Animals

Animals, both wild and domesticated, played a big part in Ancient Egyptian culture, and they are prevalent in Assassin’s Creed Origins. Hunt animals for valuable resources or tame them to gain a companion on your adventures.

Animals of Ancient Egypt

Hunting Animals

Any animal that provides animal goods and/or resources is worth hunting when the opportunity arises. All of these items can be sold to merchants, while the resources are required to upgrade certain gear. The animals range from easy kills, such as ibex and gazelle, to tougher opponents, like lions and crocodile.

Prey

Use Senu to spot a desired resource and then head to that location to hunt the animal. Simple prey can be taken down with one arrow, but they will flee if they detect your presence. Senu joins in, occasionally taking down an animal too. You also find dead prey in the wild that have been killed by nearby predators. Be sure to loot their corpses.

Predators

Predators attack Bayek as soon as they detect his presence. They are ferocious opponents at similar or higher levels. Limit fights with predators to one or two. Better yet, find a high point, inaccessible to the animals, where you can pick them off with your bow. If possible, use Flesh Decay after killing a member of a group for added damage.

Hyenas go down fairly easy but are often in big packs. Pick them off from afar if possible, but if you must take them on up close, do not allow yourself to become surrounded.

Lions and lionesses are the toughest predators to kill due to their strong exterior. Combine that with a ferocious claw attack and they are best avoided or taken down from a safe distance. If Senu spots a higher-level lion or worse, a pride of lions, steer clear of the site.

Leopards are easier to kill than lions, but their speed makes it tough to hit them. Up close, target the leopard, keeping it in front if possible. Leopards can ascend easy climbs, so when facing a group, find a vantage point that is more out of reach and pelt them with a volley of arrows.

Defensive

Cobras can be found almost anywhere, even inside big jars, so stay on your toes when exploring tombs and other tight quarters. They lunge at their target when within range in an attempt to poison but are easily taken out with an arrow or two. One sleep dart kills any cobra. A melee weapon can wipe out snakes with ease, though you do risk getting bitten in the process. Do not underestimate these guys in battle.

Hippos and crocodiles are the strongest defensive animals with their vicious attacks and tough exteriors. They are unable to climb anything more than a short step up, so take advantage of this and pelt them with arrows from a safe location.

Use a sleep dart on hippos to limit their attacks, since they often require numerous hits to take down. Watch out for their charge attack, dodging to the side to avoid the hit.

The crocodile’s biggest attack is the tail whip, so be ready to step back when within range. Hack once or twice and immediately evade away to avoid taking the big hit.

Taming Animals

The Animal Taming ability allows Bayek to have a companion, though only a select few attack your target. Predators and defensive animals will fight alongside you, while prey and domestics simply follow. Birds cannot be tamed.

Hit an animal of similar or lower level with a sleep dart to put it to sleep. Approach the slumbering creature and hold the Grab Ledge button to tame it. Release the animal by holding this same button.