For months players praised Assassin’s Creed Shadows for its world and dual-protagonist concept but flagged one recurring complaint: endgame combat felt visually repetitive. Title Update 1.1.7 doesn’t tack on a new zone or raid — it solves a player pain point in the most immediate, satisfying way possible: visceral, grisly finishers that restore surprise and style to routine kills. This update refreshes fights without touching balance numbers, making every skirmish feel more cinematic and less scripted.
The Core Update: What Changed in 1.1.7
The central headline is simple: Ubisoft expanded the pool of finisher animations for both protagonists, bringing more variety and brutality to killing blows. The patch notes stress this was a direct response to community feedback about animation repetition. Alongside finishers, 1.1.7 includes the new Animus Rift (a gameplay-side activity), numerous bug fixes across skills and weapons, and platform-specific stability improvements—most notably for the Nintendo Switch 2 release window.
Old vs New — How finishers change the combat rhythm
Before 1.1.7: fights often ended the same way — same postures, same cuts, same “cinematic” cadence. After dozens of hours this repetition degraded the sense of mastery.
After 1.1.7: the finisher pool is larger and more character-specific. Players now see unpredictable, often brutal moves — twists, extra stabs, offbeat follow-ups — that make even familiar fights feel fresh. Because these changes are cosmetic, they don’t alter damage math, but they do change the psychological payoff of every final blow.
How Finishers Are Triggered (so you stop thinking they’re “bugged”)
A common question: “Why don’t I see the new finishers?” The answer is usually one of timing and conditions:
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Finishers trigger on final blows; they’re tied to enemy death animations.
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Stealth kills and combat finishers pull from different pools; the new animations expand both pools.
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Positioning, weapon type, and whether the enemy is staggered or stunned influence which finisher plays.
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Higher difficulty or longer engagements can increase finisher variety simply because more varied combat states are happening.
If you’re not seeing them, try chaining different kill types (stealth, counter, heavy finish) and replaying similar encounters — variety is baked into the triggers, not random bugs.
Strategic & Psychological Impact on Gameplay
Even though the finishers are cosmetic, they produce real effects on how players experience combat:
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Breaking Repetition: Visual variety keeps extended play sessions feeling rewarding rather than rote.
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Reinforcing Identity: New animations reinforce the difference between Naoe’s agility and Yasuke’s blunt force, making protagonist choice feel more meaningful.
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Player Expression: Finishers add flair for highlight clips and player bragging rights — they’re shareable moments that drive community content.
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Perceived Power: Better visuals make normal kills feel weightier, which can indirectly boost engagement and retention.
In short, these animations do cultural and emotional heavy lifting that balance patches rarely accomplish.
A Foundation of Fixes: The Other Important Stuff in 1.1.7
1.1.7 bundles several critical fixes that directly improve combat reliability and stability:
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Exploit patched: fixes to prevent double engravings on certain weapons (e.g., Sword of Fathoms), restoring intended balance.
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Skill & progression fixes: repairs to lost damage on skill upgrades, perks not applying correctly, and shared skill issues. These fixes make builds dependable again.
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Weapon adjustments: resolved affliction stat issues and fixed stuck items that couldn’t be sold.
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Platform stability: Switch 2 specifically got crash and performance fixes so the port runs smoother after the December 17 window.
These engineering fixes matter because they remove friction—so the new animation variety can shine without being overshadowed by bugs.
Community Reaction — Early Sentiment from Players
Initial response in community hubs has skewed positive. Threads are filled with players posting clips and calling the finishers “insane” and “finally what combat needed.” Many veteran players have said that even replaying older missions now feels fun again, simply because the final moments carry more unpredictability. While some users flagged minor visual issues or platform-specific hiccups post-patch, the overall sentiment is that Ubisoft listened and delivered one of the more elegant “quality of life” updates this year.
How 1.1.7 Compares to Previous Updates
| Update | Focus | Why 1.1.7 Feels Different |
|---|---|---|
| Early patches | Bug fixes & balance | Kept combat reliable but visually unchanged |
| Mid-year updates | Skill/perk tuning | Improved builds, still repetitive finishers |
| 1.1.7 | Finishers + stability + small content (Animus Rift) | Adds variety to the visual loop — psychological refresh more than mechanical overhaul |
This comparison clarifies why 1.1.7 is notable: it’s not bigger content, it’s better feel.
FAQ — Quick Answers Players Are Searching For
Do the new finishers affect damage or balance?
No — finishers are cosmetic and do not change stats or damage output. They are meant to diversify the visual payoff and do not alter combat mechanics.
Are finishers unique to Naoe and Yasuke?
Yes — both protagonists received unique animation sets to better express their fighting styles.
When did this patch release and does Switch 2 get it later?
Update 1.1.7 was rolled out December 16, 2025 (with Switch 2 improvements and release notes timing noted for December 17 on that platform).
Were major exploits fixed?
Yes — notable exploits and progression issues (including double engravings and skill/perk bugs) were patched to preserve balance.
Conclusion — Why This Update Matters Long-Term
Update 1.1.7 is a reminder that meaningful post-launch support doesn’t always mean new maps or lengthy expansions. Sometimes the smartest move is to refine your core loop. By adding a diverse, brutal selection of finisher animations and smoothing out persistent bugs, Ubisoft gave Assassin’s Creed Shadows a fresh heartbeat for its combat — an update that will keep players engaged while also polishing the reliability of builds and platforms.
If you’ve tried the new finishers, drop your favorite clip in the comments: did Naoe’s agility or Yasuke’s brutality win you over? And if you want, I can follow up with a short companion post: “Best Loadouts & Skills to Showcase the New Finishers” — perfect for clips and social traction.
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