Blowpipe

A blowpipe

The blowpipe is a ranged, silent weapon consisting of a long narrow tube for shooting light projectiles such as darts though pneumatic pressure from a user's exhalation.

The Hidden Ones used blowpipes since at least the Islamic Golden Age, and the practice was continued into the subsequent Middle Ages following their rebranding as Assassins, though its use was not exclusive to them, as the Guardians of the Observatory who lived in Long Bay, Jamaica also utilized the device.

Three types of dart could be used in conjunction with the blowpipe: poison, berserk, and sleep darts, each crafted out of animal bones that could be obtained through hunting. Poison darts delivered a lethal and fast-acting toxin to victims. Berserk darts provoked hallucinations and caused targets to attack anyone within close range, including guards, animals, and even an Assassin themselves, for a short period of time until the toxin wore off, at which point the target died. Sleep darts temporarily sedated targets, allowing Assassins to sneak past unnoticed. All types of blowpipe darts could be used to cancel out the effects of the other.

History

The first known use of the blowpipe and darts dates back to 9th-century Baghdad, where Hidden Ones like Basim ibn Ishaq could equip them from their bureau's arms stock for use against the Order of the Ancients and their allies in the city. While he initially trained with just sedative darts, Basim could upgrade them to deliver poison or hallucinogens with sufficient supplies.

In 1673, the Caribbean Assassins' Mentor Bahlam used an unusually potent sleep dart to subdue the Sage Thom Kavanagh before safely transporting him to the Assassin camp of Tulum, where Thom awoke some days later.

Mary Read giving a blowpipe to Edward Kenway

In 1715, while operating in Havana under the guise of Duncan Walpole, Edward Kenway encountered a group of Assassins who were armed with blowpipes. Edward himself was shot with a dart at close range, causing him to lose focus for a few seconds before the effects wore off. Edward aquired a blowpipe of his own the following year, when he visited Tulum and aided Mary Read during a raid by the Royal Navy on the settlement. Using the darts, Edward was able to eliminate the British soldiers and free both the Assassins and his own crew members who were being held hostage by them.

A decade later in 1725, Edward had a custom blowpipe made for him during his travels in Southeast Asia. Designed by the engineer Yun Pyeong-Gyu, it was similar to Edward's previous blowpipe used in the Caribbean, able to fire darts that either induced sleep or fury in his victims. The Assassin notably made use of his new blowpipe on Monkey Island, where he incapacitated a number of native warriors brainwashed by a crescent amulet—a Piece of Eden—before bringing them back to their village.

In the 1760s and 1770s, the Louisianan Assassin Aveline de Grandpré used a blowpipe that contained lethal and berserk darts. The weapon had originally belonged to the Haitian Assassin Mentor François Mackandal before being acquired by his student Agaté, who later passed it down to Aveline. While disguised in her lady persona, Aveline made use of a parasol gun, given to her by Gérald Blanc, which contained a mechanism similar to the blowpipe.

In 1862, the British Assassin Ethan Frye attempted to kill solicitor Charles Pearson with a blowpipe to acquire the Apple of Eden in his possession. However, his assassination attempt was thwarted by the British Templar Cavanagh, who killed Pearson himself and sent his henchmen to attack Ethan.

Behind the scenes

Assassin's Creed III: Liberation

The "Deadly Haystack" achievement could be earned by killing fifty enemies from a haystack using the blowpipe. The "Predator" achievement could be earned by killing an enemy with the blowpipe from a tree whilst using Eagle Vision.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Civilians reacted to a berserk dart much the same way as regular guards, but, if Edward was detected by them, could not be engaged in a fight. Edward was only able to neutralize them by using a sleep dart or a firearm, though he could also wait until the dart's effect wore off. Any melee attack from a person affected by a berserk dart would cause much more damage than a usual, non-berserk person's attack.

Berserk and sleep darts could be used to hunt wild animals, with sleep darts allowing for easier kills. Berserk darts were capable of killing nearly all types of animals after the poison had run its course, but it did not make them more aggressive than usual.

Gallery

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  Basim's blowpipe
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  A blowgun among Alonzo Batilla's various treasures
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  Edward's blowpipe during his time in Asia
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  Agaté explaining the use of the blowpipe to Aveline
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  Aveline's blowpipe
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  Initiates art of Aveline's blowpipe

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed III: Liberation (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Assassin's Creed: Pirates
• Assassin's Creed: Underworld
• Assassin's Creed: Mirage
• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple