Assassin's Creed Shadows gives gamers two very different protagonists—Naoe the shinobi and Yasuke the samurai—and a surprisingly varied arsenal to master. Since the game dropped in 2025, players have had plenty of time to dissect every combat style, and it's become painfully obvious that not all weapons are created equal. Some make you feel like an unstoppable force of nature, while others leave you wondering why they even bothered. Whether you prefer silent assassinations or full-frontal castle brawls, this ranking slices through the noise to reveal which weapon types actually earn their inventory slot.
8. Bow – Very Little Use
Dead last is Yasuke's bow, and it’s not even close. On paper, a ranged weapon that can silently pick off guards sounds useful. But then you remember: Yasuke is the living embodiment of a wrecking ball. He isn't meant to skulk in the shadows—he kicks down gates and turns castles into splinter-fests. His other ranged option (we’ll get to it) outclasses the bow in damage and spectacle by a mile. The one advantage the bow has is silence, but Naoe handles stealth perfectly fine on her own. Give this thing to the shinobi and it might have ranked higher; stuck in Yasuke’s hands, it just collects dust.
7. Katana (Naoe) – Not Very Stealthy
Naoe’s katana is the weapon she starts with, and it should probably stay as a tutorial memory. Swift slashes gradually whittle down enemy health, but the problem is that Naoe doesn't do prolonged fights well. Her entire toolkit screams “stay hidden,” so drawing a blade and going toe-to-toe usually ends with her on the ground. Lacking the crowd-control tricks of her other weapons, this katana feels like a last resort when an assassination goes sideways. You can make it work, but why would you when better options exist?
6. Katana (Yasuke) – A Samurai’s Pride
In Yasuke’s grip, the katana transforms into something terrifying. His rapid strikes shred health bars like tissue paper, and the cinematic skills often paint the screen red in the best way possible. It’s flashy, it’s brutal, and it perfectly captures the samurai fantasy. So why only sixth place? Simple: it’s just a straight-up sword. Yasuke has weapons that are far more interesting and versatile. The katana never disappoints, but it doesn’t surprise either, and in a game full of exotic death-dealers, that’s enough to keep it mid-tier.
5. Teppo – An Actual Gun
Yes, Assassin’s Creed has dabbled with firearms before, but the Teppo feels like cheating—in the funnest way. A well-placed headshot is almost always an insta-kill, letting Yasuke delete threats before they even unsheathe their blades. The catch? Each shot requires a slow, deliberate pump animation that leaves you twiddling your thumbs while enemies close in. Against a handful of foes, it’s godlike; against a swarm, you’ll quickly regret bringing a gun to a sword fight. Still, the sheer power keeps it firmly in the middle of the pack.
4. Kanabo – A Spiked Bat
Few things in Shadows are as giggle-inducing as sending a fully armored samurai flying across the map with a kanabo heavy attack. These studded clubs hit like a freight train, turning even bosses into punchlines after a few precise swings. While the Teppo deals more raw damage, the kanabo is Yasuke’s premier melee bruiser. It’s slow, sure, but the sheer displacement and stagger potential make it a joy to bully entire patrols. Despite its glory, it just barely gets edged out by the top three.
3. Naginata – Yasuke’s Best Friend
When you’re surrounded by a dozen angry guards and blocking attacks from every angle, the naginata is the “I win” button. This polearm boasts massive reach and wide horizontal sweeps that turn group fights into one-sided massacres. The skill tree amps this even further: hitting multiple enemies at once scales your damage output, rewarding you for doing exactly what Yasuke does best—wading into the chaos. For his playstyle, no other weapon feels as perfectly tuned. It’s the definitive choice for any player who likes to watch health bars evaporate in clusters.
2. Kusarigama – Shinobi Crowd Control
Naoe might be built for stealth, but the kusarigama lets her cosplay as Yasuke for a moment. This chain-sickle monstrosity has deceptively long range, can strike multiple opponents simultaneously, and packs skills that leave enemies vulnerable to brutal ground attacks. The stylish animations alone make clearing small outposts a highlight reel. There is a massive trade-off, though: equipping the kusarigama disables the Double Assassination ability. Since that move is a cornerstone of late-game stealth, you’re sacrificing a huge tactical tool for raw combat power. It’s a steep price that keeps it just outside the top spot.
1. Tanto – Undefeatable Skills
And the crown goes to Naoe’s tanto. These small daggers may not look menacing, but they unlock the single most broken ability in the entire game: Shadow Barrage. Activate it and for a full 30 seconds, Naoe automatically evades every incoming attack—even unblockable ones. Boss fights become comedy shows while you chip away with lightning-fast stabs and acrobatic behind-the-back flips. It also keeps the Double Assassination skill intact, making it the perfect hybrid tool for assassins who want to stay deadly in open combat without sacrificing stealth. No other weapon even comes close to this level of utility and safety. If you haven't built around the tanto yet, you’re playing the game on hard mode.