Freerunning

Rosa: "Climbing a bit of scaffolding is all well and good, but let's see how you do out in the open."

Ezio: "Top of that tower, then? Torno fra un attimo. (I'll be right back.)'"

—Rosa challenging Ezio Auditore.

The Codex sketch on freerunning.

Freerunning is a form of acrobatics, in which participants navigate through a landscape by performing fluid movements over and across urban or natural structures.

This particular form of movement was utilized primarily by members of the Assassin Order, and was a vital asset both during and after assassinations. Over time, Assassins would also use a series of tools to supplement their climbing and freerunning abilities.

Vertical movement

In general, vertical movements involved climbing or scaling structures that provided adequate handholds, or a texture rough enough to grip. Inversely, they also allowed one to safely drop down from a height.

• Wallpass was the act of climbing a tall wall by kicking its surface once to propel upwards.
• Climb-up was the movement of climbing up onto an obstacle from a hanging position.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze climbing up onto a bar.

• Drop was the act of dropping from a hanging position or bar.
• Long jump was a jump from a high height, and was usually followed by a break fall.
• Climb leap was a vertical jump while holding onto a vertical surface, and allowed one to grab potentially out-of-reach handholds.
• Beam jump was performed from horseback, and allowed one to use the horse's momentum to leap from the saddle, grab a beam, and swing around and onto it.
• Corner swing was when one would sharply turn a corner, by jumping forward, and grabbing a swinging lantern or pot mounted on a building's corner.
• Leap of Faith was performed only by trained Assassins, and involved leaping from a significant height, onto a cushioned material.

Horizontal movement

Horizontal movements generally involved moving over large distances, or methods that allowed one to clear obstacles, such as gaps or breaks.

• Swing was a movement in which one swung onto a bar and let go, enabling one to grab another object or drop to the ground.
• Pass involved quickly and smoothly passing over medium sized obstacles.

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad performing a gap jump.

• Break fall was a forward roll where the hands, arms, and diagonal of the back made contact with the ground.
• Arm jump was to land on the side of an obstacle in a hanging position, hands gripping the top edge of the obstacle, holding the body in place.
• Back eject was to jump backwards from a hanging position onto an opposite structure.
• Gap jump was performed similarly to a long jump, except over an open expanse between two relatively level areas.
• Precision jump was a moving jump from one object to a precise spot on another object, usually with a small surface.
• Spring jump could only be done using a springboard, such as those in the Oltrarno District of Florence. It allowed one to jump forward twice as far, through the external force of the device.
• Vault was to use one's own momentum to slide over or under obstacles.
• Dive was only used with merchant stalls, where one dove hands-first through an open stall and used a roll to get back up quickly.

Tools

"When he tires of running, an Assassin must take to the air."

―Yusuf Tazim commenting on the zipline.

File:41870.jpg

Ezio using the Hookblade to climb.

As they used freerunning for travel and escape, Assassins (or their allies) developed tools that would improve abilities. Among these were the Climb Leap Glove, manufactured by Leonardo da Vinci, and the Hookblade, which was used by the Assassins of the Turkish branch.

Though the climb leap technique could also be performed unaided, the Climb Leap Glove improved the strength of one's grip and allowed older or less experienced individuals to perform the technique.

The Hookblade aided in both vertical and horizontal movement. When used with ziplines posted on city rooftops, the Hookblade allowed one to travel great diagonal distances from the rooftops much quicker than running or climbing normally. The device also extended one's upward reach during a climb leap, or forwards during an arm jump.

Trivia

• Though referred to as "freerunning" throughout the Assassin's Creed series, the Assassins' focus on speed and efficiency, rather than creativity, more closely resembled standard Parkour.
• There was a bug present in most installments of the series, where civilians in certain areas or circumstances were able to perform free-running movements.
• Other than the Assassins, several factions were also known to be adept freerunners, including Agile guards, Thieves, Borgia Messengers, Papal Guards, Followers of Romulus, and Janissaries.
• Freerunning puzzles had been a mainstay in the series since Assassin's Creed II, coming in the form of Assassin Tombs, Templar Lairs, Lairs of Romulus and Memory Seal locations.

Gallery

• Ezio climbing up a church.
  Ezio climbing up a church.
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  Ezio and several thieves swinging from a bar.
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  Ezio performing a corner swing.
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  Connor Kenway swinging on a tree branch.
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  Desmond Miles performing a precision jump.