Assassin’s Creed Shadows Characters#
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is built around a dual narrative between its two protagonists, interwoven with a large cast of historical figures. Understanding these characters’ motives and their relationships is the key to the game’s core conflict of freedom versus order. This page breaks down the main cast and their roles; you can find the full list of sub-guides in our Assassin’s Creed Shadows hub.
1. The Two Protagonists#
Naoe#
A kunoichi (female ninja) assassin from Iga. The story opens during Oda Nobunaga’s campaign against Iga: Naoe’s village is destroyed in the fighting and her father Nagato falls in battle. She survives and walks the assassin’s path of revenge. Naoe’s defining identity is ninjutsu, stealth, and grappling-hook parkour — she thrives in the shadows with shuriken, smoke bombs, and a hidden blade, making her the first choice for players who love planning and stealth.
Yasuke#
An African samurai serving Oda Nobunaga, based on a real historical figure of the same name. Yasuke views the Sengoku turmoil through an outsider’s eyes, wears heavy armor, and wields large weapons — capable of breaking formations head-on and answering attacks with blocks and counters. His storyline deals with identity, loyalty, and choices about justice, and it is widely regarded as a narrative highlight of the game.
2. Key Historical Figures#
| Figure | Role | Connection to the Story |
|---|---|---|
| Oda Nobunaga | Sengoku hegemon | Yasuke’s liege and the central historical figure of the game |
| Akechi Mitsuhide | Senior Oda retainer | Key figure tied closely to the Honnō-ji Incident |
| Nagato | Naoe’s father | Falls in the prologue, driving Naoe’s revenge arc |
3. Factions and Organizations#
| Faction | Role |
|---|---|
| The Brotherhood of Assassins | Pursues freedom through stealth and assassination |
| The Templar Order | Pursues order, seeking peace through control |
| The Oda clan | A Sengoku daimyo seeking to expand and unify |
| The Iga clans | The ninja collective resisting Oda Nobunaga |
4. Character Relationships#
| Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|
| Naoe ↔ Nagato | Father and daughter; Nagato’s death drives Naoe’s revenge arc |
| Yasuke ↔ Oda Nobunaga | Liege and retainer; Yasuke serves him as a samurai |
| Naoe ↔ Yasuke | Dual protagonists whose playstyle perspectives complement each other |
| Assassins ↔ Templars | The millennia-old core conflict that pulls in both protagonists |
5. Matching Characters to Playstyles#
Choosing Naoe or Yasuke largely determines how you will play:
| Character | Playstyle | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Naoe | Stealth, assassination, grappling-hook parkour | Planners and stealth lovers |
| Yasuke | Head-on fights, breaking formations, blocking | Players who prefer direct assaults |
6. Character Progression#
The two protagonists share one progression system: skill upgrades can benefit both, while each keeps an independent skill tree and equipment customization. This means the investment you put into either character is reflected in the game experience, which encourages rotating between the two and enjoying two very different playstyles.
7. The Narrative Value of the Cast#
The dual-protagonist, dual-storyline structure is the game’s biggest storytelling feature. Yasuke examines the Sengoku turmoil as an outsider, while Naoe digs into its power struggles from a native shinobi’s perspective. The two storylines corroborate each other, together painting a picture of Sengoku society and offering two angles from which to understand the era.
8. Character-Locked Missions#
Some exclusive missions lock a specific character and guide you along their strengths. Understanding each character’s role and mission bindings helps you plan the flow of the game more sensibly and keeps you from being caught unprepared in locked missions.
9. Character Cosmetics and Collections#
As you progress, you unlock plenty of character outfits, gear, and accessories. These are not just for personalization — some carry bonus perks. Players who enjoy collecting should keep an eye out for them while advancing the main story.
10. Summary#
The cast is finely drawn and the lineup is strong. Understanding the dual protagonists’ roles and their ties to the historical figures both deepens your experience of the story and helps you pick the playstyle route that suits you best.
11. Historical Prototypes#
Yasuke is based on a real African samurai who served Oda Nobunaga. Naoe is a fictional character, but her origins tie into the shinobi tradition of Iga. The game builds its fiction on top of real historical figures; players who want the actual history can cross-check the in-game Codex.
12. Dialogue and Direction#
The game presents its characters cinematically. Pay attention to facial expressions, body language, and the subtext of dialogue, and you will often catch hidden foreshadowing. Combined with the in-game story recap and database, you can follow each character’s arc more completely.
13. Connecting with the Characters#
The two protagonists let you experience the Sengoku turmoil from different perspectives. By interacting with them and completing their missions, you advance the story while gradually coming to understand each one’s motives and stance. This dual-perspective immersion is what makes the character work in this game distinctive.
14. Character Collection and Growth#
As you progress, you unlock plenty of character outfits, gear, and accessories. At the same time, the two protagonists share a progression system yet keep separate skills and equipment. Allocating resources so that both playstyles come fully online is the key to mastering the game’s characters.
15. Characters in Full Completion#
Some collectible gear, Codex entries, and cosmetics are bound to specific characters or missions. Understanding each character’s role helps you judge which missions to prioritize in order to unlock the corresponding collectibles. Finishing the character-related side quests and missions is a required stop on the road to full completion.
16. Replay Value#
The dual protagonists give the game strong replay value. Clearing the main story first as Naoe and then as Yasuke reveals different story emphases and play experiences. This dual-perspective design makes the game worth more than a single playthrough.
17. Characters and Community Discussion#
The dual protagonists and the retelling of history are hot topics in the community. Reading other players’ character guides and story interpretations can help you get up to speed faster and discover hidden details and foreshadowing — but always defer to the official setting and the game itself.
Want the full picture of both protagonists? Explore more in our Assassin’s Creed Shadows hub.