Leap of Faith

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Altaïr performing a Leap of Faith.

The Leap of Faith is an acrobatic move in which Altaïr (or another Assassin) dives from atop a high structure to land, unharmed, in a conveniently placed pile of hay. The Leap is performed by Free Running at a ledge under which is located the hay which will break your fall. The Leap of Faith is used to descend from View Points, each of which always provides hay for a Leap. However, it can be used to jump down from anywhere, if, of course, there is hay below.

Leaps of Faith prove useful for quick descents, and are commonly used after climbing View Points. The Leap of Faith is also handy in losing pursuers, as climbing to the top of a view point usually results in the pursuers to lose sight of the player. Then all he must do is perform a Leap of Faith and he will be at street level, hidden in the hay.

In Assassin's Creed II, Ezio can perform a Leap of Faith to dive into the water or wagons of fish in addition to jumping into piles of hay.

Trivia

• Near the beginning of the game, when Masyaf is attacked by Templars, three assassins display their devotion and faith by performing Leaps of Faith off a cliff. This is based off a real life incident involving the Hashshashin, in which their leader proclaimed that his followers were more devout than any, and would follow all commands he gave. As shown in the game, he ordered several men to jump off a cliff to their deaths, which they did. Unlike in the game, however, they died.
• There is actually nothing coincidental about the placement of the bales of hay, their locations are entirely intentional. During the game, it is explained that the bales of hay and the birds that denote the location of a View Point have been programmed into the memory by Lucy as a way to help out in the navigation of the memory.