Hidden Gun

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

―Leonardo da Vinci, regarding the pistol's design.

The Pistol, which is also referred to as the Hidden Gun, is one of the expansions of the hidden blade

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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.

The weapon 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. In Assassin's Creed II, it is unlocked right after finishing Sequence 8. It also returns in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood in both single and multiplayer.

Usage

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

The pistol 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 pistol 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, it is highly unlikely to result in a hit.

Aiming the pistol within guards' lines of sight will automatically make them suspicious. Against a small number of guards, aiming it 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.

Both the pistol and Throwing Knives are disabled in the Secret Locations that require the player to chase an Agile, or other such opponent, as said weapons would allow the player to kill them before the intended time in the course, and would eliminate the entire chase altogether.

Assassin's Creed II

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Ezio aiming the pistol.

Though not recommended, it is possible to quickly switch to the pistol during a battle, take a random shot from as close as possible to an enemy, before resuming the fight. Despite its low success rate, this method can potentially pick off immobile opponents, or quickly eliminate enemies without the need for counter-kills.

The pistol 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.

Up to 6 bullets may be held at a time, and can be purchased from any blacksmith. However, they are quite expensive, as one bullet costs 175 florins (149 florins with full discount in Monteriggioni), which is 3 and a half times the cost of a throwing knife. However, bullets may also be obtained by looting dead soldiers.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

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The Pistol in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.

In Brotherhood, the player begins with the pistol already equipped, along with a full stock of bullets. The weapon functions as it did in Assassin's Creed II, however the aiming method has been modified. Though perfect aim is achieved much more quickly, the bullet can only be fired after the shot is fully charged. The maximum number of bullets is again set at 6, however, it is possibly to purchase 4 more slots in Uplay, for 30 Units.

A second additional feature is Ezio's ability to dual-wield the pistol along with a medium, primary weapon. 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 pistol, using up ammunition in the process. The pistol 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, and if the ammunition is out, he won't use the pistol until at least one bullet is restored. It should also be noted that the player does not need to aim during double kills, counter kills, executions, or while on horseback.

The firing mechanism of the pistol differs to the one in Assassin's Creed II, as Ezio no longer has to pull the trigger to shoot the bullet; instead, all he has to do is simply target the victim and the gun will fire. Nowhere during the game is it stated why the weapon behaves in such a manner, and it can only be assumed that the pistol is used similarly to the hidden blade, which also has no visible trigger system.

Additionally, the sound of the pistol more closely resembles that of a musket, rather than the cannon-like sound in Assassin's Creed II. However, the Assassin Apprentices' hidden guns (obtained by rank 5) use the same firing sound as heard in the previous game.

After reuniting with Leonardo da Vinci, Ezio was able to purchase an upgrade to his pistol 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 shares its effects.

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 pistol, as Leonardo just decodes his Codex. Altaïr claimed that he had invented a smaller version of the weapon his neighbors from the East had, using knowledge from the Apple of Eden.
• In Assassin's Creed II, often when the pistol 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.
• The design and physical appearance of the pistol is similar to the concept of a Pistol Sword, only applied to the Hidden Blade instead.
• Due to interconnectivity between Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, and Assassin's Creed: II, it is possible to obtain a variant of the pistol that fires throwing knives instead of bullets.
• The pistol is also a multiplayer ability for multiplayer characters to use in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood; though it is unknown if they actually possessed the weapon, or if Abstergo simply added the ability in the Animus.
• In the multiplayer mode on Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the pistol acts like the one in Assassin's Creed II, that is, it takes longer to fire and it can be fired without aiming it fully.
• Strangely, in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood the Assassin recruits' pistols are much weaker than Ezio's, taking up to three shots to kill a guard; though this may be attributed to Ezio being more skilled in wielding the pistol, allowing him to kill in just one shot.
• Rifling (a barrel forging technique that improves the accuracy of a gun significantly) was not invented until the end of the 15^th century. As such, it is odd that the pistol is so accurate, especially since it would have a very short barrel, lowering its accuracy further than that of a musket. This may be due to the Apple revealing rifling to Altair.
• The bullets of the pistol all have Assassin insignias on them.

Gallery

• Concept art of the pistol.
  Concept art of the pistol.
• The pistol design from the Codex.
  The pistol design from the Codex.
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  Bullet of the pistol with the Assassin insignia on the end of it.
• The pistol dual-wielded with the sword in combat.
  The pistol dual-wielded with the sword in combat.
• Ezio finishing a guard in Rome with the pistol.
  Ezio finishing a guard in Rome with the pistol.
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  The pistol as a multiplayer ability.
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  A close up of the pistol on Ezio's bracer.