Unleash Yasuke's Bow Mastery: Top Abilities for AC Shadows

Summary

Yasuke offers unique versatility in combat with his bow, specializing in ranged attacks for precision and impact.
Upgradeable abilities like Retreating Shot, Kyudo Master, and Poison Arrows make Yasuke deadly effective at range.
Larger Quiver, Clear Mind, and Marksman’s Shot enhance Yasuke’s bow skills, allowing for greater damage and utility.

In the debut of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, players are offered two exceptionally different main characters to control. Besides Naoe, who embodies the stealthy assassins typical of the series, there is Yasuke – a massive samurai, reminiscent of a tank in battle, who fittingly stands out in combat just as he does in his adopted land of Japan.

This tank isn’t just limited in its uses; Yasuke shares a similar flexibility in terms of tools, weapons, and maneuvers as Naoe. To add some variety to Yasuke’s shoulder charges, consider using his bow, although it may not be as spectacular as the teppo, it compensates with accurate and powerful shots. Some of his bow skills truly shine compared to the rest, and the top ones make Yasuke incredibly potent from a distance, making him deadly effective.

1. Retreating Shot

An Impressive Looking Flurry

Shoot 4 arrows at the closest enemy, dealing 10% ability damage each time while evading incoming attacks

One of Yasuke’s limited active bow abilities, Retreating Shot, is particularly beneficial in close-quarters combat. This attack doesn’t just fire four (upgradeable to six) arrows quickly; it also provides Yasuke with an evasion window throughout the entire sequence, allowing him a moment of safety during the barrage.

A great application for Retreating Shot involves initially arming Yasuke’s poison arrows and employing it at the start of an engagement with a formidable daimyo or boss. As four to six poison arrows penetrate a single foe, the poisoned state becomes almost inevitable, resulting in significant damage over time.

2. Kyudo Master

The Right Timing Makes Yasuke Lightning Fast

Release R2/RT when Bow flashes to trigger Kyudo Master, enabling a longer Posture Window and a faster Reload Time for 5 seconds

Initially, players will observe that Yasuke’s primary weakness lies in his speed. His bow requires time to prepare for a stance shot, and although abilities like Swift Hand quicken the process somewhat, the Kyudo Master ability enables players to control Yasuke’s speed according to their preference.

With a swift arrow release synchronized to the bow’s flash, the Kyudo Master offers players an advantage of quicker reloads and effortlessly accurate positional shots for five seconds. Remarkably, this effect can be continuously extended until all arrows are depleted, provided the player’s reaction speed remains sharp.

3. Silent Arrows

Assassinate While Safely At Range

Unlock a new Arrow that has 100% Armor Piercing and removes 2 Health Segments with headshots on unsuspecting enemies

Generally speaking, Yasuke’s Silent Arrows are his most potent ammunition. Although Poison Arrows and Serrated Arrows might appear more exciting and prove more beneficial in the long term, Silent Arrows are ideal for swiftly eliminating a target from afar without delay.

Fully upgraded Silent Arrows offer 100% armor penetration and inflict significant damage equivalent to eight health segments. This means that just one accurate shot is enough to take down a hidden rooftop Yasuke, even if the target is a powerful ronin or samurai; the shot is swift and silent, ensuring no warning is given before they are eliminated.

4. Larger Quiver I-III

The More Poison Arrows, The Better

Increase maximum capacity for all arrows. +10 Arrow, +3 Special Arrow

In many RPGs, some top-tier skills can sometimes be rather unexciting, and the “Larger Quiver” skill fits this description well. As its name implies, it expands Yasuke’s quiver capacity, enabling him to stockpile more arrows. This is significant for two key reasons:

1. It ensures that Yasuke can maintain a steady supply of ammunition during combat, preventing him from running out at crucial moments.
2. A larger quiver also allows Yasuke to prepare for extended periods without having to constantly resupply, giving him an edge in long-term scenarios or survival situations.

Initially, I found Yasuke’s quiver disappointingly small when I first unlocked him, holding just ten arrows. As I leveled up his Large Quiver ability, it expanded to a whopping 40, which is plenty for any siege on a castle. Additionally, I noticed that Yasuke does significant damage with special arrow types, but initially, you can only carry six of each type. Once upgraded, though, the number increases to a more manageable 15.

5. Clear Mind

A Franchise Staple For A Reason

Time slows down around you for 10 seconds while aiming

In most Assassin’s Creed games today, it has become standard to include a slow-motion bow skill, much like other role-playing games with archery components. This feature, especially beneficial in the intense combat of Assassin’s Creed, can offer a momentary respite amidst the chaos, allowing for precise aiming and shooting.

The ability Clear Mind functions smoothly and lasts for an extended period, activating automatically and momentarily slowing down time near Yasuke for ten seconds. Since Yasuke usually isn’t fast, this feature is incredibly useful by allowing players to switch their melee weapons for a bow, enabling them to eliminate enemies before they can close the distance.

6. Level-Headed

Upgrade Clear Mind to Maximum Utility

While Clear Mind is active, Headshots increase the duration by 4 seconds

Level-Headed can be described as an enhanced version of another skill. It’s the third in a series that starts with a clear mind and progresses to an effective mindset, but it might just be the most crucial one among them all.

In the game Shadows, having the ability Level-Headed enables successful headshots during Clear Mind to prolong the duration by four seconds each. Similar to other Assassin’s Creed games, headshots are relatively simple to execute in Shadows, so a player with Level-Headed can potentially engage in an entire ranged battle while time is slowed exclusively for them. This doesn’t make Yasuke’s playstyle feel slow at all.

7. Marksman’s Shot

Make Every Shot Into Two

When hitting the target’s head with a Posture Shot, fire a second arrow by pressing R2/RT

The Marksman’s Shot is a unique skill that doesn’t operate like a typical activated ability, yet it requires users to initiate it for it to function. Here’s how it works: After any headshot where an arrow has been charged (which usually happens), players are granted a brief opportunity to discharge a swift second arrow quickly.

Instead of needing to be equipped and activated separately, Marksman’s Shot becomes a readily available option once unlocked. This feature proves particularly useful early in the game and against formidable opponents, as Yasuke’s headshots frequently leave targets with only one or two health bars left. With proper timing, the Marksman’s Shot effectively addresses this issue promptly.

8. Marksman’s Stance

Chain Headshots As Needed

Marksman’s Shot is now a Posture Shot

In other words, the advanced version of Marksman’s Shot, known as Marksman’s Stance, amplifies the ability to its maximum potential. This skill enhancement transforms the bonus arrow from Marksman’s Shot into a powerful posed/charged shot. As a result, the bonus shot now deals twice the damage that Yasuke usually inflicts.

The Marksman’s Stance amplifies the power of every arrow fired, doubling the potency of poison or bleeding effects. Moreover, it significantly enhances Yasuke’s regular attacks for assassinations. With properly upgraded equipment, a consecutive pair of posture shots should swiftly defeat any non-boss enemy in two quick strikes, or at least reduce their health dramatically.

9. Poison Arrows

The Best For Damage Over Time

Unlock a new Arrow type that builds up the Poison affliction

Despite the game Assassin’s Creed Shadows often requiring Yasuke to act as a powerful, dismembering and wall-smashing character, skills such as Poison Arrows make Yasuke an enjoyable choice for stealth and deception too. The main factor preventing these high-damage arrows from being the go-to option for many players is their limited quiver capacity and refill options, but this issue can be addressed.

After understanding the game layout, players should invest in various Hidden Spots (Kakurega) across the map, and particularly if they upgrade to a Larger Quiver, Poison Arrows could become their preferred ammunition type. This choice significantly enhances Yasuke’s every bow skill, increasing the overall damage output dramatically during gameplay.

10. Staggering Blast

A Powerful, Dazing Burst

Shoot a powerful arrow at the target, dealing 60% ability damage and pushing them back

It’s quite common for players to choose Staggering Blast as their initial ability when leveling up Yasuke’s bow mastery. This choice is often justified because, at its maximum level, it becomes one of Yasuke’s most versatile abilities. Even in its basic form, the pushback effect can be incredibly useful.

With proper usage, Staggering Blast functions similar to Yasuke’s melee equivalent of War Kick, propelling adversaries away forcefully. This could provide the samurai with extra room or launch difficult enemies over cliffs, transforming prolonged fights into swift eliminations. Upon upgrading, it also stuns the enemy, implying that even those who don’t tumble off a ledge are effectively defeated already.

2025-03-27 15:05

Unleash Yasuke’s Bow Mastery: Top Abilities for AC Shadows