Secondary Memories

War Machines

As with the War Machine memory played during the main story, note that each of the three optional War Machines begins with a War Plans prelude where Ezio kills a Templar Overseer. We provide tips for these throughout this section in addition to the main War Machine walkthrough.

Note: The few Treasure Chests encountered on War Machine memories do not contain Trade Items and so, given the stringent Desynchronization conditions in the few areas that they appear, are rarely worth the effort to collect.

Loose Cannon

WAR PLANS:

The memory start position is in the far west of the Centro district. The Templar Overseer can be found in a small but heavily guarded Restricted Area. Sneak up and engage the target, then use the Kick move at least once to fulfill the Full Synch condition before you kill him. Now travel to the waypoint at Porta Metronia.

Figure 01

1: Swim on the left-hand side of the area, killing the two guards as you pass them to reach Eduardo at the waypoint. Dive into the water and swim ahead of his gondola into the tunnel, then aim to assassinate the first guard before he arrives at your position. Scale the low wall on the left-hand side of the tunnel, then climb onto the beams above. You can now free run out of sight above Eduardo for most of the remaining journey, taking the most elevated route possible (Fig. 1). Only kill those guards that Ezio must pass at close range. Others can be ignored as long as you slip by quickly.

Figure 02

2: After passing the second gate, run ahead of Eduardo (but not too far – this causes a Desynch) to reach a third barrier. Kill the Brute sitting on the bench with the Crossbow (Fig. 2), then drop down and open the gate to complete the Full Synch condition. For the final leg of the tunnel journey, kill or avoid guards as applicable: those with a high chance of detecting Ezio should be dispatched with the Crossbow or a ledge assassination. As previously, don't forget that the Submerge move (hold the Legs Button) is an easy way to avoid the gaze of a nearby enemy.

Figure 03

3: Once Eduardo departs through a final gate, use the nearby lever to open the way forward. The restriction on Ezio being detected is lifted here, but you can still use stealth tactics in the following room: climb the ladder to the right of the entrance, use the beams above to cross silently over the guards below, then kill the Brute by the exit with an air assassination. Open the next gate to trigger a cutscene. Once it ends, the best strategy is to run forward and engage the guards, clearing the room quickly. Climb up and destroy the blueprints. After operating the lever to raise a platform, free run to the room to the northwest; note that there is a Treasure Chest in here. At the final waypoint, operate the mechanism to flood the dry dock (Fig. 3).

NAVAL CANNON TIPS:

• Press the Empty Hand Button to propel the vessel forward; tap the Weapon Hand Button to move into firing position. When you need to row again, press the Empty Hand Button.

• To destroy the Borgia Ships, you need only destroy their three sails. Everything else (including guards) is a distraction that should be ignored.

• The cannons on Da Vinci's War Machine have a limited range. The best tactic is to row towards each Borgia ship at speed and, just before you move sufficiently close, switch to the firing position. The momentum of the vessel will make it harder for targets to hit Ezio as he unleashes his opening salvos. You may also benefit by angling your approach to the fore or aft of each ship.

Flying Machine 2.0

WAR PLANS:

The memory start position is in the south of the Antico district. Locate the Templar Overseer in the highlighted area, use a Smoke Bomb to stun him to complete the Full Synch condition, then finish him off with a Hidden Blade assassination. Run from the area and become anonymous before you approach the waypoint in front of Porta Tiburtina.

Figure 01

1: Wait on top of the church by the steeple and watch the area to the south through Eagle Vision until you espy the architect. As he heads west, carefully free run over the rooftops and drop down once prompted when he reaches a secluded area (Fig. 1). Attack him with fists to trigger a cutscene.

Figure 02

2: After beating up the architect, climb the tall building to the south (Fig. 2). Observe the sentry in the tower further south (and any patrols that may pass below), and then leap over to the wall when they face elsewhere. Traverse to the right and, when the coast is clear, climb up and leap over to the rooftop directly ahead. Drop down on the right-hand side of the building. The blueprints are a short walk away.

Figure 03

3: Blend with a group of civilians to safely pass the guards on the approach to the castle, then continue to walk until you pass the main entrance. Leave the Blend and approach the unguarded southwest wall. Wall run from on top of the barrels, then leap to the right to grab the wooden beam; now climb to the top of the ramparts and kill both sentries above with ledge assassinations (Fig. 3).

Figure 04

4: Wait until the sentry to the northeast faces away from Ezio, then scale the central tower on this wall (Fig. 4). Traverse to the outer face of the tower, then kill the Crossbowman above when he approaches the edge. Watch the sentry to the northeast again. When his back is turned, leap to the wooden platform on the side of the central tower. Align this jump carefully: it's only just within the limits of Ezio's capabilities. Run down the slope and swing around the corner; kill the guard below with a projectile, then quickly drop down and head through the waypoint and door. Climb the inner walls of the tower, then move outside through the opening near the top. When you reach the roof, operate the mechanism to send the guards plummeting to their doom. Finally, use the ladder to reach the waypoint.

BOMBER TIPS:

• Use the Movement Stick to control the Bomber, and the High Profile Button to fire its cannon.

• Unlike the Flying Machine used in Assassin's Creed II, the Bomber actually maintains altitude rather well – but only at the expense of speed. You can shoot the ground and swoop down over the resultant fire at any time to regain altitude and velocity.

• Guards stationed in towers will fire on Ezio throughout this set-piece. You can destroy their platforms with a single shot if they happen to be on the flight route, but it's just as easy to avoid them.

• During the first stage, pick a workshop (the targets marked on the map), then shoot it twice to destroy it. Swoop down over the fire to restore both altitude and momentum, then move on to the next objective.

• When you reach the second stage, shoot the construction carts before they reach the fortress. There are two checkpoints here, so it's more important to preserve the Full Synch requirement than to successfully destroy the targets.

• The final challenge is to shoot a mounted messenger. Aim ahead of him to score a successful hit. If he should move out of range, repeatedly shoot at the ground and swoop over fires to maximize speed during the pursuit.

Hell on Wheels

WAR PLANS:

The memory start position is located in the northern Campagna district. Climb onto the lower roof of the church in the marked area and face south. When the Templar Overseer walks beneath (use Eagle Vision to identify him), shoot him with the Pistol. If you move out of sight rapidly, you can avoid detection completely. Now run to the waypoint at Porta Settimiana.

Figure 01

1: In the first part of this memory, Ezio must remain undetected as he follows the architect and his Brute bodyguard through an area teeming with soldiers. Though the arrangement of potential foes may seem intimidating, it's actually possible to take a short and direct route (Fig. 1). Stick to the rock face on Ezio's right and disable lone soldiers you pass with the Crossbow. When you emerge into the open after the initial group of buildings, calmly walk to the haystack and stealthily assassinate the nearby guard. Now Fast Walk around the corner to head east on the right-hand side of the rocky outcrop before Ezio arouses suspicion. Should a guard move to investigate him at this point, wait for him to draw near before you silence him, unseen, with the Crossbow.

Figure 02

2: When you reach the gate, Fast Walk to the free run elements to the right until you pass out of view of the two guards. Swing around the corner and hop over the beams to reach a hole in the outside wall, then – while keeping Ezio out of sight – align the camera to reestablish contact with the architect before the timer expires. When the Brute departs, jump down and quickly beat up the architect. To reach the blueprints, climb onto the beam protruding from the house to the east, then swing around the corner; you can then free run over the path to avoid a guard below and reach the waypoint via the rooftops (Fig. 2).

Figure 03

3: Climb the building to the north and carefully kill the two Crossbowmen on the rooftops. There is a Seeker who periodically checks the well outside the prison (Fig. 3), so wait for his arrival and kill him from above before you free the Mercenaries. There are two brawls to successfully negotiate after the cutscene. If possible, you can stand on the periphery of both encounters as the guards engage the escapees and pick off opponents with the Pistol or Crossbow.

Figure 04

4: In the basement area, Ezio must reach and operate three levers to open up a route for the Mercenaries to follow. These are fairly straightforward free run courses, but there is one twist: you will find that shorter beams and poles in certain sections invite disastrous plunges into the depths below unless you carefully align specific jumps (Fig. 4). Note that there is a Treasure Chest in the corridor opened by the first lever. When you reach the bridge, climb the west wall, then Back Eject to the beams. Free run to the other side to lower the bridge, then walk into the waypoint to enter Da Vinci's final War Machine.

Tank Tips:

• Use the Movement Stick to move the Tank, and the High Profile Button to fire.
• Round each corner carefully to line up shots on targets. Strafe back in and out of cover to destroy cannons without sustaining damage.
• Shoot explosive barrels to disable nearby hostiles.
• When you encounter the first enemy Tank, circle it constantly in one direction to avoid its shots.
• After blasting through the gate leading to the final confrontation, destroy the Tank directly ahead. A second vehicle will attack from the northeast corner, so move to the south (right-hand side of the compound) to circle it as it approaches. Once this vehicle has been destroyed, a third will break free of a scaffold in the southeast of the compound.

Once all three War Machines have been destroyed, Da Vinci will automatically award Ezio with the Parachute on his return to Rome.

Assassination Missions

Courtesan Missions

Thief Missions

Templar Agents

Cristina Memories

Copernico Memories

Note: These free DLC side quests are exclusive to the PS3 version of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.

* The Intelligentsia, Honorary Degree and Expedited Post memories can be completed in any order.

Borgia Towers

Pietro da Siena

Figure 01

• The cowardly Pietro da Siena is under cover and surrounded by bodyguards. There is an unguarded opening above a bench in the northeast corner of the Restricted Area, not far from the Ponte Sant'Angelo (Fig. 1).
• After climbing into the room sneak over to Da Siena's position, using the columns as cover. You can now either slay the Captain with a Guild Assassination (though you may well need to assist your recruits in the conflict that ensues), or disable his guards with a Smoke Bomb before delivering a more personal coup de grâce. His escape point is mere seconds away, so there's absolutely no margin for error.

DOMENICO da Padova

Figure 02

• The craven Da Padova is stationed in front of the main door at Santi Apostoli.
• Approach the Restricted Area from the west and, avoiding patrols, climb the back of Santi Apostoli to reach the upper roof (Fig. 2). Killing the Crossbowmen is optional: you can actually run to the ledge above the front entrance to the east and perform an immediate air assassination.

Belardino da Verona

Figure 03

• Belardino will stand and fight, so a direct assault on his territory is possible if you prefer.
• For a less dangerous kill, approach the Restricted Area from the south. Climb onto a roof, disable nearby Crossbowmen, then approach a small gap in the rooftops to the north with a pile of hay below (Fig. 3). Drop into this from a ledge when the coast is clear; leap out to assassinate the Borgia Captain as he moves within range. Drop a Smoke Bomb to incapacitate his bodyguards afterwards, and you should find that you can return to the rooftops and begin the tower climb with no further combat.

Valentino da Siena

Figure 04

• Valentino patrols the boardwalks near the river, and will flee to escape via a nearby door if alerted to Ezio's presence. We strongly advise that you do not use Assassins in this area: falling into water will kill them instantly.
• There are a number of ways to approach Valentino's position, but the most reliable strategy is to enter the Restricted Area via an alley in the northwest corner. Kill the nearby Crossbowman, then watch the Borgia Captain's patrol route. When he walks over to the left-hand boardwalk, dive into the water and swim to a secluded position (Fig. 4). Climb up to hang from the ledge as he draws near, then use a ledge assassination.

Francesco DA VELLETRI

Figure 05

• Francesco da Velletri will fight Ezio if confronted, but a stealth attack will negate any need for a brawl.
• Approach the northeast corner of the Restricted Area and climb the tallest part of the building (Fig. 5). Don't use the lift: instead, scale the wall and perform a ledge assassination to dispose of the Crossbowman. You can now either wait for Da Velletri to walk beneath or move over to the church in the center of the area. An Arrow Storm is the quickest way to kill the Captain and reach the tower, though you can use an air assassination if you do not have sufficient Assassin Signals.

Antonio da Fiorentino

Figure 06

• This Borgia Tower is inaccessible until the beginning of Sequence 06.
• Approach the west side of the Restricted Area and watch the movements of the Borgia Captain on the tower. When he moves to the east side of the structure, climb the nearby building and wait on the ledge beneath the wooden platform (Fig. 6). When Da Fiorentino presents his back to Ezio, stride behind him and perform a silent assassination.

FERDINANDO di Napoli

Figure 07

• This Borgia Tower is inaccessible until Sequence 06.
• Ferdinando patrols the outer edge of his territory on horseback. Approach from the south or west, and you can perform an Arrow Storm for an easy kill. Cantering behind him for a horse-to-horse assassination is an alternative strategy of note.
• The tower is heavily defended at its base. Be sure to disable sentries in the vicinity before you scale its walls to ignite it. You will need to employ the Drop and Catch Back techniques midway through the climb when you reach the east face if you do not have the Climb Leap Glove.

TOMMASO di Viterbo

Figure 08

• The fainthearted Tommaso is easy to apprehend if you approach him from a particular direction. Begin at the southeast corner of the large Restricted Area, and move west until you reach a sloped path. Follow this (disabling the group of guards if necessary as you pass them) until the path turns right. Continue west to reach a cliff edge overlooking a selection of ruined pillars, then use these to reach an otherwise inaccessible ledge to the north (Fig. 7).
• Use the nearby Lift to scale the cliff edge rapidly, then take cover behind the wall and observe the Borgia Captain. As he approaches Ezio's position, hang from the outside of the wall; once within range, climb up and perform an air assassination before cantering to the tower.

Prospero da Siena

Figure 09

• This Borgia Captain is located in a network of underground corridors. He's cowardly and difficult to reach, so ensure that you're prepared before you enter. Three Smoke Bombs, full Crossbow ammunition and at least one Assassin Signal are all essential provisions.
• To infiltrate his bolthole with a minimum of combat, use the columns close to the east corner of the Restricted Area to reach a secret entrance (Fig. 8). When you jump from the highest platform, hold the Empty Hand Button to grab the tip of the column with a Borgia Flag on top of it. If necessary, kill the Crossbowmen on the cliff above from distance as you approach the entrance.
• Run straight ahead until you reach a guard with his back turned. Dispatch him with a Crossbow bolt, then drop down to the lower level. Incapacitate the two guards with a Smoke Bomb before they can react, then kill both immediately.
• Prospero is located just beyond these two soldiers. Use another Smoke Bomb to disable the pair of guards closer to him, then instantly order a Guild Assassination on the Captain. Run in to perform a Hidden Blade kill to be doubly sure.
• The room where Prospero is located has a hole in the upper wall (Fig. 9). This leads to a storeroom where the Armor and Dagger of Brutus are locked away. Complete all five optional Followers Lairs, and you can return here to collect these prizes at a later date.

IPPOLITO di Foligno

• This Borgia Tower is inaccessible until Sequence 07.
• On arrival, kill Crossbowmen and Gunmen on the rooftops near the base of the tower, then climb to the top. Kill the Borgia Captain with a ledge assassination.

Leaving the Animus

You can select the Leave Animus option in the Animus Desktop Pause menu at any point between Sequence 02 and the end of the Pax Romana memory in Sequence 09 to return to modern-day Monteriggioni. Doing so will enable you to view interactions between Desmond and his Assassin cohorts, view emails and embark on a scavenger hunt outside the Sanctuary.

Optional Conversations

Returning to the present after certain milestones unlocks conversations between Desmond, Lucy, Rebecca and Shaun. The accompanying table details when these are available.

Emails

If you exit the Animus between Sequence 02 and the end of the Pax Romana memory, you can use the vacant computer in the Sanctuary to view assorted emails sent between Lucy, Rebecca and Shaun – plus a few messages sent by tantalizingly mysterious outside parties. You can only access Desmond's account at first, but a later message supplies him with passwords to snoop on his companions' emails.

Scavenger Hunt

If you leave the Sanctuary, Lucy will give Desmond a strict curfew for a walk in Monteriggioni. You can use this time to find five special artifacts in locations around the town. Once collected, these appear as souvenirs on the shelves to the left of the computer where Desmond can access his emails (Fig. 10).

Figure 10

Virtual Training

You can tackle Virtual Training exercises at any time that Ezio is not directly engaged in a memory by selecting the corresponding option in the Animus Desktop Pause menu. Though some are certainly tough, playing main story memories and side quests will provide the practice and experience you need to complete them. Obtaining a Bronze Medal in every challenge unlocks the Raiden outfit, which can be equipped at the Inventory menu.

Fight Ring

After renovating the Mercenaries HQ in Sequence 03, Ezio can partake in unarmed brawls in the Barracks basement. If you have a knack for fist fights, this minigame can be a fantastically simple way to raise funds during the early stages of the story.

• Before you worry about placing wagers, unlock the four higher fight levels. Try to get a feel for the pace of the brawls. With unarmed combat, tapping the Weapon Hand Button with a measured rhythm leads to more instant takedowns than frantic bashing. Counter Kills may not always succeed, but they're always better than sustaining damage, and could well offer an instantaneous finish. We found that the best strategy is to pick a single target and pummel him with combos, only stopping to attempt Counter Kills when other Mercenaries attack. Mixing kicks in with flurries of punches can be surprisingly effective.
• At higher levels, certain Mercenaries will throw sand at Ezio to stun him. You can prevent this with a punch, or evade with a well-timed Dodge. With the fleet-footed Mercenary who seems to sidestep Ezio's every attack in the most difficult bout, wait for him to attempt to throw sand to break his guard.
• Place a maximum bet on the most challenging fight, and you can earn approximately
  650 florins per minute. If you're keen to get started with Rome renovations, or have a hankering for expensive equipment, mastery of the fight ring can supply funds for purchases that might otherwise remain out of reach until later in the story.

Guild Challenges

You can view your progress in all four sets of Guild Challenges in the DNA Menu. The majority of these tasks are self-explanatory, but there are a few that warrant further advice or suggestions.

Mercenaries Guild

• These challenges are unlocked during Sequence 03. The completion reward is Bartolomeo's Axe.
• Wooden scaffolds are dotted around the city. You can kill guards instantly by hurling them into these after performing the Grab move. If you travel to the Art Merchant just south of the Pantheon, you will find a scaffold and a group of guards a short walk to the east (Fig. 11).
• If you are struggling to hit your quota of Papal Guards, a group of four appear at the plaza to the left of the main Castel Sant'Angelo entrance during later Sequences.

Courtesans Guild

• Courtesan challenges are unlocked during Sequence 03. The completion reward is Maria's Dagger.
• A "guard post" is any position where soldiers stand with their arms crossed, usually blocking an entrance. These can often be found in Borgia Zones. If you need to complete this challenge later in the story, replay the French Kiss memory in Sequence 06. You can find numerous guards of this type in the French army camps.
• Use the "Hijack" ability to commander a mounted guard's horse without killing him. This is easier to perform while anonymous. To be doubly efficient, try to return to anonymous status by using hiding spots to complete the "Enemies evaded using the crowd and other hide spots" challenge at the same time.

Thieves Guild

• These challenges are unlocked during Sequence 03. The completion reward is La Volpe's Bite.
• For the two "beam"-related challenges, search for suitable wooden beams that either have guard patrols passing beneath, or offer an easy approach route that a mounted Ezio can canter towards. Tap the Legs Button to stand on the horse then hold the High Profile and Legs Buttons to leap to an overhead beam.
• You can complete the dive challenge by leaping from the tower close to the Barracks into the water below. Don't forget to press the Legs Button at the start of the jump.

Assassins Guild

• These challenges are unlocked during Sequence 04. The final reward is the Sword of Altaïr.
• Completing these challenges is a simple matter of using recruits regularly in combat.

Shop Quests

• Certain vendors on Tiber Island offer special Shop Quests where, in return for specific Trade Items, they will supply Ezio with a valuable reward. In the accompanying table, we reveal how to obtain the objects they require.
• The "Unique Contract" column refers to special Assassins Guild assignments. These offer a single Trade Item in addition to the standard payment in XP and florins.
• Borgia Couriers, Pickpockets, Wolfmen and Bandits all yield Trade Items when caught or looted after combat. The "Loot" column reveals which of these may relinquish an object you need. While they will always drop something, the probability of obtaining a specific Trade Item is rather low (3% to 13%).
• Trade Items can be found in Treasure Chests both in Rome and in Secret Locations.

Where/How to obtain

* The Shopaholic and Liquid Gold Templar Lairs only appear in special limited edition versions of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.