per hit and pushing back struck enemies
Catalyst
Passive
2
3
After a combo ender, press R1 or R2 to extend the combo with a Quick Strike
Tug of War
Passive
1
4
When pulling an enemy towards Naoe, perform a powerful attack that deals 50% ability damage and knocks them down
Lasting Storm
Passive
2
4
Cyclone Blast now performs 4 additional swings
Feral Frenzy
Passive
2
4
Feral Outburst now unleashes 2 extra strikes
Snake Bite
Active
1
4
Wrap the chain of the Kusarigama around a single enemy’s foot to knock them out and deal 40% ability damage
Critical Proficiency
Passive
3
5
Increase Critical Damage by 2%
Hard Fall
Passive
2
5
After getting up from Snake Bite, the enemy is afflicted by Daze
Dazed
Passive
2
5
Quick Strike now inflicts 15% Daze buildup with each strike
Enhanced Impact
Passive
2
6
Cyclone Blast’s last hit pushes back the enemies significantly
Knock Out
Increase knockdown duration of Snake Bite by 10 seconds
Tanto
Ability Name
Ability Type
Number of Ranks
Knowledge Rank Required
Description
Hidden Blade & Tanto Mastery
Passive
8
N/A
Increase Tanto damage by 3%
Gap Seeker
Passive
3
1
Increase Armor Piercing by 3%
Leap Strike
Passive
1
1
While holding R1 or R2, press Circle and a direction with the Left Stick to leap toward the target and strike
Shadow Piercer
Active
1
1
Throw the Tanto, then dash forward to stab the target and make them Vulnerable, dealing 40% ability damage with each strike
Backstabber
Passive
3
2
Increase damage from behind by 2%
Escape Strike
Passive
2
2
While holding R1 or R2, press Circle to perform a strike and backward dodge
Shadow Barrage
Active
1
2
Naoe will automatically perform a quick evade before getting hit, lasting 20 seconds and up to 7 hits. Does not work on Grab attacks
Backstab
Passive
1
2
Light Posture attacks that hit an enemy’s back trigger Weak Point attacks
Blood Rush
Passive
2
3
Leap Strike and Escape Strike generate 25% of an Adrenaline Chunk on hit
Invigorating Kill
Passive
2
3
Shadow Piercer generates 80% of an Adrenaline Chunk on kill
Back Breaker
Passive
1
3
Posture attacks performed behind an enemy now have 100% Armor Piercing
Hidden Hand
Active
1
4
Sheath your Tanto and extend the Hidden Blade in its classic form to perform an Assassination while in combat
Shadow Reach
Passive
2
4
Increase Shadow Piercer throw distance by 10 meters
Endless Barrage
Passive
2
4
Each kill while Shadow Barrage is active increases all damage by 5%
Critical Thinker
Passive
3
5
Increases Critical Chance by 1%
Hidden Onslaught
Passive
2
5
+1 Health Segment removed when Hidden Hand is used against unaware enemies
Contemplation
Passive
2
5
Increase Shadow Barrage duration by 10 seconds or up to 3 additional hits
Broken Spirit
Passive
2
6
Hidden Hand cannot be blocked or parried
Healthy Sting
Passive
1
6
Weakpoint Attacks triggered from behind an enemy restore 5% Health
Tools
Ability Name
Ability Type
Number of Ranks
Knowledge Rank Required
Description
Tools Mastery
Passive
8
N/A
+1% chance to refill a Tool on use
Tool Professional
Passive
3
1
Increase damage with tools by 3%
Smoke Bomb
Passive
1
1
Hold L2 to aim and press R2 to throw a smoke bomb and break all lines of sight
Kunai
Passive
1
1
Hold L2 to aim and press R2 to throw a Kunai that deals 400% damage. Headshots on unsuspecting enemies will remove 2 Health Segments
Quick Throw
Passive
1
1
Hold L2 and press R1 to automatically throw the equipped tool at the closest enemy or object
Larger Tool Bag I
Passive
1
2
Increase the maximum capacity for all tools. +1 Kunai, +1 Shuriken, +1 Smoke Bomb, +1 Shinobi Bell.
Shinobi Bell
Passive
1
2
Hold L2 to aim and press R2 to throw a Shinobi Bell that distracts nearby enemies
Enduring Haze
Passive
1
2
Smoke Bomb has its duration increased to 10 seconds
Kunai Assassination Damage I
Passive
1
2
Naoe removes 1 additional Health Segment with Kunai
Shuriken
Passive
1
2
Hold L2 to aim and press R2 to throw a Shuriken that deals 100% damage. Staggers enemies and can be used on the environment
Adrenaline Generator
Passive
3
3
Increase Adrenaline Gain by 3%
Golden Bell
Passive
1
3
Shinobi Bell is now golden, and its shine can attract enemies from afar
Armor Piercing
Passive
2
3
Kunai now have 50% Armor Piercing
Larger Tool Bag II
Passive
1
4
Increase the maximum capacity for all tools. +1 Kunai, +1 Shuriken, +1 Smoke Bomb, +1 Shinobi Bell.
Widespread
Passive
1
4
Smoke Bomb has its radius increased to 10 meters
Kunai Assassination Damage II
Passive
1
4
Naoe removes 1 additional Health Segment with Kunai
Bank Shot
Passive
2
4
Shuriken can now bounce between targets
Tool Affliction Proficiency
Passive
3
5
Increase Affliction buildup with Tools by 2%
Louder Chimes
Passive
1
5
Shinobi Bell has its radius increased to 5 meters
Triple Threat
Passive
2
5
Naoe can now throw 3 Shuriken at the same time for the cost of 1
Larger Tool Bag III
Passive
1
6
Increase the maximum capacity for all tools. +1 Kunai, +1 Shuriken, +1 Smoke Bomb, +1 Shinobi Bell.
Everlast
Passive
2
6
Kunai can no longer break on hard impact and can be retrieved indefinitely
Kunai Assassination Damage III
Passive
1
6
Naoe removes 1 additional Health Segment with Kunai
Shinobi
Ability Name
Ability Type
Number of Ranks
Knowledge Rank Required
Description
Shinobi Mastery
Passive
8
N/A
Increase Health by 2%
Prodigy
Passive
3
1
Increase damage with Abilities by 2%
Grab
Passive
1
1
Press Triangle while undetected to grab an enemy. Once grabbed, you can move with them and hold Triangle to knock them out
Grappling Hook
Passive
1
1
Press L1 to launch your Grappling Hook. Press Circle to drop, Left Stick to swing and to move up or down and X to jump
Shallow Water Breathing
Passive
1
1
Allows Naoe to breathe through a reed while remaining still in shallow water
Grab Assassinate
Passive
1
2
After grabbing an enemy, press R1 to Assassinate them
Ascension Boost
Passive
1
2
While using the Grappling Hook, Naoe can climb much faster
Vault
Passive
1
2
Press Circle quickly after deflecting an attack with L1 to jump over an enemy and make the target Vulnerable
Igan Roll
Passive
1
2
Press Circle before hitting the ground to reduce fall damage
Evasive
Passive
3
3
Increase damage after a Vault by 2%
Lightning Kicks
Active
1
3
Knock down the 2 closest enemies and deal 15% ability damage to each
Heighten Senses
Active
1
3
While undetected, time slows down around Naoe for 8 seconds. Aborts on enemy contact
Destabilizing Vault
Passive
1
3
Increase Critical Chance by 25% over 10 seconds after using Vault
Immobilized
Passive
2
4
Increase the knockdown duration by 4 seconds
Extended Perception
Passive
2
4
Increase Heightened Senses duration by 4 seconds
Ninja Fall
Passive
1
4
Igan Roll now negates all fall damage
Efficient
Passive
3
5
+3% less Cooldown with Abilities
Quick Knock Out
Passive
1
5
Knock out after Grab can now be performed faster
High Vault
Passive
1
5
Throw a Shuriken mid-air on a successful Vault
Sweep the Leg
Passive
2
6
Lightning Kicks can now perform 1 additional leg sweep on a nearby target that is not already knocked down
Critical Insight
Passive
2
6
Duration of Heightened Senses is reset on a successful assassination. Can only be reset once per activation
Assassin
Ability Name
Ability Type
Number of Ranks
Knowledge Rank Required
Description
Assassin Mastery
Passive
8
N/A
Increase Adrenaline Gain on Assassination by 5%
Executioner
Passive
3
1
Increase damage on vulnerable enemies by 2%
Ground Assassinate
Passive
1
1
Press R1 to Assassinate regular enemies while they are on the ground and remove Health Segments
Shoji Door Assassination
Passive
1
1
While using a Katana, Naoe can Assassinate a target through a shoji panel
Hidden Blade
Passive
1
1
Press R1 to Assassinate regular enemies and remove Health Segments
Eagle Vision
Passive
1
1
Hold R3 to highlight enemies around you
Nightcrawler
Passive
3
2
Increase damage during the night by 2%
Improved Ground Assassinate
Passive
1
3
Naoe removes 1 additional Health Segment with Ground Assassinate
Double Assassinate
Passive
1
2
While using a Tanto, Naoe can Assassinate two targets standing close together with a single attack
Assassination Damage I
Passive
1
2
Naoe removes 1 additional Health Segment with Assassinations
Vigor I
Passive
1
3
Increase Naoe’s Adrenaline Chunks by 1
Reinforced Blade
Passive
1
3
Hidden Blade can now be used against large enemies
Improved Sense
Passive
1
3
Increase the longevity of Eagle Vision’s effect after deactivation
Frontrunner
Passive
3
4
Increase damage while Health is full by 2%
Vigor II
Passive
1
4
Increase Naoe’s Adrenaline Chunks by 1
Assassination Damage II
Passive
1
4
Naoe removes 1 additional Health Segment with Assassinations
Rush Assassinate
Passive
1
5
While using a Kusarigama, Naoe can close the distance and deal Assassination Damage to a single target
Hand of the Creed
Passive
1
5
Hidden Blade can no longer be denied when enemies see Naoe coming
Vigor III
Passive
1
6
Increase Naoe’s Adrenaline Chunks by 1
Assassination Damage III
Passive
1
6
Naoe removes 1 additional Health Segment with Assassinations
Joshua has been embedded in the gaming industry since 2009, and gaming since the days of the Sega Genesis. His occupational focus in environmental health and safety may not cross over much with his beloved hobby, but he has always found time to play the latest releases, AAA and indie alike, as well as continue writing about the industry that has brought him countless years of joy.