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Learn how leveling up works in Assassin’s Creed Shadows and the two complementing systems which facilitate character progression.
With two distinct characters leading the story, Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes an interesting approach to leveling that ties their progress together while creating individual paths to unlocking their abilities.
Leveling up and progressing Yasuke and Naoe in Shadows is divided into earning Mastery and Knowledge points. These represent the dichotomy of strengthening the body and the mind, aligning with the principles of Bushido
A key detail to keep in mind is that Yasuke and Naoe share progression on both Mastery and Knowledge points. Furthermore, the game allows you to reroll the points to redistribute them across the Mastery trees. The Mastery point system returns from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, while Shadows introduces Knowledge Ranks, which carry thematic significance.
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What are Mastery Trees?
There are six different Mastery trees for both Yasuke and Naoe. Each tree features 17 to 26 skills, which players must unlock with Mastery points. Mastery points are gained by leveling up, assassinating your targets, and defeating unique enemies such as the Samurai Daisho.
The same points are allocated to each character and can be spent on skills within their six Mastery trees. The Mastery trees are split between weapons, such as the Long Katana and Naginata trees for Yasuke, and attributes, like the Shinobi and Assassin trees for Naoe.
Weapon-based trees, such as the Long Katana and Naginata trees for Yasuke, enhance combat efficiency with their respective weapon types. These unlock abilities that can be slotted two at a time within a weapon. Attribute Mastery trees elevate the overall combat prowess of the characters, such as Yasuke switching between weapons mid-combo through a Samurai Mastery tree skill, and Naoe stealthily taking down two enemies at once with the Double Assassinate skill in the Assassin Mastery tree.
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What are Knowledge Ranks?
Each Mastery Tree is structured into six Knowledge Ranks, with higher-rank skills remaining locked until you achieve the corresponding rank. Knowledge Ranks progress through the accumulation of knowledge points. You can gain Knowledge Ranks by accumulating knowledge points through non-violent activities and minigames across the world of Shadows.
Knowledge points can be gathered through collectibles such as lost pages in temples and character-specific activities like Yasuke learning a new Kata and Naoe settling into Kuji-kiri Meditation. After reaching Knowledge Rank six, a new Knowledge Tree is unlocked for you to spend additional Knowledge points, further incentivizing their collection.
What’s the Difference Between Knowledge and Mastery Points in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Mastery Points are accumulated through most main and side missions in the game. They are spent within the Mastery Trees to improve combat prowess and abilities. Knowledge points increase Knowledge Rank to unlock higher levels of all the Mastery Trees. Both Mastery and Knowledge Points are shared between Naoe and Yasuke. While the Mastery trees represent the expertise of the body, Knowledge points signify the readiness of the mind, becoming an effective route to lead the player away from linear story progression and into open-world exploration.
How To Gain Knowledge and Mastery Points?
Mastery Points are easier to gain compared to Knowledge Points as they are earned through leveling up, completing missions, challenges, and side quests. Knowledge Points are only earned through non-combat side quests, such as finding Kuji-kiri spots and meditating as Naoe, and competing in horse archery as Yasuke. These activities are marked with an orange hexagon on the map.
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