Freerunning

File:Codex free run.jpg

Altaïr's Codex sketch on free running.

Freerunning or free running is a form of acrobatics in which participants, known as free runners or traceurs, use the city and urban landscape to perform movements through its structures. It is one of the core gameplay mechanics of the Assassin's Creed series, and utilized mainly by Assassins, Templars, and guards.

Practitioners

Assassins

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A free-run chase between Ezio and an agile guard in San Gimignano.

• Adam and Eve
• Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad
• Malik A-Sayf (Prior to the amputation of his arm)
• Kadar A-Sayf
• Rauf
• Giovanni Auditore
• Ezio Auditore da Firenze
• Federico Auditore
• Mario Auditore
• La Volpe
• Antonio
• Desmond Miles
• Lucy Stillman
• Most known Assassins and Apprentices

Templars

• Maria Thorpe
• All Guards (except Seekers and Brutes)
• Borgia Messengers
• Francesco de' Pazzi
• Corrupt Cardinal
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Multiplayer Characters

Others

• Misbah
• Rosa
• Thieves
• Pickpockets
• Followers of Romulus
• Salaì

Movements

Third Crusade

Altaïr doing a gap jump in Jerusalem.

Altaïr is able to climb up any wall if its surface is not too flat, and possesses anything he can possibly grab onto (such as windows, cracks or ledges). In addition, he can use many of the following movements:

• Swing is a movement where Altaïr swings onto a bar and lets go, in order to grab another object, or to drop to the ground.
• Drop is the act of dropping from a hanging position or bar.
• Wallpass is the climbing of a tall wall by kicking its surface once to propel upward.
• Climb-up is the movement of climbing an obstacle from a hanging position into a position where Altaïr's upper body is above the obstacle, supported by his arms.
• Pass involves quickly and smoothly passing over medium sized obstacles.
• Roll, often called a breakfall, is a forward roll where the hands, arms, and diagonal of the back contact the ground.
• Arm jump is to land on the side of an obstacle in a hanging position, the hands gripping the top edge, holding the body, ready to perform a muscle up.
• Long jump is a jump from a high height, and is usually followed by a roll.
• Gap jump is similar to a long jump except over an open expanse.
• Precision jump is a static or moving jump from one object to a precise spot on another object of a small surface, such as low walls or pillars.

Renaissance

File:Climbing rome.jpg

Ezio climbing a structure in Rome.

In addition to all the movements of the Third Crusade (with the exception of the Passement), several new ones are introduced.

Fast Climb

By moving in High Profile, Ezio can climb up structures much faster than Altaïr. However, the scheme of the ledges he will grab onto must be regular, and he must start in a standing position on a ledge.

Climb Leap

"Begin in a hanging position, then jump to the ledge above you. As you reach it, grab it with your hand and pull yourself up!"

―Rosa

This movement is first shown to Ezio by Rosa, and allows him to grab a potentially out-of-reach handhold by performing a vertical jump while climbing.

Sprint Jump

The Sprint Jump is a maneuver unlocked in the Bonfire of the Vanities downloadable content, but can only be used in the Oltrarno District of Florence. The Sprint Jump allows Ezio to jump twice as far as normal. This move is performed by sprinting straight onto and jumping from a springboard.

Swinging

Ezio can also swing from lanterns and pots hanging off of structures in order to navigate cities quicker.

Trivia

• There is a bug present in Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed II and Assassins Creed: Brotherhood in which citizens perform freerunning movements. This bug can be manually activated by throwing a civilian against a wall next to a river.
• As seen in here the Passement was included in Assassin's Creed, but is not a move that is well-known, nor is it easily accessible. It was removed in Assassin's Creed II.
• In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, while trying to tackle Lucrezia Borgia, there is occasionally a bug that makes her free-run over the gardens.
• During the Da Vinci Disappearance, Leonardo displays some skill in free running, despite never having done it.
• In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Ezio is able to swing around a wooden beam while free running (if he jumps off of a galloping horse), rather than simply pulling himself up.
• Altaïr's Codex sketch that shows free running is inspired by ancient natal charts.