Assassin’s Creed Shadows, while introducing new mechanics like dual protagonists and scout units, retains its core open-world RPG elements. Players will still find themselves immersed in leveling up, customizing skill trees, and acquiring progressively better gear. While Naoe and Yasuke have unique skill trees and Knowledge Points gate progression, rapidly gaining XP remains key to boosting your characters’ stats. This guide outlines the most efficient methods to farm XP and quickly power level in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
A character sneaks around at night in Assassin*Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ intuitive design displays the XP reward and any item/gear drops when highlighting an objective on the map. This helpful feature provides a starting point, but doesn’t tell the whole story. Some tasks are quick, while others can consume a significant chunk of time. Understanding the optimal balance of effort and reward is crucial for efficient XP farming.
Conquering Castles: A Treasure Trove of XP
The most lucrative XP source lies in conquering the larger castles scattered throughout the game world. These strongholds offer substantial XP rewards, often exceeding 3,000 XP, alongside valuable high-tier loot. While these conquests require more time, the payoff is substantial. The large XP lump sum is difficult to match, and eliminating the numerous high-level enemies within the castle walls provides additional XP gains. Each of these formidable foes can yield 250 XP, supplementing the steady stream of XP earned from dispatching regular enemies. Furthermore, castles are brimming with treasure chests containing gear, Mon, and valuable resources. A successful castle siege, lasting 30 minutes to an hour depending on your playstyle, can easily net you 5,000 XP or more.
Main Missions: A Steady Stream of XP
While main missions might not offer the highest raw XP compared to other activities, they consistently provide 1,000 to 2,000 XP and can be relatively short. While enjoying the narrative through cutscenes is recommended, excluding them reveals a favorable time-to-XP ratio. Since completing the main storyline is essential, avoiding these missions is only advisable if you find yourself under-leveled for the next challenge.
Shrines: Quick Bursts of XP and Knowledge
Shrines might appear to offer insignificant XP, but their rapid completion time makes them a surprisingly efficient source. Typically completed in about 5 minutes, these non-combat objectives, such as collecting scrolls or praying at designated locations, also reward valuable Knowledge Points. Locating the required spots and swiftly completing the objectives grants easy XP gains.
Side Quests: Character-Driven XP Opportunities
As you progress and encounter new characters, numerous side quests related to them will unlock. These quests offer varying XP rewards and completion times, so choosing strategically is beneficial. One notable questline involves eliminating a group of ronin, providing a series of assassination targets and a substantial XP boost.
Contracts: Reliable Resource and XP Gains
Once you unlock and establish Kakurega, optional contracts become available. Accepting all available contracts is recommended, as they provide a steady flow of resources and generally offer around 1,000 XP each. Although not the most significant XP source, contracts are typically quick to complete and offer far more XP than random exploration and combat.
Conclusion: Maximizing Your XP Gains in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a variety of ways to earn XP. Focusing on conquering castles, completing main missions, visiting shrines, strategically choosing side quests, and fulfilling contracts will ensure rapid character progression and allow players to fully enjoy the rich gameplay experience.
