Frequently Asked Questions#

This page collects the questions players ask most about Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: level caps, difficulty and enemy scaling, protagonist differences, technical issues, story DLC and edition choices, endings, and more. Wherever numbers and menu details are involved, what the game actually shows always takes precedence.

Gameplay Mechanics Questions#

Difficulty Levels at a Glance#

Difficulty comes in four tiers — Easy, Normal, Hard, and Nightmare — and can be switched any time in the settings menu. Difficulty only affects the enemy side:

A note on difficulty numbers Ubisoft has never published damage, health, or reward multipliers for any difficulty, and the precise percentages floating around online are not official data. Higher difficulties offer no exclusive rewards either — judge each tier by how it feels in game. For details see the difficulty Q&A in the “Controls and Settings” section below.

Technical Questions#

Content Questions#

New Game+ lets you restart the game after clearing it with your current level and gear. Enemy levels scale up accordingly, you can pick up items you missed, and you can experience different choice paths.

The times below are rough estimates at a normal pace and vary by player — take them as reference only:

Controls and Settings Questions#

How do I enable subtitles?#

Find the subtitle option in the Gameplay category of the settings menu; subtitle size, background, and other display options live in the same menu (the exact menu layout may differ slightly by version and platform — go by what the game shows). We recommend non-native players turn subtitles on to follow the dialogue.

How do I fast travel?#

Once you reach a Viewpoint, press the synchronize key shown on screen to sync it and unlock it; afterwards open the world map and pick any synced Viewpoint to fast travel. Per-platform buttons follow the in-game prompts.

How do I open the world map?#

Press the corresponding key to open the map, where you can see location markers, quest objectives, and unlocked fast-travel points (buttons follow the in-game prompts on each platform).

Can difficulty be changed at any time?#

Yes. All four tiers — Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare — can be switched in the settings menu at any time, take effect immediately, require no restart, and never affect trophy or achievement unlocks.

Are there other restrictions on changing difficulty?#

None. Temporarily lowering the difficulty when stuck and raising it again when you’re in form is a completely normal way to play.

What does difficulty actually change? Does it give extra rewards?#

Difficulty only affects the enemy side: the higher it is, the more enemies there are, the thicker their health bars, and the harder they hit — on Nightmare even a mob hit can flatten you. Quests, story, and gear drop rules never change with difficulty.

Higher difficulties come with no exclusive trophies, achievements, or special gear, and XP gains barely shift even when they do — Ubisoft has stated outright that rewards do not scale with difficulty. The only thing to consider when picking a difficulty is how much challenge you want; each tier’s concrete behavior is best judged in game.

Is level scaling the same thing as difficulty?#

No. Level scaling is a separate setting with its own four tiers — Default, Heavy, Medium, and Light. The heavier the scaling, the closer enemy levels stay to yours, keeping combat pressure constant throughout exploration; the lighter it is, the further enemies fall behind, and on Light enemies can sit up to 4 levels below you. Want low-level regions to stay challenging? Set scaling heavier. Want to steamroll? Set it lighter. It’s independent of the difficulty setting, and the combined effect is best judged in game.

How do I summon Ikaros to scout?#

In open terrain press the scout key and Ikaros will take flight, marking nearby enemies and objectives (buttons follow the in-game prompts on each platform).

More Quick Q&A#

What should I do first in the early game?#

Finish the Kephallonia prologue and reach Attika, then prioritize level-appropriate main quests, Viewpoint syncs, and tablet collection — it makes leveling far smoother.

My gear isn’t good enough — what now?#

Take more contract and regional quests, clear camp chests, salvage spare gear into materials, and when legendary pieces fall behind your level, use the upgrade function first.

How do I earn drachmae fast?#

Complete contract quests, sell unneeded blue and purple gear, take war contracts, and sink enemy ships in naval battles for solid income.

Can I fix wrongly allocated skill points?#

Yes. Spend drachmae to respec your skill points any time; when switching playstyles, respec first and reallocate.

I keep losing naval battles — what should I do?#

Prioritize upgrading sails and hull sides, stock fire arrows and fire pots, keep your distance and burn enemy ships down, and avoid boarding head-on.

I can’t find the Cultists — what do I do?#

Cultists never reveal themselves automatically. Collect clues tier by tier in the Cult of Kosmos menu; some clues only unlock through main or specific side quests. Once a clue set is complete, the member’s identity and region are locked in.

Which side quests can’t I miss?#

The family quest line comes first, followed by quests from famous figures like Socrates and Hippokrates — all worth finishing.

What does upgrading the Spear of Leonidas require?#

Upgrading the Spear of Leonidas requires artifact fragments: they’re not map collectibles, and the only source is hunting Cult of Kosmos members — each kill drops one fragment. Upgrades happen at the fixed location of the Ancient Forge on Andros; save up fragments and return any time. For fragment costs and upgrade benefits at each level, see the spear upgrade system chapter in our collectibles guide.

Buying and Edition Choices#

When is the best time to buy?#

Ubisoft games often go on sale at season ends, with deep discounts around new releases and major events — keep an eye on the official store’s sale calendar.

Platform Saves and Multiplayer Notes#

Story and Ending Questions#

How many endings are there?#

The main story has three families of endings — the family line, the Cult line, and the modern-day line. The family line depends on several key choices; the Cult line is decided by whether you hunt down every member.

How should I choose on my first playthrough?#

On your first run, go with your gut and experience one ending fully; after clearing the game, use New Game+ to try different routes.

Can I undo a family member’s death?#

Some family members, once dead, cannot be revived — but you can reload a save from before the key choice and try again, so remember to save manually before important conversations.

Does leaving Cultists alive block completion?#

No. You can finish the game even with members left alive, and hunt the rest in free roam after the credits.

Performance and Graphics Optimization#

Frame drops — what do I do?#

Lower shadow and anti-aliasing settings first, then disable motion blur; if it still stutters, reduce the overall resolution and restart the game.

Common Beginner Mistakes#

Tip If your question isn’t answered here, visit the official Ubisoft forums or the Assassin’s Creed community for help. Plenty of experienced players there are happy to answer new questions.

Explore more in our Assassin’s Creed Odyssey hub.