Altaïr used a standard crossbow despite common usage of the handheld crossbow in Europe and the Middle East during the time of the Third Crusade. When Altaïr was disguised as a soldier and then afterwards a scholar, he had a crossbow attached on his back despite not having one after killing a crossbowman under the disguise of a scholar.
Renaissance
The Crossbow in the shop menu.
The crossbow was a ranged weapon that Ezio Auditore could purchase for 12,800 florins at any Blacksmith shop in Rome. After purchasing the weapon, the number of bolts could be upgraded by buying the medium and large quivers from Tailor shops. Each quiver increased the maximum number of bolts carried by 5 each time, with the default number of bolts being 15 and the maximum number being 25.[1]
The large quiver requires the completion of the Pulling Threads shop quest before it is made available, and is granted for free once the quest is completed.
Usage
Stealth
The Ottoman crossbow.
The crossbow was like the pistol's complementary ranged weapon; it had the same range, but was silent. The way the crossbow was fired was similar to that of the pistol, though it aimed faster and could be fired while moving and while on beams.
Unlike the pistol, which alerted guards the moment it was fired, the crossbow only called attention to Ezio when the target collapsed.[1]
Combat
The crossbow could be used in battle alongside its stealth capabilities. In battle, it could be fired at close range, as well as being able to counter an enemy's attack. When fired at close range, the crossbow would kill the targeted enemy but doing so would incur a rather long reload time. Crossbowmen and some horsemen used the crossbow in battle, firing repeatedly at Ezio, at close quarters as well as at a long range. Ezio could also use the crossbow to defend against charging horsemen by blocking them with the crossbow equipped.[1]
The crossbow featured some animations while counter-killing opponents. However, the crossbow could not counter long or heavy weapons.
Skull Smasher
Ezio thrusted his crossbow into the target's abdomen. As his target doubled over, Ezio, with both hands, smashed the bottom of his crossbow onto the back of his target's head, forcing the target to land face-first onto the ground. (Does not need ammunition or a reload to be performed)
Suffocation
Ezio forcefully thrusted 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 backed up and falls to his knees, holding his neck while choking, and collapsed. (Does not need ammunition or a reload to be performed)
Neck Shot
Ezio thrusted his crossbow first into the target's abdomen and then in his neck, firing the crossbow the moment it made contact with the enemy. (Requires ammunition and must be reloaded in order to be performed)
Spinal Shot
Ezio thrusted his crossbow into the target's abdomen, and then stepped back to shoot him directly down the back of his neck as he doubled over in pain. (Requires ammunition and must be reloaded in order to be performed)
Trip Shot
Ezio ducked, spun around, and sweeped his target off of his feet with the crossbow. Ezio then quickly rose upright and shot his target who was lying dazed on the ground. (Requires ammunition and must be reloaded in order to be performed)
Trivia
The crossbow is the only weapon that can be used to perform counter kills, while unable to perform an excution streak.
A crossbow was planned to be one of Altaïr's weapon in early designs of Assassin's Creed, but was removed from the final game due to historical inaccuracies. The crossbow did, however, feature in the E3 trailer and the game's video introduction.
The crossbow is featured in the mobile version of Assassin's Creed, a historical mistake by the developers, 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 flame-holders to light torches. The ammunition of the weapon can be refilled by walking into a weapon recharge point.
File:ACR crossbow.pngThe Crossbow featured in Assassin's Creed: Revelations.The 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 an assassination target.
In order to unlock the large quiver upgrade, the shop quest "Pulling Threads" must be completed first.
Most of the time, when Ezio performs the Trip Shot counter attack, the firing sound will not occur.
During the Animusloading 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 the E3 conference (above picture of Ezio on the Colosseum) Ezio is seen equipped with a different crossbow to the one in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. This particular crossbow has the same design as the ones the Crossbowmen guards use.
