Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Max Level and Rank Cap Revealed

Assassin’s Creed Shadows stands out as one of the largest entries in the franchise, boasting a comprehensive progression system that matches its expansive world. Here’s a detailed look at the maximum levels in Assassin’s Creed Shadows and how the level cap functions.

What Is the Max XP Level in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces a revamped progression system, where traditional XP-based leveling coexists with the new Knowledge Ranks. Earning XP in the game unlocks higher-tier weapons, armor, and gear, and enhances the base stats of protagonists Naoe and Yasuke. While reaching Level 35 allows players to explore all Japanese provinces on the map, the XP grind can extend well beyond that.

Initially, it was thought that the Level Cap would be 40, as indicated by Ubisoft's pre-launch progression insights. However, players can actually progress all the way to Level 60. It’s also anticipated that this level cap might be raised even higher with the forthcoming Claws of Awaji expansion.

What Is the Max Knowledge Rank in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Knowledge Rank introduces a fresh take on progression in the Assassin’s Creed series, distinct from XP leveling. Players earn Knowledge Points through various open-world activities focused on mindfulness and training. These points contribute to advancing through Knowledge Ranks, unlocking new skills for Naoe and Yasuke. However, to utilize these skills, players must also allocate Mastery Points.

To access all available skills, players need to reach Knowledge Rank 6. Yet, the journey doesn’t end there; upon reaching this rank, Naoe and Yasuke unlock a new Knowledge tree, offering additional passive skills to tailor their playstyle further.

Related: Assassin’s Creed Shadows Trophy List (All 55 Trophies)

Is There a Cap for Mastery in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Mastery represents the third pillar of progression in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, functioning as skill points that players spend to unlock abilities within six Mastery trees for each protagonist. The cost in Mastery Points can vary between skills.

With a plethora of skills to unlock, and numerous activities to earn Mastery Points, players have ample opportunity to gather the necessary points. While there might be a theoretical limit to Mastery Points, reaching it would require exhaustive activity completion. Additionally, the Claws of Awaji expansion, set to launch later in 2025, is expected to introduce new methods for earning Mastery.

Does Assassin’s Creed Shadows Have Level Scaling?

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, each province in Japan comes with an associated level. The highest starting level requirement is for Kii, at Level 35. As players advance and gain XP, the levels of certain regions may adjust to match their progress.

However, there’s a cap on how high enemy and province difficulty levels will scale past Level 40. From Level 42 onwards, the recommended level for each province stays two levels below the player's current XP level. This system ensures a challenging yet rewarding endgame experience for players who invest extensive time into the game.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is now available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.