If you've already finished ASSASSIN'S CREED and decide to play through again (perhaps to pick up Conversationalist or Hungerer achievements), you'll probably want to do a better job on the primary assassinations than you did the first time around. This guide will give you some ideas on how to assassinate the main targets with stealth and/or flair. It was designed purely to enhance replay value. If you're still playing through for the first time, please see my Beginner's Guide to Assassinations and Air to Assassinate Guide instead. The links below contain information that will spoil the fun of figuring things out for yourself.

The guide is arranged as nine topics within this forum, one for each target. Every walkthrough has a companion video hosted on YouTube which demonstrates the stylish assassination followed by some (often comedic) bonus material. This sticky topic serves as the "table of contents" so that you will always be able to easily locate a particular walkthrough or video. Questions and comments are encouraged. You may comment on individual walkthroughs or here on the series as a whole.

1. Damascus, Poor District: Tamir (companion video)
2. Acre, Poor District: Garnier de Naplouse (video)
3. Jerusalem, Rich District: Talal (video)
4. Damascus, Rich District: Abu'l Nuqoud (video)
5. Jerusalem, Poor District: Majd Addin (video)
6. Acre, Rich District: William de Montferrat (video)
7. Damascus, Middle District: Jubair Al Hakim (video)
8. Acre, Middle District: Sibrand (video)
9. Jerusalem, Middle Disctrict: Robert de Sable (video)
10. Memory Block 7: (video only)

Thanks to dougiethewonderboy for his encouragement to create this style guide and to FiReStOrM^ for making this topic sticky.

I'm honored that you even mentioned me, since a "gentle push" is about all I contributed. I'm really glad you decided to make these guides. The level of detail is incredible and they are super easy to follow.

I must confess however, that I havent actually tried any of these yet. Only because I'm waiting to have all the guides to spend one murderously bloody day in the Crusades.

Keep up the excellent work my friend.

A recurring theme in the Stylish Assassination series is the "air to assassinate" move. Both Ubisoft and Prima hint that it's possible but neither elaborate on how or even when you can do it. An internet search reveals only partial answers and misinformation ("press X while in the air" pffft ).

It turns out there are four different ways to initiate an air to assassinate! Altaïr's position and posture will determine which one to use.

• Low Profile: X button (Square on PlayStation 3)
  This only works if Altaïr is climbing a wall immediately above the target. (Tip: This often works on Templars because they tend to stand in front of walls.) Keep an eye on your Control Heads Up Display. Whenever the label for your Armed Hand says "assassinate" you can press that button (X on Xbox 360, Square on PlayStation 3) to drop and assassinate. I'm not sure how "low profile" it actually is. It looks exactly like a high profile air.
  
  
• High Profile: Right Trigger + X (R1 + Square)
  Whenever Altaïr stands on a beam or narrow wall, he naturally assumes a crouching position. When climbing a ladder or wall, he often has his feet tucked up against the vertical surface. These are the postures that allow a high profile air to assassinate. Just hold the Right Trigger (R1 on PS3) and look at your Control Heads Up Display. If it says "assassinate", continue holding the trigger and press X (or Square on PS3). Altaïr's range is much better with high profile than with low. He'll jump clear across a room to kill someone.
  
  
• Running: Right Trigger + X + Left Thumbstick up (R1 + Square + Left Stick up)
  When standing with upright posture on a roof or wide platform, your only option is the running air to assassinate. Face your target and start running towards him by holding Right Trigger and pushing the Left Thumbstick up (R1 + Left Stick up on PS3). As you near the edge, continue holding those controls and add the X button (or Square). Again, your Heads Up Display will indicate when you can do this but it all happens pretty quickly. I prefer to watch Altaïr's feet to get the timing right. Hit the attack button as Altaïr takes his last step to the edge of the roof.
  
  
• Edge: Right Trigger + X + Left Thumbstick up (R1 + Square + Left Stick up)
  If you're already standing at the very edge, peering down, you can still do a "running" air to assassinate. Start by holding the Right Trigger (or R1), and then simultaneously press X and push the Left Thumbstick up (Square + up). Don't be intimidated by the word "simultaneously". The timing requirements are not strict at all. In fact you can hit X first, causing Altaïr to check his Hidden Blade, and then push "up" about half a second later. As long as he hasn't resheathed his blade, this will trigger the air to assassinate.

Here I am, halfway done with my series, and I've just discovered the running air .

Spoiler: show/hide

Had I known about it earlier I would have recommended assassinating Tamir from the top of the arbor, and Garnier from a candelabra. I will go update those walkthroughs now (but not the companion videos).

Of course, there are times when you can't attempt an air to assassinate at all:

• hanging from a beam or wall with feet straight down
• too high up
• too far away from target
• standing at the same level or lower than target

It's always a good idea to target your victim (with Left Trigger or L1) before attempting any air move. First of all, it's embarrassing when you accidentally assassinate the wrong person (often a civilian). Secondly, long range airs fall short if the victim isn't targeted. Beware that some attempts can be deflected by a suspicious target (who will throw Altaïr to the ground) or by obstacles in your flight path.

UPDATE: I've created a video to demonstrate Hidden Blade techniques including air to assassinate. Subtitles show exactly which buttons to press and when. The four air to assassinate moves start at 2:18.

Awesome Guide !i Look up @ You
Please Post My Guide For Your Honor

Alright, Dougie, you're up! Time to reduce nine weeks of work down to one bloody Sunday. Beware, the assassinations may be stylish but few are easy. I'd be interested to know how many you can nail on the first try. Good luck, my friend.

sweet guide bro... keep up the good work

I'm gonna give it a go soon. I'm working on my Big Boss rank on MGS4 right now though.

Hey folks,

I added one more video to the Stylish Assassination series. It's a playthrough of Memory Block 7 (spoilers) with the Hidden Blade. There's no text walkthrough for obvious reasons.



I'm disappointed with the clunky edit at 4:57. What actually happened in the first take (the one that I edited out) is the first guy I counter-attacked was the real McCoy. The fight was over in like 3 seconds. It looked cool but was too "cheaty" so I reluctantly substituted a more realistic scene.

Here is my "variety-pack" guide for stylish assassinations of Big Al. Hope you enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAT-FvXTDEY

Talal always pisses me off, thanks to you, I at least know the general direction that he takes.
I suppose there is no real 'simple' way to kill that SoB?

Anyways, excellent job.

i suppose it depends on what you mean by "simple."

this way isnt hard:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKv0wsiV8BE

but you can also use vigilantes to hold him in place while you stab him with the hidden blade.

you can also take the "long way" around, so that talal runs toward you instead of away from you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07GaxymOHLg

in general a fleeing target will walk, not run, if you are more than 15 meters from him. so another strategy is to take a different path to get to the souk or guard tower and then ambush him.

Great guide stabguy, I think I might replay it and try to make up some of my own assassinations, then use some of yours like the Eagle Strike stunt.

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