Torch Vs. AC Shadows: What Actually Works In Practice
- 01. Can you use a torch in Assassin's Creed Shadows?
- 02. Why the torch was removed
- 03. How lighting works instead of a torch
- 04. Does this make dark areas harder to explore?
- 05. Key differences from past AC entries
- 06. Practical tips for playing without a torch
- 07. Comparison table: torch mechanics across recent AC titles
- 08. What this means for players moving from older AC games
- 09. Common misconceptions clarified
- 10. How developers defend the decision
- 11. How to optimize your Shadows experience without a torch
- 12. Final takeaways for fans of the franchise
Can you use a torch in Assassin's Creed Shadows?
Yes, you cannot use a player-equipped torch in Assassin's Creed Shadows; the game intentionally omits a handheld torch mechanic that older entries like Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Assassin's Creed Mirage featured. Instead of letting you wield a flaming torch to light dark rooms or set enemies ablaze, the design relies on environmental light sources such as mounted sconces, carried lanterns, and dynamic shadows tied to the stealth system.
Why the torch was removed
Ubisoft's Japan-set backdrop heavily influenced the decision to exclude a torch. Many historical Japanese structures were constructed from highly flammable materials like paper and wood, and the developers indicated that a player-flammable torch would risk players burning down entire villages or castles, which would clash with their narrative and simulation goals.
According to community and datamine discussions in early 2025, the Assassin's Creed Shadows team specifically stated that they wanted to avoid "setting everything on fire" in a setting where communal housing and paper-screen interiors were central to the environment. This led to the removal of fire-based gadgets and the classic torch in favor of a more controlled lighting and stealth system.
How lighting works instead of a torch
The game replaces the traditional torch with a light-and-darkness stealth system that dynamically tracks how exposed you are. A visible light meter in the UI indicates your current illumination level, helping you decide whether to stay in shadowed alcoves or temporarily snuff out nearby light sources.
Players can extinguish enemy-carried lanterns or destroy torchbearers to plunge sections into darkness, which then reduces the risk of detection. In castles and forts, this often means targeting servants with lanterns or shooting out hanging sconces to create temporary cover for stealth takedowns.
Does this make dark areas harder to explore?
Some players report that caves and vaults feel more difficult to navigate than in earlier titles precisely because there is no player-equipped torch to carry into darkness. Community feedback threads from spring 2025 frequently mention that minimal in-game lighting and reliance on distant candles can make reading murals or loot markers taxing, especially on lower-brightness displays.
On the other hand, others argue that the removal of a torch reinforces the game's emphasis on environmental awareness. By forcing players to rely on pre-existing lanterns, fire bowls, and ambient glow, the design pushes you to plan routes and save points around natural light sources rather than "torch-farming" every tunnel.
Key differences from past AC entries
Recent Assassin's Creed entries frequently included a reusable torch as a standard utility. In Assassin's Creed Odyssey, for example, the torch could be pulled from the inventory at any time, used to light dark interiors, and even thrown at enemy supplies or foes to ignite them.
Similarly, Assassin's Creed Mirage featured a torch that could be placed on the ground as a static light source, aiding in navigation through dimly lit districts. In contrast, Assassin's Creed Shadows swaps that for a more passive, environment-only lighting model, which developers justified as a way to preserve the authenticity of feudal-era Japanese architecture.
Practical tips for playing without a torch
Since there is no torch, optimizing your interface and display settings is crucial. Adjusting the in-game brightness and contrast toward the black-level range can significantly improve visibility in dark courtyards and corridors, making it easier to spot servants carrying lanterns or hidden ledges.
Strategically scout each area before committing to deep shadowed zones. Identify where sconces and lantern posts are clustered, then use Naoe's mobility to hop between these lighted nodes or Basim's vantage-point approach to mark key enemies and light sources from above. This effectively turns the environment itself into your makeshift lighting toolkit.
If you struggle with dark interiors, consider using the Eagle Vision-style ability to highlight enemies and interactable objects, even in low-light interiors. This does not replace a torch but helps you mentally map pathways and danger points without relying purely on visual brightness.
Comparison table: torch mechanics across recent AC titles
| Game Title | Torch Available? | Primary Uses | Fire-Based Sabotage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018) | Yes | Lighting dark caves; throwing at enemy supplies and enemies | Strong: torches burn silos and war chests |
| Assassin's Creed Mirage (2023) | Yes | Guiding through dark alleyways; placing on ground as fixed light | Limited: torches can briefly ignite enemies |
| Assassin's Creed Shadows (2025) | No | No player-equipped torch; only environmental sconces and lanterns | Effectively removed by design |
What this means for players moving from older AC games
If you're used to pulling out a torch in titles like Assassin's Creed Odyssey or Assassin's Creed Mirages, the lack of that tool in Assassin's Creed Shadows will feel like a deliberate downgrade at first. However, from a design-philosophy standpoint, the choice reinforces the game's focus on environmental realism and tight stealth pacing in a historically fragile Japanese setting.
Players adapting to this change should treat every lantern and sconce as part of their tactical toolkit rather than a visual prop. By learning which enemies carry light sources, how extinguishing them alters patrol patterns, and how darkness affects your light meter, you effectively recreate the strategic benefits of a torch without actually wielding one.
Common misconceptions clarified
- Some players assume that because older Assassin's Creed entries had a torch, it must just be hidden in Assassin's Creed Shadows and require a specific unlock. In fact, the skill is not present anywhere in the progression tree; it simply does not exist.
- Others speculate that the torch is restricted to specific story missions or DLC. All available evidence from community discussions and developer-led explanations indicates that the absence is systemic and applies to the entire base game.
- A few players compare the light meter UI element to a "torch-style" feature, but it is purely informational and does not emit any light into the world. The only in-world light sources remain the attached lanterns, sconces, and other ambient fixtures.
How developers defend the decision
According to internal-style comments shared in early-2025 community threads, the Assassin's Creed Shadows design team explicitly cited the risk of players burning down paper-screened homes as a major reason for cutting the torch and broader fire mechanics. They argued that while setting structures on fire can be fun in fantasy-style settings, it would feel tonally and historically jarring in a feudal-Japan-inspired world where such fires historically caused mass displacement and social upheaval.
Additionally, the team framed the light-and-darkness system as a core innovation rather than a limitation. By tying visibility directly to environmental lighting and patrol behaviors, they claim to create a more immersive form of stealth that encourages players to interact with the world rather than bypassing it with a personal torch.
How to optimize your Shadows experience without a torch
- Start by fine-tuning your display settings: increase brightness and contrast slightly so that shadowed alcoves remain readable without turning the entire game into a washed-out scene.
- Always map out light sources before committing to a stealth route; note which patrols carry lanterns and which hallways are permanently lit by sconces.
- Use the light meter as a pacing guide: if the meter is too "hot," either retreat into closer shadows or plan to disable the nearest light source before advancing.
- Consider non-lethal options for lantern-bearing servants if you want to avoid upsetting nearby villagers or triggering alert states.
- Embrace the "no torch" rule as a training tool: treat every dark room or vault as a test of your ability to read environmental cues, such as faint glows from paper-shoji panels or reflections off stone floors.
Final takeaways for fans of the franchise
The absence of a torch in Assassin's Creed Shadows is a deliberate design choice rather than an oversight. It reflects a shift from the "toolbox-heavy" approach of prior titles-where players could light up or burn down almost any environment-to a more curated, setting-respectful experience anchored around feudal-Japan architecture and tight stealth pacing.
While some longtime fans may lament the loss of that familiar torch mechanic, the game's light-and-darkness system and environmental manipulation tools provide a different, if less explosive, way to engage with shadows and light. For players who prioritize narrative coherence and historical atmosphere over open-ended destructibility, the removal of the torch ultimately serves as a subtle but meaningful upgrade to the Assassin's Creed formula.
Everything you need to know about Torch Vs Ac Shadows What Actually Works In Practice
Is there any kind of torch equivalent at all?
There is no player-equipped torch or lantern you can toggle on-screen in Assassin's Creed Shadows. The closest equivalents are the lanterns carried by NPCs and wall-mounted sconces that you can light or destroy to manipulate the scene's illumination.
Can you still set enemies or forts on fire?
Most community and developer-driven sources indicate that fire-based sabotage-such as using a torch to burn down enemy forts or supply caches-has been removed from Assassin's Creed Shadows. This aligns with the design goal of avoiding large-scale structure fires in a wood-and-paper environment, even though earlier titles allowed exactly that mechanic.
Does the lack of a torch affect stealth?
Ironically, the absence of a torch strengthens the importance of stealth and darkness in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Because you cannot carry your own bright light source, inadvertently stepping into a lit courtyard or under a hanging sconce makes you far more visible, which pushes players to treat light like a hostile element rather than a convenience.
Will patches add a torch later?
As of late 2025, there is no official announcement from Ubisoft or its Assassin's Creed Shadows team suggesting that a torch or handheld lantern will be added via patch. Community petitions and feedback posts explicitly asking for a torch have been answered with design-driven explanations rather than promises of future implementation, indicating that the current system is likely to remain in place.