Top Skills to Acquire Early for Naoe in Assassin's Creed Shadows

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, Naoe excels in stealth and assassination, navigating through the shadows with precision. While her approach leans heavily on covert tactics, she's also capable of engaging in direct combat when strategically planned. For players eager to maximize Naoe's potential, here are the top skills to prioritize up to Knowledge Rank 3, which can be achieved swiftly through diligent exploration and activities in the game's initial areas.

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

Katana

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• Dodge Attack – Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
• Melee Expert – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Counter Attack – Katana Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Eviscerate – Katana Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points)

These skills transform Naoe into a defensive powerhouse, ready to counter aggressive foes. Masterful dodging and deflecting will open up opportunities for devastating counterattacks, enhanced damage, and decisive finishing moves with Eviscerate.

Kusarigama

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• Entanglement – Kusarigama Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
• Affliction Builder – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Big Catch – Kusarigama Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Multi-Target Expert – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Cyclone Blast – Kusarigama Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 7 Mastery Points)

Mastering these skills turns Naoe into a formidable opponent against both groups and single targets. Entanglement, when paired with the right weapon abilities, amplifies affliction buildup, allowing you to manipulate and damage even larger foes. The remaining skills facilitate crowd control and close-quarters combat, ensuring you can handle multiple enemies effectively.

Tanto

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• Shadow Piercer – Tanto Ability (Knowledge Rank 1, 5 Mastery Points)
• Gap Seeker – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Backstab – Tanto Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Backstabber – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Back Breaker – Tanto Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 3 Mastery Points)

These skills enhance Naoe's damage output with the tanto, exploiting vulnerabilities for maximum impact. Even armored enemies will dread her blade as she maneuvers to strike from behind, ensuring lethal efficiency.

Tools

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• Smoke Bomb – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1 Mastery Point)
• Larger Tool Bag I – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Shinobi Bell – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
• Enduring Haze – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Kunai Assassination Damage I – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Shuriken – Tools Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)

These tools empower Naoe to manipulate and distract guards, clearing paths to her targets. Shurikens can disable alarms or trigger explosives, while the Shinobi Bell lures enemies away. Kunai extend her assassination range, and the Smoke Bomb offers a versatile escape or an opportunity for a chain of silent takedowns.

Shinobi

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• Ascension Boost – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 2 Mastery Points)
• Vault – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
• Igan Roll – Shinobi Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 1 Mastery Point)
• Heighten Senses – Shinobi Ability (Knowledge Rank 3, 5 Mastery Points)

These skills enhance Naoe's stealth capabilities, ensuring she remains undetected while swiftly reaching her objectives. Faster climbing, reduced fall damage, and the ability to slow time during navigation allow for seamless movement through crowded areas.

Assassin

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• Executioner – Global Passive (Knowledge Rank 1, 1/2/3 Mastery Points)
• Improved Ground Assassinate – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Double Assassinate – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Assassination Damage I – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 2, 3 Mastery Points)
• Reinforced Blade – Assassin Passive (Knowledge Rank 3, 4 Mastery Points)

When paired with the Tanto, these skills enhance Naoe's assassination prowess. Swift strikes with the Hidden Blade, dual assassinations, and the ability to tackle stronger foes are invaluable. However, caution is advised as more resilient enemies may resist until your skills are further upgraded.

With these prioritized skills under each tree, Naoe can become the ultimate assassinating shinobi in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. For further assistance, be sure to explore resources on The Escapist.