Crusader

This article is about the Animi Avatar. You may be looking for Crusaders.

"A powerful foe with arms like tree trunks and a sword the size of a mountain, the Crusader has come to convert by any means necessary. Adorned in plate-mail armor as impregnable as his convictions, he walks with utter pride and courage wherever he goes, secure in the belief that so long as he lives, others must die."

―Description of the Crusader.

The Crusader

The Crusader (harvested from: Haras) was an Animi Avatar used by Abstergo Industries to train the recruits in the second stage of their Animi Training Program. He wielded a claymore as his specialty weapon.

Unique moves

The Crusader had several unique moves:

(Low Profile, Front)

Nearing his target from the front, the Crusader unsheathes his claymore and bashes the sword's hilt into their face, knocking them off balance. Using this to his advantage, he impales his victim's stomach with his sword, killing them. The Crusader then roughly shoves them off the blade, watching his dead victim fall to the ground as he sheathes his weapon.

(Low Profile, Back)

Quietly walking behind his target, the Crusader draws his claymore, before slashing the weapon across their spine, forcing them to their knees. He then follows through with his attack by wedging his claymore into the right of their abdomen, and freeing his blade by forcing his victim forwards with his foot.

(High Profile, Front)

Running up to his target quickly, the Crusader backhands them with his mailed arm, spinning them around. With their back facing him, the Crusader draws his sword and chops it down into their shoulder, before he pulls up on his claymore to free it, sheathing his weapon as his victim crumples to the floor.

(High Profile, Back)

Rushing towards his target from behind, the Crusader draws his claymore, before he proceeds to trip them up with the flat of his blade, spinning as he does so. The victim lands roughly on their back and has no time to react, as the Crusader has already spun around and raised his weapon. He slashes down roughly into his victim's stomach with his claymore, and then leaves them to die of blood loss.

(Bench Kill)

Grabbing his seated target's foot, the Crusader drags them off the bench until their head rests against it. Before they can do anything to defend themselves, he forcefully kicks them in the face, violently sending their head backwards and breaking his victim's neck on the bench behind them.

(Aerial Kill)

Having spotted his target, the Crusader leaps from above and draws his claymore in mid-air. Once he slams into his victim, his armor's weight and the added momentum aid him as he plunges his sword into his victim's heart, killing them instantaneously. Satisfied his target is dead, the Crusader stands up and sheathes away his sword.

Taunts

• "Ha! Where did you learn to fight?"
• "Insolent beast!"
• "For the Cross!"
• "Am I to fight this woman?!"
• "Challenge!"
• "You reek of failure!"
• "You look like my squire."

Customization

The Crusader could be customized in several ways:

Colors:

• Color 1: White.
• Color 2: Red.
• Color 3: Black.

In-depth customization:

• Heads:
  • Head 1: A flat-top iron helmet, where the visor and the crease down the front of it form into the Templar cross.
  • Head 2: The helmet of a medieval knight, with a beaked shaped visor.
  • Head 3: A Roman gladiator's helmet.

• Chests:
  • Chest 1: A black cloth shirt with four small crosses weaved onto it, covering a chain-mail top.
  • Chest 2: A multi-colored vest, with a cross displayed in a section on the top-left of the chest.
  • Chest 3: A suit of reinforced armor with a fringed collar.

• Arms:
  • Arms 1: Chain-mail arms and gloves, with a silver knuckle guard, cloth wrapped forearms that bore a metal plate with a cross, and feathered accessories.
  • Arms 2: Plated gauntlets and cloth sleeves, with fringed shoulder guards and leather gloves.
  • Arms 3: Leather upper armor and chain-mail sleeves, with black greaves and flattened shoulder guards, along with two black couters.

• Legs:
  • Legs 1: Dark brown boots, with cloth leggings and dull metal shin guards.
  • Legs 2: Steel toed chain-mail boots, with engraved greaves and cloth leggings.
  • Legs 3: Light brown boots with loose chain-mail wraps.

• Belts:
  • Belt 1: A frilled white belt with two white scabbard straps, a thin brown band with buckle, and an asymmetrical drape.
  • Belt 2: A light grey band with a red leather belt, held together by a thick, silver ring.
  • Belt 3: A dark brown band and buckle, with a large, green leather belt with small golden decorations.

• Accessories:
  • Accessory 1: A simple curved shield on the left shoulder, to hold up the cape.
  • Accessory 2: A darker shield with the Templar cross on it, riveted for increased durability.
  • Accessory 3: An old, battered black and white shield, with bronzed lining.

Main weapons:

• Long Sword: Primary.
• Sledge Hammer: Secondary.
• Long Katar: Secondary.

Secondary weapons:

• Basic: A two-hinge, folding hidden blade attached to the wrist.
• Extra 1: A small pike dagger, similar to an ice pick, attached to the back of the belt.
• Extra 2: A small katar, similar to a push dagger, attached to the back of the belt.

Trivia

• The Crusader could only be unlocked through pre-ordering certain editions of Assassin's Creed: Revelations, or by purchasing The Lost Archive.
• The Crusader was the only known Animi Avatar to originate from the 12th century.
• The Crusader was also the only pre-order character to have customization.
  • All items available for customizing the Crusader were included with him when unlocked, and as such, they did not need to be gained via progression in the Animi Training Program.
• The crest on his standard armor was the Jerusalem cross.

Gallery

Concept art of the Crusader

The Crusader's model and artwork

Early texturing concepts

The Crusader brutally killing the Sentinel

The Crusader's colors

The Crusader's helmets

The Crusader's armors

The Crusader's arms

The Crusader's legs

The Crusader's belts

The Crusader's accessories

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations

References

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations