Patch 1.0.4 brought a wave of balance changes to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, tweaking stealth bonuses, parry timing, and ability scaling. If you're wondering what weapons are now meta for Naoe’s stealth kills or Yasuke’s heavy brawls, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our full breakdown of the best weapons post-update, plus build suggestions to make the most of them.
What Changed in Patch 1.0.4?
Before we dive into our top picks, here’s what Ubisoft changed in the latest patch that affects weapon viability:
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Stealth damage scaling got buffed, making backstab and surprise attacks much more rewarding.
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Parry windows for most melee weapons were widened for better timing.
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Stamina perks were adjusted for more fluid combos and finishers.
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Bleed and poison effects now stack more efficiently.
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Several underused weapon types like kanabo and dual kodachi were rebalanced for better performance.
Read the full Patch 1.0.4 notes on Ubisoft’s official site for a deeper dive.
Top Weapons for Naoe (Stealth-Focused Assassin)
1. Dual Kodachi – “Silent Vow” (Legendary)
Fast, clean, and built for stealth. Kodachi now benefit from improved crouch-speed and stealth-kill perks.
Best Used With: Smoke Bombs + Chain Assassinate.
2. Short Blade – “Moon Fang”
Buffed silent takedown damage and increased bleed duration make this ideal for chain kills.
Combo Tip: Start with a Kodachi strike and finish with Moon Fang for bleeding stealth kills.
3. Yumi Bow (Silent Draw)
Post-patch changes improved arrow velocity and crit damage on headshots.
Great For: Isolating rooftop targets or clearing towers without being noticed.
4. Kunai Set (Enhanced)
Stealth-focused ranged weapon with faster throw speed and better crit chance post-patch.
Bonus: Silent from mid-range and effective in tight corridors.
Top Weapons for Yasuke (Brawler & Duels)
1. Kanabo – “Oni Breaker”
This crowd control monster received a damage buff and wider knockback radius.
Great Against: Armored enemies, multiple foes in camps.
2. Nodachi – “Storm Cleaver”
Smoother swing animation and improved cleave hitbox after 1.0.4.
Best With: Heavy stance combos or cornering large groups.
3. Katana – “Dragon’s Pulse”
Reworked parry timing and posture damage make this the best duel weapon for Yasuke.
Use With: Parry > Heavy Attack loop.
4. Polearm – “Spear of Sakanoue”
Buffed stamina regeneration per hit makes this a sustainable weapon for long fights.
Extra Perk: Slower enemies let Yasuke reposition with ease.
New Meta Insights & Build Tips
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Naoe stealth builds now benefit more from stacking crouch-speed, stealth-attack, and ranged perks.
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Yasuke is more viable as a hybrid stealth/melee bruiser, especially with the right gear perks.
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Bleed and poison stacking is the secret sauce for both characters in extended fights.
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Parrying is more rewarding—equip weapons with posture-break or stamina drain perks for control-based builds.
Best Loadouts Post-Update
Naoe Stealth Assassin Build
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Weapons: Dual Kodachi + Short Blade
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Gear Focus: Stealth attack, crouch speed, bleed
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Skills: Chain Assassinate, Smoke Bomb, Quick Climb
Yasuke Duelist Build
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Weapons: Katana + Nodachi
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Gear Focus: Parry timing, stamina regen, posture damage
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Skills: Stagger Strike, Guard Break, Adrenal Boost
Yasuke Crowd Control Build
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Weapons: Kanabo + Spear
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Gear Focus: AoE knockdown, stamina recovery
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Skills: Heavy Stomp, Rage, Taunt Slam
Inbound Blog Links You Can Include
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How to Start "The Works of Luis Frois" Questline in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
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Best Stealth Builds for Naoe & Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows Patch 1.0.4 Performance on Steam Deck
Community & Reference Links
Final Thoughts
The 1.0.4 update has shaken up the Assassin’s Creed Shadows weapon meta in all the right ways. Whether you're clearing camps as Yasuke or ghosting rooftops with Naoe, there’s a new set of optimal tools to help you dominate post-patch. Experiment with the combos above and tweak your builds to find what works best for your playstyle.
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