Assassin Recruits
As you progress through the tumultuous American Revolution in Assassin's Creed III, you won't fight alone. Connor Kenway has the opportunity to recruit and train a dedicated brotherhood of assassins. These Assassin Recruits are invaluable allies, capable of turning the tide of even the most overwhelming encounters. By strategically deploying them, you can thin enemy ranks, create diversions, and execute synchronized assassinations that would be impossible alone.
Recruiting Your Brotherhood
Recruits are gained by completing specific Liberation Missions within the various districts of Boston and New York. Each district has a set of tasks, usually involving eliminating Templar sympathizers, disrupting British operations, or aiding distressed citizens. Once all Liberation Missions in a district are complete, a final Liberation Contact mission will appear, leading to the recruitment of a new assassin.
Boston Liberation Missions:
- North Boston: Complete all tasks to recruit Clipper Wilkinson.
- Central Boston: Complete all tasks to recruit Duncan Little.
- South Boston: Complete all tasks to recruit Stephane Chapheau.
New York Liberation Missions:
- North New York: Complete all tasks to recruit Dobby Carter.
- East New York: Complete all tasks to recruit Jacob Zenger.
- West New York: Complete all tasks to recruit Jamie Colley.
Common Pitfall: Ensure you check your map frequently for the Liberation Mission icons (a white fist on a black background). Some missions only appear after progressing further in the main story or completing other district activities. Don't rush; take your time to explore and complete these side objectives.
The Recruit Leveling System
Your Assassin Recruits are not static companions; they grow in power and utility as they gain experience. This is achieved primarily by sending them on Assassin Contracts via the Pigeon Coops found in various locations (e.g., Homestead, Boston, New York, Frontier). Each successful contract earns them experience points (XP).
There are 11 Ranks for each recruit, starting from Rank 1 (Novice) up to Rank 11 (Assassin). As they level up, their effectiveness in combat increases, and they unlock powerful new abilities that significantly expand your tactical options.
Gaining Experience:
- Assassin Contracts: This is the primary method. Access a Pigeon Coop, select "Assassin Contracts," and choose a mission. Each contract has a difficulty rating, a success chance percentage (influenced by recruit level), and an XP reward.
- In-Mission Support: While recruits gain a small amount of XP for successful deployments during main missions or open-world combat, this is negligible compared to contracts.
Strategy Tip: Prioritize sending recruits on contracts that offer a high success chance (ideally 90%+) to minimize failure and wasted time. As recruits level up, their success chance on harder missions will naturally increase. Don't be afraid to send multiple recruits on a single contract if it boosts the success chance significantly.
Recruit Abilities: Unlocking and Utilizing
Each recruit, regardless of their individual personality, unlocks the same set of abilities at specific rank milestones. These abilities are accessed through Connor's Assassin Signal (default: L1/LB on console, 'T' on PC). The more recruits you have and the higher their rank, the more versatile your toolkit becomes.
| Rank Unlocked | Ability Name | Description | Usage & Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank 1: Novice | Covert Assassination | A single recruit will silently assassinate a targeted enemy. | Ideal for eliminating isolated sentries or thinning patrols without alerting others. Essential for stealth approaches. |
| Rank 2: Apprentice | Bodyguard | A single recruit will engage a targeted enemy in open combat, distracting them. | Useful for drawing attention away from Connor, creating openings for assassinations, or breaking enemy formations. |
| Rank 3: Journeyman | Ambush | Two recruits will emerge from cover to assassinate two targeted enemies simultaneously. | Excellent for clearing pairs of guards or eliminating high-priority targets guarded by an accomplice. |
| Rank 4: Adept | Diversion | A group of recruits will create a large distraction, drawing all nearby enemies to their location. | Perfect for escaping pursuit, creating a clear path through heavily guarded areas, or setting up large-scale ambushes. |
| Rank 5: Expert | Arrow Storm | Recruits will unleash a volley of arrows, targeting multiple enemies in a designated area. | Devastating against groups of ranged enemies (e.g., grenadiers, jagers on rooftops) or to soften up large formations before engaging. |
| Rank 6: Master | Rope Dart Assassination | A single recruit will use a rope dart to pull a targeted enemy into cover for a silent kill. | Similar to Covert Assassination but can be used on enemies in slightly more open areas, pulling them into bushes or haystacks. |
| Rank 7: Veteran | Group Assassination | Multiple recruits will perform synchronized assassinations on all targeted enemies within range. | The ultimate stealth tool. Can clear entire patrols or small groups of enemies in an instant. Requires careful targeting. |
| Rank 8: Elite | Musket Volley | Recruits will fire a coordinated musket volley at a group of enemies, often staggering or killing them. | Effective against tightly packed groups, especially those vulnerable to firearms. Can interrupt enemy attacks. |
| Rank 9: Champion | Explosive Barrel Drop | Recruits will drop an explosive barrel onto a targeted area, causing damage and chaos. | Excellent for clearing large groups, destroying obstacles, or creating environmental hazards. High damage potential. |
| Rank 10: Legendary | Reinforcements | Additional recruits will join the fray, increasing the number of available assassins for other abilities. | Boosts the effectiveness of all other group-based abilities, allowing for larger-scale assassinations and diversions. |
| Rank 11: Assassin | Call All Assassins | All available recruits will engage in a massive, coordinated attack on all visible enemies. | Your ultimate panic button or grand finale. Clears entire areas of enemies, leaving Connor to mop up any stragglers. |
Actionable Tip: To effectively use these abilities, always scout your environment. Identify high-value targets (Officers, Jagers, Grenadiers), patrol routes, and enemy concentrations. Use your Eagle Vision to tag enemies, making them easier targets for your recruits.
Managing Your Recruits: Common Pitfalls and Best Practices
- Don't Forget Contracts: It's easy to get caught up in the main story and forget about sending recruits on contracts. Make it a habit to check Pigeon Coops regularly, especially after completing a few main missions.
- Prioritize High-XP Contracts: Look for contracts that offer higher XP rewards, even if they have a slightly lower success chance (as long as it's still above 80-85%).
- Balance Recruit Levels: While it's tempting to power-level one recruit, try to keep all your recruits at a similar level. This ensures you always have a strong pool of assassins for any situation.
- Utilize the Map: The world map will show you the locations of Pigeon Coops. Fast travel to them to quickly manage your contracts.
- Recruit Limit: You can recruit a maximum of six assassins (three from Boston, three from New York). There are no additional recruits beyond these six.
- Cost of Failure: While recruits don't permanently die, a failed contract means they won't gain XP and you'll miss out on the reward. Always aim for high success chances.
- Strategic Deployment: Don't just spam abilities. Consider the enemy type and situation. A Covert Assassination is better for a lone sentry, while an Arrow Storm is perfect for rooftop snipers.
Mastering your Assassin Recruits transforms Connor from a formidable warrior into the leader of a deadly brotherhood, providing unparalleled tactical depth and making even the most challenging encounters manageable.