Thief

"We are with you, friend, only lead the way."

―Thieves' greeting to Ezio

The Thieves are one of the three factions of Assassin's Creed II helping the main character Ezio (the other two being the Courtesans and the Mercenaries).

Led by Antonio, their main hideout is located in the commercial district of Venice. The guild is more of an organization similar to the Mafia, rather than just a bunch of robbers. They don't target innocent citizens, and instead defy the local, corrupted nobility. In Florence, the thieves are led by La Volpe (The Fox in English).

The thieves can help Ezio by distracting the guards, and luring them away; however, this ability can be only used once for a single group of thieves, and once you use it, they are no longer in your service. On rooftops, the lure command is replaced with the fight command, directing the thieves to fight the guards instead of stealing from them. Otherwise, at any time, engaging in a fight while a group of thieves is following you will automatically prompt them to assist you. You can also hire a second group to help at this point, though only one group will follow you around when the fight is over.

Thieves are lightly armed, carrying only a Short Blade, and wearing very light armor, though this allows them to follow Ezio in many of his acrobatic moves. They will not, however, follow him up very high towers (such as view points) or make far leaps, if they are able to find another route, no matter how lengthy it may be. They are surprisingly effective in combat, easily dodging or blocking enemy blows, and returning them. A group of four thieves can take on eight Medici Guardsmen and suffer very little damage. Their only vulnerability in combat are the Brutes and Seekers.

Be careful when free running, however, for the thieves can easily fall into water and die (as they can't swim). Thus, if you have thieves following you, avoid jumping across canals from the roof, particularly in Venice. Also remember that thieves can be just as easily killed by falling while performing normal acrobatics.

Trivia

• During the mission "Cleaning House," Ezio has to hunt down and kill three traitor thieves in Venice. Strangely, unlike the other thieves, the three use swords instead of daggers.

• Like the guards, they are generally better equipped in Venice then they are in Florence.

• 
  Some thieves of Venice.
• Ezio followed by some thieves.
  Ezio followed by some thieves.
• Ezio ordering thieves to create a diversion.
  Ezio ordering thieves to create a diversion.
• Ezio fighting Guards with Thieves
  Ezio fighting Guards with Thieves