William Johnson
William Johnson, a prominent Loyalist and associate of the Templar Order, serves as a key target in Connor Kenway's quest for justice. His assassination takes place during Sequence 6, Memory 2: "The Tea Party", following a tense chase through Boston. This guide will provide a comprehensive strategy to successfully eliminate Johnson, covering the chase, the final confrontation, and crucial tips to ensure a smooth victory.
The Chase: Pursuing a Traitor
The encounter with William Johnson begins not with a direct fight, but with a frantic chase through the bustling streets and rooftops of Boston. Johnson, aware of Connor's presence, attempts to flee, making this segment a test of your parkour and pursuit skills.
Chase Mechanics & Strategy:
- Initial Engagement: The chase begins immediately after Johnson is identified. He will attempt to escape through a pre-determined route, often involving crowded streets, narrow alleys, and building rooftops.
- Maintaining Proximity: The primary objective is to stay within a certain distance of Johnson. A mini-map indicator will show his location and your proximity. Falling too far behind will result in desynchronization.
- Obstacle Navigation:
- Crowds: Use the "blend" and "push through crowd" mechanics (typically by holding the sprint button) to minimize slowdown. Avoid directly colliding with civilians, as this can cause Connor to stumble.
- Environmental Parkour: use Connor's free-running abilities to navigate rooftops, climb walls, and leap across gaps. Look for obvious parkour routes marked by ledges, ropes, and climbable surfaces.
- Guards: Johnson will often run through areas patrolled by Redcoats. While direct engagement is not recommended during the chase, you can use environmental objects (e.g., explosive barrels, hanging crates) to momentarily stun or distract guards in your path. A well-timed tackle on a guard blocking your way can also be effective.
- Eagle Vision: Periodically activate Eagle Vision (press the designated button) to highlight Johnson's path and identify potential shortcuts or obstacles ahead. This can be particularly useful in crowded areas or when his path is obscured.
- Cornering Johnson: The chase is designed to lead Johnson to a specific location – the docks where his ship, the HMS Dartmouth, is anchored. The chase will conclude when he reaches this point, triggering the final confrontation.
Common Pitfalls During the Chase:
- Getting Stuck: Be mindful of tight corners or areas with many civilians, as getting caught can quickly put you out of range.
- Falling: While Connor is an adept free-runner, misjudging a jump or falling from a great height will cause significant delays.
- Engaging Guards: Do not get drawn into prolonged combat with guards during the chase. Your focus should be solely on pursuing Johnson.
The Final Stand: Confronting William Johnson
Once Johnson reaches the docks, he will make his final stand on or near the HMS Dartmouth, surrounded by a contingent of loyal Redcoat guards. This is where the true fight begins.
Enemy Composition:
- William Johnson: The primary target. He is a moderately skilled fighter, often wielding a sword or pistol.
- Redcoat Soldiers: Expect a mix of standard infantry, grenadiers, and possibly Jägers. Their numbers will vary, but typically range from 8-12 guards initially.
Strategic Approaches:
1. Stealth Assassination (Recommended for Efficiency)
While Johnson is surrounded, a stealthy approach can significantly simplify the encounter and often leads to a cleaner, more satisfying assassination.
- Initial Reconnaissance: Upon reaching the docks, take a moment to survey the area from a hidden vantage point (e.g., a rooftop or tall crate). Use Eagle Vision to identify guard patrols and Johnson's exact location.
- Thinning the Ranks:
- Whistle Lures: Use whistling from cover to lure individual guards away from the main group and perform silent assassinations.
- Environmental Kills: Look for opportunities to use environmental objects. For example, there might be explosive barrels near groups of guards, or hanging crates that can be dropped.
- Rope Darts/Bow: If you have unlocked the Rope Dart or Bow, these can be excellent tools for silently eliminating guards from a distance, especially those on higher platforms or isolated patrols.
- Targeting Johnson: Once a significant number of guards have been eliminated or distracted, look for an opening to approach Johnson.
- Air Assassination: If Johnson is positioned below a suitable ledge or mast, an air assassination is the most direct and satisfying method.
- Corner Assassination: If he patrols near cover, a corner assassination can be executed.
- Blend Assassination: In some scenarios, if the crowd is dense enough or you've thinned enough guards, you might be able to blend and walk up to him for a low-profile kill.
2. Direct Combat (If Stealth Fails or Preferred)
If stealth is not an option or you prefer a more direct confrontation, be prepared for a challenging melee. Connor's combat system is robust, and mastering it is key.
- Prioritize Guards: Johnson himself is not the biggest threat initially; his guards are. Focus on eliminating the Redcoats first to reduce the incoming damage and allow you to concentrate on Johnson.
- Combat Techniques:
- Counter-Attacks: This is your bread and butter. Wait for an enemy to attack, press the counter button, and then follow up with a disarm, kill, or throw.
- Disarms: Particularly effective against heavily armored enemies or those with powerful weapons. Disarming an enemy often leaves them vulnerable and provides you with a superior weapon.
- Environmental Kills: Look for opportunities to use the environment to your advantage. Pushing enemies into water, onto spikes, or against walls can result in instant kills.
- Tools:
- Smoke Bombs: Invaluable for crowd control. Throw a smoke bomb to stun a group of enemies, allowing you to perform quick assassinations or escape to regroup.
- Pistol/Bow: Use your ranged weapons to thin out distant enemies or quickly dispatch weakened foes.
- Rope Dart: Can be used to hang enemies from environmental objects, instantly removing them from the fight.
- Fighting William Johnson:
- Attack Patterns: Johnson typically uses standard sword attacks. He can be countered and disarmed like other elite enemies. He may also attempt to fire a pistol if you create distance.
- Weaknesses: He has no unique weaknesses beyond standard combat vulnerabilities. Focus on parrying his attacks and following up with your own combos or disarms. Once his guards are dealt with, he becomes much easier to manage.
- Finishing Move: Once his health is sufficiently depleted, a prompt for a finishing move will appear, allowing Connor to execute the assassination.
Recommended Loadout & Skills:
- Weapons: Your preferred Tomahawk or Sword, and the Hidden Blades. A Pistol and Bow are highly recommended for ranged options.
- Tools: Smoke Bombs are crucial for crowd control. Rope Darts are excellent for stealthy eliminations or environmental kills.
- Skills: Ensure you have unlocked and are proficient with advanced counter-attacks, disarms, and tool usage.
Rewards for Eliminating William Johnson:
- Story Progression: Completes Sequence 6, Memory 2: "The Tea Party."
- XP: Standard experience points for completing a main memory.
- Money: A small amount of currency.
- Satisfaction: The knowledge that another Templar agent has been dealt with.
By following these detailed strategies, you will successfully navigate the chase and eliminate William Johnson, bringing Connor one step closer to uncovering the Templar conspiracy and securing liberty for the colonies.