How To Switch Characters in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows features a dual protagonist system where players can switch between Naoe and Yasuke as per their preference.

How to Switch Characters in Assassin's Creed Shadows
How to Switch Characters in AC Shadows (Image via Deltias Gaming / Ubisoft)

Despite the availability of two characters in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, switching between both characters becomes accessible a little later in the game. Initially, players would be able to play as Yasuke for the first Prologue mission. Next, Naoe takes over and is unswitchable until the mission Temple of the Horseman.

Players can also unlock Yasuke a little quicker if they decide to rush through the main missions. However, it would still take at least seven hours to unlock the Samurai. Depending on your play style and how much exploration and side missions you decide to take on as Naoe, Yasuke can be unlocked by playing the game for approximately 7-10 hours.

Character Switching in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Character Switch screen in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Character Switch screen in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Image via Deltias Gaming | Ubisoft)

After Yasuke has been unlocked, players can directly access both characters from the Inventory tab. At the bottom of the screen (as shown in the image above) in this tab, you’ll find the option to switch between Naoe and Yasuke.

However, there are a few exceptions to switching characters in the game. For most missions, players would be able to choose among the two characters when starting the quest. For others, the title would prompt you to switch to that particular protagonist, depending on the mission.

Additionally, you won’t be able to switch between Naoe and Yasuke when you’re in a restricted area, mid-combat, and midway during missions. If you want to switch your character during a quest, you would have to reload the last save file and switch before starting the mission. While it is a hassle to restart the mission again, this boundary helps maintain balance in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Switching Characters during Fast Travel in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Switch Characters during Fast Travel in AC Shadows
Switch Characters during Fast Travel in AC Shadows (Image via Deltias Gaming । Ubisoft)

To reduce the number of times one has to go through a loading screen in AC Shadows, Ubisoft has also added the feature to let players switch characters directly when Fast Travelling from one synchronization point to the other.

The game will prompt you to press and hold a button to be able to switch to the other character before it takes you to a loading screen. If you want to Fast Travel as the character you have been playing with, use the regular feature on the map to travel from one location to the other.


AC Shadows logo [Source: Ubisoft]

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