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Hidden Blade

2010-01-12T05:46:05Z

71.177.119.62: clean up

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[[File:Hiddenblade.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Altaïr stabbing a crusader with the Hidden Blade.]]

The iconic weapon of the Assassins Creed series, '''Hidden Blades''' are useful both for regular combat and for stealthy, low-profile assassinations. An unaware target may be stabbed (with a variety of animations depending on the angle of attack) without drawing too much attention.

==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 Longsword) so that he may perform his first assassination on [[Tamir|Tamir the Merchant]] in [[Damascus]].

===Usage===
This weapon is mostly used for stealthy, low-profile assassinations upon soldiers. An unaware soldier may be assassinated without drawing too much attention. When stealth is not a priority, Altaïr may perform a high profile assassination. This involves jumping upon an opponent and causing his victim to fall on the ground, then the blade is triggered, stabbing the opponent in the throat, or jabbing the blade into the target's nose, and on into the brain, when right in front of you, between other examples.

Both low and high profile assassinations may fail. A guard wary of your actions may catch your arms when you attempt the kill and throw you back. Counter-maneuvers using the blade are possible in active combat.

Be aware, of course, that you will lose a lot of [[synchronization]] if you assassinate innocent civilians with the hidden blade, just as with any other weapon.

===In combat===
The hidden blade can also be used while in combat. It can be easily used on weak enemies, just pushing him to the ground and then moving in for the kill while he lays on the ground.

Use in combat against stronger enemies or larger groups is more challenging, as it is only possible for Altaïr to counter the enemy he is facing and he cannot block ''any'' attack. The time frame in which Altaïr can counter-attack is extremely small compared to the longsword and short blade, but successfully countering enables one of several different - always lethal - counter-attacks in which Altaïr stabs his opponent in the chest, head, abdomen, under the chin, or spine. Mastering the use of a hidden blade in combat against large and powerful groups of enemies is an art. It is actually possible to assassinate the enemy in combat, while he is caught in a moment of inattention, or grappling with a vigilante, but any other time, it will fail because the enemy will always block the attack.

===Mechanism===
When not in use, the blade is hidden in a gauntlet on Altaïr's lower left arm. A ring on his little finger serves as the trigger for the gear system to eject the blade. As the system is not powerful enough to penetrate enemies, Altaïr extends the blade fully and then stabs it into his foe.

[[File:Assassinscreedbladema5.png|thumb|This diagram shows the mechanism behind the Hidden Blade.]]When the blade is open, it rests between Altaïr's middle and little fingers, in the space left by his amputated ring finger. This amputation is part of the initiation into the Hashshashin sect, which the [[Assassins]] are based on. When he is ready to put up the blade, he flicks his wrist and the blade returns to the gauntlet.

===Role in investigations and missions===
====Assassination missions====
The Hidden Blade is also used for one of the [[investigation|investigations]] 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|short blade]], the [[Longsword|longsword]], or any other high profile weapon, you will fail the mission. Because of this, you may ONLY use the [[Throwing Knives|throwing knives]] or the Hidden Blade.

====Interrogation missions====
During [[Interrogation]] missions, after successfully interrogating the target, Altaïr is forced to kill them, so they can not 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. Occasionally, other assassinations performed with the Hidden Blade play out in the same manner.

====Save Citizen missions====
In the optional [[Citizens|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. If they notice your tactic, however, you'd best be prepared and draw either your short blade or sword for a swordfight.

====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==
{{quote|The blade is designed to ensure the commitment of whomever wields it.|Leonardo da Vinci}}

[[Image:Ac2hiddenblade.png|50px|right]]
[[File:Ezio's_Hidden_Blade.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Ezio's Modern Hidden Blade.]]
In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', [[Ezio]] possesses two of these blades, whereas Altair has only one. In addition, unlike Altaïr, who had to sacrifice his ring finger, both Ezio's ring fingers are intact, due to a modification that raises the base of the weapon itself.

Ezio's blade is the one inherited from his father. The blade is initally broken since the last fight of [[Giovanni Auditore|Giovanni]] against [[Rodrigo Borgia|Borgia]]'s men (see ''[[Assassin's Creed: Lineage]]''), but Ezio brought it to his friend [[Leonardo da Vinci]] to repair it.

{{Spoiler}}
At the end of the game, [[Desmond]] recieves from [[Lucy]] a similar (if not the same) model of the Hidden Blade used by Ezio to face the attacking Abstergo's men. However, unlike Ezio's, the Hidden Blade has no upgrades.
{{Spoiler End}}

===In combat===

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

In ''Assassin's Creed II'', the use of the hidden blade in combat is more "classical": we can use it as a normal bladed weapon, and try to break the enemy's defenses instead of just trying to assassinate him. It attacks fairly fast, becoming faster as he gains the second blade, allowing Ezio to unleash a constant barrage of strikes, suppressing a foes ability to attack. It is also possible to block attacks while using the Hidden Blade unlike the first game (not with the Blade itself though, but with the upgraded bracers).

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 (fraction of a second), skillful timing will be rewarded nicely; except for against the [[Brutes]]' smashes which knock Ezio's weapon away (which 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 they have high health and/or are a high-ranking soldier.

===Upgrades===
The second hidden blades is acquired later and the main blade gets upgraded with the [[Poison Blade]] and the [[Pistol]] installed.

== '''Trivia'''==

[[File:Dariuscropped.png|frame|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, and will act as any unsheathed weapon, scaring away civilians.
*Ironically in both games the trigger mechanism is not visible on Altair's or Ezio's hands, even when they aren't wearing gloves it is not there.
*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 [[wikipedia:Xerxes|Xerxes]]. Moreover, his seal's symbol is the Hidden blade. Also, his ring finger is still intact.
*[[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 the sequel, it's Assassin's Creed 2 so there are 2 blades. 

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[[Category:Assassin's Creed Weapons]]
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The Truth

2010-01-12T05:32:33Z

71.177.119.62: /* Trivia */

{{quote|Hello. This is...they call me Subject 16. Listen, I don't have much time - there's something I have to show you. We have been lied to this whole time; everything we know, everything we've been brought up to believe - it's wrong.|Subject 16}}

The Truth is a sidequest in [[Assassin's Creed II]] that can be unlocked by uncovering [[glyphs]] throughout the world, and solving the puzzles that accompany each glyph. There are 20 in all, and successfully unlocking each one will give a bit more insight into the Origins of the Templars, the Assassins, and the [[Piece of Eden]].

In the video, [[Adam and Eve]] are seen running from something. They move through an open area which may be The Garden of Eden. The scenery is a mixture between flora, a shiny blue material that resembles glass, and a white surface which sounds like stone. The garden is decorated in a very futuristic style which is a strong contrast against the biblical setting. Moving through a circular automatic door, Adam and Eve use free-running (similar to that used by the [[Assassins]]) to climb a large, futuristic looking building. While they are climbing the building, a shadow can be seen holding a [[Piece of Eden]] to control several human slaves. These workers appear to be in an environment similar to that of a metal refinery. The slave in the foreground is clearly using a hammer to shape a metal object. The brief appearance of the shadow is visually similar to [[Minerva]], sharing the flowing clothes and glowing emblem on the headwear. [[Adam and Eve]] continue climbing until they reach the roof of the building. The camera zooms outwards, revealing many other futuristic buildings surrounding them. Further in the background, a mountain is clearly visible, while there is little other elevation in land elsewhere. The terrain is lush, and large forest boundaries are visible. Eve can then be seen to be holding a [[Piece of Eden]]. Eve then says "Adam, I have it!", Adam acknowledges Eve, and she then yells: "Look out!" The memory suddenly ends, and binary code flashes up. The numbers read: "EDEN"

These glyphs are based upon the markings left behind in [[Assassin's Creed]], which were left behind by [[Subject 16]], and written in his blood. Many of these glyphs can be recognized as the [[Cryptic Messages]] from the previous game.

== Trivia ==

[[File:Lolcookie.jpg|thumb|255px|Mount Kilimanjaro bears a strong resemblance to the Mountain in the Truth Video]]
*It is very interesting to note and speculate how Subject 16 managed to get a hold of this video. It is also very probable (considering 16's strong knowledge on the subject) that he knew a lot more than what the video depicted, considering at one Glyph he says "There, do you see what's going on........? *Sigh* not yet, but you will". Meaning that he might have known a lot about the events that appeared in the video, and beyond.
*[[Altaïr]] himself saw the video at one point in his life. As in one of the codex pages, he says the video is the most troubling thing his eyes have ever witnessed. It is clear that he had watched the video, possibly shown to him by the Apple of Eden, describing all the things that happen in the video. Speaking of screaming that still echoes in his mind, flame and fire, and tall metal towers that are overlooked by a mountain. Oddly enough, he does not actually mention or reference to [[Adam and Eve]] in any way, while speaking of it. this may be due to the fact, as explained in other Codex Pages, that Ältair is stubbornly refusing to believe in Christianity and its explainations, including the creational theory. This may also explain how [[Subject 16]] knows about the video, if 16 is another descendant of [[Altaïr]], then it's possible Abstergo ripped the content of this video through the Animus, as the same glitches show up through the video when Desmond was in the Animus. Subject 16 likely saw the same as Altaïr, and succeeded to obtain the data Abstergo ripped from his memory and hid it for others to find.
*It looks like the mountain in the background is Mount Kilimanjaro, as the mountain is visually identical to the mountain. The image appears to be taken from the one in [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mt._Kilimanjaro_12.2006.JPG Wikimedia], except that it's horizontally flipped. This also makes sense because Mount Kilimanjaro is in Africa, and the origins of humans are said to be in Africa, more spicifically mid-africa, which is also rougly the location of kilimanjaro. Also, one of the dots on the codex map in [[AC2]] is in Africa, at roughly the area of Mount Kilimanjaro. Further adding to this theory is that Lucy herself said that Vidic tagged events in the Middle East and Ancient Africa.
*It's possible that [[Subject 16]] is a descendant of [[Adam and Eve]] and that [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad|Altair]] could be related to [[Adam and Eve]].
*It is possible that the video is taken from a time period predating the war that Minerva referred to, when humans were enslaved by '[[Those Who Came Before]]'. It is likely then that Adam and Eve escaping Eden (the haven in which 'gods' and humans lived) sparked the human rebellion which led to the cataclysmic event also mentioned by Minerva.
*At the end of the video, a block of binary code can be seen briefly. The code is "01000101 01000100 01000101 01001110" which translates as EDEN.

== Video ==
[[Video:Assassin's Creed 2: The Truth|500px|left]]

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