Poison dart

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Ezio preparing to eliminate a Guard with a Poison Dart.

"Just a small sting and my enemies will fall."

―Ezio Auditore, after acquiring the poison darts from Leonardo da Vinci

Poison Darts were long-range weapons used by the Assassin Ezio Auditore during his stay in Rome.

Availability

Upon meeting Leonardo da Vinci in Rome, he would fashion a dart-firing upgrade for Ezio's poison blade. However, ammunition was shared with the poison blade, thus upgrading the pouch at a tailor also increased the number of poison darts Ezio could carry. Poison could either be looted from dead guards, assassination targets, unconscious civilians, or purchased from Doctors.

Additionally, a Fast Poison upgrade could be acquired from a doctor on Tiber Island by collecting several quantities of ingredients. The fast poison affected the target much faster, killing them roughly in half the time required to die without the upgrade.

Throughout his ventures in Constantinople, Ezio was shown to have improved the poison darts' capibilities, enabling him to aim at an enemy faster and allowing him to use it in conjunction with more than just the poison blade. It became available as secondary weapon for the dagger, hidden blade, sword and hammer. The fast poison became available for purchase from every doctor in the city.

Effects

Poison Darts Icon on the weapon wheel.

Poison Darts Icon on the weapon wheel.

The darts had the same effect as the poison blade, but were fired from distance in the same way as the Hidden Gun. They were however, incredibly quieter, which made them extremely useful during stealth missions. Aiming and firing a dart was almost flawless, similar to the crossbow.

The effects of a poison dart occurred immediately after the target was shot:

• First stage: The target stood at their post or walked alongside their group of guards, though he or she would begin to clutch at their chest and struggle to remain standing as the poison's effects set in. None of their fellow guards seemed to notice that something is wrong with the target.
• Second stage: The poison began to have serious effects on the target. They began to flail helplessly in a circle, striking anyone who came within their reach. If they had a weapon, they may have drawn it and flail it around as well. Civilians and guards alike were drawn to this spectacle, making it a perfect distraction.
• Third stage: The target was overcome completely by the poison and fell on the ground, still having spasms caused by the poison. After a short time, the target died.

Usage

From a long enough distance, Ezio would not be noticed by guards even if he shot their comrades. However, they would attack him if he were close enough and they noticed him firing the dart. Poisoning guards (especially Seekers with their long weapons ) was a good distraction that could hold any nearby guards' attention long enough for bypassing them. Firing a dart at the target from a crowd of civilians would not draw attention, easing up a kill of the target while blending.

Trivia

• Firing a poison dart at a horseman will force him to dismount and the effects will skip to the third stage of poison.
• In the novelization of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the poison darts are thrown by Ezio as opposed to being projectiles shot from the poison blade.