"Assassin's Creed Shadows Introduces Transmogging: Change Weapon Stats While Retaining Appearance"

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A Deep Dive into Progression and Customization

Assassin’s Creed Shadows (AC Shadows) introduces an immersive experience with extensive customization options, allowing players to tailor their gameplay through detailed progression systems. On March 1, 2025, AC Shadows unveiled a comprehensive overview of its progression and customization features on its official website. Associate Game Director Julien provided insights into the game's vision and the depth of its customization.

Transmogging and Weapon Customization

One of the standout features in AC Shadows is the transmog system, which empowers players to alter the appearance of their weapons without affecting their stats. This means if you find a weapon with desirable stats but an unappealing look, you can change its appearance to something more to your taste. To unlock this feature, players must build a Forge in the Hideout, which can then be accessed directly from the inventory menu.

Julien highlighted the role of the Forge, stating, "The Forge is central to managing your inventory. You can upgrade or dismantle weapons and gear there, and we'll delve deeper into the Hideout's functionalities in a future article." Players can also mix and match different parts of weapons, such as the blade from one, the guard from another, and the handle from a third, to create a unique look.

New Progression Loop

At IGN Fan Fest 2025, Creative Director Charles Benoit discussed the game’s combat mechanics and progression. A subsequent post from Ubisoft provided a more detailed look at how player progression is structured, focusing on the unique challenges of having two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, set in feudal Japan.

Julien explained the team's approach, "Having two separate characters with unique archetypes in our feudal Japan world pushed us to rethink how we wanted to approach player progression. Our goal was to stay as close as possible to the philosophy of mastery and martial art."

Mastery, Abilities, and Knowledge Ranks

AC Shadows features distinct Mastery trees for Naoe, the shinobi assassin, and Yasuke, the samurai. These trees allow players to specialize in specific weapons, playstyles, or archetypes, enhancing their mastery and unlocking additional bonuses.

Julien elaborated, "With the unique Mastery trees, we want to give players the freedom to dedicate themselves to a specific weapon, playstyle, or archetype, ensuring they can deepen their mastery of it. The points you invest in a Mastery tree also unlock additional bonuses for that weapon or archetype, further reinforcing your progress."

Abilities within the Mastery trees offer new gameplay mechanics and increased damage capabilities. However, access to certain abilities and points in the Mastery tree is contingent on reaching specific levels in the Knowledge Rank. Players can increase their Knowledge Rank by engaging in non-violent activities such as finding Lost Pages in temples, praying at Shrines, practicing Kuji-kiri Meditation for Naoe, or learning new Kata for Yasuke.

Customizing Your Playstyle

AC Shadows offers numerous customization options to help players craft their ideal playstyle. Perks allow for the modification, enhancement, or specialization of equipment, providing stat boosts, influencing afflictions, or creating unique gameplay conditions that encourage diverse playstyles.

Despite their initial archetypes, both Naoe and Yasuke can be customized to fit different playstyles. The official post showcased potential builds, demonstrating the game's flexibility. Naoe can adopt an exotic combat style, excelling in ground attacks and quick engagements and disengagements. Conversely, Yasuke can be geared towards stealth and ranged combat, with perks and abilities enhancing his stealth capabilities and archery skills.

As the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows approaches, fans are eagerly anticipating the chance to explore these rich customization and progression systems. The game is set to launch on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest news on Assassin’s Creed Shadows by checking out our dedicated article below!