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"Quick XP and Leveling Guide for Assassin’s Creed Shadows"

Author : Lucas Update : Apr 09,2025

*Assassin’s Creed Shadows* offers a plethora of skills for players to unlock and master. To level up your Samurai and Shinobi efficiently, it's crucial to maximize your XP gains. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do just that.

What Awards XP in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Answered

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, you can earn XP through a variety of actions and activities. From killing enemies and assassinating targets to completing quests and engaging in side content, every action contributes to your XP. However, the XP awarded varies, so it’s wise to focus on activities that offer the most XP. You can see the potential XP rewards by hovering over quests or activities on the map or in the objectives tab. The fastest ways to earn XP are by tackling castles and undertaking optional assassinations.

How to Get Fast XP from Castles in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Sakamato Castle awards 3,000 XP in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Sakamato Castle awards 3,000 XP in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*.
Throughout Japan in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, you'll encounter numerous castles. Each is heavily guarded by basic and elite enemies, and requires you to eliminate a specific number of Samurai Daisho. Upon defeating the required Daisho, you can access the castle's chest, which contains high-tier loot.

Castles are a prime source of XP, offering thousands of points just for completing the activity. Additionally, you can earn XP by defeating each enemy, with elites and Samurai Daisho providing significant bonuses, often around 250 XP each. Synchronizing at high points within castles also grants XP, typically a few hundred points, and these points serve as fast travel locations, allowing you to switch between characters efficiently.

While castles can be challenging, here are some tips to maximize your XP gains:

  • Choose your protagonist wisely. Naoe’s Eagle’s Vision ability helps you quickly identify and tag Samurai Daisho, allowing for stealthy assassinations. Enhance Naoe’s assassination damage to ensure instant kills.
  • At lower levels, Yasuke is more effective for clearing castles quickly. Deliberately trigger the alarm to draw enemies to you, then engage in open combat to swiftly defeat them.

By employing these strategies, skilled players can amass up to 4,000 XP or more in just a few minutes.

Assassinating Targets Nets Large XP Bonuses in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Naoe perches to assassinate an enemy from above, Image via Ubisoft

Naoe perches to assassinate an enemy from above, Image via Ubisoft
In addition to the main quest assassinations, *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* features numerous optional assassination targets. These can be found by talking to specific NPCs and using scouts to track targets. Utilize fast travel points like Kakurega to get close to your target, then quickly ride to their location and execute the assassination.

Each successful assassination grants a significant XP bonus, typically around 2,000-3,000 XP, with additional XP for defeating the target itself. Completing an entire group of assassinations and reporting back to the quest giver can net you an even larger bonus, often around 5,000 XP.