"Quick XP and Leveling Guide for Assassin’s Creed Shadows"

Author : Ava Mar 27,2025

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, mastering the art of leveling up your Samurai and Shinobi is crucial for progression. To accelerate your XP gains, it’s essential to understand the most effective methods. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to earn XP quickly in the game.

What Awards XP in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Answered

In *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*, XP can be earned through a variety of actions and activities. Engaging in combat by killing enemies, executing assassinations, completing main and side quests, and participating in various in-game activities all contribute to your XP total. However, the XP rewards can differ significantly, so it’s wise to focus on activities that offer the highest returns on your time investment.

To gauge the potential XP from a quest or activity, simply hover over it in the map or the objectives tab. The most lucrative sources of XP in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* are undoubtedly the castles and 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 encounter numerous castles, each brimming with challenges and rewards. These fortified structures are guarded by a mix of basic and elite enemies, as well as Samurai Daisho, who you must eliminate to access the castle's chest, which contains high-tier loot.

Castles serve as a goldmine for XP in *Assassin’s Creed Shadows*. Completing a castle mission alone can net you thousands of XP points. Additionally, you earn XP for each enemy you defeat, with elites and Samurai Daisho providing substantial bonuses—often around 250 XP per kill. Many castles also feature synchronization points, which not only grant a few hundred XP but also serve as fast travel points, making it easier to switch between characters.

While castles are excellent XP farms, they can be challenging. Here are some tips to maximize your XP gains efficiently:

  • Choose your protagonist wisely. Naoe's Eagle’s Vision ability is invaluable for quickly locating and tagging Samurai Daisho, allowing for swift and stealthy assassinations. Enhancing Naoe’s assassination damage through mastery and engravings can ensure instant kills on Daisho.
  • At lower to medium levels, Yasuke can be more effective for clearing castles. Intentionally get detected and engage in open combat, letting an enemy sound the alarm to draw out more foes for faster XP accumulation.

With these strategies, skilled players can amass up to and beyond 4,000 XP in just a few minutes, making castles an indispensable part of your XP farming routine.

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 the main quest’s required assassination targets, *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* offers numerous optional assassination missions. These can be uncovered by speaking with specific NPCs and using scouts to track down targets. Utilizing fast travel points like Kakurega and riding your mount can quickly position you near your target for a swift kill.

Each successful assassination not only grants XP for the kill—comparable to that of elite enemies—but also a substantial quest completion bonus, typically ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 XP. Completing an entire group of assassinations and returning to the quest giver will reward an even larger XP bonus, often around 5,000 XP.