Mercenary

"I fight at your side, anytime!"

―Mercenaries's greeting to Ezio

The Mercenaries, known as the Mercenario in Italian, are one of the three factions of Assassin's Creed II helping the main character Ezio (the other two being the Courtesans and the Thieves).

The Mercenaries in Tuscany/San Gimignano are led by Mario Auditore, Ezio's uncle. In Florence, the Mercenaries are led by Niccolò Machiavelli. In Venice, the Mercenaries are led by Bartolomeo d'Alviano.

Mercenaries (and all other hired help) cost 150 florins, follow you around, and make comments after a fight. All merc's for hire bear Heavy Weapons and are like a more powerful variation of the Brute. However, Mercenaries encountered in missions (that are not hired) are free and have Longswords and Maces. Due to their lack of armour, their effectiveness is drastically reduced and they can be outmatched by 2-3 Pazzi Guards. You can order them to fight the Guards without involving yourself and thus providing a distraction.

Trivia

• While distributing Bartolomeo's men to specific spots throughout the Castello district to distract Silvio, his men act like normal guards instead of Brutes, even being able to sprint.
• During the mission to assassinate Vieri De Pazzi, Mario refers to his Mercenaries as Assassins, although they do not appear to actually be assassins due to the fact that they're not carrying any of the equipment Assassins would usually have with them.
• It's ironic that Niccolo Machiavelli is portrayed as the leader of Florence's mercenaries when he was strongly against the use of mercenaries in real life.
• Strangely enough, Thieves are actually more combat effective than Mercenaries are.
• Ironically, guards are often called and call themselves mercenaries.
• In the mission "Wolves in Sheeps Clothing" the Medici Guard act like mercenaries (except they don't bear heavy weapons, immediately run off to more fights when theirs is finished, and don't follow the player around).

Gallery

• 
  Mercenaries in Venice.
• Ezio in battle with Mercenaries on his side.
  Ezio in battle with Mercenaries on his side.