Enemies

All opponents in Assassin’s Creed Revelations belong to one of several specific enemy archetypes, and will exhibit behaviors, proficiencies and weaknesses specific to their class.

In this section, we examine the strengths and weaknesses of each archetype, offer combat strategies, and reveal the inner workings of the morale system.

Enemy Archetypes

Byzantine Militia - Fact Sheet

Byzantine Militia - Loot Table

The Byzantine Militia enemy type is roughly analogous to the Ottoman Elite, in that both are rank-and-file opponents who should fall quickly to Ezio’s attacks.

Militia opponents are extremely susceptible to projectiles: a single Throwing Knife is enough to put them on their backs. They can dodge kicks, but this is pretty much irrelevant, as they can be defeated easily with a combo or Counter Kill.

Whenever they appear in mixed groups with more dangerous allies, Militia provide an easy way to start a Kill Streak.

Though they have a degree of free running prowess, Militia are slower than Ezio in a straight-line sprint and cannot scale walls.

Byzantine Almogavar - Fact Sheet

Byzantine Almogavar - Loot Table

Slow but relentlessly aggressive, the armor-plated Almogavar are easily identified by their enormous stature.

Almogavar can perform the Smash special attack after a distinct wind-up animation; on impact, it knocks Ezio to the ground and causes massive damage. Attack or kick the target to interrupt the assault before it is launched, or perform a Dodge to evade the blow before unleashing a combo while they are off-balance.

You must either evade an Almogavar’s attack or perform a kick to break their guard and initiate a combo. They are extremely vulnerable to Counter Kills, though the Smash special attack cannot be countered. While they are ostensibly immune to the Disarm technique, there is actually a way to divest them of their Heavy weapon. Wait until they begin their three-hit combo, and allow the first blow to hit Ezio; as they launch the second strike, press the required button to claim your prize.

Almogavar are ponderously slow and cannot climb. From a higher vantage point or a safe distance, you can dispatch them easily with ranged weapons.

Due to their incredible strength and tendency to move to the forefront of every battle, the Almogavar should always be a priority target once you begin a Kill Streak.

Byzantine Varangian - Fact Sheet

Byzantine Varangian - Loot Table

One of the least common archetypes, and rarely encountered once you have captured all Templar Dens, the Varangian can cause great difficulties in large-scale brawls unless neutralized swiftly.

In a combat situation the Varangian will generally put the extended reach of his Long weapon to good use, remaining at the periphery of a battle and striking from afar.

Most, but not all, Varangians are immune to the Counter Kill move. As there is no way to ascertain which category each opponent falls into, it’s best to use other techniques to defeat them.

A Varangian soldier will regularly use the Throw Sand attack to temporarily incapacitate Ezio. You can avoid the effects of this by dodging, or by moving outside the effect radius. The sheer nuisance value of this means that you will often decide to kill these opponents before their allies.

The Disarm move is the best way to tackle the Varangian. If you turn his polearm on him immediately after taking it, you can initiate a Kill Streak. Better still, hold and release the Primary Attack button to perform a lethal Sweep special attack to kill all nearby guards.

The Varangian can search hiding spots and detect Ezio while he is blending with civilians, which will always lead to a fight if they encounter him in a Templar Den area. If Ezio attempts to escape one of these soldiers by moving to a different elevation, they may draw a pistol and fire at him.

Gunmen - Fact Sheet

Gunmen - Loot Table

Gunmen are almost always encountered on walls or rooftops, where they act as sentries commissioned to punish all trespassers severely. After an initial barked warning they will draw their weapons and fire on Ezio, giving chase if he flees.

Once engaged in combat, Gunmen will take aim at Ezio and fire at regular intervals. They have a tendency to back away as he approaches them, and will stand at the outer edge of a melee featuring other opponents. As their bullets will interrupt Kill Streaks, you should always target these foes first when you encounter them in open combat against a mixture of different adversaries.

Though you can use any weapon you please, Throwing Knives are perfect for cutting down Gunmen before they can draw their rifles while free running over rooftops. Be sure to secure a Target Lock beforehand to ensure optimal accuracy. As Gunmen are reasonably fast and adept at climbing, and can be rather dogged in the way that they pursue Ezio, it’s usually advisable to slay them if they give chase – or, ideally, beforehand.

If stealth is desirable or mandatory, be careful when you attack Gunmen standing on the edges of rooftops, platforms and walls. If necessary, you can run over and pick up their bodies before they slide and fall to the ground.

Marksmen are Gunmen stationed in armored booths situated in Templar Dens. These eagle-eyed sharpshooters will identify Ezio quickly, then fire at regular intervals. They can only be killed with well-placed projectiles and bombs, though it is advisable to avoid detection entirely.

Bombmen - Fact Sheet

Bombmen - Loot Table

Though they often favor a short sword in close-range combat, Bombmen are only a true danger when they employ their explosives to assail Ezio from a distance.

Bombmen are relatively uncommon, and tend only to appear as sentries in elevated positions. As such locations are usually the sole preserve of Gunmen, you can distinguish them from a fair distance by noting the lack of a rifle on their back.

Though individual bombs do not inflict major damage, they will briefly incapacitate Ezio – and may cause him to stagger over the edge of a rooftop. Bombmen will throw their explosives with frustrating regularity unless you deal with them quickly. Do not attempt to run in and engage them in melee combat in these situations: just equip the Throwing Knives and fell them with a single blade.

Ottoman ELITES - Fact Sheet

Ottoman ELITES - Loot Table

Elites are the standard Ottoman patrol unit in earlier Sequences, but are soon supplanted by Agiles and Janissaries later in the story.

Though they can resist Grab attempts, Elites are susceptible to combos or Counter Kills. As with Byzantine Militia and Agiles, you can rely on their regular attacks to set up opportunities for Kill Streaks.

Elites can kick Ezio, briefly stunning him. Be wary of this at close range, especially if surrounded by a number of them.

Ottoman Agiles - Fact Sheet

Most Books in Revelations are acquired by purchasing them from these merchants, with an Achievement/Trophy for acquiring all of them. Book Shops also sell Treasure Maps, which helpfully mark the locations of Treasure Chests on the main map and mini-map.

Ottoman Agiles - Loot Table

As their name might suggest, Agiles are fleet-footed adversaries defined by their speed and swift reactions both in and out of direct conflict.

Though their free running and climbing prowess is not quite a match for Ezio, they can easily outpace him in a footrace. As they run behind him, they will lash out with their daggers to stagger him. There is, however, a great trick that you can use to avoid this. As you see an Agile moving in to strike, quickly release and then press the Legs button to perform a short jump. This will confuse your pursuer, who will slow down and lose ground.

Agiles cannot withstand much punishment in combat, but you will need to use specific techniques to successfully land a blow. As they can evade kicks and combo attempts (unless preceded by a successful Dodge), employ Counter Kills or target them in Kill Streaks.

As they are vulnerable to the Grab move, Agiles can be grappled and used as human shields – and summarily executed if you equip a Short or Medium weapon. You can throw them at surrounding adversaries to temporarily knock other hostiles from their feet.

Agiles will periodically use Throwing Knives to stagger Ezio, making them a nuisance in large battles. Try to disable them quickly.

Agiles are the only archetype immune to the Counter Steal technique.

Ottoman Janissary - Fact Sheet

Ottoman Janissary - Loot Table

The Janissary is the ultimate enemy archetype, combining the strength and resilience of the Almogavar, the pursuit speed and athleticism of the Agile, and special abilities shared by other classes – they even regularly draw firearms to perform ranged attacks. Resistant to many combat techniques, they are the toughest enemies you will meet.

Janissaries can successfully withstand up to three cumulative Counter Kill attempts or Kill Streak attacks. If you strike one during a Kill Streak, target another assailant to continue the streak; attacking the same Janissary twice will end it. If you strike a different Janissary with the next blow, the Streak will also end.

Dangerous when encountered individually, Janissaries are incredibly difficult to beat when fought in large numbers – as anyone foolish enough to loiter in the main Topkapi Palace courtyard will discover. The best strategy is often to avoid combat with these opponents entirely.

If you must fight them in open conflict, beating Janissaries is a matter of selecting the right weapons for the task. Unusually, Ezio’s Hidden Blades are an extremely poor choice, lacking the required range and damage; the protracted struggle animations that ensue on Counter Kill or Kill Streak attacks also work against you. In conventional combat, a Heavy sword or axe is by far the best choice. The extended range means that you can strike Janissaries who draw firearms, while you maximize the damage inflicted by individual blows. If you want to take no chances, just throw a Tactical Bomb and assassinate them instantly while they are stunned by the effect.

Strangely, the Crossbow can be an amazingly efficient weapon when employed against Janissaries – though not quite in the manner you might expect. The speed of Counter Kills performed while wielding it can enable you to disable them more quickly than with the majority of blades and ranged assaults. You can combine this with a strategy where you back away at all times, weakening them with individual bolts.

Though Janissaries can resist multiple projectiles before they fall, a single Poison Dart will always incapacitate and then kill them.

Though calling on the assistance of Assassins while facing Janissaries can be helpful, most recruits (and even apprentices) can struggle against these deadly opponents.

Janissaries may yield bombs when looted – either one of a type that Ezio is carrying, or a random bomb if he has at least one empty pouch.

Enemy Overview

This table offers an at-a-glance guide to the strengths and weaknesses of all enemy archetypes.

*This refers to conventional firearms (or, with Agiles, Throwing Knives), and does not include the Throw Rock attack that opponents may use when Ezio is climbing.

Universal Combat Tips

Though less relevant in later Sequences once you have liberated all Templar Dens, don’t forget Yusuf’s advice that the Byzantine and Ottoman soldiers share no love for each other. Indeed, engineering any form of commotion in an area where both appear can cause the two sides to clash.

You could achieve this with a simple projectile from a safe elevation, leading to deadly false assumptions, or by sending Mercenaries in to cause trouble. Just use a little imagination, and it’s easy to set up interesting confrontations without getting directly involved in the fracas that ensues.

If you must start a fight, rather than respond to aggression, don’t feel obliged to do so fairly. Use the Flying Knives technique to eliminate stock troops, Poison Darts to incapacitate stronger archetypes… and, of course, don’t be frugal with bombs. Ezio’s new arsenal of explosives can be employed creatively in a wide variety of ways, and require very little effort to craft.

Kill Streaks are the best way to end all combat encounters that include no more than one Janissary. Remember that you can often Counter Kill at any time during a Streak to foil an incoming enemy attack without breaking the chain.

Keep your guard up with the High Profile button to deflect enemy attacks by default, as you can instantly Dodge, Disarm or perform a Counter Kill from this stance.

Byzantine Militia and Ottoman Agiles are both susceptible to the Grab technique, which enables you to hold them as human shields ( 01). This can be a great way to maneuver Ezio into a more convenient fighting position, and to engineer a brief break in combat as enemies evaluate the situation.

Later in the story, when you regularly encounter Ottoman patrols featuring Agiles and Janissaries, grab the former and throw them to knock the giant Janissaries from their feet. You can then dart over and strike the more dangerous foes while they lie prone for an automatic one-hit assassination.

Use the environment to your advantage. You can kill opponents instantly by barging, bludgeoning or, in some instances, throwing them from rooftops or into water.

Ezio can also use a new Hookblade-based trick whenever he is close to a scaffold: press the Empty Hand button as he runs by to bring the structure crashing down, crushing any opponents behind him ( 02).

All enemies are vulnerable to instant kill attacks from behind. By briefly dropping your defense to Step Dodge, you can sometimes move directly behind their backs – especially when they are stunned or preparing an attack.

Enemy Morale

Morale Values

Morale is the (hidden) factor that determines the bravery or cowardice of your enemies, and the likelihood that they will flee combat. The morale of all enemies is constantly updated during a battle, as illustrated in the “Enemy Morale Adjustments” table.

If you effortlessly cut through stronger opponents, you will break the resolve of their subordinates by reducing their morale to zero. Demoralized enemies may cease their attack and sheathe their weapons before running away ( 03).

Note that killing Templar Captains in open combat while assaulting enemy Dens can automatically cause all Byzantines within the immediate vicinity to turn and flee, irrespective of their morale level.

Enemy Morale Adjustments