Bloodshade: Best Early Game Katana

Discover the Bloodshade Katana in Assassin's Creed Shadows! Learn its location, how to clear the ship, and why it's the best early-game weapon.

Alright, let's talk about getting your hands on a seriously sweet early-game weapon in Assassin's Creed Shadows: the Bloodshade katana. This thing is a beast and will make your life way easier, so let's get you pointed in the right direction.

Where to Find the Bloodshade Katana:

First off, you'll want to head west and a bit south from your Hideout. Look for Osaka Castle. Now, keep heading west from there, off the coast of Osaka city. You'll see a big ship moored out there – you can even spot it from the Burnt Village of Nakajima. Your goal is to swim out to this ship. Once you're there, carefully climb its side. Heads up: don't just vault over the railing! The ship is packed with soldiers, and they won't be happy about a wet shinobi sneaking aboard.

Clearing the Ship and Claiming Your Prize:

So, you've made it onto the ship. Now for the fun part: clearing it out. Honestly, the AI here isn't the sharpest, and they really don't like going for a swim. Your best bet is to stick to the outer edge of the ship. You can often sneak along the top edge and pick off enemies one by one. If you see an isolated soldier, you can even whistle them over to you and take them down from the edge of the boat. If you *do* get spotted, no worries! Just drop off the side into the water, wait for the soldiers to calm down, then climb back up and try again. Keep doing this until you've cleared out as many enemies on the deck as you want.

Once the deck is mostly clear, it's time to get serious. Climb over the railing and finish off any remaining stragglers. Now, make your way to the western edge of the ship. Look towards the middle of the deck – there's a big structure there. Turn east from the western edge and look up. You'll spot a window on the second story. You'll need to sneak your way up there. Inside that window, you'll find another guard. He's guarding the legendary chest you're after. Jump through the window quickly, and you should be able to assassinate him without too much trouble. Once he's down, loot that legendary chest, and the Bloodshade katana is all yours!

Why the Bloodshade is So Good:

This katana is a game-changer for the early game. Statistically, it's going to blow most other weapons you find out of the water, even if they're a slightly higher rarity. It's got solid all-around stats, and the real kicker is that it inflicts Bleed Buildup. Plus, its special property, “Affliction Buildup is not lost over time,” means you can stack that bleed effect pretty easily, even if you're not landing every single hit. The best part? It's relatively cheap to upgrade, meaning this weapon can seriously carry you through a good chunk of the game. Trust me, it's worth the effort to grab this one early.