Assassin rank

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The Assassin insignia

As an Assassin improved in skill and training, they would progress through a series of ranks, which denoted their standing within the Order. Starting from Novice until Master Assassin, apprentices would improve in both weaponry and ability, learning either from mentors, or on the field.

Though ranks were only strictly denoted in times when the Order was formally established, they were nevertheless implied at other times; roughly indicating a member's seniority in the Order.

History

The Egyptian Hidden Ones, the oldest branch of the Order, had implemented a ranking system shortly after their establishment in the 1st century BCE, though the exact significance of each rank has been lost to time. The Magas Codex, a document dating to circa 30 BCE, attests to the existence of at least two Hidden One ranks during this period: Acolyte and Master. The title of Mentor was also used as early as 46 BCE, though it was reserved for the Order's co-founders: Bayek and Amunet.

Between the 2nd and 5th centuries CE, the Hidden Ones operating in the Roman province of Britannia used the Latin titles of Acolytus and Magister, which corresponded to the ranks of Acolyte and Master, respectively. By the 8th century, the title of Master also came to be referred to as Master Assassin, with the Chinese Hidden One Li E attaining this rank in 755, after vanquishing the Order of the Ancients from his homeland.

The Alamut Council initiating Basim ibn Ishaq into the Brotherhood

The Hidden Ones of Alamut operating in the Abbasid Caliphate during the 9th century featured their own unique ranking system. While ancient titles such as Acolyte and Master were still used, the progression for newly-inducted Hidden Ones differed from other branches around the world. Recruits would start at the rank of Initiate, followed by Apprentice, Novice, Disciple, Assassin, and finally Master. The branch had only one Mentor, who led the Hidden Ones alongside a council composed of several Master Assassins.

When the Hidden Ones in the Middle East were reformed as the Assassins in the 11th century, their ranking system also changed. By the time of the Third Crusade, new recruits of the Levantine Brotherhood started at the rank of Novice, who did not carry weapons and as such were not allowed to perform assassinations. As they climbed the Order's ranks – nine in total – Assassins were granted additional weapons and tools to help them better complete their missions, culminating in their elevation to Master Assassin.

By the time of the Renaissance, certain Brotherhoods around the world still used a ranking system to monitor the progression of Assassin apprentices, such as the Italian and Ottoman Brotherhoods. Newly inducted members would start at the rank of Recruit, and as they completed contracts or gained experience from battles, they climbed the ranks and gained access to better weaponry and equipment. Apprentices who completed their training were elevated to Master Assassins, typically via a ceremony in the case of the Italian Brotherhood. Ottoman Master Assassins could be further trained as Den Masters, being assigned to oversee one of several Assassin Dens in Constantinople and defend them from the Templars.

Arno Dorian wearing his Master Assassin robes after being welcomed back into the Order

Over the following centuries, the practice of Assassin ranks largely fell out of use, with many Brotherhoods electing to simplify their hierarchy and abandon the notion of titles altogether. However, the title of Mentor was still used to designate a branch's leader, while particularly skilled Assassins who had proven their worth to the Order could be bestowed the honorific title of Master Assassin. This practice continues into modern times, where the number of both Master Assassins and Mentors has significantly declined.

Progression

Hidden Ones

In the 9th century, the Hidden Ones of Alamut featured six ranks that could be attained by the Brotherhood's members, not counting the position of Mentor.

Initiate

Upon being recruited into the Order, Hidden Ones began at the rank of Initiate. They were given hoodless, plain white robes and were not allowed to carry weapons, not even a Hidden Blade, except for the occasional sparring lessons.

Basim ibn Ishaq wearing the robes of an Initiate

After completing their training and being formally inducted into the Order, Initiates received a new set of robes, a Hidden Blade, a scimitar and accompanying parrying dagger, and throwing knives. At this point, they were considered fully-flegded Hidden Ones and could perform assassinations and other missions for the Order, albeit under the supervision of a senior Hidden One.

Apprentice

Hidden Ones who attained the Apprentice rank, typically after performing their first major assassination, were allowed to carry an additional tool of their choice, namely smoke bombs, a blowpipe, explosive traps, or noisemakers. They were also awarded a special talisman that they could wear on their robes.

Novice

Upon attaining the Novice rank, Hidden Ones were again allowed to expand their arsenal with a tool of their choice and were awarded another talisman.

Disciple

Similarly to the previous two ranks, reaching the Disciple rank awarded Hidden Ones with an additional tool and talisman.

Assassin

At this rank, Hidden Ones received their final tool to complete their arsenal, and were also awarded another talisman.

Master

Main article: Master

Basim in his Master Assassin robes

Also known as Master Assassin, or Magister in Latin, this was the second-highest rank within the hierarchy of the Hidden Ones, below only the Mentor. Individuals who attained this title were considered to have reached the peak of their training as a Hidden One and were among the most skilled and valuable members of the Order. As such, the rank typically garnered a large amount of respect and admiration from other Hidden Ones.

Master Assassins of the Alamut Brotherhood were allowed to join the Council that governed over the branch, serving as advisors to the Mentor and taking important decisions regarding the Brotherhood's course of action. They could also take on an apprentice and train them, and perform assassinations without requiring the authorization of a Rafiq. In terms of equipment, Master Assassins were easily identifiable by their red sashes, which contrasted the blue or brown sashes worn by lower-ranking Hidden Ones.

Assassin Order

"Another rank is restored to you, as is a piece of your equipment."

―Al Mualim to Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, 1191.

Similarly to the Hidden Ones, Assassins varied in equipment choice and skill level at their different ranks, usually due to personal choice, or the time period in which they lived. As such, the following is merely an estimation of one's abilities at each rank, based upon the progression of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad after his demotion and of the Assassins mentored by Ezio Auditore da Firenze.

Novice/Recruit

Main article: Novice

Altaïr in the attire of a Novice

Upon being recruited into the Order, Assassins began at the rank of Novice.

During the Third Crusade, recruits of the Levantine Brotherhood were required to obey all other members of the Order, and were not permitted any weapons. Thus, should they engage in a fight, they needed to flee or evade their attackers until it was safe to travel again. Being only Novices at this point, they would usually only survey points of interest or gather information, interrogating suspects and pickpocketing vital letters and documents; at the most providing this information to a higher ranked Assassin for them to decide on how they would proceed in eliminating the target.

Rank One/Servant/Initiate

Levantine Assassins who reached the first rank were permitted the use of a basic sword and a Hidden Blade. They were also taught the combo kill technique; an effective method of systematically chaining together a string of attacks that broke through an enemy's defense. They were also allowed to complete missions in other cities using the techniques taught when they were Novices to gather information. Assassinations needed to be confirmed and permitted by the leaders of an Assassin bureau beforehand. Upon completing an assassination, the ranking member was required to present proof of their kill in the form of a feather stained with the blood of the target. Only the highest ranked members could perform assassinations at will, without the need to present proof.

At this point in their progression, Assassins during the Renaissance were permitted to either upgrade their armor or learn a new skill that could help them when they were called by their Mentor. They were also more effective when sent on missions because they had more experience, both in combat and physical ability.

Rank Two/Assistant/Apprentice

An Apprentice performing an assassination with the Hidden Blade

Upon obtaining the second rank, Levantine Assassins were given a basic dagger. By this time, they had also learned how to counter melee attacks, improving their capability in direct combat.

Assassins during the Renaissance were given the choice to either obtain new armor, further upgrade their armor, learn another skill, or learn a skill to have both better armor and have a skill that would help in the field.

Rank Three/Soldier/Novice

Levantine Assassins received throwing knives by the third rank, completing their arsenal. Though they were only allowed five initially, as they improved in skill, many chose to increase the number of knives they carried. The Assassins could also tackle and push civilians in crowds with the sacrifice of speed, rather than just avoiding them, allowing them quicker escapes and chases.

Assassins during the Renaissance were given the choice to either upgrade their armor or learn more skills.

Rank Four/Disciple/Footpad

Reaching this rank granted Levantine Assassins gloves as an additional piece of armor, in accordance to their improved climbing and freerunning skills. By this point, they could catch ledges while falling should they slip or miss a jump. They could also escape and counter an enemy's grab during a fistfight.

Assassins during the Renaissance were given the choice to either upgrade their armor or learn more skills. As there were some Assassins who had chosen to only improve their armor or their skills up until this point, they could now finish improving their armor/skills or begin upgrading their armor/learning new skills.

Rank Five/Mercenary/Disciple

Ezio Auditore training his apprentices in freerunning

Levantine Assassins, at this point, had improved in footwork both during freerunning and in combat. As such, they were granted boots or greaves with additional armor. They were now able to dodge enemy attacks, as well as catch themselves in a roll upon hitting the ground after a jump. They also had improved stability in a fight, able to regain their balance quickly should they be thrown. They were also granted a more powerful sword.

Assassins during the Renaissance were given the choice to either upgrade their armor or learn more skills. As some Assassins had already finished improving their armor or skills, this was the time where they could begin upgrading their armor or learning new skills.

Rank Six/Warrior/Mercenary

Though not changing much in skill set, Levantine Assassins at this rank received an upgraded weapon arsenal. They were given an extra throwing knife belt, allowing them five additional throwing knives.

Assassins during the Renaissance were given the choice to either upgrade their armor or learn more skills.

Rank Seven/Veteran/Warrior

Levantine Assassins improved their skill in sword combat at this point, learning the defence break technique, which allowed them to break through the defenses of an enemy armed similarly to them. Here, Altaïr was also granted a personalized sword with an eagle motif, which was considered an exceptionally powerful blade.

Assassins during the Renaissance were given the choice to either upgrade their armor or learn more skills.

Rank Eight/Master/Veteran

By this rank, Levantine Assassins improved their skill in the use of daggers and short blades, on par with their skill level with longswords. They were thus granted a sleeker, more powerful short blade; often with a more ornate design.

Assassins during the Renaissance were given the choice to either finish upgrading their armor or learn more skills. This was the final rank where the apprentice had the ability to improve their armor or skill, depending on what they lacked at the time, finishing their equipment and combat repertoire given to all members.

Rank Nine/Assassin/Assassin, First Rank

The initiation of an apprentice in the Tiber Island headquarters

At this final rank, Assassins of the Levantine Brotherhood received an additional five throwing knives, as well as a more powerful sword. This curved, golden-hilted Syrian blade was used even by the Mentor at the time.

At this rank, Italian Assassins of the 16th century were formally initiated into the Order; receiving a more ornate set of Assassin robes.

Rank Ten/Mentor

With no change in skills or weaponry, an Assassin only reached this rank when they had learned the full meaning behind the tenets of the Creed and how they apply to the life of an Assassin. Using all of the knowledge gained during their career as an Assassin, a Mentor was responsible for governing over an entire Assassin branch within a specific geographical region. They would also oversee the training of the Order's recruits and make important decisions regarding their branch's future, sometimes with the help of a group of advisors.

Ranks Ten to Thirteen/Assassin, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Ranks

The Ottoman Assassins during the Renaissance had to progress through four more ranks in order to become Master Assassins. During Ezio Auditore's visit to Constantinople, the only Assassins that were able to progress through these ranks were those personally appointed by Ezio to oversee and guard the seven Assassin Dens across the city.

Master Assassin

Main article: Master Assassin

Only Assassins of exceptional skill and standing reached this rank, and were thus highly respected among the Order. Over the years, very few individuals are known to have gained this distinction.

Though varying on rare occasions, Master Assassins were often the only ones permitted to wield dual Hidden Blades.

Mentor

Main article: Mentor

Assassins of great wisdom and skill were given the title of Mentor. Mentors tutored and unified large groups of Assassins, even across large distances. Very few Assassins have been given this distinction.

Other ranks

Besides all the aforementioned ranks, the Assassins were known to uitlize several other titles at various points in their history. However, their exact significance has been lost to time, or their nature does not allow them to be ranked alongside the others.

Acolyte

Main article: Acolyte

Acolyte is one of the oldest known Hidden One titles, dating to the 1st century BCE, when it was first documented in the The Magas Codex. The Roman Hidden Ones operating in Britannia between the 2nd and 5th centuries CE used the Latin variation Acolytus, but it presumably held the same meaning. The Alamut Hidden Ones also used the title, with Hytham being one notable individual who attained the rank. However, besides the fact that it ranked below the title of Master, not much else is known about its significance.

Rafiq

Main article: Rafiq

A Rafiq inside his bureau

Rafiq was a title reserved for the various leaders of Assassin bureaus, first implemented by the Alamut Hidden Ones in the 9th century. Its meaning carried over to the Levantine Assassins, who also used the title "Dai", which ranked higher than the Rafiq but possessed similar duties. After the decline of the Levantine Assassins in the 13th century, the title largely fell out of use, especially once Assassin bureaus became obsolete as a result of the Great Purge.

A Rafiq's responsibilities included overseeing all Assassin operations in the city or district where their bureau was located, and providing shelter and guidance to any visiting Assassins. Rafiqs were typically the ones to authorize assassinations, by offering their fellow Order members a feather which they had to dip in the target's blood and return to the Rafiq as proof of the mission's success.

Eagle-Master

Eagle-Master was a title used by the Alamut Hidden Ones in the 9th century, to designate the individual in charge of raising and training the Hidden Ones' eagle companions that would be assigned to them after their initiation into the Order. The only Hidden One known to have held this title was Fuladh Al Haami, a Master Assassin who also sat on the Alamut Council.

Assassin Council

Main article: Assassin Council

The French Assassin Council during the French Revolution

Throughout the Order's history, multiple Assassin branches have adopted an Assassin Council as their governing body. Consisting of several high-ranking Assassins, its duties included judging the readiness of the Order's members for missions, meeting to discuss the group's next course of action, and overseeing the branch in the event a suitable Mentor could not be appointed. The council's members held authority over their brethren, but were still answerable to the Mentor and could lose their power if the council was at any point disbanded.

Titles

The following is a breakdown of the titles given to Assassins of each rank at various points in the Order's history, from the Islamic Golden Age to the French Revolution.

Rank	Islamic Golden Age	Renaissance (Italy)	Renaissance (Constantinople)	American Revolution	French Revolution
0	None given	None given	None given	Recruit	None given
1	Initiate	Recluta (Recruit)	Recruit	Private	Recruit Advanced Elite
2	Apprentice	Servitore (Servant)	Initiate	Corporal	Trainee Advanced Elite
3	Novice	Assistente (Assistant)	Apprentice	Sergeant	Apprentice Advanced Elite
4	Disciple	Milite (Soldier)	Novice	Officer Cadet	Soldier Advanced Elite
5	Assassin	Discepolo (Disciple)	Footpad	Lieutenant	Enforcer Advanced Elite
6	Master	Mercenario (Mercenary)	Disciple	Captain	Veteran Advanced Elite
7	None given	Guerriero (Warrior)	Mercenary	Major	Officer Advanced Elite
8		Veterano (Veteran)	Warrior	Colonel	Champion Advanced Elite
9		Maestro (Master)	Veteran	General	Assassin Advanced Elite
10		Assassino (Assassin)	Assassin First Rank Second Rank Third Rank Fourth Rank Fifth Rank	Field Marshal	Master Advanced Elite
11		None given	Master Assassin	Assassin	Legend

Behind the scenes

In Assassin's Creed, each rank improves Altaïr's statistics, from the number of throwing knives he can carry to his synchronization points and even what combat techniques are available. The following table lists each rank and its unlocks:

Rank	Newly available equipment	Newly available skills	Base Sync	Maximum throwing knives	Short blade level	Longsword level
1	None	None	4	0	0	0
2	Hidden Blade Longsword		5	0	0	1
3	Short blade	Counter Kills	6	0	1	1
4	Throwing knives	Tackle	7	5	1	1
5	None	Grab Break Catch Ledge	8	5	1	1
6		Regain Balance Dodge	9	5	1	2
7		None	10	10	1	2
8		Defense Break	11	10	1	3
9		None	12	10	2	3
10			13	15	2	4