Top Skills to Prioritize for Yasuke in Assassin's Creed Shadows

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, the dual protagonists offer diverse approaches to gameplay, and Yasuke's early skill choices are crucial for maximizing his potential. Here's a detailed guide on the best skills to prioritize for Yasuke in the initial stages of the game, ensuring you harness his full power and versatility.

Best Skills to Get First for Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Long Katana

• Sheathed Attack – Long Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 2 Mastery Points)
• Riposte – Long Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 2 Mastery Points)
• Energizing Defense – Long Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Payback – Long Katana Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points)

These skills enable Yasuke to defend, counterattack, and regain health simultaneously, ensuring he remains robust during combat encounters. This combination will keep you healthy and effective in battles for a significant portion of the game.

Naginata

• Far Reach – Naginata Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 2 Mastery Points)
• One Man Army – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Lethal Reach – Naginata Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 2 Mastery Points)
• Impale – Naginata Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points)

With these skills, Yasuke can keep enemies at a distance while dealing significant damage and increasing his critical hit chances. This setup is particularly effective against groups, and the Impale ability allows for crowd control and concentrated damage when enemies close in.

Kanabo

• Forward Momentum – Kanabo Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
• Spine Breaker – Kanabo Ability (Knowledge Rank 1, 3 Mastery Points)
• Power Surge – Kanabo Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Crushing Shockwave – Kanabo Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points)

These skills enhance Yasuke's power and speed, allowing him to quickly dispatch enemies. Crushing Shockwave is ideal for crowd control, while Spine Breaker provides a window for healing and regrouping before delivering a devastating ground strike.

Teppo

• Steady Hand – Teppo Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 2 Mastery Points)
• Armor Damage – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Concentration – Teppo Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Teppo Tempo – Teppo Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
• Explosive Surprise – Teppo Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 3 Mastery Points)
• Reload Speed – Teppo Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)

These skills make the Teppo a formidable weapon for starting and ending fights, with increased damage and improved reload speeds. Explosive Surprise and Teppo Tempo can create space, allowing Yasuke to transition to melee combat for the final blow.

Samurai

• Brutal Assassination – Samurai Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 2 Mastery Points)
• Regeneration – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Improved Brutal Assassination – Samurai Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Assassination Damage I – Samurai Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 3 Mastery Points)
• Impenetrable Defense – Samurai Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 4 Mastery Points)

Yasuke can execute powerful assassinations, even on elite enemies, with these skills. The Regeneration passive ensures continuous health recovery, while Impenetrable Defense provides crucial protection in tight situations.

Bow

• Swift Hand – Bow Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Marksman’s Shot – Bow Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
• Larger Quiver I – Bow Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Silent Arrows – Bow Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Kyudo Master – Bow Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 2 Mastery Points)
• Silent Arrows II – Bow Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 3 Mastery Points)

These skills enhance Yasuke's ability to eliminate threats from a distance, even those with armor, through faster reloads, increased draw speeds, and silent, concentrated fire.

By focusing on these skills early in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, you'll unlock Yasuke's full potential, making him a formidable force on the battlefield. For more tips and guides, be sure to explore the rest of The Escapist.