Changes: Hookblade

Revision as of 20:46, 24 May 2014

"The Hookblade helps you get around fast, surprise guards, and is not too bad in a fight."

―Yusuf Tazim.^[src]

Hookblade 3 — Yusuf introducing Ezio to the Hookblade

The Hookblade was a modification to the Hidden Blade first adopted by the Assassin Brotherhood in Constantinople, from at least the time of the Ottoman Empire. It consisted of both a curved hook and a regular blade, allowing it to be used for freerunning and during combat.^[1]

When he arrived in the city, the Mentor of the Italian Brotherhood, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, was introduced to this advancement by Yusuf Tazim, who instructed the former in its application towards both battle and travel.^[1]

Usage

Navigation

"Let the Hookblade do the work. Iste boyle! (There you go!) Throw yourself into it."

―Yusuf describing the method of using the Hookblade.^[src]

ACR Ezio zipline — Ezio using the Hookblade on a zipline

Used from as early as the 1480s, the Hookblade was designed to make travel quick and easy, specifically through the use of ziplines that were installed throughout Constantinople. From a zipline, an Assassin could also drop down and use the Hookblade in double assassinations on guards below.

The mechanism could be used in several acrobatic movements too, such as for quickly climbing up walls in a similar manner to the climb-leap maneuver, and for extending one's reach during a jump.

It could also be used for flipping over enemies to avoid a fight, a method the Assassins referred to as the "hook and run." However, on using the technique against a Janissary, it led to the Hookblade becoming caught on their armor, slowing the Assassin down slightly.

Hookblade 6 — Yusuf performing a hook and run

When climbing, the Hookblade allowed an Assassin to spring quickly onto a rooftop after grabbing the ledge, rather than spending extra time gaining a foothold and pulling themselves up. Similarly, one did not need a foothold when pulling a targeted guard from a rooftop in ledge assassinations.

Additionally, it could be used with corner chase-breakers, where the swinging support could be used as a trapeze to jump towards an adjacent rooftop, instead of turning around the corner.^[1]

Combat

ACR Hookblade kill — Ezio using the Hookblade in combat

When engaged in battle, an Assassin could use the Hookblade to pull targets in for a close-range attack, or throw an enemy onto the ground with the "hook and throw," a method similar to the hook and run.

In combat itself, the Hookblade could be used in attacks, as well as to counter a weapon. During such instances, one could hook onto an enemy's armor and throw them to the ground, or hook onto an enemy's helmet to snap their neck.

An Assassin could also perform a counter-steal to tear off an enemy's purse with the Hookblade, provoking them further and leaving them open to an easy counterattack.

Following this, the Hookblade could also be used to pull down scaffolds, subsequently slowing down or eliminating pursuers. This was particularly useful when done in conjunction with caltrop bombs.^[1]

Trivia

Early images of Assassin's Creed: Revelations showed Ezio with a Hookblade on his left arm, rather than on his right. In these, the hook was incorporated directly onto the blade, rather than as a separate function.
In various interviews and print media, Ubisoft Montreal stated that the Hookblade was intended to increase navigation speed by a factor of 30% in Revelations, in comparison to previous installments of the Assassin's Creed series.
The actual hook of the Hookblade resembled the head of an eagle, a bird frequently associated with the Assassin Order.
Unlike the Hidden Gun and Poison Blade, the Hookblade was applied alongside Ezio's secondary Hidden Blade, rather than as part of his primary one.
In the second stage of their Animi Training Program, Abstergo Industries adapted the Animus to allow the program's Animi Avatars to use the Hookblade for freerunning uses.
When accessed, bomb-crafting stations were unlocked through the use of the Hookblade.
In Assassin's Creed III and Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, some British and Spanish troops could perform an animation that was similar to the hook and run, which would temporarily disorientate Connor and Aveline.
The hookblade was considered for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, but Darby McDevitt, the lead writer for Revelations and Black Flag, objected as he wanted to dispel the stereotype of hook-handed pirates.^[2]

Gallery

Reference

[ACR-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Assassin's Creed: Revelations

[2] Gamesbeat: False rumors, ugly cities, and sharks: How meticulous research shaped Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{era|Revelations}}
+{{Era|ACR|Rbook}}
-{{quote|The hookblade helps you get around fast, surprise [[guards]], and is not too bad in a fight.|[[Yusuf Tazim]].|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
+{{Quote|The Hookblade helps you get around fast, surprise guards, and is not too bad in a fight.|Yusuf Tazim.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
+[[File:Hookblade 3.png|thumb|250px|Yusuf introducing Ezio to the Hookblade]]
+The '''Hookblade''' was a modification to the [[Hidden Blade]] first adopted by the [[Turkish Assassins|Assassin Brotherhood]] in [[Constantinople]], from at least the time of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. It consisted of both a curved hook and a regular blade, allowing it to be used for [[freerunning]] and during combat.<ref name="ACR">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''</ref>
+When he arrived in the city, the [[Mentor]] of the [[Italian Assassins|Italian Brotherhood]], [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], was introduced to this advancement by [[Yusuf Tazim]], who instructed the former in its application towards both battle and travel.<ref name="ACR"/>
-[[File:ACR hookblade.png|thumb|300px|right|Concept art of the hookblade.]]
-The '''Hookblade''' was a modification to the [[Hidden Blade]] first adopted by the [[Assassins]] [[Turkish Assassins|Guild]] of [[Constantinople]]. It consisted of both a curved hook, as well as a regular blade, allowing it to be used for [[freerunning]] and in combat.
-When he arrived in the city, the [[Mentor]] [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] was introduced to this advancement by [[Yusuf Tazim]], who instructed the former in its use in both battle and travel.
 ==Usage==
 ===Navigation===
-{{quote|Let the hookblade do the work. Iste boyle! (There you go!) Throw yourself into it.|Yusuf describing the method of using the hookblade.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
+{{Quote|Let the Hookblade do the work. Iste boyle! (There you go!) Throw yourself into it.|Yusuf describing the method of using the Hookblade.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations}}
+[[File:ACR Ezio zipline.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio using the Hookblade on a zipline]]
+Used from as early as the 1480s, the Hookblade was designed to make travel quick and easy, specifically through the use of [[ziplines]] that were installed throughout Constantinople. From a zipline, an Assassin could also drop down and use the Hookblade in double assassinations on guards below.
+The mechanism could be used in several acrobatic movements too, such as for quickly climbing up walls in a similar manner to the climb-leap maneuver, and for extending one's reach during a jump.
-[[File:Revelations ZipHook.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Ezio using the hookblade on a zipline.]]
-Used from as early as the 1480s, the hookblade was designed to make travel quick and easy, specifically by making use of [[ziplines]] planted throughout the city. From a zipline, an Assassin could drop down and use the hookblade in double assassinations.
+It could also be used for flipping over enemies to avoid a fight, a method the Assassins referred to as the "hook and run." However, on using the technique against a [[Janissaries|Janissary]], it led to the Hookblade becoming caught on their armor, slowing the Assassin down slightly.
-It could be used in several acrobatic movements, such as for quickly climbing up walls similarly to the climb-leap method, and for extending one's reach during a jump.
+[[File:Hookblade 6.png|thumb|250px|right|Yusuf performing a hook and run]]
-It could also be used for flipping over enemies to avoid a fight, a method the Assassins referred to as the "hook and run."
+When climbing, the Hookblade allowed an Assassin to spring quickly onto a rooftop after grabbing the ledge, rather than spending extra time gaining a foothold and pulling themselves up. Similarly, one did not need a foothold when pulling a targeted [[Guards|guard]] from a rooftop in ledge assassinations.
+Additionally, it could be used with [[Chase breakers|corner chase-breakers]], where the swinging support could be used as a trapeze to jump towards an adjacent rooftop, instead of turning around the corner.<ref name="ACR"/>
-The hook and run could be used on any enemy, and could be used to escape while in mid-combat. However, using the technique on a [[Janissaries|Janissary]] led to the hookblade getting caught on their armor, slowing the Assassin down slightly.
-[[File:Hookblade 6.png|thumb|250px|right|Yusuf performing a hook and run.]]
-When climbing, the hookblade also allowed an Assassin to spring quickly onto a rooftop after grabbing the ledge, rather than spending extra time gaining a foothold and pulling themselves up. Similarly, one did not need a foothold when pulling a target [[Guards|guard]] off a roof in ledge assassinations.
-Additionally, it could be used with [[Chase-breakers|corner chase-breakers]], where the swinging support could be used as a trapeze to reach the next rooftop, instead of going around the corner.
 ===Combat===
+[[File:ACR Hookblade kill.png|thumb|left|250px|Ezio using the Hookblade in combat]]
-When engaging in battle, an Assassin could use the hookblade to pull targets in for a close-range attack, or throw an enemy onto the ground with the "hook and throw," a method similar to the hook and run.
+When engaged in battle, an Assassin could use the Hookblade to pull targets in for a close-range attack, or throw an enemy onto the ground with the "hook and throw," a method similar to the hook and run.
+In combat itself, the Hookblade could be used in attacks, as well as to counter a weapon. During such instances, one could hook onto an enemy's armor and throw them to the ground, or hook onto an enemy's helmet to snap their neck.
-[[File:ACR hookblade counter.png|thumb|250px|left|Ezio countering an enemy with the hookblade.]]
-In combat itself, the hookblade could be used in attacks, or to counter a weapon. One could hook onto an enemy's armor and bodily throw them onto the ground, or hook onto an enemy's helmet to snap their neck.
-An Assassin could also perform a [[Pickpocketing|counter steal]] and tear off an enemy's purse with the hookblade, provoking them further and leaving them open to an easy counter attack.
+An Assassin could also perform a [[Pickpocketing|counter-steal]] to tear off an enemy's purse with the Hookblade, provoking them further and leaving them open to an easy counterattack.
-The hookblade could also be used to pull down scaffolds, subsequently slowing down or eliminating pursuers. This was particularly useful when done in conjunction with caltrop [[bombs]].
+Following this, the Hookblade could also be used to pull down scaffolds, subsequently slowing down or eliminating pursuers. This was particularly useful when done in conjunction with [[caltrop bombs]].<ref name="ACR"/>
 ==Trivia==
-*Early images of ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' show Ezio with a hookblade on his left arm, rather than his right. In these, the hook is incorporated directly onto the blade, rather than separate.
+*Early images of ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' showed Ezio with a Hookblade on his left arm, rather than on his right. In these, the hook was incorporated directly onto the blade, rather than as a separate function.
-*Developer [[Ubisoft]] Montreal has stated that the hookblade should increase navigation speed by 30%.
+*In various interviews and print media, [[Ubisoft]] Montreal stated that the Hookblade was intended to increase navigation speed by a factor of 30% in ''Revelations'', in comparison to previous installments of the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]].
-*The actual hook of the hookblade resembles the head of an eagle, a bird frequently associated with the Assassin Order.
+*The actual hook of the Hookblade resembled the head of an eagle, a bird frequently associated with the Assassin Order.
-*Unlike the [[Hidden Gun]] and [[Poison Blade]], the hookblade is an upgrade for Ezio's secondary hidden blade, rather than his primary one.
+*Unlike the [[Hidden Gun]] and [[Poison Blade]], the Hookblade was applied alongside Ezio's secondary Hidden Blade, rather than as part of his primary one.
+*In the second stage of their [[Animi Training Program]], [[Abstergo Industries]] adapted the [[Animus]] to allow the program's [[Animi Avatars (second stage)|Animi Avatars]] to use the Hookblade for freerunning uses.
-*The hookblade is also used by the [[Assassin's Creed: Revelations Multiplayer characters|''Revelations'' multiplayer characters]].
-*[[Bomb-crafting stations]] are unlocked using the hookblade.
+*When accessed, [[bomb-crafting stations]] were unlocked through the use of the Hookblade.
+*In ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed III: Liberation]]'', some [[British Army|British]] and [[Spanish Army|Spanish]] troops could perform an animation that was similar to the hook and run, which would temporarily disorientate [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]] and [[Aveline de Grandpré|Aveline]].
+*The hookblade was considered for ''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'', but [[Darby McDevitt]], the lead writer for ''Revelations'' and ''Black Flag'', objected as he wanted to dispel the stereotype of hook-handed [[Piracy|pirates]].<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2013/08/21/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-research/ Gamesbeat: False rumors, ugly cities, and sharks: How meticulous research shaped ''Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag'']</ref>
-{{-}}
 ==Gallery==
-<gallery widths="160" position="center" captiontextcolor="#ffffff" bordersize="medium" captionalign="center">
+<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
-HookBlade Concept Art.JPG|Concept art of the hookblade by [[Martin Deschambault]].
+HookBlade Concept Art.JPG|Concept art of the Hookblade by [[Martin Deschambault]]
-Ezio rev1.png|An early image of Ezio with the hookblade.
+ACR Ezio hookblade catch ledge.png|Ezio catching a ledge with the Hookblade
+Hookblade 5.png|Yusuf performing a long jump
-Hookblade_logo.jpg|Hookblade icon.
+Maiden tower 4.png|Ezio using the Hookblade to unlock a hidden entrance
-Hookblade 3.png|Yusuf introducing Ezio to the hookblade.
-ACR hookblade attack.png|Ezio using the hookblade in combat.
-Hookblade.png|Ezio using the hookblade to climb a tower.
 </gallery>
-==Video==
+==Reference==
+{{Reflist}}
-[[Video:Assassins Creed Revelations Hookblade Trailer|thumb|left|''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' Hookblade Trailer.]]
-{{-}}
+{{ACR}}
+[[Category:Hidden weapons]]
-==Source==
-*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''
-{{ACRevelations}}
-[[Category:Weapons]]
-[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations Weapons]]