Arquebusier
The arquebusiers were firearm-wielding soldiers who served and protected the pontiff during their tenure. They function similarly to archers and crossbowmen, patrolling rooftops and protecting important targets such as Borgia Tower captains, and Octavian de Valois.
Though the range of an arquebus is not quite as long as a crossbow, every shot is more powerful, and is even capable of damaging armor. Additionally, similarly to crossbowmen, arquebusiers do not possess melee weapons, and will merely back away and continue to fire their rifles if engaged in a close-range fight.
Like all other guards, the colors of their uniform indicate their allegiances, with red marking them as soldiers of the Borgia, and blue as of the French forces. Similarly to Papal Guards, they are more often encountered during story missions.
They feature notably during the assault on Monteriggioni, where armored arquebusiers under the command of Cesare Borgia, were able to wound Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the shoulder and the chest.[1]
Trivia
- If the player kills an arquebusier after he has turned hostile and thusly drawn his weapon, the gunman will drop his rifle upon death. However, there is no way to actually attain the relinquished gun, and - similarly to enemy crossbows - the weapon will dissapear shortly after moving out of the camera's view.
Gallery
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Arquebusiers during the Siege of Monteriggioni.
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A Papal arquebusier.
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An armored arquebusier in Rome.
