Assassin's Creed Shadows Allows for Transmogging, Keeping a Weapon's Looks While Changing Its Stats

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Deep Dive into Progression and Customization

Assassin's Creed Shadows (AC Shadows) offers players extensive character progression and customization options, including a highly anticipated transmogging feature. This allows players to maintain weapon stats while altering their appearance to match personal preferences. A recent March 1st, 2025, website post detailed these features, shedding light on the game's design philosophy.

Weapon Transmogrification and Customization

AC Shadows Associate Game Director, Julien, highlighted the game's deep customization. The transmog system lets players decouple weapon aesthetics from their stats. Unlocking the Forge in the Hideout grants access to this feature within the inventory menu. Julien explained the Forge's role in inventory management, hinting at further details in a future Hideout-focused article. Moreover, players can mix and match weapon components—blade, guard, and handle—for truly unique creations.

Enhanced Progression System

Building on previous IGN Fan Fest 2025 reveals of combat mechanics, Ubisoft provided a more comprehensive overview of player progression. The dual protagonist system—Naoe (shinobi/assassin) and Yasuke (samurai)—prompted a re-evaluation of progression design. The goal was to align the system with the core principles of martial arts mastery.

Mastery, Abilities, and Knowledge Ranks

Separate mastery trees for Naoe and Yasuke cater to their distinct archetypes. Investing in these trees unlocks weapon- or archetype-specific bonuses, enhancing player specialization. Abilities found within these trees introduce unique gameplay mechanics and increased damage output. However, access to specific abilities and mastery points is tied to the player's Knowledge Rank, increased through non-combat activities like exploring temples, praying at shrines, and practicing meditation or Kata.

Tailoring Your Playstyle

AC Shadows' customization extends to perks, allowing players to modify equipment stats, inflict status effects, and influence gameplay styles. While Naoe and Yasuke have defined archetypes, players can deviate significantly. Examples include building Naoe for aggressive close-quarters combat or Yasuke for ranged stealth attacks.

The depth of customization showcased in recent previews has generated significant anticipation for the game's March 20, 2025 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates, refer to the provided article.