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I love it when games try to make the gameplay as dynamic as possible, and that statement rings true forAssassin’s CreedShadowsand its two protagonists.
Apart from their wholesome sibling-like chemistry,Yasuke and Naoe have their own playstyles that match their character backgrounds,from Naoe’s shinobi lineage to Yasuke’s hardened samurai roots.
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Although the game forces you to play as both, the guide that I’ve prepared today is intended to help you decide who you should play between the two protagonists for the side content and overall exploration.
So, after beating the game in its entirety, I’ll start explaining their differences and, later, my personal opinion on whom I prefer here.
Differences Between Yasuke & Naoe
Before briefly discussing both characters,I’ve highlighted the major differences between Yasuke and Naoe,which should summarize their individual gameplay specialties.
Naoe is nimble with a limited health pool, so she can easily die in fewer hits.
Due to his intense samurai training, Yasuke feels like a tank and can take several normal attack hits.
Three weapon types:Katana, Kusarigama and the Tanto.
Five weapon types:Long Katana, Naginata, Kanabo, Bow and Teppo.
Unique traits include the Eagle Vision, Grappling Hook and access to various shinobi tools.
Yasuke can tear down castle gates and enemies in his path via the Bull Rush sprinting Passive.
Playstyle relies more on stealth, taking out enemies via assassinations and using tools as a further advantage.
Playstyle is more action-oriented as it encourages you to rush in and utilize Yasuke’s multi-hitting abilities against enemies.
Naoe has faster movement and performs quicker parkour than Yasuke.
Yasuke’s bulky nature makes him less suited for stealth, as enemies can easily spot him even on normal difficulty.
It is also worth pointing out that you’ll only get to play as Naoe for the first few hours of the opening act,after which the game allows you to play as Yasuke once youcomplete the Temple of the Horseman main questline.
Moreover, despite your desire to play as one character over the other, the game will force you to play certain quests as a specific protagonist. So, make sure they’re appropriately geared up even if you don’t often use them.
Lastly, both characters share the same level and Mastery Pointsand have slightly different dialogue when partaking in quests like hunting down the Shibakufu group or other targeted elite enemies.
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Should You Play As Yasuke Or Naoe
Here’s the short answer based on my personal experience:Naoe is ultimately the superior protagonist over Yasuke inAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
If you’re able to manage to master the combat and parry/dodge system, Naoe’s weak HP and resiliency barely become a problem, since she’s equally powerful with the right skills later on in the mid-to-late game.
Her kunai can one-shot enemies in the head,andif you’ve adequately upgraded your Assassination Damage Skill,you can even take out thosebrutal Samurai found in castleswithout engaging them in combat.
She’s also the best choice for normal explorationas the grappling hook can allow you to reach Synchronization Viewpoints easily, and her speed makes traversal feel like a breeze.
Now, it isn’t to say that Yasuke is bad;he’s a great playable character to use ifyou just want to shut your brain off and mow down hordes of enemieswith minimal effort.
Quite frankly, I primarily use him for the contracts since they’re generally just small enemy outposts where you can rush in and do battle instead of going the stealth route.
Lastly, some quests will allow you to progress using either Naoe or Yasuke,so there’s still a bit of freedomin how you want to proceed with the rest of the content.
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