I’ve been playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and the way seasons affect the world is the best part. As Naoe, I move through tall grass in summer. As Yasuke, I cross frozen ponds in winter. The world reacts to the weather, and that changes how I play. Stealth, supplies, and enemy behavior all shift. That is why you need to know how to change the season in Assassin’s Creed Shadows if you want more control.
The Assassin’s Creed: Shadows game moves through the four seasons. Each one changes the map and what you can do. Icicles can fall on guards. Blossoms can hide movement. Changing seasons helps clear scouts, lower wanted levels, or find new cover. It can turn a failed attempt into a clean escape.
If you want to use the world to your advantage, learn to shift the seasons. It opens up new paths and helps you plan better. So if you want to learn how to change the season in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, now’s the time to try it.
How to Change the Season in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
You can change seasons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows once you unlock the feature early in the game. The change follows a timed cycle. You can’t switch them at will. Here’s how to do it, based on my playtime and latest guides from the leading platforms:
1: Progress through the main story until you complete the An Unpayable Debt quest (about 2-3 hours in) to unlock manual season changes.
2: Open the World Map from the in-game menu. Press M on PC or Options on consoles.
3: Check the compass in the top-right corner. It shows the current season, like a sun for Summer. Or a snowflake for Winter. A white meter fills clockwise to show how close the next season is.
4: When the meter hits the South (half-full) or North (full) notch, the Change Season prompt below the compass turns white.
5: Hold right on the D-pad (or H key on PC) to trigger a season change. A cutscene with stunning landscapes plays, and you are in the next phase or season.
6: If the prompt is grayed out, the meter hasn’t filled enough. Keep playing or wait (more on timing below).
Season’s time only counts during active gameplay, not in menus. If you fast-travel or switch characters (Naoe to Yasuke) when the meter’s full, the season may auto-change with a cutscene. If the option’s locked, you’re likely in a main story beat. Finish it to re-enable.
How the Seasonal Cycle Works in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows?
Seasons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows aren’t just cosmetic. They’re tied to a timer and split into two phases (early and late). The compass meter tracks this, as per IGN:
- Spring, Summer, Autumn: 70 minutes for early phase, 70 for late (140 minutes total). You can change at 70 minutes (to late phase) or 140 (next season).
- Winter: 90 minutes for early, 90 for late (180 minutes total). Change at 90 or 180 minutes.
- Triggers: Fast-travel, character swaps, quest completions, or manually pressing the D-pad/H key when the meter’s at South or North notches advance the season.
You can’t skip seasons instantly (e.g., Summer to Winter) without waiting out the full cycle, which takes about 3 hours for Winter or 2.3 hours for others. I’ve found fast-traveling between hideouts when the meter’s nearly full is the quickest way to force a change without waiting idly.
Also, read How to Change Scenery in Clash of Clans: Just Tap and DONE
Why You Should Change the Season in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
For me, switching seasons does more than just swap cherry blossoms for snow. It resets key mechanics:
- Scouts Refill: Used-up scouts for missions return, letting you send them for resources or intel again.
- Wanted Level Clears: Regional alerts drop, so guards stop hunting you, perfect after a botched stealth run.
- Resources Reset: Smuggled goods at your hideout refresh, giving you materials for upgrades.
- Enemy Respawns: Hostile camps repopulate with enemies and lootable chests, great for XP grinding.
Each season also changes gameplay:
- Spring: Lush greenery and tall grass make stealth easier for Naoe. Cherry blossoms add cover.
- Summer: Heavy rain muffles footsteps, but bright skies make hiding tougher. Ponds are swimmable for escapes.
- Autumn: Falling leaves and frequent weather shifts create stealth opportunities during downpours.
- Winter: Snow quiets steps and freezes ponds for new paths, but deep snow slows sprinting, and bare trees cut cover. Tracks in snow can give you away.
I love Winter for dropping icicles on guards, but Summer’s rain is my go-to for sneaky assassinations
Tips to Change the Season in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
To make season changes in Assassin’s Creed Shadows work for you, try these tricks I’ve learned:
I always check the compass in the top-right corner. When the white meter gets close to South or North, I fast-travel to start the season change cutscene.
Weather plays a big role in how I approach missions. I use Summer rain or Winter snow to move without being seen. But I avoid rooftops in Winter since falling snow usually draws attention.
When I run low on scouts, I wait for the halfway point on the meter. Switching the season then saves time and gives me fresh scouts without the full wait.
Sometimes the game blocks season changes during main story missions. When that happens, I finish the task first. If the meter’s full, fast-traveling still works for me.
Collectibles and Missions That Unlock When You Change the Season in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Some content is season-locked in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Here are the details:
- Sumi-e Paintings: Certain ink-wash collectibles only appear in specific seasons. Switch seasons to hunt them all.
- Missions: A few side quests, like those tied to festivals, require specific seasons. If a quest isn’t appearing, try advancing the season.
- Wildlife: Spring brings more animals (like puppies!), while Winter brings unique critters for hunting.
I missed a Winter-only Sumi-e in Yamashiro until I cycled back. So I want you to review your journal in Assassin’s Creed Shadows for season hints.
Also, read How to Change Day Length in Fields of Mistria: Full Settings Guide
Wrapping Up
That’s everything on how to change the season in Assassin’s Creed Shadows! After “An Unpayable Debt,” look at the compass on the map. When the meter points South or North, use it to change the season. This helps you get scouts back, lower your wanted level, or enjoy the scenery. You might move through Summer rain or walk over frozen ice in Winter. Each season makes the game feel new. Now go play like a true shinobi and take over feudal Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I change the season in Assassin’s Creed Shadows instantly without waiting?
No, you must wait for the season meter to reach the South (half-season) or North (full season) notch, taking 70-90 minutes per half. There’s no instant skip, even with fast-travel.
2. Does changing seasons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows affect the main story?
Seasons don’t alter the main narrative. But some side quests or collectibles are season-specific. Story missions may lock manual changes until completed.
3. Can I stay in one season in Assassin’s Creed Shadows forever?
You can delay a season change by avoiding fast-travel, character swaps, or the D-pad prompt, but the meter keeps filling during gameplay, so it will shift eventually.
4. Do seasons impact combat as Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows?
Yes. Winter’s snow slows movement. It affects melee charges. While Summer’s rain can obscure enemy sightlines. It gives you an edge in open fights.
5. Do seasons affect hideout upgrades in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows?
Season changes reset smuggled resources at your hideout, letting you spend them on upgrades, but the build process itself isn’t season-dependent.
6. Will Ubisoft add instant season skips in Assassin’s Creed Shadows later?
No plans have been announced as of July 2025. But posts on different social media platforms show fans asking for it. Check Ubisoft’s roadmap for updates on patches or DLC.
7. How do I know which Assassin’s Creed Shadows season I’m in?
The map’s top-right compass shows an icon. Pink flower for Spring. Sun for Summer. Leaves for Autumn, and snowflake for Winter. The white meter tracks progress.