War machine

"War machines. I have constructed weapons for all the Borgia guards and other terrible monstrosities besides."

―Leonardo about his machines.

File:Asscreed tank.jpg

The tank, one of the four war machines.

The War Machines were four mechanical devices designed by Leonardo da Vinci for the Borgia forces during the early 16^th century.

They each feature in one of four exotic missions for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and can be found in cities or towns across Italy, outside of Rome. In order to destroy them, Ezio commandeered and, after using them to destroy Borgia weapons, supplies, and armaments, destroyed all four of these machines, severely reducing the Borgia's military strength. To ensure that they would not be rebuilt, each machines' blueprint was burned before commandeering it.

The War Machines

All of the war machine missions follow a similar path. One, Ezio must find the location of the blueprints of the war machine, sometimes by interrogating the weapon's engineer (A call by to the interrogation missions in Assassin's Creed). Then, after burning the plans, he commandeers the weapon itself, to use it to destroy other Borgia weapons and war supplies, after which he destroys the weapons itself and returns to Rome.

Chariot machine gun

File:MachineGun.jpg

Ezio defending the machine

Like the name says, its a chariot with a fast-firing cannon that can be used to take out dozens of enemies easily, while riding or not. Because of the fast moving and fast firing, the chariot machine gun is great for chases or surprise attacks.

In order to destroy the machine, Ezio traveled to Colli Albani. After sneaking by the guards and finding and burning the machine plans, Ezio managed to blow the machine gun, however, a second one appeared on the back of a carriage, and Ezio chased it by with a horse. When Ezio finally caught up to the carriage, killed the drivers, and took control of the deadly weapon, several mounted arquebusiers and Archers at rooftops tried to stop him, but Ezio managed to escape and destroyed the weapon once and for all by shooting explosive barrels on the carriage and blowing the machine gun up.

The Bomber

Ezio using the Bomber

A advanced version of the flying machine, refereed as "Flying Machine 2.0" by the memory's name. This version of the flying machine works just like the first one, using fire (or, more importantly, the heated air it creates) to keep itself on the air, but equipped with a cannon mounted on top. In order to keep it on air, Ezio must shoot the ground to ignite it, making fire and lifting the flying machine.

To destroy the Bomber, Ezio went to the small town of Valnerina and interrogated the weapons engineer. With the plan's location, Ezio infiltrated the fortress where the machine being kept, avoided the guards, and burned the plans. Then, he found the tower where the machine was kept. After a lot of climbing, Ezio finally reach the top of the tower and the bomber. With the weapon, Ezio destroy several factories and some chariots with materials as well, before finally crashing it into a tower and allowing the flaming tower to collapse on the machine, destroying the bomber.

The Naval Cannon

The Naval Cannon in action

The naval cannon is modified gondola carrying a gun that shoots fireballs. The speed and small size of the weapon make it a hard target for the enemies, while the powerful cannon can damage and destroy even the biggest ships. The weapon needs two people to work, however, Ezio manages to use it alone, alternating between firing the cannon and rowing the gondola.

At the docks of Naples, Ezio find the engineer of the weapon. The engineer choose to aid Ezio, showing him the way through a flooded cave to the dry dock where the weapon is kept. When Ezio found the weapon, he killed all the guards guarding it, and managed to flood the dock to steal it. Once in the sea, Ezio used the weapon to destroy the sails on Templar ships. Once all of them are destroyed, Ezio turns the boat's cannon on the itself and fires it, destroying it as he plunges into the ocean to escape.

The Tank

Ezio looking at the tank

The most powerful weapon made by Leonardo, the tank is a mobile cannon platform with wooden armor, that can shot in several directions. Thanks to the strong armor, the tank can't be damaged by bullets and can resist to several cannon balls before being destroyed. But this power comes with a price, a crew of at least three people is needed to use the weapon.

When Ezio arrives at Monte Circeo, he finds the engineer of the weapon and it's bodyguard. Ezio follows them to a heavily guarded factory, where he interrogates the engineer, who tells him the location of the machine plans, the machine itself and also a group of captured Mercenaries that could help him. Once the plans are burned and the mercenaries freed, Ezio and his "crew" fight pass several guards and venture in a series of caverns. At the end of the cavern, he finds the tank and use it to battle his way to the factory, pass mounted cannons and Arquebusiers. Once all other tanks are destroyed, Ezio uses a mounted cannon on the factory walls to finally destroy his tank.

Trivia

• Every one of Leonardo's machines in the game has infinite ammunition.
• When Ezio first arrives in Rome, a herald can be heard announcing the exhibition of the "war machines of Maestro da Vinci" to the crowd.
• In the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel, there are no fully functioning war machines. Leonardo tells Ezio that he created the design so it wouldn't work, but in a discreet way.
• In the tank memory, Ezio destroys his own tank with only one cannon ball, even if takes several shots to destroy it during the battle.
  • Also, during the Tank memory, Ezio states he wishes he could keep the tank before firing on it.
• A miniature replica of each one of the machines are found at the Tiber Island headquarters after completing their memories.