Seeker

A Seeker

Seekers were guards who, as their name suggested, would search through hiding places on the suspicion that an Assassin had taken refuge within one.

They were slightly more heavily armored than a standard guard, though less so than Brutes, and they always carried long weapons such as spears and halberds.

Combat

Seekers were rather intelligent, and would persistently search wagons, wells and piles of hay to find hidden Assassins, whether or not they had previously seen one. They often traveled with other lower ranked soldiers, usually as a pair, or in groups of four. Upon engaging an enemy in battle, a Seeker could perform both normal and special attacks.

Regular attacks

Ezio fighting a Seeker in Venice

A Seeker's regular attacks could be deflected using any weapon, however, they could not be countered with a medium weapon or a short blade.

Instead, they could only be countered lethally with a heavy weapon, another long weapon such as those carried by themselves, or a Hidden Blade. The timing for the latter was rather difficult though, due to the much smaller window of opportunity for the counter.

Their attacks could also be evaded, or the Seeker could be disarmed, which would in turn allow for a lethal counter-attack using their own weapon.

Special attacks

For a Seeker's armed special attack, the Sweep, it would knock a target to the ground by tripping their feet out from underneath them. While this did no damage, it opened up the target to subsequent attacks as they lay on the ground.

The Sweep could not be countered, requiring it to be either interrupted or dodged. Of those about to perform a Sweep, they would raise their weapon above their heads at approximately a 45 degree angle.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze could also perform the Sweep attack, though he was required to have learned it at Monteriggioni, via the fighting instructor. Whenever the Assassin used the Sweep maneuver, if he placed more effort into it, he could trip up more guards in one swing.

In Rome, Ezio could use the sweep technique to slit the throats of nearby guards instead of sweeping them off their feet.

Accompanying this, Seekers could also throw sand at their enemies, blinding them momentarily and opening them up for an attack. Similarly to the Sweep technique, the sand could be evaded but not countered.

Weaponry

Name	Damage	Speed	Deflect
Spear	3	5	3
Halberd	4	3	4

Trivia

Special seekers

• During the final fight with Rodrigo Borgia in the Capella Sistina, he attacked and defended much like a Seeker, though he had far more health. Following this, he may even use the Sweep attack that was characteristic to Seekers.
• The Farmer, a lieutenant of Girolamo Savonarola during the Bonfire of the Vanities, carried a pitchfork and fought like a Seeker.
• Certain Papal Guards from Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood fought and were armed similarly to Seekers.
• The Byzantines in Assassin's Creed: Revelations possessed a variation of Seekers, known as Varangians.

Appearance

• Seekers were much more common in Brotherhood than in Assassin's Creed II, with many of them leading patrol groups.
• In the mission "Infrequent Flier", during the cutscene where Ezio abandoned the burning Flying Machine, a Seeker and a Brute could be seen on the roof of the Palazzo Ducale. Strangely, these were the only two guards archetypes that could not free-run or climb.
• In Florence, the Seekers present in the city had the appearance of Venetian Seekers.
• In the E3 Trailer for Brotherhood, two Seekers could be seen wielding swords.

Combat

• When disarmed, a Seeker had roughly the same mobility as an Agile guard.
• When attempting to escape from a battle, Seekers would not be the only guards to search nearby hiding spots; all guards would search for Ezio until he had become anonymous once more.
• In Assassin's Creed II, if engaged in a fight with several other guards and a disarmed Seeker, the Seeker would rarely attempt to grab Ezio from behind and hold him for the others to attack. In Brotherhood, this could be performed by any guard.
• In Assassin's Creed II, if Ezio dodged a Seeker's Sweep attack, he would use his bracer to break the spear, forcing the Seeker to use one of the improvised weapons.
• In Brotherhood, Seekers could not be counter-killed with a heavy weapon, unless during a kill streak.

Gallery

• 
  A Seeker under the employ of the Borgia
• 
  A Venetian Seeker and three other guards

References

• Assassin's Creed II