Freerunning

I will lead mankind into a new world! This article is currently being reworked by GuardDog in order to achieve a better status. We ask that edits to this article are only minor or grammatical in nature until this warning is removed, in order to not disrupt the major revamp. Should you wish to participate in the revamp, please contact the editor at work.

Rosa: "Climbing a bit of scaffolding is all well and good, but let's see how you do out in the open."

Ezio: "Top of that tower, then? Torno fra un attimo. (I'll be right back)."

—Rosa challenging Ezio Auditore da Firenze.

The Codex sketch on freerunning.

Freerunning is a form of acrobatics, in which participants navigate through a landscape by performing fluid movements over and across urban or natural structures.

This particular form of movement was utilized primarily by members of the Assassin Order, and was a vital asset both during and after assassinations. Over time, Assassins would also use a series of tools to supplement their climbing and freerunning abilities.

Vertical Movement

In general, vertical movements involved climbing or scaling structures that provided adequate handholds, or a texture rough enough to grip. Inversely, they also allowed one to safely drop down from a height.

• Drop was the act of dropping from a hanging position or bar.
• Wallpass was the act of climbing a tall wall by kicking its surface once to propel upwards.
• Climb-up was the movement of climbing an obstacle from a hanging position so Altaïr's upper body was above the obstacle, supported by his arms.
• Long jump was a jump from a high height, and was usually followed by a protective roll.
• Climb leap' was first shown to Ezio by Rosa in Venice, and allowed him to grab potentially out-of-reach handholds by performing a vertical jump while climbing.
• Corner swing was when Ezio would sharply turn a corner, by grabbing a swinging lanterns or pot.

Horizontal Movement

Horizontal movements generally involved moving over large distances, or methods that allowed one to clear obstacles, such as gaps or breaks.

Altaïr performing a gap jump in Jerusalem.

• Swing was a movement in which Altaïr swung onto a bar and let go, enabling him to grab another object, or to drop to the ground.
• Pass involved quickly and smoothly passing over medium sized obstacles.
• Breakfall was a forward roll where the hands, arms, and diagonal of the back made contact with the ground.
• Arm jump was to land on the side of an obstacle in a hanging position, hands gripping the top edge of the obstacle, holding the body.
• Gap jump was performed similarly to a long jump, except over an open expanse.
• Precision jump was a moving jump from one object to a precise spot on another object, usually with a small surface.
• Spring jump could only be used in the Oltrarno District of Florence. The Spring-jump allowed Ezio to jump twice as far as he usually could by sprinting straight onto and leaping from a springboard.
• Vault Connor was also able to vault over and slide under obstacles.

Tools

"When he tires of running, an Assassin must take to the air."

―Yusuf Tazim commenting on the hipline.

As they used freerunning for travel, attack, and escape, both Assassins and their allies developed tools that would improve freerunning abilities. Among these were the Climb Leap Glove, manufactured by Leonardo da Vinci, and the Hookblade, which was used by the Assassins of the Turkish branch.

Trivia

• Though referred to as "freerunning" throughout the Assassin's Creed series, the Assassins' focus on speed and efficiency, rather than creativity, more closely resembled Parkour.
• There is a bug present in most installments of the series, where civilians in certain areas or circumstances are able to perform free-running movements.
• Other than the Assassins, several factions were also known to be adept freerunners, including Agile guards, Thieves, Borgia Messengers, Papal Guards, Followers of Romulus, and Janissaries.
• Freerunning puzzles have been a mainstay in the series since Assassin's Creed II, coming in the form of Assassin Tombs, Templar Lairs, Lairs of Romulus, and Memory Seal locations.