Weapons and fighting | Basics Assassin's Creed (PC) Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

 

Weapons

There are five weapons in Assassasin's Creed:

Digital pad of a gamepad/keyboard	Weapon
Down/1	fists
Up/3	a hidden blade
Left/4	throwing knives/a short blade
Right/2	a sword

Here is a description of weapons:

Fists Using fists against armed guards is completely useless. You should use them only during interrogations.
Hidden Blade A powerful weapon no self-respecting killer will leave home without. You can use it in any situation, when your target is not expecting an attack. For example: in "Save Citizen" missions you can kill the first enemy instantly, and then finish the rest of them with your sword. Don't expect the guard you want to kill is just going to stand dumbly like a sacrificial lamb. In addition, if you're using a hidden blade in High Profile mode, you'll be chased for sure. That's why you should use this kind of attack when you're the one chasing your target.
Throwing knives This weapon is very useful against guards and archers surveying the surroundings from building roofs or towers.
Short blade It is a useful weapon against all kind of enemies, even bosses, as almost every successful counter attack ends with enemy's instant death. A short blade can be used with throwing knives - when you are close to the enemy slice him with the blade and when the distance grows bigger, throw a knife.
A sword That is your basic and most useful (in most cases) weapon .

Fighting techniques

Sometimes fighting in AC can be very chaotic which leaves you at a disadvantage. However, if you learn basic techniques, completing your mission will be much easier. One of the most important things is choosing the status. In the Low Profile Altair will be in the offensive and in the High Profile, he will defend himself. Here is the list of buttons and activities they're bound to:

Button (gamepad/keyboard)	Low Profile	High Profile
X/LMB	attack	counter attack
B/Shift	grab	counter grab
A/Space Bar	step	dodge

One of the basic but not always useful techniques is a strong and slow attack with your sword. You can use it keeping the attack button down for a longer time. This attack is very strong and kills lesser enemies instantly. However, be careful when using it in a fight with several guards at once as you just might lose the opportunity to do any real damage and get some parts damaged yourself.

Those are the most basic techniques:

Combo Kill

When you hit an enemy, you can instantly attack a second one (attack button X/LMB). It's only useful against lesser enemies and later in the game this technique is rather useless and should be replaced with counter-attack.

Attack and when your hit lands, push the X/LMB button again.

Counter Attack

Probably the most useful technique in the whole game and not very hard to use. Simply push X/LMB in the High Profile. Effects on enemies can vary from knocked out to dead. If he's still breathing, you can always use your sword to finish him off.

Wait for the moment when your enemy begins his attack and push X/LMB in High Profile

Grab breaks

This is a defensive technique, which allows you to intercept an enemy's grab. It can be difficult to perform, especially when you enemies are in large numbers.

Wait for a good moment and when your enemy attempts a grab, use right trigger/RMB and B/Shift combination.

Defense break

An offensive technique which allows you to break enemy's guard. It's easy to perform and very useful so you should use it when you get the chance. Do a step with A/Space Bar button and attack.

If your enemy is standing in guard position step forward and attack.

Dodge

A defensive technique, which allows you to dodge enemy's attacks. The problem with this technique is the fact that dodging an attack is just that - dodging, you'll be better off using counter-attack instead.

Push A/Space Bar in High Profile at the moment of the attack.

A few advices of an old crusader

Remember that your strongest weapon is the ability to run away from anywhere and swiftly hide in a haystack or roof garden. If you want to disappear in the crowd, try to blend or pretend to be a scholar. If you lose too much energy, run away and wait till the bar is full again.

Use help of the vigilantes or scholars during runaways. One more thing - your sword is your most important weapon, but it is good to use other means from time to time your.

After each synchronization, you can dive into a haystack below the tower to perform a Leap of Faith instead of climbing down.

Update:
Never get cornered with multiple enemies, if you do they have a habit hitting you the same time and even with counter attacks you might end up loosing health, specially if you are not good at countering. If you get cornered withdraw from the fight and move to better location and lock into the fight again. Since you cannot move that freely when you are locked into the fight.
This is somewhat not fair to game AI, but since you get outnumbered most of the time then this is a very good way of thinning enemies ranks:when you manage to counter an enemy or pushed him on the ground try to hit your enemy when he is lying down, that way he cannot but up a fight. I find this little bit unfair, because the AI usually waits when you get up, but heck if you are outnumbered you can allow not to be nice.
(submitted by: zupzu)