Learn how to create Naoe and Yasuke from Assassin’s Creed Shadows in Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition. Having them both in a one-off or a campaign will create a force to be reckoned with!
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Assassin’s Creed and Dungeons and Dragons
With the Assassin’s Creed: Shadows Critical Role crossover event released, it is a good time to help tabletop role-players recreate Naoe and Yasuke in D&D 5e.
While Critical Role often uses Daggerfall for their games, they got their start with Dungeons and Dragons.
5th edition in particular is the current go-to edition for many players so you’ll learn how to create Naoe and Yasuke in that version.
The character builds in this article will be using the Point-Buy system for determining their base stats. Builds will go up to 10th level and will not use the Origin Feat feature from 2024. Japanese will replace the Common language in this setting.
Due to the nature of Dungeons and Dragons being the IP of Wizards of the Coast, I can’t give full details of what specific class features do if they’re from outside the SRD. Instead, this is to better thematically describe how these builds fit the characters.
This article is not sponsored by Wizards of the Coast, Critical Role or Ubisoft.
Naoe Build 5e
Naoe can be built as a Human Rogue with the Assassin subclass. Her play style emphasizes stealth, sneak attacks, and recon in Shadows and should reflect that in D&D.
| Class | Rogue (Assassin) |
| Background | Criminal (Spy Variant) |
| Species | Human |
| Alignment | Neutral Good |
| Skill Proficiencies | Acrobatics (Expertise), Deception, Insight, Investigation, Perception, Stealth (Expertise) |
| Languages | Japanese |
| Equipment | Katana (reflavored rapier with slashing damage), Tanto (shortsword), a burglar’s pack, leather armor, a set of dark common clothes with a hood, two Kunai (daggers), thieves’ tools, a grappling hook, and a pouch containing 15 gp. |
Why Naoe is a Rogue Assassin
Naoe best fits the Rogue Assassin archetype in Dungeons and Dragons. In Shadows, she deals large chunks of damage while remaining hidden and catches targets by surprise. This fits hand in hand with the Rogue Assassin’s “Assassinate” feature.
While she is a ninja, she doesn’t quite fit within the ninja archetype of the Monk’s Way of the Shadow subclass. Her unarmed attacks aren’t that great and this doesn’t emphasize her ability to quickly take out opponents.
Her expertise in stealth goes without saying, she can find a spot to hide in most situations. Her expertise in acrobatics would allow her to better traverse tricky terrain such as the top of walls or running along tree branches.
How to play Naoe in D&D 5e
You’ll want to play Naoe as an assassin and recon. Just like in Shadows, she can quickly remove an enemy from an encounter in an instant. So long as you remain hidden and use cover, you should be able to surprise your target for the advantage and automatic critical hit.
You’ll want to get as many of those critical hits you can as this doubles the damage done by your weapon and sneak attack dice. If you’re exposed in open combat, try to at least get advantage on your opponent by flanking them with another party member.
If you can, stay in unconventional areas such as the the top of walls, within bushes or a well, hide in a closet, or hide yourself on the ceiling of a room. The more unconventional the better as no one will expect this, allowing you to have the element of surprise.
Naoe does what she does for the good of the common person and her actions should reflect this. She will not harm an innocent person and will spare a criminal if they’re trying to atone for their actions. You can see an example of this with the Village Yamabushi Imposter.
This insight of a person’s character can even extend to those she is determined to kill. For example, when she’s ready to kill The Mourner of the Shinbakufu, she chooses not to in the Canon of events. She will kill without hesitation but she is not without mercy.
You will need to discuss with your DM to find a way to replicate the Hidden Blade with your character. A blade this small is most definitely a dagger allowing it to be used as an off-hand weapon if needed.
Leveling up Naoe
At level 3, select the Assassin subclass. At level 4, increase your Dexterity score by 2 to reach 18 Dexterity. At level 6, choose Perception and a skill of your choice to gain expertise in. At level 8, max out Dexterity with a score of 20. This amount of dexterity will help you be sneakier, dodge more attacks, and hit even harder.
For your level 10 ability score increase, you should go for 18 Wisdom or 14 Charisma. The Wisdom route fits slightly better with her AC Shadows capabilities as this helps perception rolls to mimic her Eagle Vision. But if you want to do more disguises with deception, a boost to Charisma will help with that.
Yasuke Build 5e
Yasuke is a Variant Human Fighter with the Samurai subclass. This build offers more versatility with how you want to play him whether it’s a melee DPS, ranged DPS, or as a tank.
Select the Charger Feat for your variant human feat, Religion as your variant human skill proficiency, and add +1 to Strength and Dexterity to achieve the following stats:
| Class | Fighter (Samurai) |
| Background | Courtier |
| Species | Variant Human |
| Alignment | Lawful Good |
| Skill Proficiencies | Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Persuasion, Religion |
| Languages | Japanese, Portuguese, Latin |
| Equipment | Splint armor, Long Katana (greatsword), longbow and arrows, an explorer’s pack, a set of fine clothes, and a pouch containing 5 gp. |
Why Yasuke is a Fighter Samurai
It’s pretty easy to determine Yasuke’s class and subclass as he was trained to be a samurai in the events of AC Shadows. With the Fighting Spirit feature, he’s a force to be reckoned with due to the feature’s temporary hit points and advantage on weapon attacks.
As Oda Nobunaga’s retainer, he was able to learn the about Japan’s culture and the inner workings of nobility. This is why he has the Courtier background over something such as Outlander or Far Traveler.
Variant Human is chosen over the standard Human species because you want the Charger feat. This is to mimic Yasuke’s Bull Rush ability in AC Shadows.
How to play as Yasuke in D&D 5e
Yasuke is an honorable man who will help someone in need at a moment’s notice. Because of this, he fits into the Lawful Good alignment. What he lacks in Naoe’s utility, he makes up with his martial prowess.
Yasuke’s stats are allocated so that he can wear his splint armor, reliably hit with melee and ranged weapons, and be able to take a hit. With this build, you can find yourself prepared for any combat situation.
Yasuke will try to find a peaceful resolution to a conflict before drawing his sword. While playing as Yasuke, offer your foes a chance to stand down or try to deescalate by talking things through. Should they choose violence, they’ll soon learn that Yasuke will not hesitate to put down an opponent in a swift and brutal manner.
Fighting Spirit is great to exemplify Yasuke’s brutality in combat as you can use this for a series of attacks that all have advantage. At level 5, you can have up to four attacks with advantage if you use the Attack action with the Action Surge ability.
Check with your DM to see if you can add flavor with how you make your kills in the game. Yasuke will lop off limbs, crush skulls, and shoot someone point blank. This brutality is not derived from blood lust, but as a result of Yasuke’s intense training with Nobutsuna.
Leveling up Yasuke
At level 1, choose the Great Weapon Fighting style as this will help damage rolls made with the Long Katana, Naginata, and Kanobo. At level 3, choose the Samurai martial archetype and the History skill proficiency.
At level 6, increase Strength to 18. At level 6, increase Constitution to 16. At level 8, increase your Dexterity or Charisma to 16 or 12 respectively. Choose Dexterity if you want to be better at ranged combat or Charisma if you want to take a more diplomatic approach.
You can allocate stats to Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution in any way you see fit and it would still be accurate for Yasuke. Adjust it to meet your party’s needs if you so desire.
Strength vs Dexterity in Shadows and D&D
When you compare gameplay of Naoe and Yasuke in Shadows, you can find this also compares really well to how Strength and Dexterity builds differ in Dungeons and Dragons.
Naoe is far better with Acrobatics which allows her to quickly run across thin pathways and jump into a pile of hay with grace. Yasuke would struggle to keep up with her and ends up destroying the hay pile if he jumps into it.
Meanwhile Yasuke can use his strength and the Athletics skill as he can break down fortified doors, move heavy things that Naoe can’t budge, and have the strength to wield powerful weapons such as the kanobo.
If you’re a new player to Dungeons and Dragons or know a new player, look up some online videos comparing Naoe’s and Yasuke’s gameplay as examples for Dexterity builds and Strength builds! It always helps to have a visual idea as to how they function outside of the rules written in the Player’s Handbook.
