"Boost XP and Level Up Quickly in Assassin’s Creed Shadows"

Author : Gabriel Apr 09,2025

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, mastering the art of leveling up your Samurai and Shinobi is crucial for enhancing your gameplay. To accelerate your XP gains, you'll need to engage in a variety of activities and prioritize those that offer the most substantial rewards. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to maximize your XP earnings in the game.

What Awards XP in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Answered

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, XP can be earned through numerous actions and activities. From slaying enemies and assassinating targets to completing quests and engaging in side content, every action contributes to your XP pool. However, the XP rewards vary significantly, so it's essential to focus on the most lucrative activities. You can preview the XP reward for any quest or activity by hovering over it in the map or objectives tab. The most efficient ways to earn XP quickly are by tackling castles and executing 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*.
Japan in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* is dotted with castles, each a fortress teeming with basic and elite enemies, as well as Samurai Daisho. To conquer a castle, you must eliminate a specific number of Daisho, after which you can claim the castle's chest, which contains high-tier loot. Castles are a goldmine for XP, offering thousands of points just for completion. Additionally, each enemy killed, especially elites and Daisho, grants XP, with bonuses up to 250 XP per elite. Synchronizing at high points within the castle not only awards XP but also serves as fast travel points, enhancing your mobility across the map.

However, castles can be challenging. Here are some strategies to maximize your XP gains:

  • Choose Your Protagonist Wisely: Naoe's Eagle’s Vision ability is perfect for stealthily locating and assassinating Daisho. Enhance Naoe's assassination damage through mastery and engravings to ensure one-hit kills.
  • Use Yasuke for Direct Combat: At lower to medium levels, Yasuke can clear castles quickly by engaging enemies directly. Trigger the alarm bell to draw enemies to you, allowing for efficient combat and XP accumulation.

With these tactics, you can potentially earn over 4,000 XP in just a few minutes, making castles an excellent XP farm.

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* features numerous optional assassination targets. These can be discovered by interacting with specific NPCs and using scouts to track targets. Utilize fast travel points like Kakurega to get close to your targets quickly, then ride your mount to their location for a swift kill.

Each assassination not only grants XP for the kill (comparable to elite enemy kills) but also a quest completion bonus of around 2,000-3,000 XP. Completing an entire group of assassinations and returning to the quest giver can net you a significant bonus of approximately 5,000 XP. This makes assassinations a highly effective method for rapid XP accumulation.