5 Best Shinobi Skill Tree Upgrades for Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Here’s a guide listing the five best Shinobi skill tree upgrades for Naoe to help her become the best ninja in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Turn Naoe into a deadly ninja in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Image via Ubisoft)
Turn Naoe into a deadly ninja in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Image via Ubisoft)

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Naoe is one of the two playable characters. Her playstyle revolves around mastering stealth to assassinate her enemies from the shadows. Naoe has six skill trees with abilities that upgrade various aspects, ranging from weapons, tools, and abilities. Upgrading skills in the Shinobi skill tree enhances her stealth and agility, which is crucial when you are using a stealth-focused build.

Here are the five best Shinobi skill tree upgrades for Naoe that you should prioritize unlocking in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

1) Ascension Boost

Climb faster with this skill
Climb faster with this skill (Image via Deltias Gaming, Ubisoft)

Ascension Boost is a shinobi passive that can be unlocked at Knowledge Rank 2. While you are using the grappling hook, Naoe can climb much faster than before with this skill unlocked. This is a rather simple, but effective skill, that you can unlock to traverse around much quicker.

Also Read: Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Fight of Kakushiba Ikki Main Quest

2) Lightning Kicks

Knock down your enemies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Knock down your enemies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Image via Deltias Gaming, Ubisoft)

The Lightning Kicks is a shinobi ability that you can unlock at Knowledge Rank 3. When used, Naoe dashes toward two of the closest enemies and knocks them down, while dealing a certain percentage of your ability damage to them. The base rate of the ability is 15% of your current ability damage. Moreover, the percentage can be further raised, which increases the amount of ability damage dealt by Naoe.

3) Shallow Water Breathing

Breathe underwater
Breathe underwater (Image via Deltias Gaming, Ubisoft)

Shallow Water Breathing is yet another shinobi passive that is available to unlock as early as in Knowledge Rank 1. This simple ability when unlocked, allows Naoe to breathe under shallow water using a reed pipe. This small but vital ability is useful for scouting any location near ponds or shallow water bodies which in turn allows for more planned assassinations and better stealth.

Also Read: Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Wake Up Call Main Quest Walkthrough

4) Igan Roll

Take no fall damage
Take no fall damage (Image via Deltias Gaming, Ubisoft)

Igan Roll is one of the most important shinobi passive that allows you to reduce damage taken from a fall. This simple skill can be unlocked at Knowledge Rank 2 in Naoe’s Shinobi skill tree. All you need to do to utilize this skill is press your sprint button right before you hit the ground when making a fall. 

Later on, in the skill tree at Knowledge Rank 4, you upgrade this passive to Ninja Fall, which now negates fall damage completely. Moreover, this unlocks a whole new level of mobility for Naoe as she can now make seemingly impossible jumps to assassinate her targets from above.

5) Heighten Senses

Slow down time in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Slow down time in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Image via Deltias Gaming, Ubisoft)

This is, without a doubt, the strongest shinobi ability you can unlock for Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Heighten Senses when used, allows Naoe to slow down time for eight seconds and move around enemies undetected. However, the ability stops on enemy contact. Additionally, this shinobi ability can be unlocked at Knowledge Rank 3 with further upgrades.

At Knowledge Rank 4, you can unlock Extended Perception, which increases the ability duration by four seconds making it 12 seconds in total. This is increased to 16 seconds with Critical Insight available at Knowledge Rank 6. Critical Insight refreshes the cooldown period of Extended Perception on an assassination. However, the skill refresh is limited to one time per skill use.


AC Shadows logo [Source: Ubisoft]

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