"The crossbow's just a crossbow, but it's very compact and light. What makes it special is that it's just as powerful as those heaving things which are now being superseded by my wheel-lock […] and of course the advantage it has over a gun is that it's more or less silent."
The crossbow is a ranged weapon that can be purchased for 12,800 florins at any blacksmith shop. After purchasing the weapon, the number of bolts may be upgraded by buying the medium quiver and large quiver from tailor shops. Each quiver increases the maximum number of bolts carry able by 5 each time, the default number of bolts being 15 and the maximum being 25, however, in order to unlock the large quiver the shop quest Pulling Threads must be completed first.[1]
Stealth usage
The crossbow is like the pistol's complementary ranged weapon; it has the same range, but is silent. The way the crossbow is fired is similar to the way the pistol is aimed, though it aims faster and can be fired while moving and while on beams.
Targeting is accomplished by locking onto an enemy and holding the Armed Hand button, which causes diamond markings to close in and form a white line as the weapon is aimed. Unlike the pistol, which alert guards the moment it is fired, the crossbow only calls attention to Ezio when the target collapses.[1]
Combat usage
The crossbow can be used in battle as well as stealthily. In battle, it can be fired at close range, as well as used to counter an enemy's attack. When fired at close range, the crossbow will kill the targeted enemy but doing so will incur a rather long reload time. Non-Player Characters like crossbowmen and some horsemen will use the crossbow in battle, repeatedly firing at Ezio, while at close range as well as long range.[1]
The crossbow features some animations while counter-killing opponents. The crossbow cannot counter long or heavy weapons. Note: 1: Does not need ammunition or a reload to be performed, 2: Needs ammunition and must be reloaded in order to be performed.
Skull Smasher (1): Ezio thrusts his crossbow into the target's abdomen. As his target doubles over, Ezio, with both hands, smashes the bottom of his crossbow onto the back of his target's head, forcing the target to land face-first onto the ground.
Suffocation (1): Ezio forcefully thrusts his target with the metal, beak-like tip of his crossbow twice. The first time in the abdomen, and the second time in the neck. The target slowly backs up and falls to his knees, holding his neck while choking, and collapses.
Neck Shot (2): Ezio thrusts his crossbow first into the target's abdomen and then in his neck, firing the crossbow the moment it makes contact with the enemy.
Spinal Shot (2): Ezio thrusts his crossbow into the target's abdomen, and then steps back to shoot him directly down the back of his neck as he doubles over in pain.
Trip Shot (2): Ezio ducks, spins around, and sweeps his target off of his feet with the crossbow. Ezio then quickly rises upright and shoots his target who is lying dazed on the ground.
Trivia
File:ACR crossbow.pngThe Crossbow in RevelationsThe crossbow functions the same way as the Pistol, however, it is less powerful, as it does not always kill certain targets such as Borgia Captains, unlike the hidden gun, which always guarantees a kill, unless used on a boss.
Most of the time, when Ezio performs the Trip Shot counter attack, the firing sound will not occur.
During the Animus loading screen, if Ezio draws his crossbow, a single crossbow bolt can be found lying on the ground. It disappears when the crossbow is put away and vice versa.
When performing certain actions with the crossbow, Ezio's upper body does not move at all (besides the arm holding the crossbow while he is drawing it/beginning to aim/sheathing it). This may give Ezio a robotic appearance when running, as his entire upper body is completely still while performing any actions.
In a trailer seen at E3 (above picture of Ezio on the Colosseum) Ezio is seen equipped with a different crossbow to the one in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. This one is the same as the ones the Crossbowmen guards use.
The crossbow was featured in Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles as a historical mistake by the developers, Wherein it was obtained prior to his confrontation with Majd Addin. The crossbow can be used to kill enemies at a safe distance, to trigger gear mechanisms or to shoot down flameholders to light torches. The ammunition of the weapon can be refilled by walking into a weapon recharge point.
