How to Get XP and Level Up Fast in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Mastering *Assassin's Creed: Shadow's* skills requires a rapid XP gain. Leveling up your Samurai and Shinobi quickly means prioritizing efficient XP farming methods. Let's explore how to maximize your XP earnings.

What Awards XP in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

In Assassin's Creed: Shadows, XP is earned through diverse actions: eliminating enemies, assassinating targets, completing quests, and engaging in various side activities. However, XP rewards vary significantly. To optimize your time, focus on high-yield activities. Check the XP value of quests and activities by hovering over them on the map or in the objectives tab. Castles and optional assassinations offer the fastest XP gains.

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

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

Numerous castles across Japan provide excellent XP farming opportunities. Each castle is heavily guarded, featuring standard and elite enemies, along with Samurai Daisho requiring elimination. Defeating the required number of Daisho unlocks a chest containing high-tier loot.

Castles are incredible XP sources. Completing a castle yields thousands of XP, but additional XP is earned by eliminating enemies. Elite enemies and Samurai Daisho provide substantial bonuses (around 250 XP each). Many castles also offer synchronization points, awarding a few hundred XP and providing fast travel options.

While castles can be challenging, these strategies will boost your XP gain:

Character Selection: Naoe's Eagle Vision allows for efficient enemy detection and tagging, enabling faster Daisho assassinations. Invest in engravings to maximize assassination damage for instant kills. For lower levels, Yasuke's combat prowess is preferable. Purposefully triggering alarms brings enemies to you for efficient open combat.
Optimized Tactics: A skilled player using these strategies can earn 4,000+ XP in minutes.

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

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

Beyond main quest assassinations, Assassin's Creed: Shadows offers optional assassination targets. Discover these by interacting with specific NPCs and using scouts to locate targets. Utilize fast travel points (like Kakurega) to quickly reach targets, then use your mount to swiftly eliminate them.

Each assassination provides an XP bonus (typically 2,000-3,000 XP) in addition to XP for the kill itself. Completing all targets in a group and returning to the quest giver yields a significant bonus (around 5,000 XP).