Gameplay Basics

Mastering the streets of revolutionary Paris requires more than just a hidden blade. This section will guide you through the fundamental mechanics of Assassin's Creed Unity, from navigating its intricate urban landscape to engaging in its nuanced combat and stealth systems.

Movement & Navigation

Arno's parkour abilities are your primary tool for traversing Paris efficiently and stealthily. Understanding the two distinct parkour modes is crucial:

Parkour Up: Hold R2 (PS4) / RT (Xbox One) + Left Stick Up. This mode prioritizes ascending structures. Use it to quickly scale buildings, climb over obstacles, and reach rooftops. Be mindful of your surroundings; blindly holding Parkour Up can sometimes lead you to unintended heights or exposed positions.
Parkour Down: Hold R2 (PS4) / RT (Xbox One) + Circle (PS4) / B (Xbox One) + Left Stick Down. This mode focuses on controlled descents. It allows Arno to fluidly drop down ledges, slide under obstacles, and navigate downwards without taking fall damage. This is essential for quick escapes and maintaining stealth from above.
Free Run: Simply holding R2 (PS4) / RT (Xbox One) allows Arno to automatically vault over small obstacles and navigate the environment with less direct input. While convenient, it offers less control than dedicated Parkour Up/Down.

Pro-Tip: Practice fluid transitions between Parkour Up and Down. A common strategy for quick vertical movement is to use Parkour Up to reach a vantage point, then immediately switch to Parkour Down to drop into a target area or escape pursuit.

Notoriety & Stealth

Your actions in Paris directly impact your notoriety. High notoriety attracts more attention from guards and makes stealth more challenging. Conversely, maintaining a low profile is key to successful assassinations and avoiding unnecessary conflict.

Stealth Mode: Press X (PS4) / A (Xbox One) to enter stealth mode. Arno will crouch, making him less visible and audible. This is your default state for infiltration and close-quarters stealth.
Cover System: While in stealth, approach cover (walls, carts, bushes) and press X (PS4) / A (Xbox One) to snap to it. This provides concealment and allows for silent takedowns around corners.
Last Known Position: When detected, a white outline of Arno will appear at your last known location. Guards will investigate this spot. Use this to your advantage by moving to a new position and ambushing them, or by creating a diversion.
Hiding Spots: Utilize hay carts, crowds, and benches to disappear from enemy sight. Blending into crowds is particularly effective in busy areas like the Notre Dame Plaza or the Luxembourg Gardens.
Reducing Notoriety:
- Tearing Down Wanted Posters: Look for red posters plastered on walls throughout the city. Interacting with them will reduce your notoriety slightly.
- Bribing Heralds: Heralds can be found in various districts. Paying them a small sum of Livres will significantly decrease your notoriety.
- Completing Missions Stealthily: Successfully completing missions without being detected often rewards you with a lower notoriety increase.

Assassination & Combat

Combat in Unity is more challenging and less forgiving than previous titles. Direct confrontation should often be a last resort. Prioritize stealth assassinations whenever possible.

Stealth Assassinations

Hidden Blade: Your primary tool for silent takedowns. Approach an unsuspecting enemy from behind, above, or from cover and press Square (PS4) / X (Xbox One) when prompted.
Air Assassination: From a vantage point above an enemy, press Square (PS4) / X (Xbox One) to perform a devastating air attack.
Cover Assassination: While snapped to cover, wait for an enemy to patrol near your position and press Square (PS4) / X (Xbox One) for a silent pull-down or corner kill.
Double Assassination: With the appropriate skill unlocked (found in the "Stealth" skill tree), you can assassinate two nearby enemies simultaneously. This is invaluable for clearing patrol routes.

Open Combat

If stealth fails, you'll need to engage in open combat. Remember, being outnumbered is a death sentence.

Parry: Press Circle (PS4) / B (Xbox One) just as an enemy attack connects. A successful parry will stagger the enemy, opening them up for a counter-attack. This is crucial for surviving against multiple foes.
Dodge: Hold X (PS4) / A (Xbox One) and move the Left Stick to dodge incoming attacks. Useful for avoiding unblockable heavy attacks or creating distance.
Attack: Press Square (PS4) / X (Xbox One) to perform light attacks. Hold Square (PS4) / X (Xbox One) for heavy attacks that can break enemy guards.
Smoke Bombs: These are your best friend in open combat. Throwing a Smoke Bomb (R1 (PS4) / RB (Xbox One) with the item selected) will stun nearby enemies, allowing you to escape, perform quick assassinations, or reposition. Always carry a full stock!
Pistol: Equip your pistol (L1 (PS4) / LB (Xbox One) to cycle weapons) and aim with L2 (PS4) / LT (Xbox One), then fire with R2 (PS4) / RT (Xbox One). Useful for picking off ranged enemies or finishing off weakened foes.

Crowd Events

Paris is a living, breathing city, and its citizens often require assistance. Random Crowd Events will pop up on your map, marked by a white diamond icon. These are quick, optional encounters that can reward you with Livres, Sync Points, and reputation.

Types of Events:
- Thieves: Chase down and tackle a thief who has stolen from a civilian.
- Aggressors: Intervene in a fight and defeat a group of thugs harassing a citizen.
- Arrests: Free a civilian being unjustly arrested by guards.
- Escorts: Protect a civilian as they travel to a designated safe zone.
Strategy: Crowd Events are excellent for early-game income and for practicing your combat and parkour skills. Prioritize those that involve combat if you need to hone your parrying, or chase events if you want to improve your free-running.