Assassin’s Creed Shadows: The Hidden Blade’s Perfect Comeback!

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The “Assassin’s Creed” series features distinctive symbols that are easily recognizable. One such symbol is the traditional Assassin garments, typically seen in a white color palette and featuring a pointed hood. Another icon is the Hidden Blade, which was prominently displayed on the cover of the initial “Assassin’s Creed” game and has since become a recurring element across the series, serving as the main weapon for the game’s Assassin protagonists in most installments. Similarly, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” adheres to this pattern.

In contrast to earlier Role-Playing Game (RPG) versions of Assassin’s Creed, Shadows provides players with the Hidden Blade right from the start. The protagonist, Naoe, receives this weapon as a gift from her father, Nagato. Players can swiftly take down targets using the Hidden Blade from the moment they grasp the controls, and for the first time in a while, it truly feels like the perfect tool for an Assassin.

How Assassin’s Creed Shadows Strikes a Good Balance With Its Hidden Blade

Assassin’s Creed’s RPGs Have Struggled to Balance the Hidden Blade

2017’s “Assassin’s Creed Origins” significantly altered the formula of its stealth action-adventure series, introducing role-playing game (RPG) elements that had a substantial impact on how the Hidden Blade functioned within “Assassin’s Creed”. Some of these new features included visible health bars for both players and enemies, as well as level systems for both parties.

In all Assassin’s Creed games before AC Origins, the Hidden Blade would instantly kill an enemy regardless of their armor, health, or skill level if the player remained undetected. However, in AC Origins, the Hidden Blade delivers a specific amount of damage that could potentially kill enemies quickly, but only if they are much weaker than the player. Consequently, instant kills with the Hidden Blade were infrequent in Assassin’s Creed Origins, making this signature weapon seem unusually feeble.

In the game Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, they chose not to include the iconic Hidden Blade because it was set centuries before the weapon became a standard Assassin tool. But, in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the Hidden Blade made its return. Like in Origins, Valhalla‘s leveling and health system is similar, making the Hidden Blade function in a familiar way. However, an optional ‘Guaranteed Assassination’ setting was added to AC Valhalla, which allows all assassinations with the Hidden Blade to be instant kills, although this isn’t how the game is intended to be played.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Solves The Series’ Recent Hidden Blade Issue

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Hidden Blade works differently in terms of damage. It now depends on a new health-block system. A stealthy assassination with Naoe’s Hidden Blade will consistently eliminate a fixed number of health blocks. If an enemy has fewer health blocks, they are immediately eliminated by the Hidden Blade, while if they have more, they receive severe injuries instead.

The Hidden Blade is effective solely against foes whose power matches or falls beneath Naoe’s character rank. Foes significantly more powerful than that will successfully ward off the Hidden Blade entirely.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, an opponent’s health meter is prominently displayed above their head. As you get closer to the target, the portion of their health that will be depleted by a Hidden Blade strike becomes evident. This ensures players are constantly aware of the damage the Hidden Blade inflicts. This aligns seamlessly with the game’s updated stealth mechanics, as it encourages players to thoughtfully select their targets.

With this method, the Hidden Blade effectively takes out most ordinary foes immediately. Yet, it doesn’t seem excessively potent when faced with heavily armored opponents or bosses, maintaining a sense of balance.

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2025-03-27 13:35