Horseman
Horsemen were a guard archetype that possessed the ability to use a variety of weapons whilst on horseback.
Equipment
Horsemen were mounted on one of two varieties of horse, either the common horse or the warhorse.
They were equipped with both short-ranged weapons such as long swords or maces, and long-ranged weapons like throwing knives (for those mounted on the common horse) and crossbows (for those mounted on warhorses). They did not possess long or heavy weapons, due to the impossibility for riders to use two-handed weapons on a horse.
Combat
When a horseman detected the Assassin Ezio Auditore whilst he was on foot, the horseman would either charge at him with his short-ranged weapon ready (if Ezio remained still) or would attempt to strike him with his long-ranged weapon (if Ezio fled or started freerunning).
Ezio was able unsaddle a horseman by stabbing him off with a spear, or by slashing his charging horse, and causing it to trip over. However, after this attack, both horse and rider would eventually get up from the floor, seeming completely unharmed. The horseman would then challenge Ezio on the ground, or attempt to re-mount.
Ezio could also kill mounted horsemen by shooting them down with the crossbow, hidden gun, or by throwing spears into them. He could also assassinate guards with his hidden blade while they were on their horses, and steal their mounts.
Trivia
- Sometimes, a guard on foot will mount a nearby horse upon becoming hostile towards Ezio. If no free horse is available, he will hijack one from a passing civilian.
- Horsemen cannot be killed with the Poison blade while on horseback, and must be unsaddled first. If you use a poison dart however, there is a chance that the horseman will fall off.
- Horsemen cannot be lured by thieves, attacked by mercenaries, or distracted by courtesans.
- Completing the Courtesan Guild Challenges will enable courtesans to distract horsemen and make them dismount.
- Certain mounted Hermeticists share the abilities of horsemen.
- In the in-game help page, horsemen are called Leaders.
Gallery
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Concept art of a horseman.
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A horseman in Rome.
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Ezio about to throw a spear at a horseman. -
Ezio assassinating a horseman with his hidden blade.
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Ezio impaling a horseman with a spear. -
Ezio air-assassinating a Horseman
