Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces transmogging, allowing players to maintain their preferred cosmetic look on weapons while optimizing performance stats. Discover how this feature enhances gameplay customization and deepens character progression in the upcoming title.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A Deep Dive into Player Progression
Transmogging and Weapon Customization
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players enjoy unprecedented control over weapon aesthetics and performance through a robust transmog system. On March 1, 2025, Ubisoft released a detailed breakdown of the game’s progression mechanics, shedding light on how customization plays a central role in player experience. According to Associate Game Director Julien, the team aimed to deliver flexibility without compromising immersion or authenticity.
Transmogging enables players to adjust the appearance of a weapon independently from its underlying stats. If a player prefers the visual style of one weapon but favors the performance of another, they can now combine both. This functionality becomes available once the player constructs a Forge within their Hideout, which can then be accessed directly from the inventory menu.
As Julien explained, "The Forge is essential for managing your gear. There, you can upgrade or dismantle weapons and equipment—we’ll share more about the Hideout in an upcoming article." Players can further personalize their arsenal by blending components from different weapons, such as using the blade of one, the guard of another, and the handle of a newly acquired weapon.
New Progression Loop
Prior to this update, Creative Director Charles Benoit discussed AC Shadows’ combat mechanics during IGN Fan Fest 2025. The latest insights expand on how dual protagonists influence progression design and deepen gameplay variety.
Julien elaborated on the unique structure of having two playable characters—Naoe and Yasuke—and how it shaped the development of progression systems. She stated, "Having two distinct characters with contrasting archetypes in feudal Japan required us to rethink how progression should feel. Our goal was to stay true to the philosophy of martial arts mastery."
Mastery, Abilities, and Knowledge Ranks
Each protagonist has a dedicated mastery tree that reflects their core playstyle. Naoe, the shinobi, focuses on agility and stealth, while Yasuke, the samurai, emphasizes strength and precision. These trees allow players to specialize in specific weapons or archetypes, enhancing their proficiency and unlocking powerful bonuses.
"We want players to invest deeply in their chosen path," Julien added. "Points spent in a Mastery tree unlock additional perks that reinforce your playstyle and improve combat effectiveness."
Beyond mastery, abilities are unlocked through progression and offer new tactical options in combat. However, access to certain advanced nodes requires reaching specific tiers in the Knowledge Rank system. Players elevate this rank by engaging in non-combat activities like discovering Lost Pages in temples, praying at Shrines, performing Kuji-kiri Meditation (for Naoe), or learning new Kata forms (for Yasuke).
Customizing Your Playstyle
Assassin’s Creed Shadows empowers players to shape their own experience through a dynamic perk system that allows for extensive customization. Perks enable players to modify, enhance, or specialize individual pieces of equipment, offering stat boosts, condition effects, or new gameplay strategies.
Although each character starts with a defined archetype, players have the freedom to experiment and redefine their approach. For example, Naoe can adopt an exotic melee build focused on rapid ground attacks, enabling quick engagement and evasion. Meanwhile, Yasuke can lean into ranged stealth, benefiting from perks that boost his archery skills and concealment capabilities.
With the depth of customization shown in recent reveals, anticipation for Assassin’s Creed Shadows continues to rise. Set for release on March 20, 2025, the game will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth features leading up to launch day.
