Get a head start by completing these objectives first in Assassin's Creed Shadows (AC Shadows). Check out what to do first as you venture into feudal Japan and learn early game tips here!

What to Do First in AC Shadows

Things to Do First in AC Shadows
① Find and Synchronize With All Viewpoints ② Purchase and Upgrade the Kakurega ③ Do Contracts for XP and Resources ④ Find All Temples, Shrines, and Kuji-Kiri ⑤ Upgrade the Forge to Level 2 ⑥ Complete Castles for Mastery Points ⑦ Finish the Butterfly Collector Quest

Find and Synchronize With All Viewpoints in a Region

Prioritize synchronizing with the Viewpoints you discover first. This unlocks fast travel points and highlights key locations and points of interest on your map and compass, effectively clearing the fog of war of the world and allowing for more seamless exploration.

All Fast Travel Viewpoint Locations

You Can Rush to the Viewpoints of Castles and Come Back Later

For castles or guarded forts, you can just charge the all the way up to the viewpoint, usually located at the highest point of the main building. Enemies won't be able to follow you up anyway so you lose aggro pretty quickly once you reach the viewpoint.

Synchronizing here allows you to fast travel back to the lookout point later and clear out the castle at your convenience.

All Castle Locations and Rewards

Purchase and Upgrade the Kakurega in the Hideout

Kakurega buildings are safehouses around the map that you can fast travel to, resupply rations and ammo, and take on contracts, making these excellent investments. These Kakurega safehouses will be available for purchase after you buy the first one in the Hideout.

Best Hideout Building Priority

Hideout Unlocks After Finishing From Spark to Flame Main Quest

You will unlock the Hideout after finishing the main quest, From Spark to Flame. Prioritize purchasing the Kakurega building at the Hideout to unlock the Kakurega safehouses. Upgrading it to Level 3 will make more Kakurega locations available across the map.

Do Contracts for XP and Hideout Resources

Contracts are the easiest way to get Hideout Resources and early game XP. These are an excellent way to earn when short on any of the two. Contracts refresh each season, so complete all three available contracts per season to not miss out on these resources.

Secure Resources With Contracts Early to Avoid Shortages

Completing contracts early on will help prevent resource shortages later, especially when you unlock Yasuke and begin upgrading his gear. Unlike Naoe who uses Crafting Materials, Yasuke's gear requires Hideout Resources for upgrades.

Without enough Hideout Resources by then, you may struggle to upgrade more than just his equipment.

Find All Temples, Shrines, and Kuji-Kiri in Izumi Settsu

Early Game Activities
Temples	Shrines	Kuji-kiri

You will need to earn Knowledge Points to increase your Knowledge Rank since the rank determines the abilities you can unlock in each Mastery Tree.

In the starting region of Izumi Settsu, you can earn Knowledge Points by completing Temples, Shrines, and Naoe's Kuji-Kiri activity. Be sure to do these before advancing far into the main quest, as the world difficulty increases once you unlock Yasuke.

How to Increase Knowledge Rank

Upgrade the Forge to Level 2 to Unlock Engravings

Upgrading the Forge to Level 2 early on unlocks Engravings, which are extra equipment perks you can slot into your weapons and armor. You get plenty of opportunities to find Legendary equipment, so grab this sooner to give your gear a boost.

How to Engrave Weapons and Armor

Complete Castles for Mastery Points

Completing Castles is a great way to earn Mastery Points early on. Each Samurai Daisho you defeat in a castle grants one Mastery Point, which is a significant boost in the early game. Plus, completing a castles will net you a ton of XP and a guaranteed Legendary item.

All Castle Locations and Rewards

Finish the Butterfly Collector Quest

Finally, aim to complete the Butterfly Collector quest early in the game. This quest effectively teaches quest mechanics, Objective Board usage, and how to use the Look Function to find objectives.

The Butterfly Collector Walkthrough

Assassin's Creed Shadows Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks Guides

Beginner Guides
What to Do First	What to Buy and Sell First
How to Heal	How to Save
How to Sheathe Weapons	How to Switch Weapons
How to Sprint	How to Parry
How to Deflect	How to Engrave Weapons and Armor
Dialogue Symbols Explained	How to Use Pathfinder Mode
Gameplay Guides
How to Unlock Yasuke	How to Make Yasuke Dab
How to Switch Characters	How to Change Seasons
How to Get the Assassin Armor Set	How to Transmog
Best Hideout Building Upgrades	How to Get More Scouts
How to Respec Abilities	How to Remove Wanted Status
What to Do with Castle Keys	How to Wear Hood
Exchange Store Guide	All Horse Controls
What to Do with Red Barrels	Should You Play as Yasuke or Naoe?
How to Claim Deluxe Edition Items	All Hideout Buildings
What are Orange Enemies?	How to Track a Quest
How to Daze Enemies	-
Farming Guides
Knowledge Points	Mastery Points
XP	Money (Mon)
Data Fragments	Hideout Resources
FAQs
Can You Play Offline?	What Happens When You Die?
Where is Imai Sokyu?	Can You Change the Time?
What Does Praying Do?	Should You Help NPCs?
Is There a Battle Pass?	What are Anomalies?
Should You Turn On Immersive Mode?	Should You Play in Canon Mode or Not?
Should You Turn Guided Exploration On or Off?	Can Yasuke Climb and Parkour?
Game Settings Guides
List of Controls	Best Settings
Quality or Performance?	All Language Options
Guaranteed Assassination Setting	-