AC Odyssey: How to Use Stealth

If you are playing Assassin\’s Creed Odyssey, you may want to use stealth to eliminate enemies or avoid them on your way to important locations. While the game doesn\’t usually have missions that can be failed due to being detected, stealth can still make completing objectives easier. This guide will show you how to prepare for stealth, avoid detection, and use abilities to stay hidden.

• Reconnaissance
• Enemies\’ view distance, alarm states, hideouts
• Assassinations (executions) and unarmed strikes
• Using a bow
• Sneaking in forts and other large locations
• Abilities useful in stealth

Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance in AC Odyssey is similar to AC Origins – use your eagle, Ikaros, to scout an area from above. Summon Ikaros when you arrive at a location with enemies, while still several dozen meters away. Use Ikaros to mark enemies, as well as unique loot and mission objectives. This will allow you to sneak around enemies and find good candidates to join your crew.

Enemies\’ View Distance, Alarm States, Hideouts

Enemies in AC Odyssey have limited fields of view and can hear things from a certain distance. They will react to suspicious activity and enter a yellow state, where they will move towards the source of the disturbance. Enemies remain in the yellow state even if they come across dead bodies or sabotage. Hide behind walls, objects, and bushes to remain undetected. You can also change the time of day to nighttime, when enemies\’ sight is reduced and some will even go to sleep.

Enemies enter a state of alert only when they detect your presence. Running away is the best option to avoid being caught. Even if you manage to kill a guard who raised the alarm, there is a high chance that others will arrive soon. To evade them, try to stay out of their sight. Use large rocks, buildings, and other obstacles to hide. You don\’t need to leave the area you are infiltrating. Instead, you can hide on a rooftop or in bushes and wait until the guards calm down and return to their posts.

Assassinations and Unarmed Strikes

Assassinations are the most effective way to eliminate enemies stealthily. Your character uses the Spear of Leonidas to perform this action. To perform a standard stealth attack, sneak up behind an enemy or stand above them on a roof or ledge.

Unarmed strikes are another option for taking out enemies from the shadows. This is useful when you want to recruit a specific enemy to your crew (more information about this can be found in the Ship chapter).

Keep in mind that assassinations and unarmed strikes are successful only when your enemy is not significantly stronger than your character. To check this, observe their health bar. If only part of it is a different color (as shown in the picture above), your attack won\’t kill or knock down the enemy immediately. To overcome this, use abilities that can strengthen your attacks, which are described later in this chapter. If you opt to weaken an enemy with an assassination or unarmed strike, they will become alarmed. Your only options at this point are either to flee or to fight.

Using a Bow

A bow is useful when you cannot get close to an enemy. Always aim for the head to deal maximum damage.

Unfortunately, most enemies require more than one headshot to be defeated. To address this, invest in the skills described later in this chapter. If you shoot an enemy in the head and they survive, they may not know your exact location. Move away from the spot where you shot them to avoid being detected.

Arrows can be set on fire. To do this, get close to a source of fire and take out your bow. You can use this flaming arrow to set an enemy on fire or to shoot at red containers found in many locations.

Sneaking in Forts and Other Large Locations

Sneaking in forts, camps, and other large locations is more challenging. However, these locations also offer new opportunities. Scouting the area with enemies is essential to reduce the risk of encountering a guard who can raise the alarm. Always infiltrate these locations at night.

Many forts and camps are situated near mountains. Use this to your advantage by getting to higher ground and avoiding guards who patrol the main entrances. Check for braziers in forts (as shown in the picture above), which guards can use to call for reinforcements. Get close to these braziers to set a trap.

In a fort, Commanders are the most difficult enemies to defeat as they are tougher than regular enemies and cannot be taken down with a standard assassination or headshot. It is best to leave them for last. Additionally, it is important to watch out for dogs as they can alert other enemies. A bow is the most effective way to eliminate them. If there are wild animals in cages, shooting the door with an arrow can free them to distract or even kill nearby enemies. The same goes for certain prisoners who can also distract enemies.

Useful Stealth Abilities

Unlocking skills can increase your stealth capabilities. Our list of the most important abilities includes several from the Assassin tree, as well as a few from the Hunter tree.

Rush Assassination, a level 5 ability from the Assassin tree, is an excellent skill that allows you to throw a spear at an enemy and deal 100% Assassin damage. You can then direct your character to another enemy and press the right button to kill them. By upgrading Rush Assassination, you can increase the number of attacks performed in one chain, allowing you to attack up to four different enemies or jump between two or three stronger enemies. It is best to start with the strongest enemy and then move to weaker ones. If you are able to perform 3 or 4 attacks, you can \”jump\” between stronger enemies. If both targets die immediately, the alarm will not be raised, but other enemies may still be alerted.

Another useful ability is Critical Assassination, a level 10 ability from the Assassin tree. This skill enables you to spend adrenaline on performing a charged assassination that deals 200% of Assassin damage. It is best to use it on enemies who would not be killed with a regular assassination. However, holding the assassination button for a few seconds can be problematic when your target is moving.

Predator Shot, a level 1 ability from the Hunter tree, Devastating Shot, a level 5 ability from the Hunter tree, and Overpower Bow Strike are three bow-related abilities that can deal a lot more Hunter damage when adrenaline is spent. Overpower Bow Strike, in particular, can deal up to 1000% Hunter damage, but it requires three adrenaline segments. The arrow also explodes upon impact, so it is important to move to a different location to avoid detection.

Mastering these skills can greatly increase your chances of success in stealth missions.

In addition to the skills mentioned above, it is important to acquire passive skills such as Shadow Assassin, Stealth Master, and Archery Master. Shadow Assassin is an ability found in the Assassin tree and it increases assassination and unarmed strike damage by 20% at level 1. With every new level, there is a chance that your assassinations will instantly kill enemies. Stealth Master, found in the Assassin tree at level 16, reduces the noise you make while walking and during assassinations. Finally, Archery Master, a level 10 ability from the Hunter tree, increases Hunter damage by 20% at level 1 and with every new level there is a chance that you will be able to kill enemies instantly with your bow. The acquisition of these skills is crucial for success in the game.

FAQ

1. What is stealth in AC Odyssey?

Stealth in AC Odyssey is a gameplay mechanic that allows players to avoid detection and silently take out enemies. Players can crouch to move more quietly, hide in bushes or behind objects, and use distractions like whistling or throwing rocks to lure enemies away. The stealth approach is particularly useful for completing missions without alerting guards or triggering alarms. Players can also use stealth to assassinate key targets, which can often result in bonus rewards or XP.

2. How can I improve my stealth in AC Odyssey?

There are several ways to improve your stealth in AC Odyssey. First, invest in stealth-oriented abilities and equipment. For example, the Shadow of Nyx ability allows players to become invisible while crouched in a bush, while the Master Assassin set provides bonuses to stealth damage and critical assassination. Second, make use of the environment to hide and stay out of sight. Third, learn enemy patrol patterns and use distractions to create openings for stealth kills. Finally, be patient and take your time when infiltrating enemy compounds – rushing in will only lead to detection and combat.

3. Can stealth be used in open combat in AC Odyssey?

While stealth is primarily used to avoid combat in AC Odyssey, it is possible to use it in open combat situations as well. For example, players can use the Hero Strike ability to quickly take out an enemy and then retreat back into stealth. Players can also use smoke bombs to create cover and retreat, or use the Rush Assassination ability to quickly move between enemies and take them out one by one. However, using stealth in open combat requires careful timing and situational awareness, as enemies will quickly become alerted if they see their comrades fall without explanation.

4. What are the benefits of using stealth in AC Odyssey?

There are several benefits to using stealth in AC Odyssey. First, it allows players to complete missions without alerting guards or triggering alarms, which can lead to bonus rewards and XP. Second, it allows players to assassinate key targets without alerting their guards or triggering combat. Third, it allows players to avoid combat altogether, which can be useful for players who prefer a more pacifist playstyle. Finally, using stealth can be a fun and satisfying challenge, requiring careful planning and execution.