In Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, there are 12 abilities to choose from and each ability can further be improved up to 3 upgrades.
These abilities are unlocked as you progress through the various levels of the game. Each ability has its significance. These abilities have specific parameters like range, delay, duration, etc.
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Abilities
Abilities are unlocked as rewards for leveling up. You start with two ability slots and though there is an array of interesting abilities to choose from, you have to be very selective.
To be efficient is to utilize these Skills that suit a particular situation. When you’ve got the hang of them, Abilities Upgrades allow you to further enhance their effects and shorten their cool-down times.
All abilities are non-passive so you’ll need to activate them by pressing the corresponding button. You can take note of the cooldown time by looking at their icons on the screen. The following abilities are utilized in the Multiplayer Mode.
1. Disguise (Level 2)
This ability is useful in deceiving your opponent. It changes your appearance instantaneously so that you can easily avoid any pursuer. You can also use it as a hunter, especially when you have been seen by your target.
For the Multiplayer Mode, it’s useful to know that though you change into a different character skin for deceiving the opponents, you make a distinctive sound when using the ability.
Therefore, this may not work against some of the more observant players in AC: Brotherhood.
Parameters
- Cool down: 60s
- Duration: 15s
First Upgrade
- It is unlocked at Level 32.
- There is a boost if time last to 20s
Second Upgrade
- Reduces the restore time to 50s
- Can be unlocked by completing the “Cloak and Dagger” challenge.
Third Upgrade
- Animus effect is reduced
- Unlocked on completing the Clairvoyant challenge.
2. Sprint Boost (Level 3)
You get a speed boost while sprinting with this ability. It can be useful both during hunt and chase. It also counters the slowing effect of throwing knives. Speed can make you a better hunter as well as a better escapee.
Parameters
- Duration: 5s
- Cool down: 60s
First Upgrade
- You get a 30% boost in your ability
- Can be unlocked at Level 34
Second Upgrade
- Unlocked by completing challenge “Run for his Life”
- Cool down time is reduced 50s
Third Upgrade
- On completing abilities challenge “Power Through”
- Duration increases to 8s
3. Smoke Bomb (Level 6)
You can blind your opponent by this bomb. It is more effective while you are being chased by a competitive pursuer.
Proper timing is required to use it more effectively as you can use it in a range of 3.2m max. You can also use it as an offense for some stylish kills and hence more points.
This works as a counter for the Charge ability which I’ll describe below. It also serves as a good tool for detecting the enemy player in multiplayer in the cloud of smoke.
This is done by using gentle push on the crowd of people since and only real players cannot be pushed away.
Do note that Smoke Bomb has a little delay from when you activate the ability to when it produces the desired effect, so consider that.
Parameters
- Cool down: 60s
- Duration: 3s
First Upgrade
- Unlocked at Level 36
- Range increase to 4m
Second Upgrade
- Need to complete ability challenge ‘Smoke Screen’
- Reduces cool down time to 50s
Third Upgrade
- Unlocked by completing challenge “Cut through Fog”
- Duration time reduced 4s
4. Hidden Gun (Level 8)
You can shoot your target after you have a lock on him. Obviously, this ability can help you when your target is getting away from you. But it is limited as you can use it only on contracted targets.
Moreover, eliminating an enemy player with this tool will net you an overall abysmal score, so it’s not quite useful in that regard.
Parameters
- Cool down: 90s
- Duration: 1.5s
First Upgrade
- Increased Accuracy
- Unlocked at Level 37
Second Upgrade
- Unlocked by completing navigation challenge “Needle in a Haystack”
- Cool down reduced to 80s
Third Upgrade
- Unlocked by completing the ability challenge “On the fly”.
- Focus time is reduced to 1s
5. Templar Vision (Level 11)
Using this ability you can know about the nature and appearances of all the characters in your sight. The enemies, targets, and NPCs are all highlighted in different colors for you to make a clear distinction between them.
This is a natural counter to Decoy since it’ll make the real players visible regardless of how hard they might try to hide. A disadvantage, however, is that you are highlighted as well so your enemy players are alerted of your presence.
They may use Charge, Mute or Smoke Bomb abilities to get out of trouble or attack you. It’s thus best to use Templar Vision from rooftops or secluded spots where the enemy may not look for you.
Parameters
- Cool down: 60s
- Duration: 3s
- Range: 20m
First Upgrade
- Unlocked at Level 44
- Range increased
Second Upgrade
- Unlocked by completing Session challenge “Artist”
- Cool down reduced 50s
Third Upgrade
- Duration time increased to 5s
- On completing the Assassinate challenge “Vanishing Act”
6. Morph (Level 14)
You can use this ability to change anyone from crowd to your duplicate. This hence can help you escape your pursuer. You can use this ability in various ways like you can divert your pursuer’s attention and then stun your opponent for high point kill.
This ability can be used cleverly since it can counter groups which have already been morphed.
Therefore, in such a case, where the other player has a group morphed, you can use this ability to turn every NPC in that group to your skin and reveal the enemy player.
Parameters
- Cool down time: 60s
- Range: 3.2m
- Duration: Permanent
- Civilians: 4
First Upgrade
- Unlocked at Level 41
- Number of people can be morphed increased to 6
Second Upgrade
- On completing session challenge “Seeing double”
- Cool down time reduced to 50s
Third Upgrade
- On completing assassinate challenge Unstoppable
- Range increased 4.5m
7. Fire Crackers (Level 16)
Fire Crackers can be used for distraction similar to smoke. They can cause chaos in the crowd and stun your opponents for a while. The effect is similar to that of a flashbang that blinds the enemy for a split second.
You can have a clear sight of your target by dispersing the crowd. This ability has shorter cool down as compared to the Smoke bomb.
While temporarily blinded, enemy players may also make hasty decisions and would rather be very lucky if they can perform a strike on you. So Fire Crackers work as good defensive tools as well.
Parameters
- Duration: 3s
- Cool down: 60s
- Range: 6m
First Upgrade
- Unlocked at Level 39
- Range 7.5m
Second Upgrade
- On completing abilities challenge “Pyrotechnician”
- Cool down time is reduced to 50s
Third Upgrade
- On completing abilities challenge “Expose”
- Duration increases to 7s
8. Throwing Knives (Level 19)
You can throw knives at your enemies to hinder their movements. This will slow them down and you can either escape or get to them quickly. This ability can especially be useful when your foe is a good sprinter.
You can use this ability to slow down enemies running at the rooftops as it causes a 10% speed decrease on each throw.
Conversely, you can get out of trouble by slowing your opponents with it and make your escape accordingly. Moreover, Throwing Knives also makes the enemy player unable to climb buildings.
This means you can also cause your opponents to fall from rooftops and high spots by hurling a knife at them.
Parameters
- Cool down: 45s
- Duration: 5s
First Upgrade
- Unlocked at Level 43
- Duration increased to 7s
Second Upgrade
- On completing abilities challenge “Timber”
- Cool down time reduced to 35s
Third Upgrade
- On completing abilities challenge “Take Down”
- Speed decrease increases to 20%
9. Charge (Level 21)
Using this ability, you can quickly pounce upon your target passing straight through the crowd. Can be useful in finding your target in a group of people of the same appearance.
This is an automated run which doesn’t give you any freedom or control during the movement but will allow you to go straight for the enemy player without having to identify them first.
It’s best to use the ability at close range and especially in scenarios where the enemy is after you or you are after them, in a straight line. This works well when luring enemies then charging into them.
Parameters
- Cool down: 60s
- Range: 2.5m
- Duration: 2.5s
First Upgrade
- Unlocked at Level 46
- Range increased to 3.5m
Second Upgrade
- On completing challenge “Heads Butt”
- Cool down time decreased to 35s
Third Upgrade
- On completing abilities challenge “Ready or Not”
- Duration increased to 4s
10. Decoy (Level 24)
By this ability, you can trick your pursuers by converting your target into yourself and then make them run away. It is pretty useful in team play.
The ability, once turning the surrounding NPCs to your decoys, cause distraction on the opponents’ part who may try to chase after them.
Due to the nature of it working only on NPCs, those that are real players won’t run so you can use this ability to single them out.
Parameters
- Cool down: 45s
- Duration: 10s
- Range: 15m
First Upgrade
- Unlocked at Level 47
- Duration increased to 10s
Second Upgrade
- On completing abilities challenge “Made you look”
- Cool down reduced to 35s
Third Upgrade
- On completing session challenge “Grand Master”
- Disguise self on Decoy activation
11. Mute (Level 26)
This ability will mute all characters surrounding you so that none of them can use any of their abilities or stun or kill you. You can use it both as an attack as well as defense.
During this 3 second duration, you’re invulnerable since enemy players can’t do anything in their capacity to cause harm to you.
Although it won’t make enemy players visible, if you know for sure, you can easily kill them while they’re left completely helpless and not allowed to make any move on you.
Parameters
- Cool down: 9s
- Duration: 3s
- Range: 6m
First Upgrade
- Unlocked at Level 48
- Range increased to 8m
Second Upgrade
- On completing assassinate challenge “Disappearing act”
- Duration increased to 4s
Third Upgrade
- On completing session challenge “Hit and Run”
- Cool down time reduced to 80s
12. Poison (Level 29)
You can poison your opponent and your kill will be undetectable. The target dies after short time having been exposed to the poison.
Though it’s risky to use this ability since it takes about 5 seconds before an enemy dies and another opponent can steal your kill and thus your points.
On the bright side, a kill with Poison can get your bonus points up to 500 points. It can also be used in conjunction with Smoke Bomb for great effect. Note, this ability can only be used in “low profile” mode.
Parameters
- Cool down: 90s
- Delay duration: 5s
First Upgrade
- Unlocked at Level 49
- Delay reduced to 3s
Second Upgrade
- On completing abilities challenge “Pharmacist”
- Cool down time reduced to 80s
Third Upgrade
- On completing abilities challenge “un Healthy Lifestyle”
- Delay increased to 7s
That wraps up all 12 abilities in \Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. Since you can have 2 abilities at a time so choose them wisely! Choose the abilities that suit your style of game.
