Throwing knives were small knives that could kill unarmored enemies and rooftop sentries. Assassins used them to either injure enemies, or take them out from a distance.
Assassins of the High Middle Ages were permitted to use throwing knives upon reaching the fourth rank. The knives also seemed to be one of the most powerful weapons after the Hidden Blade; with a single, accurate hit resulting in a kill on all targets but major Templars.[1]
If ever an Assassin ran out of knives, he could get more by either pickpocketing them from thugs (earning five knives), by defeating thugs in a fistfight, or by returning to either an Assassins' Bureau or Masyaf.[1]
The amount of knives Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad could hold increased at certain ranks, wherein he obtained a knife belt. Each knife belt could hold up to five knives, and were kept at his waist, left boot, and right shoulder. These belts were obtained at the fourth, seventh, and tenth ranks respectively.[1]
Throwing knives were also used by Assassins of the Renaissance era, though they were not quite as effective, and could not normally cause a kill in a single hit; particularly with the improved armor possessed by high-ranked guards. To compensate, Ezio Auditore da Firenze could hold up to twenty-five knives at a time, all of which he sheathed at his waist.[2]
Throwing knives could be bought from any of the city blacksmiths for 50 florins each. Extra sheaths for knives could be purchased at tailor shops.[2]
Though initially only throwing one knife at a time, Ezio learned to throw several at once from the combat instructor at Monteriggioni.[2]
This special attack allowed Ezio to throw three knives mid-combat, effectively dispatching up to three enemies. Despite taking a longer time to aim and use, the ability allowed an instant kill on any targeted enemy.[2]
Later, upon traveling to Rome and becoming a Master Assassin, Ezio was able to throw multiple knives at enemies, even when not engaged in battle. He was able to adjust the number of knives thrown at a time, one for each enemy in range.[3]
Furthermore, Ezio was also able to dual-wield throwing knives alongside his short blade, much as Altaïr did.[1] This allowed him to more quickly switch between long and short-ranged attacks.[3]
Modern times
In Abstergo Industries, throwing knives served as an ability that its recruits could use while training in their respective Animi. However, the knives used were always non-lethal, and could only temporarily slow down or unbalance an opponent.[3]
Trivia
Assassin's Creed
During the Animus loading sequence, you are able to select the throwing knives and throw an infinite number of them.
On the Xbox 360 version of Assassin's Creed, you can get the achievement "Eagle's Eye" by killing 75 guards with throwing knives.
There is a glitch after unlocking the short blade for the first time. In the Animus loading sequence, you can use throwing knives even if they have not been unlocked yet.
Assassin's Creed II
When not locked on, Ezio will throw a knife in the last direction he walked toward. Certain targets will not run unless Ezio enters a particular zone around them. If Ezio remains out of this zone and throws knives using the described method, he can easily kill them.
Even when you have used all of your throwing knives, they are still visible on Ezio's knife belt.
An additional five throwing knives can be purchased through Uplay for 20 Units.
It takes two throwing knives to kill a guard who is watching you, but only one to kill a guard to whom you are invisible.
Venice and Forlì are exceptions, where it takes two knives regardless.
Other
In Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, the design for throwing knives has been altered. In the first game, it is simply a flat knife, whereas in Bloodlines, it possesses a cylindrical hilt and a four-sided blade.
Giovanni Auditore only carried two throwing knives, on his chest, and it is unexplained if this was due to his preference, or to his skill (or lack thereof) with the weapon.
In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, regardless of the throwing knife capacity of the knife belt, there is no visible knife belt present.
In Brotherhood, the knife belt only appears when the character is in a state of loading (such as when Ezio glows white during an armor switch or clothes dyeing), or within the Animus Virtual Training Program.
