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"Quick XP Gains and Leveling Up in Assassin’s Creed Shadows"

Author : Thomas Update : Apr 23,2025

In *Assassin's Creed Shadows*, unlocking and mastering a variety of skills for your Samurai and Shinobi characters is crucial to enhancing your gameplay. To level up efficiently, you'll need to maximize your XP gains. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to do that effectively.

What Awards XP in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Answered

In *Assassin's Creed Shadows*, XP can be earned through a multitude of actions and activities. From killing enemies and assassinating targets to completing quests and engaging in side content, there are numerous ways to accumulate XP. However, the XP rewards can vary significantly, so it's essential to focus on the most lucrative activities. You can preview the XP rewards for quests and activities by hovering over them in the map or objectives tab. The fastest ways to earn substantial XP are through engaging with 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 find numerous castles, each heavily guarded by basic and elite enemies, as well as Samurai Daisho that you must eliminate. Completing a castle by killing the required number of Daisho grants access to a chest containing high-tier loot. Castles are a treasure trove of XP; completing one can award thousands of XP, and each enemy killed, especially elites and Daisho, adds to your total, with bonuses up to 250 XP per elite.

Additionally, many castles feature synchronization points that not only award XP but also serve as fast travel points, facilitating easier character switching. However, castles can be challenging. Here are some strategies to maximize your XP gains:

  • Choose Your Protagonist Wisely: Naoe’s Eagle’s Vision can help you quickly locate and tag Samurai Daisho, making stealth assassinations a swift way to take them down. Enhance Naoe's assassination damage through mastery and engravings to ensure instant kills.
  • Combat Strategy: At lower to medium levels, Yasuke can be more effective. Deliberately get detected and engage in open combat, allowing enemies to sound the alarm and draw them to you for faster clearances.

Employing these tactics efficiently can net you up to and potentially beyond 4,000 XP 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 main quest assassinations, *Assassin's Creed Shadows* offers numerous optional assassination targets. These can be discovered by speaking to specific NPCs and using scouts to track targets. Utilize fast travel points like Kakurega to quickly reach your targets, and then use your mount to close the distance before executing the assassination.

Each assassination yields an XP bonus, typically around 2,000-3,000 XP, plus additional XP for the kill itself, similar to defeating elite enemies. Completing a group of assassinations and reporting back to the quest giver can reward a significant bonus, often around 5,000 XP.