Crossbowman

Crossbowmen were guards armed with crossbows. They patrolled and defended the rooftops in a fashion similar to the archers, and were thus able to catch sight of Ezio from a distance. However, unlike archers who drew their swords if Ezio came too close, they instead also used their crossbows for defensive melee combat, and would still fire a bolt at Ezio even at close range.

Crossbowmen were an annoyance particularly when encountered in groups, as crossbow bolts moved faster than normal arrows, and significantly hindered rooftop travel by causing Ezio to fall and take damage. Crossbowmen were skilled marksmen, and were capable of damaging armor with their shots.

When investigating the sight of an Assassin, the crossbowmen tried to follow him, therefore stealth and/or a quick, powerful weapon (i.e.: crossbow) was recommended to avoid a fight and diminish the chances of getting caught.

Trivia

• The Crossbows used by crossbowmen differ from Ezio's. The wood they are made of is lighter and they do not have the eagle shaped metal on the front.
• While looting the corpses of crossbowmen, occasionally bullets can be found.
• Crossbowmen also appear in Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles and the memory, The Mentor's Keeper despite historical inaccuracies. The ones in Altaïr's Chronicles also carry swords unlike in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.

Gallery

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  Concept Art of the Crossbowman