To switch between Naoe and Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, open the in-game menu, go to the Inventory tab, and under your character hold Play as Naoe or Play as Yasuke. Free switching only unlocks once you reach Chapter 4 and Assassination 4 and complete the story quest Mibonu Showdown.
There is no in-world hotkey for it, which is why players looking for a quick-swap button never find one. Below we cover the unlock, the exact steps, the fast travel shortcut, the situations where the game blocks a swap, and how to pick the right protagonist, verified against Ubisoft’s help article on switching characters and official patch notes up to Title Update 1.1.13.
When Character Switching Unlocks
Yasuke joins as a regular playable character partway through the main story. Our guide to unlocking Yasuke covers the route to that point. Until then, the story decides who you play. Player guides disagreed on exactly when that ends, but Ubisoft’s own answer is clear: free switching opens after Mibonu Showdown, in Chapter 4 at Assassination 4.
The game signposts the unlock, and from then on you can swap freely outside the restrictions listed below.
How to Switch Characters, Step by Step
- Open the in-game menu.
- Select the Inventory tab.
- Under your current character, find Play as Naoe or Play as Yasuke.
- Hold the prompt until it completes. A tap does nothing.
Early player reports describe a short load while the other protagonist is brought in, so it is something you do between activities rather than mid-action.
The fast travel shortcut. Player guides also describe a quicker route: open the map, hover over a fast travel point, and the prompt offers to travel as your current character or as the other one. That swaps protagonist and location in a single load, which makes it the better habit once you know where you are going next.
When the Game Will Not Let You Switch
Since Title Update 1.0.2, the Switch Character option is greyed out in the Inventory menu whenever it is unavailable, so you can see the block rather than hold the prompt and get nothing. The common cases:
- Combat. Player reports say you cannot swap while fighting. Disengage first.
- Character-specific quests. Ubisoft notes that some quests on the Objectives tab can only be played as Naoe or only as Yasuke. The game locks you in until you leave.
- Character-locked locations. Player guides point to Kofun tombs as the standard example, since they are built around Naoe’s climbing.
If the option stays greyed out in open world with nothing going on, that was a real bug at launch: Title Update 1.0.6 fixed an issue where players could not switch characters “even without gameplay context restrictions”. Update the game before troubleshooting further.
Switching as a Stealth Tool
Swapping has one mechanical benefit worth knowing. Per Ubisoft’s exploration overview, when a provincial alarm sends Guardians after you, switching protagonists cancels the provincial alert, alongside waiting for the season to change or spending scouts. If one character is wanted, the other can walk back in with the region calmed down.
You also lose nothing by switching. Per Ubisoft’s progression deep dive, Naoe and Yasuke share level, XP, Mastery Points and Knowledge, so neither falls behind when you favour the other.
Choosing the Right Character
The two leads are not interchangeable.
Naoe is the shinobi: faster on rooftops, able to jump further and climb higher, with the grappling hook and a toolkit built for infiltration and single-target kills. Her weapons are covered in our weapon switching guide.
Yasuke is the samurai: slower on rooftops but built to survive being seen, with heavier weapons, ranged options such as the teppo, and the ability to switch weapons mid-combo. He is also not slowed by snow the way Naoe is, which matters in winter.
A fortified location with one high-value target favours Naoe. An objective that will end in a brawl regardless favours Yasuke. Our full Assassin’s Creed Shadows guides hub covers the rest.
Tips Most Players Miss
- Swap through fast travel, not the menu, when you are moving anyway.
- Check the quest before you travel. A character-locked objective wastes the trip if you arrive as the wrong lead.
- Use the swap to shed an alert instead of fighting Guardians.
- Save before long infiltrations. Our save guide explains the slot limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you switch characters in AC Shadows? Open the in-game menu, go to the Inventory tab, and hold Play as Naoe or Play as Yasuke under your character.
Is there a hotkey to swap characters? No. Swapping is done from the Inventory menu, or by choosing the other character when you fast travel.
Why is the switch option greyed out? You are in a situation that locks your character, such as combat, a character-specific quest, or a location built for one protagonist.
When does character switching unlock? After you reach Chapter 4 and Assassination 4 and complete the Mibonu Showdown quest, per Ubisoft.
Do Naoe and Yasuke level up separately? No. Level, XP, Mastery Points and Knowledge are shared, so the character you are not using keeps pace.