MOD just showed up in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and talking to him unlocks a brand new endgame activity called Domains, added in Title Update 1.1.11 on June 16, 2026, the game’s final content drop for Naoe and Yasuke. Domains drops you into five different simulation maps, each with its own modifiers, and clearing them is the only way to earn weapons and gear you cannot find anywhere else in the open world or in any store.

Level one starts easy, but the final wave needs a real plan, and that is exactly where a kusarigama build for groups of enemies earns its keep, since you are about to fight four armed opponents at once while a spirit archer keeps shooting at you from a distance. Bookmark this guide before you head into the Domain, because I am walking through every wave, the parkour run, and what to do once you walk out the other side.

How to Find MOD and Unlock Your First Domain in AC Shadows

MOD is an Assassin hacker who turned up in this last update, and his whole pitch is simple: he has built a new kind of simulation called a Domain to test how skilled an Assassin you really are. Once you reach him at the marked location and talk to him, you get the option to create your own Domain, and every new level you push it to raises the difficulty. The developers built in a lot of variety here on purpose, so what works in one Domain map will not necessarily help you win in another.

That is the appeal of the whole system, honestly. It is interesting to see your own build get tested against a layout you have not memorized yet, instead of just repeating the same open world fights you have already mastered. Since this is endgame content tied to the game’s final update, it assumes you have already spent real time with Naoe and Yasuke’s gear and engraving systems.

Domain Level 1: Beating the Four Domain Daisho and the Parkour Gauntlet

Level one keeps things simple at the start. You need to defeat four Domain Daisho, and you can choose whatever method you like to take them down, since the fight does not lock you into a single weapon or playstyle. Other enemies will get in your way while you work through them, but nothing here should give an experienced ninja much trouble. After that comes a short parkour section where you show off some traversal skill over a handful of new obstacles.

Even if the map glitches out on you, the path forward is straightforward enough that you can keep moving and clear out enemies along the way without much trouble. If you want a sense of how a methodical, read-the-pattern boss encounter should feel before you reach the real fight, guide to Beating Nowaki.

Wave 1 and Wave 2: Marume Nagayoshi, Sanada Masatoyo, and Hozoin In’ei

The main battle throws several waves of enemies at you, and each one is noticeably harder than the last. Wave one is just Marume Nagayoshi, a returning duel target from the Nobutsuna’s Students storyline, and his unblockable combos are easy to read once you know to dodge behind him and punish the opening.

There is no real reason you cannot drop him quickly. Wave two brings in two enemies at once, Sanada Masatoyo and Hozoin In’ei, both also familiar faces from that same training arc. Masatoyo runs a fairly predictable pattern, a parryable combo followed by an unblockable dash attack, while In’ei swings a kanabo that is honestly one of the easier weapons in the game to read. Each of them carries their own weapon, so just watch for the wind up on their attacks and dodge in time. Wave two should not slow you down much either.

Wave 3: The Best Build for Groups of Enemies

Wave three is where the difficulty actually jumps, and you will want a build that can handle groups of enemies instead of one on one duels. If you already run something built for crowds, great, you are ahead of the curve. If not, I have a build that will help you.

So, you need the legendary Bloodshade katana. This is a very special item that will help you defeat any enemy with ease. To do this, you need to go to the Hideout’s blacksmith and install a special engraving: 30% of an Adrenaline Chunk on hitting affected enemies. The point is that your enemy will always be afflicted thanks to the Bloodshade katana. And your strikes will restore your skills very quickly. You need to go to the skills branch called Katana and choose two skills. The first one is Tidal Wave, and you don’t have to improve it, the basic first skill is enough. The second skill is Eviscerate, which you can unlock at the third level of knowledge.

Wave 4: Surviving the Four-Enemy Final Battle and the Ghost Spirit

The fourth and final wave is the hardest part of this Domain by a clear margin. You are fighting all four of the enemies from the earlier waves at the same time, each with their own weapon, and the danger here is that one of them will start an attack while your attention is locked on someone else. Keep glancing at the other three while you are mid combo with whoever you are focused on.

Leaning on an invulnerability ability heavily helps here, since it lets you push through a trade you would otherwise eat a hit on, but you still need to dodge and reposition constantly after each use or the damage adds up fast. On top of the four duelists, a spirit keeps spawning during the fight and takes potshots at you with a bow or a rifle from range, so do not stand still for long. Some sections of this Domain also have frosty ground underfoot, which is easy to ignore until it changes your footing mid dodge.

What Happens After Domain Level 1: MOD’s Exploit Tree and Domain Gateway

Once you clear the fourth wave, head back from the Domain to MOD. He hands you a new quest called Buy an Exploit from the Exploit Tree, and talking to him opens his shop, where augments and upgrades range from 750 up to 4,000 MODcoins depending on the tier. The first Exploit costs 1,000 MODcoins, and you will have already earned that much just from clearing level one, so go ahead and buy it. A cutscene follows that sets up new trials for unique weapons and gear, and this time the rewards cover both Naoe and Yasuke instead of just one of them.

From here your tasks are to clear the level two Domain trial and rack up ten Domain quests in total. You will also always have a Domain Gateway marked on your map from now on, but entering it costs tokens, and those tokens come from eliminating Anomalies, including the ones tied to Corrupted Castles, rather than from any shop purchase. Generating a fresh Domain costs five of those tokens, so it is worth clearing a few Anomalies before you commit to your next run.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I unlock Domains in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

You need to find MOD, the Assassin hacker added in Title Update 1.1.11, talk to him at his marked location, and then you can create your own Domain starting at level one.

What is the best weapon for the group fights in Domain level one?

The Bloodshade katana and this build, which focuses on fast ability cooldowns, are best suited for groups of enemies.

How many MODcoins do I need to buy the first Exploit?

The first Exploit from MOD’s Exploit Tree costs 1,000 MODcoins, and clearing the level one Domain trial earns you enough on its own.

How do I get tokens for the Domain Gateway?

Domain Gateway tokens come from eliminating Anomalies, including those tied to Corrupted Castles, and generating a new Domain costs five tokens.

Does the frosty ground in Domain level one actually matter?

It can affect your footing mid dodge in the final wave, so it is worth paying attention to even if it looks like a minor visual detail on the arena floor.

Once your Exploit Tree purchase goes through, head straight back into a Domain and keep testing variations on your build for groups of enemies, because level two raises the modifiers and you will want every advantage dialed in before wave three even starts. Check out our other guides on ingametor.com for more boss strategies while you grind out the rest of your Domain quests.