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Through much of his life as an Assassin, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad wielded a personal sword of significant power. The blade's guard was shaped like an eagle's wings, with the pommel in the shape of an eagle's head.
During the Renaissance in Italy and Constantinople, another Assassin, Ezio Auditore da Firenze also made use of the weapon.
History
Third Crusade
Altaïr wielding his sword in combat.
Altaïr made use of his sword throughout most of his early life as an Assassin, using it with great skill and ease during missions such as the quest for the Chalice.[1]
By 1191, he instead began making use of a Syrian sword with a curved blade and a golden hilt. However, this sword was taken from him after Al Mualim demoted him to the rank of novice for breaking all three tenets of the Creed.[2]
During his progression back into the higher ranks, Altaïr started off with a basic sword similar to his personal one, though it lacked a cross guard. After he assassinated the first four of his nine assigned targets, another sword, this time with the cross guard shaped like an eagle's wings, was granted to him until finally, upon the 7th target, his personal sword was returned to him. The leather grip instead was replaced with a silver and light grey color with a tribal design. He made use of it until the Syrian sword was granted to him again.[2]
Renaissance
Ezio wielding the Sword of Altaïr.
Ezio Auditore was able to purchase Altaïr's sword from the blacksmith of Monteriggioni for 45,000 florins, and made use of it when he fought Rodrigo Borgia in the Sistine Chapel.[3]
He continued to use it as he escaped the Vatican with his uncle Mario. During the Borgia's attack on Monteriggioni, however, he did not have time to re-equip it, resulting in its loss in the rubble of the Villa, along with Altaïr's armor and Ezio's other weapons.[4]
Some time after establishing his Assassins Guild in Rome, he was able to recover the sword again after completing all five Assassin's Guild challenges, and he made use of it during the siege of Viana.[4]
Though it is unknown what happened to the sword during Ezio's travels to Masyaf and Constantinople, he only began using it again some time after allying himself with the Ottoman Assassins, after completing the third series of the Assassin's Guild Challenges.[5]
Statistics
| Game | Damage | Speed | Deflect | Cost |
| Assassin's Creed | 2* | 2* | 2* | N/A |
| Assassin's Creed II | 5 | 5 | 5 | 45,000ƒ |
| Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood | 5 | 5 | 5 | N/A |
| Assassin's Creed: Revelations | 5 | 3 | 4 | N/A |
*In Assassin's Creed, there were no Damage, Speed or Deflect statistics. Weapon strength was based on ranks, with the Sword of Altaïr being the second out of three.
Trivia
Appearance
The Sword of Altaïr in the Animus menu screen.
- The sword's picture at the blacksmiths shows its hilt wrapped in leather; however, the weapon itself does not have any leather wrapping.
- This is amended in Assassin's Creed: Revelations, where the leather wrapping is shown even while wielding it.
- The sword's appearance is slightly altered in Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, with the hilt shown to be shorter, and turning from a bronzed color to completely silver.
- This sword is shorter compared to the other longswords Ezio can use, with the entire sword being only a little longer than the length of his arm. Despite this handicap, Altaïr's sword is still the strongest weapon available.
Usage
Masyaf guards with the sword.
- All the Masyaf guards in Assassin's Creed are shown to wield this sword.
- The guards in Rome are seen wielding a sword similar to the Sword of Altaïr.
- In Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, many if not all of the enemy guards can be seen wielding a sword similar to the Sword of Altaïr.
- During the memory "Follow The Money" in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, a guard draws and raises a sword identical to Altaïr's, in order to threaten Egidio Troche.
- Later in the same memory, a Papal Guard can also be seen with a similar sword.
- Assassin apprentices gain a sword that resembles the Sword of Altaïr upon reaching the rank of Assassino.
Other
- Though Altaïr's sword is considered the best sword in Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the Old Syrian sword (which was among the least effective weapons in Assassin's Creed II) is the best sword in Assassin's Creed.
- The Sword of Altaïr can be found in the "The Bull" stage of Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, as an ornament in the Kantara Castle's Great Hall.
- After buying the Sword of Altaïr in Assassin's Creed II, it may occasionally be randomly replaced with the common sword. To properly acquire it if this occurs, simply go to the Villa's weapon rack and re-equip it.
- It is unknown why the sword is available from the Monteriggioni blacksmith, since the sword (being Altaïr's personal weapon) would be assumed to be available together with his armor once it was unlocked.
- During the Cristina Memories in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, all memories in which Ezio has a sword in his sheath (starting at "Best Man"), he has the sword of Altaïr equipped. This contradicts the Assassin's Creed II timeline, where the sword was only available for purchase from Sequence 9.
Altaïr using his personal weapon in Masyaf.
- On completion of the third set of the Assassins Guild challenges in Assassin's Creed: Revelations and obtaining the Sword of Altaïr for Ezio, it also appears during the Masyaf Keys memories, replacing the Syrian sword.
- In Revelations, the Sword of Altaïr no longer displays maximum stats, being replaced in that function by Yusuf Tazim's kijil, which is unlocked by playing through the Master Assassin side mission The Deacon, Part 1. Altaïr's sword now has 5 damage, 3 speed, and 4 deflect.
- The sword of Altaïr is an artifact to be recovered in Assassin's Creed Revelations: Path to Revelations, bearing the description "Holding his weapon in my hands is enough to make me relive adventures of this legendary grand master."