Hidden Blade
The Hidden Blade is the most iconic and precious weapon of the Assassins, mainly used for stealth assassinations.
Although Altaïr already has this weapon at the start of the game, he loses it when he is demoted to Novice. At his first promotion to rank 2, however, he earns it back (along with his Longsword)so that he may perform his first assassination on Tamir the Merchant in Damascus.
It is worth noting that Altaïr's descendant Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who you play as in Assassin's Creed II, will possess two of these blades, whereas Altair has only one. In addition, both his ring fingers are intact, due to a modification that raises the base of the weapon itself.
Use
This weapon is mostly used for stealthy, low-profile assassinations upon soldiers. An unaware soldier may be stabbed in the neck or the stomach without drawing too much attention. When stealth is not a priority, Altaïr may perform a high profile assassination. This involves jumping upon an opponent and causing his victim to fall on the ground, then the blade is triggered, stabbing the opponent in the throat, or jabbing the blade into the target's chin, and on into the brain, when right in front of you, between other examples.
Both low and high profile assassinations may fail. A guard wary of your actions may catch your arms when you attempt the kill and throw you back. Counter-maneuvers using the blade are possible in active combat.
Be aware, of course, that you will lose a lot of synchronization if you assassinate innocent civilians with the hidden blade, just as with any other weapon.
In combat
The hidden blade can also be used while in combat. It can be easiely used on weak enemies, just pushing him to the ground (High-Profile+Shift) and then moving for the kill while he lays on the ground.
Used on actual combat against stronger folks or larger groups is more challenging, since it's only possible to counter the enemy you're facing and you cannot block any attack. The time frame in which the player can counter-attack is extremely small compared to the longsword and short blade, but successfully countering enables one of several different - always lethal - counter-attacks in which Altaïr stabs his opponent in the chest, head, abdomen, under the chin, or spine. Mastering the use of a hidden blade in combat against large and powerful groups of enemies is an art. It is actually possible to assassinate the enemy in combat, while he is caught in a moment of inattention (praying, threatening, horrified...) but any other time, it fails because the enemy will always block Altaïr.
In Assassin's Creed II however, the use of the hidden blade in combat is more "classical": we can use it as a normal blade attack weapon, and try to break the enemy's defence instead of just trying to assassinate him. Moreover, the dual wielding of the blades make the combat with hidden blades easier.
Role in investigations and missions
Assassination missions
The Hidden Blade is also used for one of the investigations given to you by informants. You are asked to stealthily assassinate a number of targets. If any guard even once confronts you, the mission is failed. If you attack the targets or the guards with fists, the short blade, the longsword, or any other high profile weapon, you will fail the mission. Because of this, you may ONLY use the throwing knives or the Hidden Blade.
Interrogation missions
During Interrogation missions, after successfully interrogating the target, Altaïr is forced to kill them, so they can not reveal his plans to the enemy. He will bury the blade in their stomach to kill them, then gently lower their body onto the ground so as not to draw further attention to himself. Occasionally, other assassinations performed with the Hidden Blade play out in the same manner.
Save Citizen missions
In the optional Save Citizen missions to save citizens from soldiers threatening to kill them, this weapon will come in handy. Successfully and stealthily used, you might take out three of the soldiers before they notice you, draw their weapons, and engage you in a swordfight. If they notice your tactic, however, you'd best be prepared and draw either your short blade or sword for a swordfight.
Assassinations
The hidden blade is used in every storyline assassination you perform. Even if you begin by attacking the enemy with a sword, you will always finish them off with the hidden blade before it cuts to the death cutscene.
Mechanism
When not in use, the blade is hidden in a gauntlet on Altaïr's lower left arm. Altaïr triggers it via a ring on his little finger. This causes a gear system to eject the blade, hopefully into the neck or stomach of an enemy.
When the blade is open, it rests between Altaïr's middle and little fingers, in the space left by his amputated ring finger. This amputation is part of the initiation into the Hashshashin sect, which the Assassins are based on.
Trivia
It is unclear why the ring finger need be removed for the use of the blade, as Altaïr opens his hand and spreads his fingers whenever the blade is extended. Similarly, he never uses the blade with his hand clenched in a fist; all stabbing moves and assassinations are performed with an open hand. The only time the blade sits in the space left by the amputated finger is when the player extends the blade and holds it out (by holding the weapon hand button while out of combat). However, as the weapon is specifically a hidden blade, it seems unlikely that a true Assassin would ever walk around with it exposed in this manner. However doing so in AC will make the beggars wary and less likely to get in your way. As it does in a ACll with the minstrels.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||