The Assassin’s Creed series is built around the idea of assassins taking on the Templars due to their fight for free will. The likes of Altair, Ezio and others have all come and gone to clash against their enemies for what they believe in.
Now that 15 years have past since the franchise debuted, there have been more than enough characters to judge based on their fighting prowess. These include villains like Haytham as well as bad guys have also been shown to be just as adept in battle as the protagonists. It’s interesting to look back across the series to uncover who can be considered a cut above the rest.
Edward Kenway
Edward wasn’t trained as an assassin from birth but was indoctrinated later in life. As a pirate, his fighting required his opponents to be on the backfoot since Edward would generally ambush them rather than partake in a straight-up duel or battle.
He certainly had the skill needed, as Edward could take on multiple people at the same time by incorporating the use of the many guns he carried. In of sword-fighting ability, Edward could hold his own but wasn’t as proficient as many others since he was ultimately killed in a Templar ambush.
Evie Frye
Most consider Jacob Frye to be the better fighter of the twins but Evie’s defeat of Jack the Ripper - whom Edward handily lost to - proved otherwise. Evie’s largely considered to be character through her empathetic personality and incredible skills at stealth.
While she generally relied on discreetly assassinating her targets over fighting them, Evie was by no means a pushover in dueling. Her fighting strategy relied on being agile and evading attacks to then catch on to her opponents’ weak spots. It worked well overall but didn’t benefit Evie when she was swarmed by enemies.
Connor Kenway
Connor was a powerhouse when he was on song, capable of taking down combatants in actual wars. His status as a hunter in the frontier also brought in a primal attitude that meant he fought gritty and dirty if the occasion called for it. The training he received as an assassin only bolstered his skills further.
On the other hand, Connor was the assassin who could never control his emotions, to the point where the likes of Haytham took advantage. He messed up killing targets when he let his anger get the better of him, which damages his fighting ability. When it comes to fights where there’s no personal stake involved, Connor is a force to be reckoned with.
Eivor
Eivor was a brawler, for the most part, usually going all-in with her fighting ability without regard for a defensive strategy. Her greatest asset was her heightened perception, as Eivor was able to defeat Basim when it looked like he was moving at lightning speed.
She appeared to possess a great amount of strength considering a lot of her victories came through the use of her using fisticuffs. Eivor wasn’t the best in taking on experienced and highly skilled fighters, as she had difficulties in going against those who use strategy instead of sheer power like she did.
Bayek
Bayek is the protagonist who made the most use of ranged weapons, being fully willing to incorporate things like whips and arrows to finish off his targets. He wasn’t a slouch with a sword by any means either, as Bayek had quite the finesse in blending his agility with his strength.
The only problem with Bayek was his tendency to hold back, which many opponents took advantage of. In an interesting twist, an angered Bayek was more dangerous since he became focused on the battle by letting go of the restraint he otherwise carried.
Haytham Kenway
Despite being a villain in the Assassin's Creed series, Haytham could fight the best assassins out there and handily win. Even at an older age, Haytham overpowered Connor and only lost when the latter used the hidden blade when Haytham was monologuing about his mistake of letting Connor live.
He had remarkable poise in the way he handle his weapons, with anything from a gun, sword, or the hidden blade used in a swish that his targets wouldn’t even see coming. Haytham had the advantage of his large frame to overpower enemies through his strength. The thing he lacked was humility, as Haytham tended to underestimate his opponents to hand them an opening against him.
Kassandra
Kassandra usually finds herself as a top mention in t series, with a lot of credit going toward her fighting ability. She had a gladiatorial mindset, in that Kassandra looked to take control of her battles through aggression.
She was incredible in juggling multiple enemies at once, as Kassandra shifted focus from one target to another without compromising on power moves. The lack of ranged attacks was a disadvantage for her, which she didn’t overcome. However, she was a beast when it came to battles due to her skill at becoming the center of the conflict and switching between targets.
Amunet
While her husband Bayek was the playable protagonist, Amunet became a bigger legend in the story. She was deadly in all sense of the word, using the most scything weapons in her fights to cripple her enemies. More significantly, Amunet always aimed to kill and there was no mercy in her fighting style.
Amunet was potentially the best pound-for-pound fighter, as she dominated enemies around her physical capabilities and took down massive ones by using her skills. Like Connor, Amunet lacked in her ability to control her emotions when things were personal, which became an issue on occasion.
Altair Ibn-LaʼAhad
It’s hard to believe that the first video game turns 15 in 2022, but that’s how long it’s been since fans have known Altair. Easily the most legendary assassin, Altair had a mysterious ability to be stealthy even when he was fighting someone one-on-one.
His mental prowess was his biggest advantage, as Altair could see weaknesses in his enemies while he was fighting them. Altair was a slippery combatant, as he moved around on purpose to gas out his opponents and then strike them when they couldn’t keep up with his agility. What he lacked in strength, Altair made up in using his wits.
Ezio Auditore
There’s really no weakness to pick out in Ezio’s fighting abilities, especially the most experienced assassin that he was by the end of his journey. Ezio originally messed up by being too emotional but shed that aspect over the years to have the strategy of starting out with stealth and then engaging in combat.
He was masterful in switching between powerful weapons like axes and maces with smaller ones such as knives and bombs. Ezio remained quick even as an older man, taking down enemies who were half his age. Most significantly, Ezio evolved his fighting style by incorporating aspects like hook blades from Constantinople to pure martial arts from China to remain ahead in the game at all times.