Pickpocketing

Altaïr about to successfully pickpocket his target.

File:Pickpocketing.jpg

Pickpocketing in Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles

In Assassin's Creed, pickpocketing is an important method of gaining information. It is also the only way to restock Throwing Knives, apart from going to Masyaf and/or going to an Assassin's Bureau. In Assassin's Creed II, it is an optional way to acquire florins and items.

How to Pickpocket

To pickpocket, the player must press the Lock On button. Depending on control settings, the Lock On button will be either L1 (Playstation 3), Left Trigger (Xbox 360), or F (PC default layout). While targeting the victim, move Altaïr a few paces behind them and hold the Free Hand button, which will be either (Playstation 3), B (Xbox 360), or Shift (PC default layout). Once Altaïr is close enough, as long as you are not detected by the victim or a Guard, you will steal from the victim's bag, a successful pickpocket. With Ezio, you simply hold the Steal button while in Low Profile and go near any target with no need to Lock On.

Assassin's Creed

Who to Pickpocket

There are two kinds of people you can pickpocket, always identifiable by a pouch around their waist, on their left side.

Informants

Every so often during your Investigations, you will find a person with a bit of information you could use, be it a map or a letter. They always so conveniently place this bit of information in a pouch around their waist - easy for Altaïr to steal. When you first locate Pickpocketing targets, they will be talking with another person. Position yourself an appropriate distance away (not too close, not too far) and press the Lock On button to begin the pickpocket.

Thugs

The thugs roaming the cities always have knives on hand which Altaïr can use as throwing knives. Each time you pickpocket them, you will receive 5 knives. If you happen to pickpocket as many knives as, or more knives than you can hold, your knife count will be maxed out and you will see the message "You have acquired the maximum number of knives". Note you can only pickpocket thugs after regaining the ability to carry throwing knives. This happens in Memory Block 3 after killing Garnier de Naplouse.

When not to Pickpocket

There are various scenarios in which a pickpocket may fail, leading to a fight:

• The victim stops.
• The victim is facing you.
• The victim is looking behind himself.
• You are too close to the victim and he tells you to be gone.
• A guard is very close.

If you do try any of the above, the victim may notice you and engage you in a fistfight. If this happens, fight and kill your attacker or run.

Achievement

On the Xbox 360 version you can get an achievement by pickpocketing 200 knives:

Icon	Name	Description	Points	Secret?
	The Hands of a Thief	Pickpocket 200 throwing knives.	15	No

Assassin's Creed II

In Assassin's Creed II, Ezio is taught by Paola, and has the ability to steal from any non-friendly NPC (mostly normal civilians), though he takes money in place of Throwing Knives. To do this, he must walk quickly in High Profile, and use his empty hand to pickpocket when in close proximity with another person. However, if Ezio lingers too long in the area, he will be recognized and attacked, particularly by male victims. A single blow to the attacker will cause him to flee, however it is best not to draw attention. Stealing can award the player with anywhere from 3 to 50 florins at a time. The amount of florins Ezio will receive from pickpocketing can be roughly gleaned from the quality of clothing the intended victim is wearing; generally, the higher the quality of clothing, the more florins can be looted.

In addition, Ezio can loot unconscious or dead enemies for money; though this takes longer and leaves him open to attacks. Civilians will also openly scold you. It is possible to get over 100 florins with this method, as well as items such as Throwing Knives, Medicine vials, Poison and Smoke bombs.

However, pickpocketing quickly becomes useless as the player progresses. This is due to the small amount gained, in comparison to the prices of items that can be bought, as well as the significantly larger profit you achieve by investing in the Auditore Family Villa. Therefore, the only time it is really useful is during the very beginning of the game, before armed guards start showing up after Giovanni is arrested. Doing this enough during this time period will give you a very good headstart in investing in the aforementioned villa.

In the first game, you will have your hand out reaching for the pickpocket, leaving you more noticeable. In Assassin's Creed II, this is removed, and you can now pickpocket quickly, since people may alert guards around you or engage Ezio in a fistfight. Once in a fistfight, Ezio only needs to throw a few punches until the civilian gives up and cowers.

Pickpockets

File:Thief.jpg

The Pickpocket from Assassin's Creed II

Like Borgia Messengers, there are random Pickpockets in the cities who are shown on the mini-map with an icon: a pouch with an exclamation mark. Ezio can tackle, grab, attack, or throw a throwing knife at them to obtain their money. They appear to outmatch ordinary Thieves at Free Running, and are hard to catch or kill. They carry about 500 florins at a time.

The pickpocket will immediately change course and flee upon successfully stealing from you, or as soon as you turn in his direction. Like the Messengers, they will attempt to dissuade Ezio verbally during the chase, and beg for mercy if caught. They can also steal as much as 60000 florins on rare occasions, so it is advised to be careful. They are still subject to the warnings of Archers, who will chase the pickpockets once they have judged them to be in violation of the law. Once the archers catch up to the pickpocket, they will start attacking them; however, it takes a very high number of hits from an archer to kill a pickpocket.

An easy way to catch approaching pickpockets is to face away from the symbol when you see the icon on your mini-map. When he runs up to you and enters your field of vision, turn around and assassinate him, or tackle him if you are able. This method, however, only works on the ground.

Achievement

Similar to the one in Assassin's Creed, you can get an Achievement by stealing 1,000 florins.

Icon	Name	How to obtain	Points	Trophy
File:Kleptomaniac.jpg	Kleptomaniac	Pickpocket 1000 Florins.	10	Bronze

Trivia

• In Assassin's Creed II, you can pickpocket the money away from Heralds who you just paid off, lowering your notoriety for free. Though, if you are caught, this will raise your notoriety slightly, essentially contradicting your initial purpose. Instead, you could slay the Herald and loot his corpse.

• It is possible (and as mentioned above, recommended) to Pickpocket in Assasins Creed II before Ezio is taught how to by Paola.