Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Soldier

2010-10-27T16:59:37Z

122.162.164.98: /* Trivia */

[[File:Giartnewenemies 2.jpg|thumb[[File:Example.jpg]]|right|290px|From left to right: The Agile, the Archer, the Brute, the Militia, and the Seeker. The Blue uniforms indicate that these guards are from Venice.]]

'''Guards''' are the most common opponents for an [[Assassin]] to battle throughout the ''[[Assassin's Creed series]]''.

==''[[Assassin's Creed]]''==
{{quote|Hashshashin!|Guard in [[Damascus]]}}
During the course of ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', there are two types of guards: Soldiers and Archers. The archers are mostly the same, but there are three ranks of soldiers. All guards are armed with swords (with varying styles).
*The ordinary soldiers don't wear helmets (Muslims wear turbans) and are only equipped with leather armor or light Lamellar armor. They cannot grab or break a grab attack, [[File:CAPTAIN.png|thumb|A Guard Sergeant in [[Acre]]]]cannot combo attack and cannot counter attack. They can only deflect attacks, and there is a 25% chance of dodging a light attack. Guard archers are on par with ordinary ones, except that they are only found on rooftops, wear a hood, and use bows for a ranged attack.
*Guard Sergeants (or elite guards) have helmets, the Crusader variant wear chain mail tabards, and Saracen Sergeants possess medium Lamellar armor. They can grab and there is a 50% chance of them being able to break a grab attack, as well as a 50% one of countering or dodging a light attack. There is also a 25% chance of breaking your defense, but they cannot perform a combo attack.
*Guard Captains are the most powerful guards besides the [[Templar Knight]]. The Muslim Captains wear Baidah helmets and heavy Lamellar armor, while Crusader captains wear chain mail tabards with surcoats, chain mail mittens and varying knight helms (with faces usually covered, due to helmet size). They too can grab and there is a 75% chance of them being able to break a grab attack and counter or dodge a light attack. There is also a 50% chance of breaking your defense. If a successful heavy attack is delivered, they will perform a combo attack.
*[[Templar Knights]] are a special version of guard where only 60 are found in the entire game. They are similar to the Crusader guard captain, except possessing higher stats and a special version of helmet that appears bloodstained. They will also provoke a fight when they see [[Altaïr]], no matter what his notoriety level is. Strangely enough, [[Templar Knights]] can be found in many places, including [[Muslim cities]].

The ordinary Crusader and Muslim soldiers and archers speak English, Crusader Captains and Sergeants speak French or German, Muslim Captains and Guards speak Turkish or Arabic and the Templar Knights speak all of the dialects (but only speak Arabic in Altaïr's fight against Robert's impostor).

The guards in [[Masyaf]], despite being marked as an ally via [[Eagle Vision]], function exactly like normal ones. They are equipped in robes similar to Altaïr's, but they only have a long sword and their robes are shorter. The ordinary guards wear no hoods, the elite guards wear hoods and the guard captains wear hoods and have their faces covered with a cloth, with only eyes visible. They all speak English and have all five fingers, indicating that, though members of the order, they are not assassins themselves, instead serving as "The Common Soldiers" of the Assassins.

(Hints) A defense break stuns your counter attack and deflect ability for three seconds, but not your dodge ability. If an enemy breaks your defense, you can still dodge an incoming attack (once the skill is acquired).

(Hints) To improve your chances of a successful grab attack, break the guards defense (once skill is acquired) then perform a grab. There is only a 10% chance of breaking your grab on elite guards (and 25% for guard captains).

(Hints) If able to counter a heavy attack from a weakened enemy successfully, you will punch and/or kick your enemy violently enough to daze him and cause him to drop to the ground. Before he falls, you have two options, hit the attack button which results in a instant kill move or press the step button which results in breaking his legs, this is known as a "Torture Kill."

(Hints) Heavy attacks are far more difficult for enemies to counter then light attacks, use light attacks after performing a dodge (once skill is acquired) and heavy attacks while in main combat. "Note" The short blade/dagger can only perform light attacks, so either use it against weaker enemies or keep the same enemy under constant barrage without switching targets, thus keeping him from recovering.

==''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''==
{{quote|Assassino!|Guard in [[Venice]]|Assassin's Creed II}}

In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', there are five types of enemy guards:

===Regular Guards===
Those are the "standard" type of guard which can be found almost everywhere on the ground. However, they use a large variety of swords, as well as with maces and war hammers. These regular troops are divided into three ranks themselves: Militia, Elite and Leaders.
[[File:Pazzi2.jpg|thumb|100px|Pazzi thug]]
*'''Thugs '''are people hired by Vieri de' Pazzi to attack [[Ezio]]. While not officially or technically guards, they function in a remarkably similar manner. They will attack Ezio even if he is Incognito, and fight only with fists, making them the easiest to counter. Also, they will notice Ezio much more easily then other guards do. After assassinating [[Uberto Alberti]], they can no longer be found in game, except for in the Courier mission 'Casanova'.
{{-}}
[[File:Militia.jpg|thumb|100px|Militia guard (from [[Forlì]])]]
*'''Militia''' is the weakest rank. They wear little armor, and can be easily killed (with one counter-kill). They are also the most easily frightened during combat, so if they are losing battles, they are the first ones to flee.
{{-}}
[[File:Elite.jpg|thumb|100px|Elite guard (a [[Pazzi]] Guard)]]
*'''Elite''' guards are stronger, wear a moderate amount of armor, and need 2-3 counter-kills to be defeated. Elites are also more courageous than Militias, although if you kill their leader, they will still retreat.
{{-}}
[[File:Leader.jpg|thumb|100px|Leader (a [[Savonarola]] guard)]]
*'''Leaders''' are the best fighters and most tenacious of all the regular soldiers. They wear slightly more armor than their Elite counterparts. The Leaders will last slightly longer than Elites during [[Ezio]]'s counter-attacks. They also hardly give up their weapons, making them harder to disarm than the others. Also, like Brutes, Leader guards cannot be grabbed very easily.
{{-}}
The Regular Guards are not especially agile, but can climb up to the rooftops in order to follow Ezio (though are not as fast as him). Also, they can recognize [[Ezio]] sitting on a bench, but can be assassinated before they recognize him and spread word of his presence.

====Hints====
*In Assassins Creed II The sword can no longer perform heavy attacks, making you more vulnerable to counter attacks. This also means that the ability to counter a heavy attack and perform a "Torture kill" is no longer existent, as well as the ability for enemies to perform combo attacks. Your shortblade/dagger, however, cannot be countered.

*In Assassins Creed II Enemies no longer try to grab you, which means you no longer possess the grab break skill. However, leaders and occasionally elites can break your grab attacks.

*In Assassin's Creed II both you and enemies no longer posses the defense break skill, making it harder to land a direct blow at times.

*When a group of guards form a barricade when you are in open conflict, you can attempt to tackle them. When you do this the guard you tried to tackled will move out of the way allowing you to surpass the barricade.

===Seekers===

The '''[[Seekers]]''', also called "Paranoid", are one of the new special guard types. They are constantly looking in hiding spots (such as the haystacks, benches, and crowds) and checking them (although [[Ezio]] can assassinate the seeker from his hiding spot if this happens). They are armed with long weapons, giving them an increased reach in combat and can also perform "Sweep attacks" which require a wind up and results in them sweeping Ezio off his feet and onto the ground. This attack affects anyone in range of the long weapon, including fellow guards. The Long weapons main attacks cannot be countered with a sword or short blade/dagger, however it can be countered with the Hidden Blade, another long weapon/Polearm or a [[Heavy weapons|Heavy Weapon]]. Seekers, like most of the other guards, wear armor. They wear slightly more armor than a Leader-ranked Standard, but not as much as a Brute. When unarmed, they will occasionally approach Ezio from behind and then hold him while the other guards assault him. Disarming the Seeker will give you an advantage, as you can effectively use his own weapon against him. They also have a morale rate of 80% which makes them the second bravest fighter after the Brute.

===Agiles===

One of the new guard archetypes introduced in [[Assassin's Creed II ]]is the '''[[Agile]]''', which, as the name suggests, are a very fast, light enemy. These guards are more fragile than Militia-Ranked Standards, making them very weak to a combo attack. They run faster than [[Ezio]] and also have the Free Run ability, which can lead to chase sequences. They wield small weapons such as daggers and other short blades. Agiles are extremely good at dodging your attacks, thus the best way to kill an Agile is by tiring him out or assassinating them before they have a chance to reveal their weapon. This can be done by constantly attacking and dodging his moves, however, simply countering an attack performed by the Agile results in a instant kill, just as with the Militia. Agiles have a morale rate of 40% which makes them the third-most cowardice after the militia guard and the [[Archers|archer]].

(Hint: While fleeing from a fight, agiles can quickly catch up to you and attack you. To avoid this jump while running when you see an agile catching up to you. When you jump the agile will stop and attack you and miss letting you get away.)

===Brutes===

The '''[[Brutes]]''' are heavily armored and equipped (wielding two-handed weapons such as heavy swords and axes). Their armor covers almost every part of their bodies, making them tough to bring down, but also making them cumbersome and slow. They are not very intelligent, and won't be able to tell [[Ezio]] from anyone else in a crowd. When deflecting a short weapon, they will not take damage (while all other guards do), but can still be damaged with a counter. A good way to make short work of them is to disarm them and counterattack, as they are very easy to disarm. Brutes have two types of attack: one quick, and one that begins with a wind-up. The latter attack cannot be countered, and must be dodged, while the former can be countered. You must possess a Brute's weapon to counter the wind-up attacks of another Brute. Also the Brutes are the only type of enemy that won't flee a battle, they will only run away if you disarm their weapon and if they cannot find another one. Your best bet in taking out a Brute is by assassination. When facing multiple guards who are unaware of your presence, killing the brute first is a good idea, unless you want to be caught in a long fight.

===Archers===

The '''[[Archers]]''' are guards that patrol and defend the rooftops. They are armed with bows and swords (sometimes maces or war hammers instead of swords), and warn Ezio on sight to leave the place, no matter the notoriety. Approaching them will force them to draw their weapon and commence a fight. Archers are seemingly just Militia-ranked Standards, with the capability of attacking at a distance with their longbows. However, the Archers in the [[Sistine Chapel|Vatican]] are Leader-ranked Standards. While Florentine and Tuscan Archers can be killed with a single Throwing Knife, archers in the other cities and regions (such as Venice and Romagna) will need two [[Throwing Knives]] to be taken down. Since they are almost always on the rooftops on buildings, Archers are fairly easy to dispatch in melee combat, as they have the skill and hardiness of a Militia-ranked standard, making them easy to kill. Another good way to dispatch them is to simply throw them off the roof, which will instantly kill the Archer if they fall more than two stories or if they land in water. The archers also have a morale rate of 30% which makes them a little braver than the average guard.

===Coloring===
The coloring of the guards uniforms can identify whom they serve in the game, whether it be a city or a person.

*Black caps and red sleeves means they serve the [[Pazzi]] family (these guards disappear after sequence 5). They are found in Florence and Tuscany.

*Dark red caps and black sleeves with red going down the side means they serve Borgia (these guards usually guard codex pages and appear whenever you encounter Borgia out of Rome). They can be found at the north strip of Venice.

*Dark yellow caps and sleeves with black armor plates means they serve the [[Medici]] (they first appear helping you fight the Pazzi during sequence 4). They are found in Florence and San Gimignano

*Green caps and sleeves means they serve the city of [[Forlì]] (they help you in sequence 12). They are found only in Forlì.

*Blue caps and sleeves with gold armor plates means they serve the city of [[Venice]] (they have much better armor than any other guard in the regular game). They are only found in Venice.

*Black caps, sleeves, and armor plates means they serve [[Savonarola]] (they only appear in sequence 13, are as heavily protected as Venetian guards, and can be seen fighting Borgia guards throughout the city).

*Pink and orange caps and sleeves means that they serve [[Rome]] (they can only be seen in sequence 14 in Rome, they are the most heavily protected guards in the game).

==[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]==
In addition to the guards of ''Assassin's Creed II'', there are several new guard types to reflect the changing location and time period. Guards will also be more aggressive and will have new move's of their own, such as being able to grab Ezio, but you can easliy counter this by flipping them to the ground.

===Crossbowmen===

Similarly to archers, '''Crossbowmen''' patrol and defend the rooftops.

===Arquebusiers===
''Main article: [[Arquebusiers]]''

The '''Arquebusiers''' are firearm-wielding soldiers who serve and protect the pontiff during their tenure.

In 1499, armored arquebusiers under the command of [[Cesare Borgia]], son of Pope [[Rodrigo Borgia|Alexander VI]], participated in the [[Siege of Monteriggioni|assault on Monteriggioni]]; one arquebusier managed to wound [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] during the latter stages of the assault.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Assassin.27s_Creed:_Brotherhood_-_E3_gameplay_demo_0-0">[1]</sup>. In 1503, the arquebusier continued to serve under Cesare, keeping watch over a Papal parade in Rome. At least one arquebusier spotted an approaching Ezio Auditore, but was killed by another Assassin before firing his shot.

===Papal Guards===
''Main article: [[Papal Guard]]''

[[File:813px-Papal_Guards-Brotherhood.jpg|thumb|Papal Guards with Cesare Borgia]]The '''Papal Guard''' are elite soldiers commanded by the Papacy to serve and protect the pontiff during his tenure. The armor worn by these guards seem largely ceremonial in design. Although it seemed to serve its purpose well enough, it was unable to stop the blade of the Assassins. They also combine the best qualities of all the other guards.

By 1503, the Papal Guard protected Pope [[Rodrigo Borgia|Alexander VI]], and were commanded by the Pope's son – [[Cesare Borgia]]. During that year, several guards were forced to confront several [[Assassin]]s, including [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], who had attacked the Papal parade in [[Rome]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood E3 trailer">''[http://www.e3expo.com Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood E3 trailer]''</ref>

== Taunts ==
The following are examples of taunts that Ezio uses to anger the guards:
* ''"It's a fight, fesso'' (fool)''! Start fighting for a change!"''
* ''"Come now! You bore me!"''
* ''"Are you afraid?!"''
* ''"Your mamma cannot even save you now!"''
* ''"Hurry up! I need to meet a lady friend!"''
* ''"Shall we dance?"''
* ''"I hate these awkward moments!"''
* ''"Can you hear me in there metal man?"'' (said to Brutes occasionally)

==Trivia==
* The quickest way to defeat any guard is to counter kill with the [[hidden blade]]. This requires reflexes and timing, however, as the counter kill window is only a fraction of that of a sword or dagger.
* The Militia Guards resemble the Swiss Guard in appearance, due to their similar caps, swords and clothes, though in different colors.
* The amount of counter attacks needed to kill a guard does not affect counter kills with heavy weapons, long weapons or the hidden blade. For all of these, the guard being countered is unable to block or parry.
* In ''Assassin's Creed II'' the taunts Ezio says to brutes are different from the taunts he says to the other guards, mainly insulting them about their weight. For example, the taunt, "Well, you're certainty well fed!"
* Strangely, in the mission "Play Along," Ezio assassinates an Agile so he can disguise himself as a guard, but instead of having an Agile's outfit, he wears the outfit of a Leader guard.
* In PlayStation home, you can purchase the design of a Seeker for your avatar, which also comes with a spear.
* On Xbox Live, you can purchase the outfit of one of the Militia guards.
* Strangely, in the cut scene where Ezio's [[Flying machine]] crashes on the Doge's Palace in [[Venice]], you can see a Brute and a Seeker stationed on the rooftop.
* In Florence, Borgia guards are often seen guarding treasure. If you go up to them and start a fight, then run into a group of Medici guards, the two groups will start fighting each other, making this an effective escape tactic. The [[Borgia]] guards will nearly always win, unless there is a massive number of [[Medici|Medici guards]] fighting them. After the fight, they will then return to guard the treasure (Borgia) or patrol the city (Medici).

* In the mission "Clothes Make The Man", Ugo tells Ezio that the thieves are to imporsonate the archers. Yet in the next mission "Everything Must Go", after Ezio kills the archers on the rooftops, the thieves wear the armor of Leader guards instead of archer armor.

==Gallery==

<center><gallery captionalign="left">
File:250px-Seeker.jpg|A [[Seekers|Seeker]]
File:Brute.jpg|A [[Brute]]
Assassins-creed-ii-20090923115315350.jpg|An [[archers|Archer]]
File:Assassins-creed-ii-20090923115318740.jpg|An [[Agile]]
File:assassins-creed-ii-20090923115314162.jpg|A Militia
File:Sneakattack from haystack.jpg|[[Ezio]] killing a [[seekers|Seeker]] stealthily
File:Archerdead.jpg|[[Ezio]] killing an [[Archers|Archer]]
File:Assassins_Creed_2_1.jpg|[[Ezio]] pulling an [[archers|Archer]] off the roof
File:ACB4.jpg|[[Ezio]] fighting a Guard in [[Rome]] on horseback
File:ACB3.jpg|[[Ezio]] escaping from [[Arquebusiers]]
File:Guardkill.png|[[Ezio]] commanding an arrow shower on [[Papal Guards]]
assassins-creed-altair-guard-sword-fight.jpg|Altaïr fighting a guard
AC2_S_088_Tuscany_Hostage.jpg|Ezio fighting guards in Tuscany
assassins-creed-brotherhood-20101017102302262_640w.jpg|Ezio fighting a group of guards in Rome.
Assassins-creed-20070920083608955 640w.jpg|Talal with Jerusalem archers
Cesare and the Papal Guard.jpg|Cesare and Papal guards
</gallery></center>

==References==
<references/>

{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACSeries}}
[[Category:Guards]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Gameplay]]
[[Category:Articles revamp]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II: Discovery Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's creed: Altaïr's Chronicles gameplay]]

Hidden Blade

2010-10-25T15:50:37Z

122.162.164.98: /* Basic usage */

{{Era|AC|AC2|Assassins}}
{{Revamp}}
[[File:Hiddenblade.jpg|thumb|300px|Altaïr stabbing a crusader with the Hidden Blade.]]
{{quote|The hidden blade has been a constant companion of ours over the years. Some would say it defines us - and they would not be entirely wrong. Many of our successes would not have been possible without it.|[[The Codex|Altaïr's Codex]], Page 13|Assassin's Creed II}}

The iconic weapon of the [[Assassin's Creed series|''Assassin's Creed'' series]], the '''Hidden Blade''' is used both for stealth assassinations and for regular combat.

==''Assassin's Creed''==
Although [[Altaïr]] already has this weapon at the start of the game, he loses it when he is demoted to [[Novice]]. At his first promotion to [[rank]] 2, however, he earns it back (along with his [[sword]]) so that he may perform his first assassination on [[Tamir]], the black marketeer, in [[Damascus]].

===Basic usage===
[[Video:12 Ways to Wield the Hidden Blade|thumb|300px|right|Video tutorial on usage of the Hidden Blade.]]
This weapon is mostly used for stealthy, low profile assassinations upon soldiers. An unaware soldier may be assassinated without drawing too much attention, with stealth assassinations being possible from both behind and in front of the target. Altaïr rams the blade into the victim's abdomen (front) or through his spine (back). When stealth is not a priority, Altaïr may perform a high profile assassination. This involves jabbing the blade through the target's nose and into the brain when facing Altaïr, or pushing the target onto his knees and stabbing him in the neck when approached from behind.

The Hidden Blade is the only weapon that Altaïr may wield while sprinting. When Altaïr is close enough to the victim during a foot pursuit, the button on the ''weapon hand ''button on the HUD will change to "assassinate", which can be pressed to carry out the assassination. Altaïr will perform a running leap, landing on his victim from behind and burying the blade in the neck. This feature makes it an ideal choice for running down targets who flee such as [[Talal]], the slave trader, in [[Jerusalem]].

[[File:Altaïr_using_the_hidden_blade.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Altaïr performing an air assassination.]]
Both low and high profile assassinations may fail. A guard wary of your actions may catch your arm when you attempt the kill and throw you back. Attacks from behind and attacks made upon guards who are prone on the ground will never fail, no matter the circumstances. Be aware, of course, that you will lose one third of your [[synchronization]] if you assassinate innocent civilians with the Hidden Blade, just as with any other weapon. However once you complete the game and replay a memory block, you will not lose synchronization if you kill innocent civilians.

===Air Assassination===
In a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blXy3W2O2PE 2007 demo] of the [[William of Montferrat|William V of Montferrat]] mission, [[Jade Raymond]] introduced a move called ''air to assassinate'' that combines some of Altaïr's acrobatic skills with his Hidden Blade. From higher ground above a target such as a nearby roof or beam, Altaïr leaps directly onto his victim and stabs him in the throat. Although the move was not covered in the manual or in-game tutorials, air to assassinate does exist within ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' and the controls were documented by stabguy on [http://www.thehiddenblade.com/air-assassinate-guide The Hidden Blade] website. All forms of air to assassinate draw attention of nearby guards, even when performed in low profile. Note that in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', ''Air to Assassinate'' was renamed ''Air Assassination'' and included as a required tutorial with simplified controls.

===In combat===
The Hidden Blade can also be used while in combat. An enemy who has been grabbed and thrown (or counter thrown with a grab break) can easily be killed while he lies on the ground. Using the Hidden Blade in combat against large groups is challenging, as Altaïr cannot block ''any'' attack. The time frame in which Altaïr can counter-attack is extremely small compared to the sword and the short blade, but successfully countering enables one of several different - and always lethal - counter-attacks in which Altaïr stabs his opponent in the chest, head, abdomen, base of the skull, or spine. It is also possible to assassinate the enemy in combat, while he is caught in a moment of inattention or grappling with a vigilante, or if he is taunting Altaïr (this is documented on The Hidden Blade as the "taunting penalty"), but any other time it will fail because the enemy will always block the attack. It is also possible to assassinate your targets even if they are aware of you by getting behind them and assassinating them.

===Mechanism===
[[File:Assassinscreedbladema5.png|thumb|The ring mechanism.]]
In ''Assassin's Creed'', Altaïr has the hidden blade on his left hand. The blade is integrated into the vambrace, and when not in use, sits retracted inside of the slide mechanism. Though not fully or officially understood, as to ''how'' the blade functions, there are a number of theories. One being that when Altaïr flicks his wrist, the blade is ejected with the combined force of Altaïr's arm and gravity. Altaïr is "unhinging" or "releasing" the blade which is kept locked in place. If the player holds down the weapon hand button, the blade stays ejected and Altaïr makes a fist around the blade, which rests in the spot where his amputated ring finger once was. Another popular theory is that a ring mechanism is used and that opening the hand ejects the blade, but this raises the question that why the blade does not activate every time he opens his hand, say when leaping for a ledge, and how he can hold the blade in his fist without it retracting. Another, more sensible theory is that it uses both mechanisms to operate the blade and that the blade wont eject or retract without both systems being used. one being the flicking of the wrist, and the ring mechanism. This explains why he flicks his wrist ''and'' opens his hand to eject the blade and why he can close his fist without the blade retracting and why he can flick his arm without fear of an unexpected stabbing.

The true mechanics behind the retraction of the blade yet remain a mystery. When the weapon hand button is released, Altaïr loosens his fist and opens his hand. At this point, the blade returns to the vambrace seemingly of its own accord. Some other theories on the blade's mechanics exist, with some maintaining that the blade works on a spring-retraction system, and with others stating that the blade is never truly locked when it is released, and therefore the blade will return if Altaïr is not holding it in place. Many fans of the game have attempted to construct their own hidden blade, with many posting videos of their blade on YouTube.

It is probable that it works on the same system as modern full automatic switchblade knives. There are two springs of equal strength present. The inertia from the pull/push of one spring is enough to overcome the resistance of the other spring for the blade to lock into place.

===Role in investigations and missions===
====Informant missions====
The Hidden Blade is also used for some of the [[investigation]]s given to you by [[informants]]. You are asked to stealthily assassinate a number of targets. If any guard even once confronts you, the mission is failed. If you attack the targets or the guards with [[fists]], the [[short blade]], the [[sword]], or any other high profile weapon, you will fail the mission. Because of this, you may '''only''' use [[throwing knives]] and/or the Hidden Blade to assassinate your targets.

====Interrogation missions====
During [[Interrogation]] missions, after successfully interrogating the target, Altaïr is forced to kill them, so they cannot reveal his plans to the enemy. He will bury the blade in their stomach to kill them, then gently lower their body onto the ground so as not to draw further attention to himself.

====Save Citizen missions====
In the optional [[Save Citizen]] missions to save citizens from soldiers threatening to kill them, this weapon will come in handy. Successfully and stealthily used, you might take out three of the soldiers before they notice you, draw their weapons, and engage you in a swordfight. Also, the Save Citizen missions are commonly located in alleyways or dark corners, so it is possible to begin the mission by starting from an elevated position and performing an air-to-assassinate.

====Assassinations====
The hidden blade is used in every storyline assassination you perform. Even if you begin by attacking the enemy with a sword, you will always finish them off with the hidden blade before it cuts to the death cutscene.

==''Assassin's Creed II''==
[[File:Lineage Hidden Blade.png|thumb|300px|Giovanni's (later Ezio's) Hidden Blade in ''Lineage''.]]

{{quote|The blade is designed to ensure the commitment of whomever wields it.|[[Leonardo da Vinci]]|Assassin's Creed II}}

In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', [[Ezio]] possesses two hidden blades, whereas Altaïr has only one. In addition, unlike Altaïr who had to sacrifice his ring finger, both of Ezio's ring fingers are intact due to a design that raised the base of the weapon itself, as outlined in the Codex.

[[File:Double_assassination.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A Double Assassination from directly in between two guards.]]
This revised hidden blade had been designed by Altaïr (presumably through using the Apple of Eden) so that the Assassins, who he intended to go undercover, could not be identified by the lack of a ring finger. Furthermore, the mechanism did not require a wrist "flick" to extend the blade, thus the user could retract the blade without any wrist or hand movement, and as pictured the weapon could be used with a clenched fist (Giovanni has only been depicted as using a clenched fist, while Ezio would use the "traditional" open hand as did Altaïr). While there is a forward/downward-rotating wheel atop the rear portion of the mechanism's housing, its function has not been identified, and there are no known schematics or explanations for the mechanism. In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]'', there were no shots of it operating while explicitly being worn on the actor's arm without gimmicks (such as an open-ended rear housing through which the blade could be pushed or pulled), so it is probable that no actual working prop exists that operates as depicted.

[[File:Demond_blade2.jpg|thumb|250px|The blade given to Desmond by Lucy.]]
Ezio's first blade would be inherited from his father, which, along with the corresponding Codex page, the Assassin's Robes and a common sword, had been in Giovanni's secret room after his arrest. The weapon had become inoperative ever since [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni]] had fought [[Rodrigo Borgia|Borgia]]'s men (in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''), when a single sword strike against the blade had dislodged it from the bracer and mechanism, but Ezio brought it to his friend [[Leonardo da Vinci]] to repair it.

Later on, Ezio would acquire another Codex page which upon decryption by Leonardo detailed the construction of a hidden blade with a metal plate on the top side of the vambrace, allowing the wielder to safely deflect enemy attacks and thus to properly engage in armed conflict with the blades.

At the end of the game, [[Desmond Miles|Desmond]] receives from [[Lucy Stillman|Lucy]] a similar model of the Hidden Blade (if not the same one) used by Ezio to face [[Warren Vidic|Vidic]]'s henchmen, but the Poison Blade and Gun are seemingly absent and/or inoperable, possibly due to the fact that the hidden blade that is given still needs improvements from a skilled engineer such as Leonardo, or the fact that lead bullets or the certain alloy used to make the hollowed out blade isn't available anymore.

===In combat===
[[Video:---The Guide to the Hidden Blade---|thumb|left|300px|Video Guide to the Hidden Blade.]]
In ''Assassin's Creed II'', the use of the hidden blade in combat is more classical. It can be used like a regular weapon, and is capable of breaking an enemy's defense. It attacks fairly fast, becoming faster after the acquirement of the second blade, allowing Ezio to unleash a constant barrage of strikes, suppressing a foe's ability to attack or killing them before they can attack. While attacking with the hidden blade, enemies cannot counter-attack, unlike when you attack with swords, maces and smaller weapons. Unlike the first game, it is also possible to block attacks while using the Hidden Blade once he has the upgraded vambrace. The hidden blade also allows you to attack very quickly and gives you more freedom in movement rather than the other weapons. For example, Ezio can easily strafe a 180 degree arch in the time it takes for the enemy to attack. This is barely possible except from very close range range with the sword or dagger. It also allows Ezio to quickly flee from a battle without having to take the time to sheath his weapon.

Veterans of ''Assassin's Creed'' combat may want to challenge themselves by using the Hidden Blade(s) in combat. While the counter-kill timing window is very short (a fraction of a second), skillful timing will be rewarded nicely; except for against the [[Brutes]]' smashes which knock Ezio's weapon away (does not work against Hidden Blades) and [[Seekers]]' (sweep Ezio's feet) special attacks, a successfully timed counter will always kill the guard against which it is performed, even if the guard has high health and/or is a high-ranking soldier. In addition, Brutes are very vulnerable and easy to combo kill with the hidden blades. Even a 3 hit combo can be used to kill a brute: see 1:44 in the video to the left.

===Upgrades===
[[File:Air_assassination.jpg|thumb|250px|An Air Assassination in process.]]
The second Hidden Blade is acquired later and the main blade gets upgraded with the [[poison blade]] and the [[pistol]] installed. Also, both blades get vambraces allowing Ezio to block heavier attacks with the hidden blades. Ezio can buy poison for the blade from [[Doctors]] and ammunition for the pistol at [[Blacksmiths]].

===Techniques===
[[File:956856_20090525_790screen003.jpg|thumb|left|Ezio performing a 'Hiding Spot' assassination.]]
Later on, Ezio can assassinate enemies below with an Air Assassination, a Double Air Assassination if the target is adjacent to another, by leaping from a platform onto the victim. This, however, is easily noticeable by [[guards]] and they will attack once they see you doing it. It is possible to assassinate two guards at the same time (at ground level) by standing between them and piercing both their throats.

At the same time Ezio learns the aforementioned techniques, he also learns how to assassinate enemies that are standing on ledges above him, as well as how to assassinate targets from a hiding spot (e.g. Hay, Wells and Benches).

There are also other techniques that aren't actually part of what Ezio learns, but rather what players use to kill guards. One example would be side-stepping around a guard right after he attacks and then doing a instant kill to their backs with the hidden blade. Also, one can may grab an enemy and strike or throw him so that he falls, and then run to his body to perform a instant kill using the hidden blade before he can get back to his feet. A flashier and possibly quicker alternative is to perform an Air Assassination while running up a nearby wall or other vertical surface (i.e. a pillar). This sort of Air Assassination may also be attempted against standing enemies, though the chance of success is low if the enemy is aware of Ezio's presence during Open Conflict.

Ezio can also perform special combo kill animations and counter kill animations with the dual hidden blades.

==''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood''==
[[File:Acbeziohiddenblades.jpg|thumb|250px|Ezio's new hidden blades in ''Brotherhood''.]]

In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'', 1499, at the beginning of the game, Ezio's hidden blade (or at least its bracer) can be seen on a table, while he is sleeping with [[Caterina Sforza]].

However, in 1503, Ezio has two new hidden blades and bracers on each forearm, both of which match the other new parts of his robes. However, in some screenshots and pictures, Ezio has only one hidden blade instead of two; though the reason for this is currently unknown. Poison darts will be also fired out of the hidden gun.

[[Assassin apprentices|Ezio's apprentices]] are equipped with hidden blades, though they are only given one. The right to two hidden blades is only reserved for the most trusted of Assassins.

The [[smuggler|Smuggler]] from the ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' multiplayer also appears to sport a hidden blade, although it is inverted, with the blade extending from the top of the arm, rather than the bottom.

[[Desmond Miles|Desmond]] wields a hidden blade without a bracer in ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', with only three straps to attach it to his arm.

==Trivia==
[[File:Zw-darius.png|thumb|Darius, the first to wield a Hidden Blade]]
*On one of the [[Codex Pages]] it states that the blade has to be connected or linked with the user, thus explaining part of why Altaïr had his ring finger removed. Altaïr opens his hand and spreads his fingers whenever the blade is extended. Similarly, he never uses the blade with his hand clenched in a fist; all stabbing moves and assassinations are performed with an open hand. The only time the blade sits in the space left by the amputated finger is when the player extends the blade and holds it out (by holding the weapon hand button while out of combat). Holding the button will keep the blade extended, but it does not act as other weapons, it will not scare away civilians.
*In both games the trigger mechanism is not visible on Altaïr's or Ezio's hands, even when they aren't wearing gloves.
*Masyaf Guards in ''Assassin's Creed'' do sport a hidden blade, though they never use it, nor is their ring finger missing.
*[[Malik]], from the first game, had the hidden blade before he lost his arm but did not have an amputated finger.
*The first recorded usage of the Hidden Blade by an Assassin was [[Darius]], when he assassinated [[Xerxes]] of Persia. Moreover, his [[Assassin's Seal|seal]]'s symbol is the Hidden Blade. However, his ring finger is still intact and he weilds it on his right hand.
*[[Patrice Desilets]], the creative director of the game, stated that the addition of a second blade in ''Assassin's Creed II'' also had a lucid reason: it's ''Assassin's Creed II,'' so there are 2 blades.
*In the film ''Smokin' Aces'', one of the assassins sport a weapon similar to the hidden blade. Also, in the movie ''G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'', Storm Shadow uses a weapon similar to the Hidden Blade, though it is limited by the fact it must be operated with both hands. In the new ''Mortal Kombat: Rebirth'' trailer Dr. Alan Zane, a.k.a. Baraka has similar forearm hidden blades. In Soul Calibur : Broken Destiny, the character Dampierre fights with two similar hidden blades, although much bigger in size.
*The Hidden Blade is the only weapon that has a counter attack that cannot be blocked by enemies, though the timing has to be more precise than with a counter with a sword or shortblade.
*Ezio's second Hidden Blade on his right arm in ''Assassin's Creed II'' is black, compared to the original white one. The original design of the second hidden blade was displayed as a brown glove with a white hidden blade, but it is unknown why it was changed into a bracer with a blade like Ezio's primary Hidden blade and bracer.
*In ''Brotherhood'', it seems that Ezio has a new set of Hidden Blades, each of them sporting the gun and poison blade attachments.
*According to the Codex, there are only a limited number of Hidden Blades due to how hard it is to retrieve metal they are made of.
*The ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' multiplayer character, the [[Smuggler]], has a Hidden Blade which extends from the top of her forearm, rather than under her wrist.
*In ''Assassin's Creed II'', after Giovanni tells Ezio to grab everything in his secret chest behind a secret room, Ezio goes home and finds the Assassin robes and wears them. While Ezio puts on the robes, the scene where he is fixing something on his right arm, he is really putting on the brown glove which is displayed in the inventory menu, in the E3 demo, and in some pre-release pictures. Somehow, Ezio's glove is not displayed even though it is displayed that he has it in his inventory where it says "Fists". It is ironic how he obtains the glove when he receives his second hidden blade.

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Soldier

2010-10-25T15:10:42Z

122.162.164.98: /* Agiles */

[[File:Giartnewenemies 2.jpg|thumb[[File:Example.jpg]]|right|290px|From left to right: The Agile, the Archer, the Brute, the Militia, and the Seeker. The Blue uniforms indicate that these guards are from Venice.]]

'''Guards''' are the most common opponents for an [[Assassin]] to battle throughout the ''[[Assassin's Creed series]]''.

==''[[Assassin's Creed]]''==
{{quote|Hashshashin!|Guard in [[Damascus]]}}
During the course of ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', there are two types of guards: Soldiers and Archers. The archers are mostly the same, but there are three ranks of soldiers. All guards are armed with swords (with varying styles).
*The ordinary soldiers don't wear helmets (Muslims wear turbans) and are only equipped with leather armor or light Lamellar armor. They cannot grab or break a grab attack, [[File:CAPTAIN.png|thumb|A Guard Sergeant in [[Acre]]]]cannot combo attack and cannot counter attack. They can only deflect attacks, and there is a 25% chance of dodging a light attack. Guard archers are on par with ordinary ones, except that they are only found on rooftops, wear a hood, and use bows for a ranged attack.
*Guard Sergeants (or elite guards) have helmets, the Crusader variant wear chain mail tabards, and Saracen Sergeants possess medium Lamellar armor. They can grab and there is a 50% chance of them being able to break a grab attack, as well as a 50% one of countering or dodging a light attack. There is also a 25% chance of breaking your defense, but they cannot perform a combo attack.
*Guard Captains are the most powerful guards besides the [[Templar Knight]]. The Muslim Captains wear Baidah helmets and heavy Lamellar armor, while Crusader captains wear chain mail tabards with surcoats, chain mail mittens and varying knight helms (with faces usually covered, due to helmet size). They too can grab and there is a 75% chance of them being able to break a grab attack and counter or dodge a light attack. There is also a 50% chance of breaking your defense. If a successful heavy attack is delivered, they will perform a combo attack.
*[[Templar Knights]] are a special version of guard where only 60 are found in game. They are similar to the Crusader guard captain, except possessing higher stats and a special version of helmet that appears bloodstained. They will also provoke a fight when they see [[Altaïr]], no matter what his notoriety level is. Strangely enough, [[Templar Knights]] can be found in many places, including [[Muslim cities]].

The ordinary Crusader and Muslim soldiers and archers speak English, Crusader Captains and Sergeants speak French or German, Muslim Captains and Guards speak Turkish or Arabic and the Templar Knights speak all of the dialects (but only speak Arabic in Altaïr's fight against Robert's impostor).

The guards in [[Masyaf]], despite being marked as an ally via [[Eagle Vision]], function exactly like normal ones. They are equipped in robes similar to Altaïr's, but they only have a long sword and their robes are shorter. The ordinary guards wear no hoods, the elite guards wear hoods and the guard captains wear hoods and have their faces covered with a cloth, with only eyes visible. They all speak English and have all five fingers, indicating that, though members of the order, they are not assassins themselves, instead serving as "The Common Soldiers" of the Assassins.

(Hints) A defense break stuns your counter attack and deflect ability for three seconds, but not your dodge ability. If an enemy breaks your defense, you can still dodge an incoming attack (once the skill is acquired).

(Hints) To improve your chances of a successful grab attack, break the guards defense (once skill is acquired) then perform a grab. There is only a 10% chance of breaking your grab on elite guards (and 25% for guard captains).

(Hints) If able to counter a heavy attack from a weakened enemy successfully, you will punch and/or kick your enemy violently enough to daze him and cause him to drop to the ground. Before he falls, you have two options, hit the attack button which results in a instant kill move or press the step button which results in breaking his legs, this is known as a "Torture Kill."

(Hints) Heavy attacks are far more difficult for enemies to counter then light attacks, use light attacks after performing a dodge (once skill is acquired) and heavy attacks while in main combat. "Note" The short blade/dagger can only perform light attacks, so either use it against weaker enemies or keep the same enemy under constant barrage without switching targets, thus keeping him from recovering.

==''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''==
{{quote|Assassino!|Guard in [[Venice]]|Assassin's Creed II}}

In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', there are five types of enemy guards:

===Regular Guards===
Those are the "standard" type of guard which can be found almost everywhere on the ground. However, they use a large variety of swords, as well as with maces and war hammers. These regular troops are divided into three ranks themselves: Militia, Elite and Leaders.
[[File:Pazzi2.jpg|thumb|100px|Pazzi thug]]
*'''Thugs '''are people hired by Vieri de' Pazzi to attack [[Ezio]]. While not officially or technically guards, they function in a remarkably similar manner. They will attack Ezio even if he is Incognito, and fight only with fists, making them the easiest to counter. Also, they will notice Ezio much more easily then other guards do. After assassinating [[Uberto Alberti]], they can no longer be found in game, except for in the Courier mission 'Casanova'.
{{-}}
[[File:Militia.jpg|thumb|100px|Militia guard (from [[Forlì]])]]
*'''Militia''' is the weakest rank. They wear little armor, and can be easily killed (with one counter-kill). They are also the most easily frightened during combat, so if they are losing battles, they are the first ones to flee.
{{-}}
[[File:Elite.jpg|thumb|100px|Elite guard (a [[Pazzi]] Guard)]]
*'''Elite''' guards are stronger, wear a moderate amount of armor, and need 2-3 counter-kills to be defeated. Elites are also more courageous than Militias, although if you kill their leader, they will still retreat.
{{-}}
[[File:Leader.jpg|thumb|100px|Leader (a [[Savonarola]] guard)]]
*'''Leaders''' are the best fighters and most tenacious of all the regular soldiers. They wear slightly more armor than their Elite counterparts. The Leaders will last slightly longer than Elites during [[Ezio]]'s counter-attacks. They also hardly give up their weapons, making them harder to disarm than the others. Also, like Brutes, Leader guards cannot be grabbed very easily.
{{-}}
The Regular Guards are not especially agile, but can climb up to the rooftops in order to follow Ezio (though are not as fast as him). Also, they can recognize [[Ezio]] sitting on a bench, but can be assassinated before they recognize him and spread word of his presence.

====Hints====
*In Assassins Creed II The sword can no longer perform heavy attacks, making you more vulnerable to counter attacks. This also means that the ability to counter a heavy attack and perform a "Torture kill" is no longer existent, as well as the ability for enemies to perform combo attacks. Your shortblade/dagger, however, cannot be countered.

*In Assassins Creed II Enemies no longer try to grab you, which means you no longer possess the grab break skill. However, leaders and occasionally elites can break your grab attacks.

*In Assassin's Creed II both you and enemies no longer posses the defense break skill, making it harder to land a direct blow at times.

===Seekers===

The '''[[Seekers]]''', also called "Paranoid", are one of the new special guard types. They are constantly looking in hiding spots (such as the haystacks, benches, and crowds) and checking them (although [[Ezio]] can assassinate the seeker from his hiding spot if this happens). They are armed with long weapons, giving them an increased reach in combat and can also perform "Sweep attacks" which require a wind up and results in them sweeping Ezio off his feet and onto the ground. This attack affects anyone in range of the long weapon, including fellow guards. The Long weapons main attacks cannot be countered with a sword or short blade/dagger, however it can be countered with the Hidden Blade, another long weapon/Polearm or a [[Heavy weapons|Heavy Weapon]]. Seekers, like most of the other guards, wear armor. They wear slightly more armor than a Leader-ranked Standard, but not as much as a Brute. When unarmed, they will occasionally approach Ezio from behind and then hold him while the other guards assault him. Disarming the Seeker will give you an advantage, as you can effectively use his own weapon against him. They also have a morale rate of 80% which makes them the second bravest fighter after the Brute.

===Agiles===

One of the new guard archetypes introduced in [[Assassin's Creed II ]]is the '''[[Agile]]''', which, as the name suggests, are a very fast, light enemy. These guards are more fragile than Militia-Ranked Standards, making them very weak to a combo attack. They run faster than [[Ezio]] and also have the Free Run ability, which can lead to chase sequences. They wield small weapons such as daggers and other short blades. Agiles are extremely good at dodging your attacks, thus the best way to kill an Agile is by tiring him out or assassinating them before they have a chance to reveal their weapon. This can be done by constantly attacking and dodging his moves, however, simply countering an attack performed by the Agile results in a instant kill, just as with the Militia. Agiles have a morale rate of 40% which makes them the third-most cowardice after the militia guard and the [[Archers|archer]].

(Hint: While fleeing from a fight, agiles can quickly catch up to you and attack you. To avoid this jump while running when you see an agile catching up to you. When you jump the agile will stop and attack you and miss letting you get away.)

===Brutes===

The '''[[Brutes]]''' are heavily armored and equipped (wielding two-handed weapons such as heavy swords and axes). Their armor covers almost every part of their bodies, making them tough to bring down, but also making them cumbersome and slow. They are not very intelligent, and won't be able to tell [[Ezio]] from anyone else in a crowd. When deflecting a short weapon, they will not take damage (while all other guards do), but can still be damaged with a counter. A good way to make short work of them is to disarm them and counterattack, as they are very easy to disarm. Brutes have two types of attack: one quick, and one that begins with a wind-up. The latter attack cannot be countered, and must be dodged, while the former can be countered. You must possess a Brute's weapon to counter the wind-up attacks of another Brute. Also the Brutes are the only type of enemy that won't flee a battle, they will only run away if you disarm their weapon and if they cannot find another one. Your best bet in taking out a Brute is by assassination. When facing multiple guards who are unaware of your presence, killing the brute first is a good idea, unless you want to be caught in a long fight.

===Archers===

The '''[[Archers]]''' are guards that patrol and defend the rooftops. They are armed with bows and swords (sometimes maces or war hammers instead of swords), and warn Ezio on sight to leave the place, no matter the notoriety. Approaching them will force them to draw their weapon and commence a fight. Archers are seemingly just Militia-ranked Standards, with the capability of attacking at a distance with their longbows. However, the Archers in the [[Sistine Chapel|Vatican]] are Leader-ranked Standards. While Florentine and Tuscan Archers can be killed with a single Throwing Knife, archers in the other cities and regions (such as Venice and Romagna) will need two [[Throwing Knives]] to be taken down. Since they are almost always on the rooftops on buildings, Archers are fairly easy to dispatch in melee combat, as they have the skill and hardiness of a Militia-ranked standard, making them easy to kill. Another good way to dispatch them is to simply throw them off the roof, which will instantly kill the Archer if they fall more than two stories or if they land in water. The archers also have a morale rate of 30% which makes them a little braver than the average guard.

===Coloring===
The coloring of the guards uniforms can identify whom they serve in the game, whether it be a city or a person.

*Black caps and sleeves means they serve the [[Pazzi]] family (these guards disappear after sequence 5). They are found in Florence and Tuscany.

*Dark red caps and black sleeves with red going down the side means they serve Borgia (these guards usually guard codex pages and appear whenever you encounter Borgia out of Rome). They can be found at the north strip of Venice.

*Dark yellow caps and sleeves with black armor plates means they serve the [[Medici]] (they first appear helping you fight the Pazzi during sequence 4). They are found in Florence and San Gimignano

*Green caps and sleeves means they serve the city of [[Forlì]] (they help you in sequence 12). They are found only in Forlì.

*Blue caps and sleeves with gold armor plates means they serve the city of [[Venice]] (they have much better armor than any other guard in the regular game). They are only found in Venice.

*Black caps, sleeves, and armor plates means they serve [[Savonarola]] (they only appear in sequence 13, are as heavily protected as Venetian guards, and can be seen fighting Borgia guards throughout the city).

*Pink and orange caps and sleeves means that they serve [[Rome]] (they can only be seen in sequence 14 in Rome, they are the most heavily protected guards in the game).

==[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]==
In addition to the guards of ''Assassin's Creed II'', there are several new guard types to reflect the changing location and time period. Guards will also be more aggressive and will have new move's of their own, such as being able to grab Ezio, but you can easliy counter this by flipping them to the ground.

===Crossbowmen===

Similarly to archers, '''Crossbowmen''' patrol and defend the rooftops.

===Arquebusiers===
''Main article: [[Arquebusiers]]''

The '''Arquebusiers''' are firearm-wielding soldiers who serve and protect the pontiff during their tenure.

In 1499, armored arquebusiers under the command of [[Cesare Borgia]], son of Pope [[Rodrigo Borgia|Alexander VI]], participated in the [[Siege of Monteriggioni|assault on Monteriggioni]]; one arquebusier managed to wound [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] during the latter stages of the assault.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Assassin.27s_Creed:_Brotherhood_-_E3_gameplay_demo_0-0">[1]</sup>. In 1503, the arquebusier continued to serve under Cesare, keeping watch over a Papal parade in Rome. At least one arquebusier spotted an approaching Ezio Auditore, but was killed by another Assassin before firing his shot.

===Papal Guards===
''Main article: [[Papal Guard]]''

[[File:813px-Papal_Guards-Brotherhood.jpg|thumb|Papal Guards with Cesare Borgia]]The '''Papal Guard''' are elite soldiers commanded by the Papacy to serve and protect the pontiff during his tenure. The armor worn by these guards seem largely ceremonial in design. Although it seemed to serve its purpose well enough, it was unable to stop the blade of the Assassins. They also combine the best qualities of all the other guards.

By 1503, the Papal Guard protected Pope [[Rodrigo Borgia|Alexander VI]], and were commanded by the Pope's son – [[Cesare Borgia]]. During that year, several guards were forced to confront several [[Assassin]]s, including [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], who had attacked the Papal parade in [[Rome]].<ref name="Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood E3 trailer">''[http://www.e3expo.com Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood E3 trailer]''</ref>

== Taunts ==
The following are examples of taunts that Ezio uses to anger the guards:
* ''"It's a fight, fesso'' (fool)''! Start fighting for a change!"''
* ''"Come now! You bore me!"''
* ''"Are you afraid?!"''
* ''"Your mamma cannot even save you now!"''
* ''"Hurry up! I need to meet a lady friend!"''
* ''"Shall we dance?"''
* ''"I hate these awkward moments!"''
* ''"Can you hear me in there metal man?"'' (said to Brutes occasionally)

==Trivia==
* The quickest way to defeat any guard is to counter kill with the [[hidden blade]]. This requires reflexes and timing, however, as the counter kill window is only a fraction of that of a sword or dagger.
* The Militia Guards resemble the Swiss Guard in appearance, due to their similar caps, swords and clothes, though in different colors.
* The amount of counter attacks needed to kill a guard does not affect counter kills with heavy weapons, long weapons or the hidden blade. For all of these, the guard being countered is unable to block or parry.
* In ''Assassin's Creed II'' the taunts Ezio says to brutes are different from the taunts he says to the other guards, mainly insulting them about their weight. For example, the taunt, "Well, you're certainty well fed!"
* Strangely, in the mission "Play Along," Ezio assassinates an Agile so he can disguise himself as a guard, but instead of having an Agile's outfit, he wears the outfit of a Leader guard.
* In PlayStation home, you can purchase the design of a Seeker for your avatar, which also comes with a spear.
* On Xbox Live, you can purchase the outfit of one of the Militia guards.
* Strangely, in the cut scene where Ezio's [[Flying machine]] crashes on the Doge's Palace in [[Venice]], you can see a Brute and a Seeker stationed on the rooftop.
* In Florence, Borgia guards are often seen guarding treasure. If you go up to them and start a fight, then run into a group of Medici guards, the two groups will start fighting each other, making this an effective escape tactic. The [[Borgia]] guards will nearly always win, unless there is a massive number of [[Medici|Medici guards]] fighting them. After the fight, they will then return to guard the treasure (Borgia) or patrol the city (Medici).

==Gallery==

<center><gallery captionalign="left">
File:250px-Seeker.jpg|A [[Seekers|Seeker]]
File:Brute.jpg|A [[Brute]]
Assassins-creed-ii-20090923115315350.jpg|An [[archers|Archer]]
File:Assassins-creed-ii-20090923115318740.jpg|An [[Agile]]
File:assassins-creed-ii-20090923115314162.jpg|A Militia
File:Sneakattack from haystack.jpg|[[Ezio]] killing a [[seekers|Seeker]] stealthily
File:Archerdead.jpg|[[Ezio]] killing an [[Archers|Archer]]
File:Assassins_Creed_2_1.jpg|[[Ezio]] pulling an [[archers|Archer]] off the roof
File:ACB4.jpg|[[Ezio]] fighting a Guard in [[Rome]] on horseback
File:ACB3.jpg|[[Ezio]] escaping from [[Arquebusiers]]
File:Guardkill.png|[[Ezio]] commanding an arrow shower on [[Papal Guards]]
assassins-creed-altair-guard-sword-fight.jpg|Altaïr fighting a guard
AC2_S_088_Tuscany_Hostage.jpg|Ezio fighting guards in Tuscany
assassins-creed-brotherhood-20101017102302262_640w.jpg|Ezio fighting a group of guards in Rome.
</gallery></center>

==References==
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