Assassin’s Creed® Origins takes players to ancient Egypt, placing you in the role of Bayek of Siwa, a Medjay warrior whose quest for justice becomes the foundation of the Assassin Brotherhood. This entry reinvented the series with RPG elements, loot-based combat, and an expansive open world.
Whether you’re here for the story, exploration, or high-level combat mastery, this guide will walk you through how to succeed — from your first steps in Siwa to mastering advanced assassin techniques.
Getting Started: First Steps in Egypt
At the beginning, focus on completing the main quests in Siwa. These missions introduce stealth mechanics, combat, exploration, and your eagle companion, Senu.
Don’t rush. Explore side quests, caves, and landmarks — they not only grant experience but also flesh out the world’s history and mythology. As you progress, you’ll unlock crafting and skill trees that expand Bayek’s abilities.
Early levels are about learning systems, not racing toward endgame gear.
Understanding the Open World
Egypt in Origins is massive and diverse: deserts, oases, bustling cities, and the Nile Delta. Each region has a recommended level range — pushing into higher-level zones too soon can be punishing.
Use Senu often to scout enemies, mark treasure, and highlight points of interest. This saves you from ambushes and makes infiltration much smoother.
Exploration rewards patience: papyrus puzzles, hidden tombs, and legendary weapons are scattered everywhere. Treat the map as a playground, not just a checklist.
Combat Basics and Advanced Fighting
Combat in Origins is different from earlier Assassin’s Creed games, leaning toward hitbox-based action combat.
- Light Attacks: Fast, low-damage strikes.
- Heavy Attacks: Slower, armor-breaking hits.
- Dodges and Parries: Essential for survival. Timing matters more than spamming.
- Bow Combat: Multiple bow types let you fight at range — predator bows are great for stealth kills.
As you advance, learn enemy attack patterns. Many foes have unblockable attacks marked by red indicators, which must be dodged. Bosses and elite enemies require patience and precision.
Leveling and the Skill Tree
Bayek’s progression comes from three skill branches:
- Hunter: Focused on ranged combat, bow efficiency, and predator skills.
- Warrior: Boosts melee power, defense, and adrenaline-based combat abilities.
- Seer: Unlocks tools like sleep darts, smoke bombs, and animal taming.
There’s no “wrong” path — but prioritize unlocking Overpower Attacks (special adrenaline moves) and assassination upgrades early. These give you strong options in both stealth and combat.
Crafting and Gear Upgrades
Unlike earlier titles, Origins uses a loot and crafting system. You’ll gather materials like animal pelts, bronze, or cedar wood to upgrade Bayek’s gear.
Upgrade categories include:
- Hidden Blade: Improves assassination damage.
- Breastplate: Increases health.
- Quiver: Expands arrow capacity.
- Bracers: Boost melee strength.
Focus on upgrading the Hidden Blade first — this ensures you can one-shot more enemies with stealth attacks, making life easier in higher-level areas.
Stealth and Assassination Techniques
Stealth is still the heart of Assassin’s Creed. Success often depends on patience and planning.
- Scout with Senu: Always mark enemies and patrols before striking.
- Distract Guards: Use arrows or noise to lure targets away from groups.
- Chain Assassinations: Unlock skills that allow Bayek to strike multiple enemies quickly.
- Hide Bodies: Prevent reinforcements by stashing corpses.
Stealth doesn’t mean slow. With good planning, you can clear forts quickly without raising alarms.
Quests, Side Missions, and Hidden Content
The main story is gripping, but Origins shines with its side quests. They reveal the lives of everyday Egyptians, mythological mysteries, and even historical legends.
Other key activities include:
- Papyrus Puzzles: Riddles that lead to treasure.
- Stone Circles: Stargazing puzzles tied to Bayek’s son, Khemu.
- Tombs: Contain lore about the First Civilization and rare loot.
- World Bosses: Like the Anubis Trials, offering powerful rewards.
Doing side content keeps you properly leveled and unlocks some of the game’s best gear.
Mounts, Exploration, and Travel
Bayek can call a horse or camel at any time, making travel quick. Boats are also common on the Nile, and naval combat occasionally plays a role in quests.
Use fast travel synchronization points (the iconic eagle perches) to unlock map visibility. This saves huge amounts of time later when you need to revisit old areas.
Exploration also rewards hidden mechanics: swimming underwater, climbing pyramids, and uncovering forgotten ruins are all part of the experience.
Bosses, Phylakes, and Major Challenges
As you progress, you’ll encounter tougher enemies like Phylakes (elite bounty hunters). These foes are extremely dangerous early on — avoid them until you’re higher level.
Bosses and unique enemies require preparation:
- Stock up on tools (sleep darts, firebombs).
- Use the environment to your advantage.
- Don’t be afraid to retreat if you’re under-leveled.
Patience and strategy usually win over brute force.
Advanced Tips for Mastery
Once you’ve mastered the basics, take your play to the next level:
- Experiment with Builds: Mix skill trees to suit your playstyle.
- Use Overpower Attacks Strategically: Save them for bosses or large enemy groups.
- Elemental Weapons: Fire and poison weapons cause status effects that can break enemy defenses.
- Chain Movement: Blend parkour, stealth, and combat seamlessly for faster, cleaner clears.
The game rewards creativity. Try combining tools, weapons, and environments in new ways.
Conclusion
Assassin’s Creed® Origins redefined the franchise with RPG mechanics, a vast world, and deeper combat. To master it, focus on upgrading your Hidden Blade, balancing combat and stealth, and taking time to explore side quests and hidden tombs.
The journey through Egypt is more than just Bayek’s story — it’s about uncovering history, myth, and the roots of the Assassin Brotherhood. With patience and skill, you’ll conquer both enemies and mysteries of the ancient world.