Let’s be real for a second. Most people playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows are here for the visceral thrill of Naoe’s stealth kills or Yasuke’s absolute brute force, but the real meat of the exploration often hides underground. I’m talking about the Assassin's Creed Shadows Ancient Tomb of Nanjo. It isn't just a simple "walk in and loot" situation. It's one of those locations that actually makes you stop and think about the environment, which is a nice change of pace from just clearing out Mongol outposts or climbing synchronization points. If you’ve spent any time in the Nanjo region, you know the verticality is no joke. The developers at Ubisoft Quebec really leaned into the Japanese landscape here, making the entrance to this specific tomb feel like a reward for actually paying attention to the terrain.
Cracking the Entrance to the Nanjo Tomb
The first thing you need to realize is that the entrance isn't going to be marked with a giant neon sign. Honestly, it’s tucked away in a manner that feels authentic to the Sengoku period. You're looking for a rock formation that looks slightly "off" compared to the surrounding cliffs. Most players run right past it. They're too busy looking at the beautiful foliage or hunting for crafting materials. Stop. Look for the damp, moss-covered crevices.
When you find the Assassin's Creed Shadows Ancient Tomb of Nanjo, the transition from the bright, vibrant world of 16th-century Japan into the cold, oppressive silence of the cavern is immediate. It’s a vibe shift. The lighting engine really puts in work here. You’ll see the dust motes dancing in the singular beams of light filtering through the ceiling cracks. It’s gorgeous, but don’t let it distract you from the fact that these tombs are designed to kill you. Or, at the very least, make you feel very frustrated with your jumping skills.
The Puzzle Mechanics You’ll Actually Face
This isn't your standard "pull a lever, open a door" puzzle. Ubisoft took some cues from the older AC titles—think Assassin's Creed II and those legendary tombs—but they've updated it with the dual-protagonist system. Depending on whether you entered as Naoe or Yasuke, your approach might feel different. Naoe is obviously the choice for the parkour-heavy sections. Her grapple hook is basically a cheat code, but even then, the tomb's layout requires precision. You'll find yourself swinging across gaps that look impossible.
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One specific section involves a rising water mechanic. It’s classic. It’s stressful. It basically forces you to map out your route before you even touch the first handhold. If you mess up the timing, you’re resetting. The Assassin's Creed Shadows Ancient Tomb of Nanjo uses a series of weighted pressure plates that aren't just about standing on them; they're about the order in which they are triggered. If you listen closely, the audio cues tell you when a mechanism has locked into place. That’s a pro tip: turn your SFX volume up. The grinding of stone against stone is your best friend here.
Why the Rewards Matter for Your Build
Why bother? I get it. You could be out there doing main story missions. But the loot inside these ancient structures is often tied to the "Legendary" tier gear sets that define your end-game experience. Specifically, the gear found in the Assassin's Creed Shadows Ancient Tomb of Nanjo provides a massive boost to stealth detection speed. If you’re playing as Naoe, this is non-negotiable. It makes the difference between getting spotted by a guard on a roof and being a literal ghost.
The artifacts hidden here also contribute to the wider lore of the Isu. For the lore nerds, this tomb contains some interesting environmental storytelling regarding how the "First Civilization" influenced the early structures of Japan. You’ll find inscriptions that hint at a deeper connection between the local folklore of the Nanjo region and the Pieces of Eden. It’s not just a cave; it’s a history lesson written in a language that predates humanity.
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- Bring Torches: It sounds basic, but the darkness in this tomb is "advanced darkness." You won't see the traps without a light source.
- Check Every Corner: There are breakable walls that lead to secondary chests containing rare upgrade materials like Tamahagane steel.
- Switch Characters: If a jump feels too heavy for Yasuke, don't force it. Use Naoe’s agility.
Navigating the Vertical Labyrinth
The verticality of the Assassin's Creed Shadows Ancient Tomb of Nanjo is its defining feature. You aren't just moving forward; you're moving up, down, and sideways. There's a particular sequence toward the end where you have to navigate a series of rotting wooden beams. One wrong move and you’re plummeting back to the bottom. It’s the kind of high-stakes platforming that made the series famous in the first place.
What’s interesting is how the developers used the camera angles to hide the path forward. Often, the solution isn't in front of you—it's directly above your head. Look for those iron rings. They are your lifeline. If you’re struggling with the timing of the swinging pendulums (yes, there are pendulums, and yes, they are annoying), try to time your jump just as the blade reaches the apex of its swing. It gives you the widest window of safety.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A lot of players go into the Assassin's Creed Shadows Ancient Tomb of Nanjo with a "combat first" mindset. That's a mistake. This is a puzzle box. If you try to rush it, the environmental traps—spike pits, falling masonry, and slippery ledges—will eat your health bar faster than any boss.
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Also, don't ignore the side rooms. I know I mentioned them briefly, but specifically in the Nanjo tomb, the best stuff is hidden behind those "dead ends." If you see a waterfall inside the cave, try to walk through it. It’s a classic gaming trope for a reason. In this game, it usually hides a collectible that contributes to your overall synchronization and gives you a chunk of XP that helps you level up your skill tree before the next big siege.
Practical Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re planning to tackle the tomb tonight, here’s exactly what you should do. First, make sure you have upgraded your grapple hook. It makes the mid-section of the tomb infinitely more manageable. Second, clear your inventory. You’re going to find a lot of high-value junk and crafting components, and there’s nothing worse than having to leave a rare item behind because you’re carrying too many basic swords.
- Locate the entrance on the southern cliffside of the Nanjo district, near the abandoned shrine.
- Equip stealth-focused gear to help with movement speed, as your combat stats won't matter inside.
- Focus on the audio cues for the weight-based puzzles; the "click" is your signal to move to the next platform.
- Save your progress at the entrance. The game is usually good with checkpoints, but these tombs can sometimes glitch if you fall into a geometry hole.
The Assassin's Creed Shadows Ancient Tomb of Nanjo represents the best of what the new exploration mode offers. It challenges your spatial awareness and rewards your patience. Don't rush it. Take in the atmosphere, solve the riddles of the past, and come out with gear that makes the rest of the game a breeze. Once you’ve cleared this one, the other tombs in the region will start to make a lot more sense, as they often share similar architectural "languages." Good luck down there.
Next Steps for Completionists:
Once you emerge from the tomb, head immediately to the nearest blacksmith. The materials you've gathered are likely exactly what you need to push your primary weapon into the next tier. From there, your next logical stop is the Iga province to sync up with the main questline, utilizing the new stealth bonuses you just unlocked to clear the fortress undetected.