Switch Between Naoe and Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows: When?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces a thrilling dual-protagonist narrative with Shinobi Naoe and Samurai Yasuke. Fans have been eager to learn more about switching between these characters, and here's a detailed guide on when and how you can control each in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Intro is Heavy on Naoe

Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Image via Ubisoft

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a vast open world, the game starts with a linear prologue lasting about 90 minutes. During this time, you'll alternate between Naoe and Yasuke in predetermined segments. After completing the prologue, you'll be locked into playing as Naoe for several hours.

For those looking to jump straight into the Samurai experience, there's a wait ahead. You'll need to play as Naoe until nearly the end of the first act. The early game focuses entirely on her, with Yasuke making his first appearance in the Temple of the Horseman Quest. He becomes playable during the Fire and Lightning Quest, and after completing this quest and Act I, you can switch between the protagonists more freely.

How Long Does it Take to Unlock Protagonist Switching in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

In my playthrough, it took around 10 hours to reach the end of Act I and unlock the ability to switch freely between protagonists. This included a lot of side content. If you're eager to experience both characters sooner, you might reach this point in about 6 to 8 hours by focusing on the main storyline.

How to Switch Between Yasuke and Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Some cutscenes allow players to choose between playing as Yasuke and Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Once you've unlocked the ability to play as both characters freely, switching between them is straightforward. You can do this by fast traveling to a location on the map. When selecting a fast travel point, you'll see two prompts: one to fast travel as your current character and another to switch to the other protagonist. By choosing the latter, you'll spawn at the chosen location as the other character. This feature is available at various points on the map, including Synchronization points and Kakurega Hideouts.

Additionally, during certain quests, you'll have the option to choose which protagonist to play as when the quest is presented to both characters.

When Can’t You Switch Protagonists in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Answered

After Act I, you'll have significant freedom to switch between Naoe and Yasuke in the open world. However, there are specific story moments and major quests where the protagonist is locked, ensuring that key narrative elements are experienced as intended.

It's also important to note that each character has unique quests and activities that delve into their backstories before they met. These quests are exclusive to either Naoe or Yasuke and are marked with distinct symbols—a Samurai helmet for Yasuke and a Shinobi’s hood for Naoe.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be available on March 20th for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.