Freerunning

2012-07-15T03:28:08Z

69.108.0.115: /* Vertical movement */

{{Era|ACAC|AC|ACBL|AC2|AC2D|ACB|ACR|AC3|TSC|Renaissance|Bbook|ACPL|ACL|ASD}}
{{WP-REAL|Parkour}}
{{Dialogue|Rosa|Climbing a bit of scaffolding is all well and good, but let's see how you do out in the open.|Ezio|Top of that tower, then? Torno fra un attimo. ''(I'll be right back.)''|[[Rosa]] challenging Ezio Auditore.|Assassin's Creed II}}
[[File:Zw-codex-23.png|thumb|250px|The [[Codex]] sketch on freerunning.]]
'''Freerunning''' is a form of acrobatics, in which participants navigate through a landscape by performing fluid movements over and across urban or natural structures.

This particular form of movement was utilized primarily by members of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], and was a vital asset both during and after assassinations. Over time, Assassins would also use a series of tools to supplement their climbing and freerunning abilities.

==Vertical movement==
In general, vertical movements involved climbing or scaling structures that provided adequate handholds, or a texture rough enough to grip. Inversely, they also allowed one to safely drop down from a height.

*'''Wallpass''' was the act of climbing a tall wall by kicking its surface once to propel upwards.<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>
*'''Climb-up''' was the movement of climbing up onto an obstacle from a hanging position.<ref name="AC"/>
[[File:Sixth day 4.png|thumb|250px|right|[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]] climbing up onto a bar.]]
*'''Drop''' was the act of dropping from a hanging position or bar.<ref name="AC"/>
*'''Long jump''' was a jump from a high height, and was usually followed by a break fall.<ref name="AC"/>
*'''Climb leap''' (also named Dyno) was a vertical jump while holding onto a vertical surface, and allowed one to grab potentially out-of-reach handholds.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>
*'''Beam jump''' was performed from [[Horses|horseback]], and allowed one to use the horse's momentum to leap from the saddle, grab a beam, and swing around and onto it.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>
*'''Corner swing''' was when one would sharply turn a corner, by jumping forward, and grabbing a swinging lantern or pot mounted on a building's corner.<ref name="Brotherhood"/>
*'''[[Leap of Faith]]''' was performed only by trained Assassins, and involved leaping from a significant height, onto a cushioned material.<ref name="AC"/>

==Horizontal movement==
Horizontal movements generally involved moving over large distances, or methods that allowed one to clear obstacles, such as gaps or breaks.

*'''Swing''' was a movement in which one swung onto a bar and let go, enabling one to grab another object or drop to the ground.<ref name="AC"/>
*'''Pass''' involved quickly and smoothly passing over medium sized obstacles.<ref name="AC"/>
[[File:Altair free-run.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] performing a gap jump.]]
*'''Break fall''' was a forward roll where the hands, arms, and diagonal of the back made contact with the ground.<ref name="AC"/>
*'''Arm jump''' was to land on the side of an obstacle in a hanging position, hands gripping the top edge of the obstacle, holding the body in place.<ref name="AC"/>
*'''Back eject''' was to jump backwards from a hanging position onto an opposite structure.<ref name="AC2"/>
*'''Gap jump''' was performed similarly to a long jump, except over an open expanse between two relatively level areas.<ref name="AC"/>
*'''Precision jump''' was a moving jump from one object to a precise spot on another object, usually with a small surface.<ref name="AC"/>
*'''Spring jump''' could only be done using a springboard, such as those in the [[Oltrarno District]] of [[Florence]]. It allowed one to jump forward twice as far, through the external force of the device.<ref name="AC2 - Bonfire">''Assassin's Creed II'' - ''[[Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)]]''</ref>
*'''Vault''' was to use one's own momentum to slide over or under obstacles.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>
*'''Dive''' was only used with merchant stalls, where one dove hands-first through an open stall and used a roll to get back up quickly.<ref name="AC"/>

==Tools==
{{Quote|When he tires of running, an Assassin must take to the air.|[[Yusuf Tazim]] commenting on the zipline.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}

[[File:41870.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Ezio using the Hookblade to climb.]]
As they used freerunning for travel and escape, Assassins (or their allies) developed tools that would improve abilities. Among these were the [[Metal Cestus#Climb Leap Glove|Climb Leap Glove]], manufactured by [[Leonardo da Vinci]],<ref name="Brotherhood"/> and the [[Hookblade]], which was used by the Assassins of the [[Turkish Assassins|Turkish branch]].<ref name="Revelations">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>

Though the climb leap technique could also be performed unaided,<ref name="AC2"/> the Climb Leap Glove improved the strength of one's grip and allowed older or less experienced individuals to perform the technique.<ref name="Brotherhood"/>

The Hookblade aided in both vertical and horizontal movement. When used with [[ziplines]] posted on city rooftops, the Hookblade allowed one to travel great diagonal distances from the rooftops much quicker than running or climbing normally. The device also extended one's upward reach during a climb leap, or forwards during an arm jump.<ref name="Revelations"/>

==Trivia==
*Though referred to as "freerunning" throughout the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]], the Assassins' focus on speed and efficiency, rather than creativity, more closely resembled standard {{Wiki|Parkour}}.
*There was a [[Bugs|bug]] present in most installments of the series, where [[civilians]] in certain areas or circumstances were able to perform free-running movements.
*Other than the Assassins, several factions were also known to be adept freerunners, including [[Agile guards]], [[Thieves]], [[Borgia Messengers]], [[Papal Guard]]s, [[Followers of Romulus]], and [[Janissaries]].
*Freerunning puzzles had been a mainstay in the series since ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', coming in the form of [[Assassin Tombs]], [[Secret Locations|Templar Lairs]], [[Lairs of Romulus]] and [[Memory Seals|Memory Seal locations]].

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" position="center">
Ac23.jpg|Ezio climbing up a church.
ACII Eziothieves V.png|Ezio and several thieves swinging from a bar.
The Creed (89).jpg|Ezio performing a corner swing.
Connorjumping.jpg|[[Connor Kenway]] swinging on a tree branch.
Zw-desmond-bleeding.png|[[Desmond Miles]] performing a precision jump.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II: Discovery Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed III Gameplay]]

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Freerunning