How To Block in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Find out how you can block attacks in Assassin’s Creed Shadows as both Yasuke and Naoe, along with details on how to counter them.

Whether you are playing as Naoe or Yasuke, you will have to engage in open combat a lot of the time. Other than swirling your katana or other weapons, you will also have to make sure you do not get hit by a lot of your enemies’ attacks and preserve your health. Rations are often scarce, especially when you are trying to conquer castles and get the special loot.

One of the many defensive combat moves in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is blocking attacks. It is a simple mechanic, but it requires precision timing. Moreover, not all moves can be blocked. Naoe and Yasuke also have different approaches to this, and while Yasuke can block attacks, Naoe will only parry them. This article explains the block and parry mechanics of Assassin’s Creed Shadows in detail.

How Can You Block Attacks in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

You will have to press the appropriate button (Q on PC) when the timing is right to block an attack in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Both Yasuke and Naoe can block attacks, but their mechanics slightly vary based on their skills. Yasuke’s block is more of a parry, whereas Naoe’s blocks are more of a deflect. This also adheres to their physical prowess, since the former is a brute with more strength than Naoe.

Before an enemy attacks, their weapon will glow in one of three colors: white, blue, or red. Here is what each of them means:

• White: Singular light attack.
• Blue: Flurry attacks; they denote an enemy’s combo attacks.
• Red: Unstoppable attacks that you cannot block.

You can only block attacks that are white or blue in color. Red attacks are “Unstoppable Attacks”, and you will not be able to block them. For these attacks, the only option is to use the dodge mechanic.

How To Counter in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Both Yasuke and Naoe have access to counter attacks in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. However, they are tied to specific weapons only for both the protagonists. You will need to unlock them from the Skill Tree using Mastery Points.

Yasuke’s Counter Attack

Yasuke is able to perform counter blocks with the Riposte skill on the Long Katana. Here are all the details of the skill tree for this particular move:

• Riposte: Unlockable at Knowledge Rank 1.
• Energizing Defense: Unlockable at Knowledge Rank 2. It has two stages and requires the Riposte skill to be unlocked. This increases Riposte damage by 40%, and also heals you for 5% of health.
• Defensive Strike: Unlockable at Knowledge Rank 4. It has two stages and requires the Energizing Defense skill to be unlocked. It increases Riposte damage by 60%, and also has a guaranteed critical hit against Flurry Attacks.

Yasuke also has a special skill in the Samurai Skill Tree called Impenetrable Defense. This is a special move that automatically blocks all attacks on Yasuke for 20 seconds. You can upgrade this skill to counter directly and make enemies vulnerable. It also works against Unstoppable attacks at the highest upgrade.

Naoe’s Counter Attack

On the other hand, Naoe can perform a counter with the Counter Attack skill on the Katana. Here is how this skill line evolves:

• Counter Attack: Unlockable at Knowledge Rank 2.
• Swift Step: Unlockable at Knowledge Rank 4. It has two stages, and the Counter Attack at Rank 2 must be unlocked. Swift Step allows you to counter Flurry attacks.
• Hardened: Unlockable at Knowledge Rank 6. It also has two stages, and the Swift Step at Rank 4 must be unlocked. Hardened allows you to counter even the unstoppable attacks.

Blocking or countering all attacks successfully will also render the opponent vulnerable in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. You will be able to deal a significant amount of damage to a vulnerable enemy during this time.

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We provide the latest news and create guides for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Meanwhile, you can check out the following AC Shadows articles or catch us playing games on Twitch and YouTube:

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