Comprehensive Guide to Upgrading and Managing Your Katana and Hidden Blade in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows

Enhancing your gear in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is essential for improving your combat efficiency and optimizing your gameplay experience. This guide will walk you through the process of upgrading your katana and hidden blade, applying engravings, managing your gear effectively, and provide useful tips and strategies.

Upgrading Your Katana or Hidden Blade

1. Unlocking the Forge:
– Quest Initiation:
Begin by unlocking the Forge at your Hideout. This requires completing the side quest titled “The Way of the Blacksmith,” which is usually found in the Sakai region.

– Assist the Blacksmith:
During the quest, help the blacksmith, who is being harassed by thugs. Once you defeat them, escort him back to your Hideout.

– Construction Requirements:
After returning the blacksmith, gather the necessary materials such as wood and stone to build the Forge via the Hideout customization menu.

2. Building the Forge:
– Material Collection:
Scavenge for materials by completing local missions, as well as raiding camps and castles. Ensure you accumulate enough resources to construct the Forge.

– Access the Forge:
Once built, you can access the Forge to begin upgrading your weapons and armor.

3. Upgrading Gear:
– Upgrade Process:
Approach the blacksmith at the Forge and select the weapon (katana or hidden blade) you wish to upgrade.

– Level Cap:
Initially, upgrades are available up to level 20. To enhance gear further, you need to upgrade the Forge itself:
– Level 2 Forge allows upgrades up to level 40.
– Level 3 Forge allows upgrades up to level 60.

Engraving Your Katana or Hidden Blade

1. Engraving Mechanics:
– Forge Requirements:
To apply engravings, upgrade the Forge to at least level 2, enabling access to non-legendary engravings.

– Legendary Engravings:
Upgrading to level 3 of the Forge unlocks legendary engravings, which can significantly enhance your katana or hidden blade.

2. Accessing Engravings:
– Engraving Process:
Select the gear item you wish to engrave, choose the appropriate perk slot, and pick from available engravings. These engravings can be collected through gear or purchased from vending NPCs.

3. Types of Engravings:
– Legendary vs Non-Legendary:
Legendary gear often comes with unique engravings that provide notable advantages, while non-legendary gear offers less powerful options.

Managing Your Gear

1. Dismantling Gear:
– Resource Recovery:
Dismantle unused gear to reclaim valuable resources like silk and other materials necessary for future upgrades. Keep in mind that legendary gear cannot be dismantled.

2. Customization:
– Katana Customization:
Modify your katana by changing elements like the blade, guard, saya, and handle, as long as you have unlocked these parts from other katanas.

3. Transmogging:
– Cosmetic Changes:
Use transmogging to alter the appearance of your gear without impacting its performance. This feature is particularly beneficial for aesthetic preferences.

Tips and Strategies

– Early Game Focus:
Concentrate on acquiring better gear early on through missions and dismantling weaker items to gather necessary resources.

– Forge Upgrades:
Prioritize upgrading the Forge when possible to access higher upgrade levels for your gear, hence improving your combat efficiency.

– Side Quest Exploration:
Engage in side quests to unlock new engravings and acquire better gear, enriching your gameplay experience while improving your character’s capabilities.

By adhering to this guide, you can effectively upgrade and manage your katana and hidden blade in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, ensuring a more immersive and rewarding gameplay experience.