Unlike Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and (especially) Assassin’s Creed II, it is absolutely essential to at least partly involve yourself in optional tasks to acquire currency for equipment and upgrades in Revelations. The following brief rundown offers a simple guide to the principle ways in which Ezio can accumulate Akçe.
Mission Rewards
As in previous episodes, the vast majority of Core Memories and Secondary Memories offer a cash sum on completion. However, once you progress into Sequence 03, you will find that these payments are actually rather negligible.
Treasure Chests & Bomb Stashes
The ornate, rectangular Treasure Chests offer variable sums of money in addition to occasional crafting items; they also contribute to the Total Synch rating. The vast majority of them are located in Constantinople, though there are a further 12 in Cappadocia in Sequence 07, and 15 in five “Secret Locations” (the four destinations that Ezio visits in Core Memories to obtain Masyaf Keys, plus the unlockable Hagia Sofia).
You can purchase Treasure Maps that reveal their locations in Constantinople and Cappadocia at Book Shops. Bomb Stashes, containers that are either made from wood or have rounded corners, hold crafting ingredients only – though these can, naturally, be converted into currency via Piri Reis.
City Events
Offering a standard reward of 500 Yarins per task, these optional challenges can supplement Ezio’s limited income during early Sequences.
Pickpocketing & Looting
Pickpocketing can be useful in Sequence 02, where Ezio’s financial reach is limited, but soon becomes something of an irrelevance once he begins to accumulate revenue from properties and the Mediterranean Defense metagame.
The sum of coins he obtains from each “lift” depends on the class of the individual he targets. Those clad in finery yield more than those wearing rags, but not by a great deal.
Though Pickpocketing does not lead to Templar Awareness penalties (in a departure from Brotherhood’s Notoriety system), male victims may seek to fight Ezio on discovery of the crime, while Ottoman soldiers in the region of the act will often attack. For this reason, it’s a petty act best forgotten once Ezio is established in Constantinople.
By contrast, looting corpses can be highly profitable – though only occasionally in a financial sense. Almost every opponent that Ezio defeats will surrender a small sum of coins when he rifles through their pockets but, more importantly, will yield varying numbers of consumable items (such as Throwing Knives, Medicine and crafting ingredients).
This can enable you to keep Ezio’s supplies stocked up at all times, removing the need to visit merchants; surplus crafting materials can be sold to Piri Reis for a tidy profit. Stalkers and the Templar Captains stationed in Dens are the most lucrative targets to loot, as they each carry in the region of 1,000 Yarins.
Note that Looting is a reprehensible act, and will invite expressions of disgust and disdain from nearby civilians – and raw aggression from passing patrols. You can optionally perform the Counter Steal technique to divest opponents of their valuables before you disable them.
Templar Couriers
These individuals can be robbed of the Templar tax revenue they carry, usually in the region of 1,000 to 1,500 . The difficult process of catching these fleet-footed individuals, however, ensures that Ezio will usually earn every last coin before the conclusion of the chase. Be sure to use the Tackle, Leg Sweep or Grab techniques to incapacitate them without lasting injury, as killing them will instantly elevate your Templar Awareness level to full “Aware” status.
Mediterranean Defense
From early in Sequence 03, sending Assassin recruits and apprentices on missions not only enables you to improve their standing, but also leads to noteworthy cash bounties. When you eventually liberate cities from Templar control, you will also accumulate a steady stream of additional revenue from Brotherhood activities in each region.
Rebuilding Constantinople
Ezio’s liberation of city districts from Templar influence and taxation opens up business opportunities. Investment in retail establishments and other properties will lead to a regular income and, in time, substantial profits. It will also enable you to gain discounts on purchases from merchants in zones under Assassin control.