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Assassify What if this was all a construction? A masterfully crafted simulation?

This article contains explicit references to the Assassin's Creed series in a real-world context, is written in the literary present tense, or is written in terms of gameplay in the incorrect section(s).

Out-of-universe content should be confined to the "behind the scenes" section, and content in the body should be written in the historical past tense. Please revise the relevant section(s) to conform with an in-universe perspective.

ACB Throwing knives

A set of throwing knives from Renaissance Rome

Throwing knives are small blades that can kill enemies without armor and rooftop sentries. Assassins used them to either injure enemies or take them out from a distance.

History[]

Middle Ages[]

ACMir Throwing knife

A 9th century throwing knife

Assassins of the Middle Ages were permitted to use throwing knives upon reaching the fourth rank. The knives also seemed to be one of the most powerful weapons after the Hidden Blade with a single, accurate hit resulting in a kill on all targets but major Templars. If an Assassin ran out of knives, he could get more by either pickpocketing thugs or defeating them in a fistfight, or by returning to either an Assassin bureau or Masyaf.[1]

Majd Archer Assassination 2

Altaïr throwing a knife at an archer

The amount of knives Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad could hold increased at certain ranks, wherein he obtained a knife belt. Each knife belt could hold up to five knives, and were kept at his waist, left boot, and right shoulder. These belts were obtained at the fourth, seventh, and tenth ranks respectively.[1]

Renaissance[]

Power to people 4

Ezio throwing a knife at Savonarola

Throwing knives were also used by Assassins of the Renaissance era, though they were not quite as effective, and could not normally cause a kill in a single hit, particularly with the improved armor possessed by high-ranked guards. To compensate, Ezio Auditore da Firenze could hold up to twenty-five knives at a time, all of which he sheathed at his waist. Throwing knives could be bought from any of the city blacksmiths for 50 florins each. Extra sheaths for knives could be purchased at tailor shops.[2]

Ming dynasty[]

ACC China DB Throwing Weapons

Shao Jun's array of throwing weapons

The Chinese Assassin Shao Jun equipped throwing knives during the Ming dynasty, using them for assassinations,[3] distractions, cutting ropes, and removing obstructions.[4]

18th century Caribbean[]

During the 18th century, Edward Kenway occasionally used daggers obtained from enemies as improvised throwing knives. However, because he usually only carried one, he typically reserved it for situations where he was out of ammunition for other weapons or wished to conserve it, as the knife could be picked up multiple times after use. Given its single use, he tended to favor firearms, darts fired by blowpipe, and rope darts over the throwing knives.[5]

Colonial America[]

In the northern American Colonies, the Colonial Assassins utilized a single throwing knife as a silent ranged weapon. However, such usage was typically limited to the stalkers, whose practice of blending with civilian population prevented them from openly carrying weapons on their person.[6] Shay Cormac could also take these throwing knives and use them with deadly precision, although like Edward, he only ever carried one at a time.

Following the purge of the Colonial Assassins, and subsequent recruitment of Ratonhnhaké:ton into their ranks during the branch's restoration, throwing knives once again became a part of the Assassins' arsenal. Ratonhnhaké:ton himself typically carried several knives coated with poison, allowing him to silently incapacitate enemies while remaining inconspicuous.[7]

Indian Chakram[]

At the end of the Sikh Empire, the Indian Assassin Arbaaz Mir was a known user of chakram, a throwing weapon from India.[8] A circular piece of steel with a sharpened outer edge which came in various sizes, a chakram, while primarily a throwing weapon, could also be used in hand-to-hand combat.[9]

Victorian London[]

Acs throwing knife

The Frye twins' throwing knives

During the Victorian era where weaponry was restricted, British Assassins such as the twins Jacob and Evie Frye employed throwing knives for discreet kills and as a distraction tool. As a master of stealth, Evie could carry more throwing knives than her brother.[10]

Modern times[]

In Abstergo Industries, throwing knives served as an ability that its recruits could use while training in their respective Animi. However, the knives used were always non-lethal, and could only temporarily slow down or unbalance an opponent.[11]

By 2015, the modern Assassins used kunai-like knives in their arsenal, with the only difference being that they were shaped like the ones Altaïr used, as seen during the mission to recovering the Shroud of Eden, where a throwing knife was thrown into Juhani Otso Berg's hand. [citation needed]

Advanced use[]

Though initially only throwing one knife at a time, Ezio learned to throw several at once from the combat instructor at Monteriggioni. This special attack allowed Ezio to throw three knives mid-combat, effectively dispatching up to three enemies. Despite taking a longer time to aim and use, the ability allowed an instant kill on any targeted enemy.[2]

Later, upon traveling to Rome and becoming a Master Assassin, Ezio was able to throw multiple knives at enemies, even when not engaged in battle. He was able to adjust the number of knives thrown at a time, one for each enemy in range.[11]

Furthermore, Ezio was also able to dual-wield throwing knives alongside his short blade, much as Altaïr did.[1] This allowed him to more quickly switch between long and short-ranged attacks.[11]

Trivia[]

Assassin's Creed
  • During the Animus loading sequence in Assassin's Creed, the player could select the throwing knives and throw an infinite number of them.
  • On the Xbox 360 version of Assassin's Creed, the achievement "Eagle's Eye" could be unlocked by killing 75 guards with throwing knives.
  • There was a glitch after unlocking the short blade for the first time. In the Animus loading sequence, the player could use throwing knives even if they had not yet been unlocked.
Assassin's Creed II
  • When not locked onto a target, Ezio would throw a knife in the last direction he walked toward. Certain targets would not run unless Ezio entered a particular zone around them. If Ezio remained out of this zone and threw knives using the described method, he could easily kill the target.
  • Even after using all throwing knives, they were still visible on Ezio's knife belt.
  • An additional five throwing knives could be purchased through Uplay for 20 Units.
  • It took two throwing knives to kill a guard who was alert, but only one to kill a guard to whom Ezio was invisible.
    • Venice and Forlì were exceptions, where it took two knives regardless.
Other
  • In Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, the design for throwing knives was altered. In the first game, it was simply a flat knife, whereas in Bloodlines, it possessed a cylindrical hilt and a four-sided blade.
  • In Assassin's Creed: Lineage, a throwing knife from Rodrigo Borgia nearly killed Giovanni Auditore in Rome.
  • Giovanni Auditore only carried two throwing knives on his chest, and it is unexplained if this was due to his preference, or his skill or lack thereof with the weapon.
  • In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, regardless of the throwing knife capacity of the knife belt, there was no visible knife belt present.
    • Oddly, the knife belt only appeared when the character was in a state of loading, such as when Ezio glowed white during an armor switch or clothes dyeing, or within the Animus Virtual Training Program.
  • Shao Jun's outfit in Assassin's Creed: Syndicate grants a 20% damage increase to Evie's throwing knife skill, while Lady Melyne's gown allows her to carry an additional 5.

References[]

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