Hidden Gun

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

―Leonardo da Vinci

The Hidden Gun is one of the expansions of the Hidden Blade invented by Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad using the Apple of Eden. After discovering the design for it on one of the Codex Pages, Leonardo da Vinci managed to craft one for Ezio Auditore 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 from a distance. It is unlocked right after you finish Sequence Eight. The weapon returns in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood in both single and multiplayer.

Usage

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

The Hidden Gun provides the deadly effectiveness of the Hidden Blade, but at long range. Though an excellent weapon for assassination from afar, it will give away the player's position immediately after firing by creating a loud noise that will alert any guards within the area. The hidden gun takes about a second and a half to fully aim, though it can be fired before it is fully aimed. Firing immediately without aiming is not advised as even at close range the hidden gun still misses more than it hits. At long range it is a must to fully aim at the desired target because otherwise it will miss. Still it is possible to quickly switch to the pistol during a battle, take a random shot from as close as possible to the enemy, get a kill and resume fighting. Though this has its disadvantages, it can be used to quickly eliminate enemies without counter-kills. Also it can be used to kill enemies who don't seem like they will attack any time soon. It should be noted that aiming the Hidden Gun within guards' lines of sight will make them suspicious of the player. Against a few guards, aiming the gun for more than several seconds will also cause the group to lose morale and eventually flee, though this tactic will not be successful on Brutes.

The Hidden Gun does not kill in a single shot during the battles with either Dante Moro and or Rodrigo Borgia, though it is just as effective as usual when the player is required to assassinate them. The Hidden Gun and Throwing Knives are disabled in the Secret Locations that require the player to chase an Agile, as said weapons would allow the player to kill the Agile before the intended time in the course, and would eliminate the entire chase altogether.

Ammunition is quite expensive for the hidden gun, as one bullet costs 175 florins (149 florins in Monteriggioni), which is 3 and a half times the cost of a throwing knife, and only 6 bullets may be carried at one time. However, bullets may be obtained by looting dead soldiers. This makes looting bodies a viable way to stock up on ammunition, especially if one is far away from a blacksmith or out of florins.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the player begins with the gun already equipped and a full batch of bullets. It is very much similar to the hidden gun in Assassins Creed II, but the aiming device is slightly different, as it reaches perfect aim on a target much faster, but can only fire the bullet after the shot is fully charged. It also has only six shots before more ammo is needed, but it is possible to buy an extra 4 shots (for a total of 10) at the uplay store for 30 points.

In addition, the hidden gun can now be used in conjunction with Ezio's primary weapon (only medium weapons). While in combat, the player can hold down the attack button in low profile and aim at his currently locked target, making it easier to quickly dispatch faraway opponents without having to switch weapons. During a kill-streak, Ezio can hold down the attack button while targeting an opponent, causing him to perform an automatic double kill with his sword and hidden gun, using up ammunition in the process. The hidden gun is also used in a number of counter kills and executions in which Ezio shoots his opponent at point blank range. For reasons unknown, these attacks do not use up bullet ammunition. It should also be noted that the player does not need to aim during double kills, counter kills, executions, or while on horseback.

This design differs to the one in Assassin's Creed II because Ezio no longer has to pull back the trigger to shoot the bullet; instead all he has to do is simply target the victim and the gun will shoot. Nowhere during the game does it state why the weapon behaves in such manner. Also, the sound has become more a musket rather than the cannon like sound that features in Assassin's Creed II. However, the Assassin Apprentices' hidden guns use the same firing sound as heard in the previous game.

After reuniting with Leonardo Da Vinci, Ezio is capable of purchasing an upgrade to his hidden gun that allows him to fire small Poison Darts from it in addition to bullets. These darts are usable when the poison blade is equipped and function in the exact same manner; except that they may be fired from range into a target.

Codex Description

"Success! We have found a way to alter the structure of the hidden blade so that it can be used to launch small projectiles. It is capable of grievous damage – even from great distance. I confess, the means by which I came about the discovery was... risky to say the least. But I have found that in small doses, and with a focused mind, the Apple can be used without ill effect. Or so I hope.
The knowledge of projectile combat is not new to us, having been observed amongst our Eastern neighbors. But their weapons were much larger – and insufficient for our needs. I have now found a way to miniaturize their designs, embedding their fiery weapon into a form that can be worn on the wrist.
We have also refined the formula for combustible powder, such that common ingredients might be used. This is a dangerous bit of knowledge and it is best shared with only our closest allies..." -Altaïr in Codex Page 28

Trivia

• Altaïr is the true designer of the Hidden Gun, as Leonardo just decodes his Codex. Altaïr claims that he has invented a smaller version of the weapon his neighbors from the East have, using knowledge from the Apple of Eden. This provides an example of the Apple's malevolence; it provided the information he asked for and helped him make a smaller weapon, but provided no information to improve the weapon further, such as for rifles.
• In Assassin's Creed II, every time the Hidden Gun is fired, a dog can be heard barking. Though not a surprise as dogs tend to bark at loud noises, no dogs are seen or mentioned in the game.
• Ammunition can be found as an item when looting the bodies of any deceased guards, whether or not they are arquebusiers.
• When Ezio uses his pistol in combination with his sword in counters and executions, the firing of his gun does not use up amunition.
• The player does not need to wait and aim the pistol while on horseback.
• The design and physical appearance of the Hidden Gun is similar to the concept of a Pistol Sword, only applied to the Hidden Blade instead.
• In Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines when you connect your PSP to a PS3, you will obtain a variant of the Hidden Gun that fires Throwing Knives instead of lead bullets.
• It is also a multiplayer ability for multiplayer characters to use in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.
• An ammo upgrade can be obtained from Uplay in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, increasing the total capacity to 10 for 30 Units.
• The pistol is one of the weapons available to Assassin Recruits upon reaching level five.
• Unlike in Assassin's Creed II, in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the pistol needs to fully aimed before a shot can be fired, as releasing the button without a full lined beam will cancel the aim.
• Strangely, in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood the Assassin Recruits' hidden guns are much weaker than Ezio's, taking up to three shots to kill a guard.

Gallery

• Concept art of the Hidden Gun.
  Concept art of the Hidden Gun.
• Hidden Gun shown in the inventory menu of the Animus 2.0.
  Hidden Gun shown in the inventory menu of the Animus 2.0.
• 
  Bullet of the Hidden Gun with the Assassins' symbol on the end of it.
• Ezio aiming the hidden gun.
  Ezio aiming the hidden gun.
• In "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" the hidden gun is used alongside the sword in combat.
  In "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" the hidden gun is used alongside the sword in combat.
• Ezio Auditore da Firenze finishing a guard in Rome with the hidden gun.
  Ezio Auditore da Firenze finishing a guard in Rome with the hidden gun.
• 
  In the multiplayer for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the hidden gun is an unlockable ability.
• Hidden Gun Design from the Codex.
  Hidden Gun Design from the Codex.
• 
  A close up of the hidden gun on Ezio's bracer