Unlocking the full potential of your assassin in Assassin’s Creed Shadows hinges on mastering Knowledge Points – the key to unlocking powerful skills and abilities for both Naoe and Yasuke. Dive into ancient temples, pay respects at serene shrines, and conquer unique side activities scattered across feudal Japan to steadily increase your Knowledge Rank. Whether you’re collecting lost pages or completing character-specific challenges, this guide reveals every way to earn Knowledge Points and ascend the skill tree faster on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
What are knowledge points in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Knowledge points in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are a special resource used to increase the Knowledge Rank within the game’s skill trees, unlocking access to higher tiers of abilities for both characters, Yasuke and Naoe. There are six Knowledge Rank tiers, and each rank unlocks a new row of skills that players can then spend Mastery points to acquire. Unlike Mastery points, which are earned mainly by leveling up and used to unlock individual abilities, Knowledge points are gained by completing specific side activities marked with orange hexagons on the map, such as collecting scrolls in temples, praying at shrines, meditating at Kuji-Kiri spots, and participating in character-specific challenges like horse archery. These points are shared across both characters and are essential for progressing through the skill trees and unlocking more powerful abilities.
You need knowledge points to unlock additional tiers in your mastery skill trees, though don’t confuse knowledge points with mastery points.
As you earn knowledge points, you’ll automatically level up your knowledge rank. There are six knowledge ranks, with each rank opening up an additional row of skills across all 12 your skill trees (six for Yasuke, six for Naoe). Your mastery points are then used to actually unlock those skills once they become available.
How to get more knowledge points in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
To get more Knowledge Points in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, focus on completing the orange-colored side activities scattered throughout the game world. These activities include exploring Temples by collecting lost pages, praying at Shrines, and undertaking character-specific challenges such as Kuji-Kiri and Hidden Trails for Naoe, or Kata and Horseback Archery for Yasuke. Each completed activity rewards you with a Knowledge Point, which increases your Knowledge Rank and unlocks higher tiers in the skill trees. Using your observability to locate hidden items and switching between characters to access exclusive tasks will help you gather Knowledge Points efficiently. Temples and Shrines are generally the easiest and quickest sources, often found near settlements, making them good starting points for farming Knowledge Points.
Participating in optional activities marked with red-orange icons gives you knowledge points. You can find these locations by approaching areas on your map indicated by question marks, though not all of them will be an activity that rewards knowledge points. Completing the following will unlock more knowledge points:
- Kuji-kiri
- Shrines
- Temples
- Kofun
- Hidden Trails
- Kata
- Horse Archery
Below, we get into what each activity entails.
Kuji-kiri
Kuji-kiri are quick-time events that you can only complete while playing as Naoe. Additionally, the first four you complete will reveal segments of Naoe’s backstory, which you’ll then have to play through. To find these, see our running list of Kuji-kiri locations.
Shrines
Shrines require you to find and pray at three locations in a general area, all identified by an icon indicating each prayer spot. That’s it!
Temples
In temples, you’ll need to track down three Lost Pages in a general area. They’re often hidden off the beaten path – in ponds, on banisters, on rooftops, and sometimes even stuck in trees. Or just see our running list of Lost Pages locations.
Kofun
Kofun are labyrinth-like tombs that you’ll have to crawl through, usually in the dark, to find a chest. Depending on which Kofun you’re in, you may only be able to complete it as Yasuke or Naoe.
Hidden Trails
Hidden Trails are platforming segments that, in our testing, you can only complete while playing as Naoe, as her grappling hook is necessary for navigating many of them. You’ll need to parkour across a marked path to eventually get to a chest containing rare gear. Often, these chests contain some of the best armor in the game.
Kata
Kata, an activity only available when playing as Yasuke, is a quick-time event requiring you to input the correct button prompts at the correct time. You have to complete three series of prompts for each Kata.
Horse Archery
Horse Archery is another activity that’s only available to Yasuke. It’s exactly what it sounds like: While riding on horseback, you have to use your bow and arrow to shoot a number of targets.
Want to unlock higher-tier skills in Assassin’s Creed Shadows fast
To unlock higher-tier skills quickly in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, focus on increasing your Knowledge Rank by completing side activities like exploring temples and shrines, collecting lost pages, and finishing character-specific tasks. Each completed activity grants Knowledge Points, which raise your Knowledge Level and unlock advanced skills such as the powerful double assassination. Additionally, regularly synchronize at points across the map to reveal and clear question marks that lead to mastery and knowledge points, accelerating your skill unlock progression. Prioritize building the Terra building in your hideout for a 10% XP boost and complete contracts efficiently to level up fast, gaining skill points and mastery points needed for higher-tier abilities. Remember, you can reset and redistribute skill points anytime to optimize your build for the weapons you use most.
What activities give the most Knowledge Points in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The activities that give the most Knowledge Points in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are primarily side activities marked by orange icons on the map. The most efficient and common sources include:
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Temples: Both Naoe and Yasuke can complete these by collecting all Lost Pages scattered around each temple, which rewards a Knowledge Point upon completion.
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Shrines: Also accessible to both characters, completing all prayer spots in a shrine grants Knowledge Points.
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Kofuns: These are underground tombs where you navigate chambers to open a legendary chest, rewarding a Knowledge Point along with gear.
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Hidden Trails: These obstacle or parkour courses marked by lanterns and flags require traversal skills and grant Knowledge Points upon completion.
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Character-specific activities:
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Naoe-exclusive: Kuji-Kiri and Hidden Trails
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Yasuke-exclusive: Kata (a rhythm minigame) and Horseback Archery challenges.
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Among these, Temples and Shrines are considered the easiest and quickest ways to gain Knowledge Points, making them the most efficient activities to focus on when aiming to increase your Knowledge Rank rapidly. Completing these activities across the map steadily raises your Knowledge Rank, unlocking higher tiers in the skill trees for both characters.
