Throw Money & Smoke Bombs
Haytham can utilize the Throw Money ability and Smoke Bombs (once acquired or purchased) to great effect in a variety of social and combat situations. These are categorized as “Tools”, and therefore activated by pressing 
/
. To select either for use, open the Tool Wheel by holding 
/
, then use 
to pick your required ability.
The Throw Money technique is principally a diversionary tactic. When you use this ability, Haytham will hurl a shower of coins (though only a nominal £10 sum) around his current position (
01). All civilians and orphans in range will immediately scrabble for the currency; as the brief spectacle unfolds, any unengaged patrols or sentries will turn to watch the commotion. The effect lasts several seconds.
- In a stealth scenario, using the Throw Money ability has definite drawbacks. It may deal with annoying orphans, but removes immediate Blending opportunities as citizens trade dignity for muddy coins; worse, it draws the very kind of attention that you might hope to avoid.
- As a diversionary tactic, it’s rather better: having Redcoats turn to face the ensuing scrum enables you to attend to business you might not want them to witness.
- The most efficient use of Throw Money is to complicate life for pursuing adversaries. If Haytham throws coins as he flees along busy streets, he can form impromptu human barriers that will slow down his opponents. It’s especially effective when used to block the entrance to a narrow alleyway.
Smoke Bombs are items that can only be purchased, or occasionally looted from slain opponents. By default, Haytham can carry a maximum of three at once. Though obviously of utility when escaping combat (creating literal “choke points” in narrow passages works brilliantly), dropping Smoke Bombs incapacitates opponents during battles (
02), which makes it possible to assassinate them without resistance.
Pickpocketing
Pickpocketing is a risky yet moderately profitable way to acquire funds – at least until overshadowed by other means of moneymaking later in the story.
- To pickpocket a civilian, move close behind them and hold
/
. A circular meter will show the progress of the theft (
03); you must stay in close proximity (and match stride with moving targets) until the meter is filled to successfully complete the lift. This usually yields a small sum of money, and – unless the civilian turns to discover the crime in progress – rarely arouses their suspicion. - To continue pickpocketing the same mark in search of additional loot, keep holding
/
until the theft meter fills for a second time. This almost consistently causes the victim to stop, check their person, and turn in search of the thief. If you can put distance between Haytham and the crime (or, better still, Blend with nearby civilians), you can completely avoid detection – the Fast Walk ability (
+ 
/
) is perfect for this purpose. - If Haytham is identified as the culprit, his furious mark will denounce him as a cutpurse – and may even push him briefly before fleeing from the scene. In busy streets, this will lead to a boo of derision, and civilians will back away from Haytham for a time (which makes it impossible to Blend). More pressingly, any patrols or guards within range will immediately engage Haytham in combat. As a rule, it’s wise to avoid the activity whenever there are Redcoats nearby.
Whistling
Whenever Haytham is hidden within a hiding place or pressed against a corner, you can push S/r to have him whistle to attract the attention of nearby guards, who will move to investigate.
- This is obviously a great way to set up Low Profile assassinations, but only if there is a single guard within range.
- If there are multiple targets, whistling might not seem like the most prudent course of action – but it can actually be a simple yet efficient diversionary tactic to draw patrols off course, or pull guards from their posts. If there is no cause to avoid combat, it’s a good way to lure opponents to a secluded spot where conflict is less likely to attract the attention of reinforcements.
Looting & Hiding Bodies
The aftermath of any confrontation, from silent assassinations to pitched brawls with multiple protagonists, generally leaves Haytham standing over at least one fresh corpse. Though distasteful to some – civilians will be repelled by such behavior, and patrols who witness the act compelled to remonstrate with vigor – the practice of looting slain foes offers a vital way to replenish your stocks of consumable items.
- To loot a body, stand over it and hold
/
(
04). The action will complete once the onscreen meter has been filled. If you have multiple bodies to search, try holding the button constantly as you move around, releasing 
only to conduct each search. This speeds the process up, and prevents instances where you perform other contextual interactions by mistake. - Most adversaries relinquish practical items (particularly ammunition) and a small sum of currency. The value of what Haytham finds is governed by the rank and station of the former owner.
- If you regularly engage in bouts of looting after battles, you need never waste funds on Cartridges, or needlessly find your pistol empty in a subsequent confrontation.
Many stealth situations call for assassinations that leave a troublesome corpse in plain view for a later patrol to discover. If Haytham will be staying in the vicinity, this might upset carefully laid plans. Tap 
/
while standing above a corpse to pick it up. Haytham’s movement speed will be reduced while he is carrying it. Tap the same button again to drop the body. While it’s often enough to just move corpses out of sight, note that you can also drop them into hiding places, Stalking Zones and deep water, disposing of them permanently (
05).
Interacting with Animals
More of an atmospheric detail than an ability with practical use, press 
/
to interact with domestic animals such as dogs, cats, chickens and goats (
06).
Eagle Vision An ability that defies easy categorization, Eagle Vision has many different applications. After you press
|
/
to activate it, Haytham’s perception of the world around him changes (
07). It enables him to easily identify certain characteristics in the things he beholds in his environment.
) visible through certain solid objects.