Characters and skills Shadow Tactics Guide
Last update: 04 May 2017
Each of the characters has a unique set of skills available only to them and some skills common to all characters. Try to use the individual skills of your subordinates in the best way possible, preferably by combining them with those of other characters. Some of them are better at dispatching enemies, some other at drawing their attention. More on how to efficiently combine skills can be found in the subsection dedicated to dispatching enemies. The important thing is to use the right skills in the right time.
Shared skills
Climbing ladders, hiding inside buildings and bushes. These options are available to each of your characters. While the first one requires no further explanation, the second option has the advantage of being useful in hiding your characters as well as the dead bodies of your enemies. All characters except Takuma and Mugen can also swim.
Using vines and hooks. Jumping down. Drop assassination. Tightroping. These are the skills of lightfooted ninjas. Hayato, Yuki, and Aiko can climb vines and use hooks with ropes wherever they can find rings on rooftops and similar places. Your characters can also jump down from the roofs, rock ledges and other high places. If an enemy happens to be below them at the moment, they can also attack him directly. Drop attack is quicker than the standard melee move of any of the three characters.
Carrying dead enemies and dropping them from high places. This time it's somewhat complicated. Hayato can carry one enemy while standing, Mugen can carry two of them and run. Yuki and Aiko can drag one enemy each, but they will be crouching and make some noise in the process. They are slower than other characters but due to their lower stance they will be able to evade enemy sight at longer distance. All characters are able to drop bodies from buildings, cliffs or bridges, and Mugen alone is able to throw them upwards to land on a roof or some other place. Takuma is the only character unable to carry, drag, or drop bodies.
Additionally, if you use the basic attack while holding left control, the character will automatically begin to carry/drag the enemy.
Using pistols, first aid kits, and stunning enemies. Contextual actions. A few missions into the game and your characters will get access to firearms. There's a limit on how many times you can use them, and you can't replenish your ammo during a mission. The only exception is Mugen's handcannon, able to kill a samurai in one shot. Other firearms can only weaken those heavily-armored enemies. First aid kits can be use on one's active character or an ally. Every character, except for Takuma, can stun enemies. Knocked out enemies will be incapacitated for a short time and sometimes the game requires us to knock out a specified opponent. Sometimes it's better to stun than to kill - in time, the enemy will regain consciousness, run around in confusion, but eventually he will be back at his post. Some elements of the environment can be used by any of your characters, but some of them are reserved for one of them, for example: ammo cases are for Takuma, disguises for Aiko, and armors for Mugen.
Hayato
First character under your command. At the same time he's the character that will take part in majority of missions. He's the John Cooper of the Edo period - like the green beret from the Commandos series, his ability to dispatch enemies is second to none. He's also very agile and can reach virtually any place. He's got 4 hp, making him a bit fragile for a frontline fighter, though.
Ninjato strike is the first available skill. It's a basic melee attack, very fast and effective. Useful in elimination of several enemies in succession, assuming they aren't standing close to each other, as the attack generates some noise.
Shuriken throw is a ranged elimination method. Its effective range is only slightly shorter than pistols, and the action animation itself is almost instantaneous (the time from selecting the target to the moment the attack lands). Its drawback is the noise (the enemy goes down anything but silently) and long time required for the enemy to die (4 seconds - in this time another guard may relocate and notice something's wrong). The time can be reduced by ordering the shinobi to pick up the dying but not yet dead enemy. What's more, after use, the shuriken needs to be picked up, and only Hayato can recover his own toys. And one more thing - you've got only one piece of this famous throwing star. Best used to eliminate two-man patrols and guards when paired with ninjato.
Stone throw is Hayato's only way to draw enemy attention. It's got a decent range and it affects all enemies in range for 5 seconds. That's enough to take down an enemy and hide his body in the nearby bushes before his buddies catch on to something; you can also use it have them literally look the other way when you are sneaking past them.
Yuki
She may be young, but as a thief few can match her agility. She joins your party early on. Her wide array of abilities includes climbing, jumping, swimming and tightroping. Despite her rather slender body build, she's equally good at dragging bodies as she is proficient with a knife. This character specializes in indirect elimination of enemies and drawing their attention. She has 4 hp, same as Hayato.
Dagger is used to eliminate enemies directly. Despite its small size, its effectiveness equals the melee attacks of other characters. The weapon's biggest drawback, however, is the long time needed to execute the attack - 3 seconds. That's a lot, and if you plan your action in a densely populated area, you may easily get yourself spotted. Yuki's dagger should be used on isolated enemies or those who are close to a safe hiding spot (i.e. bushes).
Trap. A deadly contraption that kills the first enemy that enters its range (the enemy doesn't have to precisely step on it). Made to be combined with actions that draw enemy's attention to specific locations. Can also be set up on enemy patrol route and used to safely eliminate the patrol, or around the corner of a building, where it can disable an enemy before they can react. Once you give the order to set up the trap, you cannot cancel the action. You can, however, pick up a trap you've set, should you change your mind or the plan. After use, the trap needs to be picked up and reset.
Flute. Use it to draw enemy attention. The sound of the flute can be heard from long distance and it may lure several guards. Enemy soldiers or civilians will come to the exact spot where Yuki executed the action. Do no use the flute when hidden in bushes or in other safe location and relocate immediately after you use it. Sometimes the enemy will not come to the exact place, due to it being unreachable or the path being too long for them to travel. Works like a charm when teamed up with the trap - just set up the contraption, play on the flute in the same spot, and wait for the unsuspecting prey to fall for a trick for the last time in their life.
Mugen
Heavily armored samurai who is a master swordsman. He can eliminate single enemies, as well as whole groups. His strength is immense - he is able to carry a lot of weight (e.g. two bodies) and run at the same time! Mugen is the only one able to defeat enemy samurais in an open encounter. You will rely heavily on this character throughout most of the game: his pistol has enough firepower to kill a samurai! He can also throw stones at enemies, and throw their bodies on buildings or places which are located higher than him. He has 8 health points.
Katana - basic attack. When it comes to speed, it's similar to Hayato's attack, but generates less noise. The biggest advantage is the ability to face an enemy samurai in open combat - Mugen always emerges victorious from such encounters. However, the combat animation lasts a few seconds, and cannot be interrupted. In such situations, he is exposed to enemy attacks, and can be eliminated easily.
Sword Wind - an AoE attack. Mugen makes a whirlwind using his two swords, and kills every enemy who was in the range of the attack, or run into the area during the course of animation (every enemy who was in the range will be struck). Watch out - samurais are not vulnerable to this ability! The action lasts around 3 seconds, so make sure that the selected group is away from other enemies. A group of enemies approaching the area from a corner or a building is also a good opportunity to use the ability. You can also use this ability if you are unable to close the distance to your target before he enters the field of vision of a different guard.
Bottle of Sake - a good decoy. Works only on basic enemies. The field of vision of the attracted enemy changes to interested (pink), and he starts approaching the bottle. He picks it up, and returns to his post. This method allows luring the chosen soldier to a location where he can be easily (and quietly) disposed of. If the enemy had already picked up the bottle, you have to eliminate him to retrieve your property.
Aiko
Aiko's assassination abilities rival Hayato's, but she does her deeds discreetly and by using the environment. Her main role is distraction, but she has a set of skills oriented towards elimination. She is especially valuable if you have managed to get a disguise. Equipped with a disguise, she turns out to be the most useful character thanks to a wide range of actions. She can be treated as an equivalent of Spy from Commandos or Kate from Desperados.
Hairpins - A close-range attack, Aiko's basic ability. When it comes to damage, it's as deadly as katana, but takes up 2 seconds to perform. Keep that in mind, and eliminate the enemies when they have separated from others to avoid detection. Can be performed while in disguise.
Bottle with a sneezing potion, which temporarily blinds an enemy. The only ability in the game that limits the enemy field of vision. It is especially useful in situations where you need to run in front of a guard who is in the field of vision of other guards. Other practical use is a situation where you want to limit the field of vision of a guard who sees a different guard standing in our way. The number of uses is unlimited, but the effective radius is very small. Another advantage of the ability is the fact that enemies do not sound the alarm, even when subjected to this skill more than once.
Disguise - To get one, you have to take it from a servant, or steal it from somebody's laundry. Once equipped, a disguise allows Aiko to walk between enemy soldiers, either in open space, or in interiors. Being undetected is not the only advantage - Aiko can distract enemy soldiers or patrols for prolonged periods of time. If the situation requires it, you can eliminate a single enemy without losing the camouflage. Watch out - Samurais are able to see through your disguise when you've entered their field of vision (crouching is not going to help - in that case, Aiko loses the disguise)
Takuma
This elder, albeit a cripple, is a very important part of the team. He is used as a support for more exposed heroes, and can eliminate troublesome enemies at long range. Takuma also has an animal companion, who can attract enemies and expose them for attack. As a result of his physical condition, he is unable to jump or move corpses, and is without any melee attack, or an ability to stun an enemy. Takuma has four health points, same as the rest of the group.
Rifle - Takuma has a musket, and is the only character capable of eliminating enemies from a distance. His weapon has a very long range. Try to place him in a high building or a tower to be able to reach any enemy. Most of the time, the rifle is used to eliminate other snipers (who are often in locations that are hard to reach), or enemies which cause trouble for our other heroes. The weapon generates noise, but it is only heard in the point of origin. Ammunition is limited, but some missions contain chests with additional bullets.
Grenades - Another ranged weapon. The amount of grenades is limited, but you can equip one of the two variants: sleeping gas, or explosive. Both types have similar range and radius. Gas takes a while to for the effect to take place, and stuns all enemies in its range (even samurais), without making a single noise. However, the enemies have to be taken care of before they wake up. The explosive grenade instantly eliminates all enemies in its radius, including samurais. It is an especially useful weapon for large groups of enemies, but be wary of the noise which it generates.
Tanuki, Kuma a tamed animal which can be controlled. First, you send it to a chosen location (the ability has an extended range) and press the button by the character portrait (or by default, "T"). Kuma starts his act, attracting enemies and focusing their fields of vision on a certain location. A very powerful ability, but works only on basic enemies. Additionally, uou can also order your pet to make some noise or stop its actions from any location Takuma is in, assuming that you've already set Kuma somewhere.