I’ll be honest: I ignored engravings in Assassin’s Creed Shadows for way too long. I figured my gear was good enough, and the blacksmith menu looked like another upgrade screen I could safely skip. That was a mistake. Once I actually sat down with Heiji and learned how the engraving system works, my favorite katana stopped feeling like a temporary weapon and started feeling like part of my build. If you’re in the same boat in 2026, here’s the practical version I wish I’d had from the start.

First, unlock the forge 😅

You cannot engrave anything from the beginning. I learned that the hard way when I walked up to Heiji and found no Engrave option. The feature unlocks after you upgrade the forge in your hideout to at least level 2. That upgrade costs wood and other building materials, so if you’ve been hoarding resources, this is a good place to spend them. I prioritized the forge after that, and I’m glad I did.

Once the forge is at level 2, talk to Heiji and you’ll enter the familiar upgrading menu. The important change is a new second tab at the top that takes you to the Engrave menu. That tab is easy to miss if you’re rushing, but it’s the door to the whole system.

How I actually apply an engraving 🔨

Here’s the routine I use now. It’s simple once you see it:

• Choose the category of equipment you want to engrave. The categories include Katana, Tanto, Kusarigama, Headgear, Light Armor, and Trinket.

• Select the specific weapon or piece of equipment from that category.

• Browse the list of available perks and add the one you want.

• Confirm the choice. The equipment now has two perks instead of one, which makes it noticeably stronger in combat.

That second perk is the whole point for me. I like keeping a favorite piece of gear instead of constantly swapping it for higher-level loot. Engravings let me keep the look and feel of my build while still improving it. I don’t treat every item as a temporary stop anymore. If I like a katana, I engrave it and keep using it.

Locked perks are not a bug 🧭

When I first opened the perk list, I saw a lot of perks marked as missing or locked. I thought something was wrong. It isn’t. Those are perks you haven’t come across yet, and you need to find them before you can use them for engraving.

The good news is that the game doesn’t leave you completely in the dark. Under the locked indication, you can check the location clue for each individual perk. I use that clue as a treasure map. Instead of wandering around hoping to stumble on something useful, I pick one locked perk that fits my build, check its clue, and go track it down. Once I find it, it gets added to my engravings collection, and I can use it on future gear too.

My practical routine in 2026

I don’t try to unlock every perk at once. That would burn me out. Instead, I check the locked list, pick one or two perks that support the way I’m playing, and chase those clues when I’m already exploring that region. It feels much more natural than turning the game into a checklist.

A few things I wish I’d known earlier:

• Don’t ignore the forge. Level 2 is the gate, and it’s worth the materials.

• Check the Engrave tab every time you visit Heiji. New perks show up as you find them.

• Treat locked perks as goals, not failures. The location clue is there for a reason.

• Remember that the item ends up with two perks. That’s a big jump, especially on a weapon you already like.

So that’s my take. Engravings are not some tiny extra system you can skip. They’re how I keep my favorite gear relevant, and they’re how I make my build feel intentional instead of random. If you’ve been putting it off like I did, upgrade that forge, talk to Heiji, and start experimenting. Your favorite weapon will thank you. 🗡️