Syrian Sabre
The Sword of Altair was a scimitar used by Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. The usage of the Sword of Altair was restricted to Altair who had attained the rank of Master Assassin. The sword continued to be utilized throughout the many centuries that followed, spreading even to the shops of blacksmiths in Italy, though its prestige and efficacy significantly diminished.
Description
As a sabre, the Sword of Altair differed from other swords in the Assassin arsenal during the Crusades by being curved and single-edged. It boasted a keen blade superior to that of the typical straight swords of this period in the Levant. The hilt itself was of elegant gold and an elaborate, majestic design. Notably, the crossguard was asymmetrical, with the rear bar tapering behind in a serpentine shape while its front counterpart curved downwards to connect with the pommel to serve as a full handguard.[1]
History
As a powerful weapon granted only to Master Assassins, it was the weapon-of-choice for Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad during his operations in 1191. He wielded it in his mission with Malik and Kadar Al-Sayf to Solomon's Temple and in the defense of Masyaf against the Templar invasion that followed, only to be deprived of his sword upon his demotion by Al Mualim for his transgressions in the former mission. Upon climbing the ladder back to the Master Assassin rank, he was bestowed with his sword once more by Al Mualim.[1] Immediately afterwards, he took it to his attempted assassination of Robert de Sablé in Jerusalem, dueling the Grand Master's decoy Maria Thorpe and then at the Battle of Arsuf where he finally slew de Sablé in a trial by combat. It was with this sword that he defeated the traitorous Al Mualim upon his return from Arsuf.[1]
In the year that followed, however, he returned to employing the Syrian sword of intermediate Assassins. The Syrian Sword as it became known, ultimately superseded Altair’s sword for when it was refined to become one of the deadliest blades until at least the 15th century.[2][3][4]
Swords similar to the Sword of Altair were sold by blacksmiths in Italian cities such as Florence, Venice, Forlì, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, and Rome during the Renaissance. Unlike those crafted by the Assassins in the Third Crusade, these sabres were inferior in efficacy to many contemporary Italian swords.[2] During this period, the blacksmiths of Constantinople in the Ottoman Empire also provided these sabres to their patrons.[4]
The use of the sabre also spread to Spain, where it was utilized by the Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins, who were able to forge it at their hideout in Sierra de Cazorla.[5]
Weapon statistics
12th century Syria
| Name | Damage | Speed | Deflect | Cost | Availability |
| Altair’s sword | 4* | 4* | 4* | N/A | Block 8 |
15th century Italy
| Name | Damage | Speed | Deflect | Cost | Availability |
| Syrian Sabre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2,300ƒ | Sequence 2 |
15th century Spain
| Name | Tier | Damage | Speed | Miss Chance | Modifiers | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syrian Sabre | ★★ | 36-50 | 1.00 | 7% | +1% Critical Chance +10% Critical Bonus +1% Dodge |
4,000 Reales 50 Iron Ore 50 Tanned Leather |
| Description | ||||||
| A Syrian-style sabre, similar to those used by the Levantine Brotherhood during the Third Crusade. | ||||||
| Name | Tier | Damage | Speed | Miss Chance | Modifiers | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Syrian Sabre | ★★★ | 108-132 | 1.00 | 7% | +2% Critical Chance +20% Critical Bonus +1% Dodge |
9,000 Reales 100 Steel Ingot 100 Hardened Leather 1 Syrian Sabre |
| Description | ||||||
| A higher-quality version of the Syrian Sabre, similar to those used by the Levantine Brotherhood during the Third Crusade. | ||||||
16th century Rome
| Name | Damage | Speed | Deflect | Cost | Availability |
| Syrian Sabre | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7,920ƒ | Sequence 6 |
16th century Constantinople
| Name | Damage | Speed | Deflect | Cost | Availability |
| Syrian Sabre | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11,960 
|
Sequence 5 |
*In the Animus 1.28, there were no specified Damage, Speed or Deflect statistics. Weapon strength was based on ranks, with the Syrian Sabre being the last out of four.
Gallery
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The Syrian Sabre in Rebellion -
The Fine Syrian Sabre in Rebellion
Trivia
- The Sword of Altair is the best sword in Assassin's Creed.
- This is the only sword to be consistently purchasable at the blacksmith throughout the Ezio Trilogy.
- In Assassin's Creed II, Ezio is seen wielding this sword during the execution of his father and brothers despite the fact that he had earlier retrieved the assassin’s sword from his father's hidden room.
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines
- Assassin's Creed II
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations
- Assassin's Creed: Rebellion