Hidden Gun

File:EzioFiringCinematic.png

Ezio firing his Hidden Gun.

"It seems to be a kind of...arma da fuoco - but as small as a hummingbird!"

―Leonardo da Vinci

The Pistol, or Hidden Gun to some, is one of the upgrades invented by Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad for the Hidden Blade. After discovering the design for it one of of the Codex Pages, Leonardo Da Vinci managed to craft one for Ezio in Assassin's Creed II. It consists of a small firearm with a very short barrel attached to the bottom of a Hidden Blade that, if aimed properly, can kill a target at range. It is unlocked right after you finish Sequence Eight.

Usage

The Pistol's inventory icon in Assassin's Creed 2

The Hidden Gun is used for long ranged kills, as well as assassinating your targets (especially useful for moving ones). It isn't stealthy, as using it near a group of guards will likely attract attention as it makes a loud, musket-like sound once the trigger is pulled, however it is a one shot kill, if the shot hits them that is. The downside, it takes a good deal of time to aim (it can be used without aiming, but you will most likely miss even at close range); the aiming consists of four lines converging together and accuracy depends on how long you spend aiming. Aiming the gun around guards will make them suspicious.

The special attack of the Hidden Gun does nothing noticeable and does nothing at all against large groups of guards. Against one or two guards, aiming the gun for more than two seconds after it is locked will cause them to lose morale and flee. This does not work against Brutes. Instead, you can just kill the highest ranking guards (Brutes and Seekers should be your first targets) to cause enemies to flee.

The Hidden Gun does not work as "one-shot kills" when battling against Rodrigo Borgia or Dante Moro (the first time you battle him; last time it does).

The gun, along with the Throwing Knives, are sometimes disabled while in the Assassin's Tombs, this may be to stop the player shooting any guards that they must chase, therefore skipping large sections of narrative.

Trivia

• Altair is the true designer of the Hidden Gun, as Leonardo just decodes his Codex. Altair claims he has invented a smaller version of the weapon his enemies from the east have.
• It seems that when you fire the gun, a dog starts barking, this happens every time you fire it.
• Strangely, you can find bullets on the bodies of guards although they aren't in possession of a pistol.
• The design and physical appearance of the Pistol is similar to a German hunting pistol knife.
• Despite having constructed an invention of genius proportions (compared to the standards of that time), Leonardo never constructed, or left ideas for this kind of device and firearms in general. This could indicate how strong his friendship was with Ezio. Either that, or he kept it a secret for fear of the corrupt learning how to build such a device.

Gallery

• Aiming mode of the Hidden Gun.
  Aiming mode of the Hidden Gun.
• Concept art of the Hidden Gun.
  Concept art of the Hidden Gun.
• 
  Bullet of the Hidden Gun with the Assassins' symbol on the end of it.