In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you’ll see many icons while traveling throughout feudal Japan. These symbols show your upcoming quests, the locations of important landmark, NPCs, and other things. Knowing what each icon means can help you make better choices as you play as Naoe the ninja and Yasuke the samurai in the game. Here is a guide to help you understand what all icons and symbols mean in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
What Do All Icons and Symbols Mean in Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gameplay
When you start your journey through feudal Japan, you will see some icons on your screen that help you navigate and control your character. They display key details like health, abilities, and objectives, making it easier to play and react quickly:
Icons and Symbols
Description
1. Quests
The blue diamond with a square icon shows the Quests you need to tackle. There are a total of 87 main quests in the game, plus a lot of other side quests too to complete.
2. Objective Helpers
This double diamonds stack into each other icon is your Objective Helpers.
3. Heal
The plus icon is the button you need to click if you want to Heal.
4. Swap Weapon
When you want to Swap Weapon, you need to click the weapon icon here. You can change between your primary and secondary weapons.
5. Whistle / Call Mount
This voice frequency symbol is the Whistle or Call Mount button. If you want to call your horse, just click this icon.
6. Health Bar
The white long gauge icon shows your Health Bar.
7. NPC
Blue diamond with a circle icon inside it shows all the NPC locations.
8. Abilities
All the icons on the bottom right of your screen shows your Abilities.
Icons and Symbols
Description
9. Eagle Vision
This eye icon shows Naoe’s ability to do Eagle Vision. This ability is unlocked by reaching Knowledge Rank 1, and can be used to detect enemies and assassinate them after.
10. Observed Target
The red target icon on top of enemies head is the Observe Target system that lets you tag enemies and kill them easily.
11. Compass Bar
This long line withN, S, W, and E letters is the Compass bar.
Icons and Symbols
Description
12. Chest
This box icon with a lock on it shows Chest locations in the game. You can loot them for materials.
13. Stockpile
The barrel icon shows Stockpiles. When you open Stockpiles, you can get Woods, Crops, and Minerals.
Icons and Symbols
Description
14. Play as Yasuke
If you want to play as Yasuke, click the Samurai icon.
15. Play As Naoe
However, if you want to play as Naoe, you have to click the Ninja icon.
What Do All Icons and Symbols Mean in Assassin’s Creed Shadows Dialogues
Whenever you find and talk to NPCs in the game, the icons next to dialogue options show what will happen. Understanding them helps you make the right choices in the game:
Icons and Symbols
Description
1. Lie Dialogue
Scales icon when you are having a conversation, means you are about to lie to the person you’re talking to.
2. Kill Dialogue
The skull icon in the conversation means you are about to kill the character you are speaking with.
3. Recruit an Ally
This friendly person with plus sign icon shows that selecting this option will recruit the character as your ally.
4. Exit Conversation
If you want to exit the conversation and walk away, use this door with arrow icon.
5. Flirt Dialogue
When you see a heart icon in the conversation, you have an opportunityto flirt with the character.
6. Final Romance Dialogue
Selecting the arrow through heart icon will trigger the final romance scene with the character.
7. Break Up Dialogue
Change your mind about the romance? You can always choose to break up by clicking the heart with slash icon.
8. Fight Dialogue
If you are talking to an NPC and there is a red crossed swords icon and you select it, you will start a fight with the NPC.
What Do All Icons and Symbols Mean in Assassin’s Creed Shadows Map
The map in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is filled with so many icons that mark important locations throughout feudal Japan. These map markers help you find places like hideouts, castles, viewpoints, and vendors:
Icons and Symbols
Description
1. Kakurega
The Kakurega, which is the key hideout building in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is shown with the ninja-like icon on the map.
2. Castle
If you want to clear legendary chests, you have to visit the Castles scattered throughout the map. The Japanese-castle structure icon shows the locations.
3. Fort
You can also clear legendary chests in the Forts. Find them by searching the three arrows looking up icon on the map.
4. Viewpoint
The icon that looks like angel with wings are the Viewpoints. There are a total of 109 Viewpoints across the map, each one acts as a fast travel point for easier navigation.
Icons and Symbols
Description
5. Ornament Vendor
These house with decorated roof icon shows the locations of Ornament Vendor. This place sells horse skins and hideout decorations.
6. Gear Vendor
If you want to buy weapons, armor, and rations based on your level, find the Gear Vendor on the map with armor and katana icon.
7. Port Trader
The Port Trader, shown with an anchor icon on the map, provides items for upgrading your hideout.
8. Target NPC
Just like the NPC icon we mentioned above, you can also see the Target NPC locations by searching the diamond with a person icon in it.
9. Quest
You can also search the current Quest locations by looking for the diamond with a square icon inside it.
Icons and Symbols
Description
10. Hidden Trail
The track in between two trees icon shows the Hidden Trail. This is Naoe-exclusive activities that reward Knowledge Points and loot for her.
11. Kata
Kata is the locations where Yasuke can do some movement-based meditation. Find it on the map with white head-silhouette and an arrow icon inside it.
12. Horse Archery
These horse icons you find on the map show Horse Archery locations. This is like a minigame where you have to ride our horse and practice to use your bow. This activity is only for Yasuke.
13. Kofun
This tomb sign icon shows the Kofun locations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. These are hidden tombs that contain legendary chests.
14. Rift
The various vertical lines icon is the Rift location. Rifts are Animus glitches added to the game, to reveal hidden information that Abstergo tried to keep secret with.
15. Shrine
The shrine icons shows the Shrine locations on the map. When you visit the Shrines, you can get Knowledge Point and XP.
16. Temple
And the temple icons shows the Temple locations on the map. Temples in Assassin’s Creed Shadows hide lost pages that reward you with a Knowledge Point for unlocking new skills.
17. Kuji Kiri
Kuji-kiri is a meditative practice performed by Naoe. These will require her to sit in an area as the player hits four buttons in the same pattern.
Icons and Symbols
Description
18. Lost Page
These paper-scroll icons on the map shows all the Lost Page locations. They are found in temples and when you open them you will get Knwoledge Points.
19. Kura Key
This key icon means that’s where you can find Kura Key. It unlocks a stash with loot and resources.
20. Keys
The Animus logo icons shows the Keys. In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, these Keys are used to buy premium items at the Exchange Store.
21. Small Shrine
Just like the Shrines, these small shrine icons shows the SmallShrine locations on the map.
22. Samurai Daisho
To open a fort or castle’s legendary chest, you must first locate and defeat all Samurai Daisho. Their locations can be spotted by searching for the Samurai helmet icons on the map.
This completes our article on all Assassin’s Creed Shadows icons and symbols meaning. When you remember these icons and their meanings, they will definitely help you shape your journey, whether playing as Naoe or Yasuke. They guide your choices in alliances, conflicts, and interactions in the game. Good luck!
Shida is a gaming writer at TechWiser who loves getting comfy with a good book. When she is not writing, you'll catch her growing crops in Stardew Valley and Fields of Mistria, or exploring Fortnite. For Shida, nothing beats a day split between reading books and playing games.
