William of Montferrat Boss Strategy
William of Montferrat, encountered in the besieged city of Acre, is a heavily armored Templar who emphasizes brute force and area denial. William wields a massive warhammer, capable of delivering devastating blows that can stun Altaïr and leave him vulnerable. His attacks are slow but have a wide reach and can shatter your guard if you attempt to block them directly. The primary strategy here is to exploit the openings after his heavy swings and to avoid his ground-shattering stomp attack.
William's attack patterns are characterized by powerful, telegraphed swings of his warhammer. He will often perform a series of two or three swings before pausing. During these pauses, you have a window to land 1-2 hits with the Hidden Blade. However, it is crucial not to overcommit, as he can quickly transition into another attack. His most dangerous move is a powerful stomp that creates a shockwave, dealing damage in a radius around him. This attack has a distinct wind-up where he raises his hammer high. When you see this, immediately Dodge away from him to avoid the area-of-effect damage. Failing to dodge this stomp can result in sificant health loss and a prolonged stun.
The environment in Acre offers some limited cover, but William's warhammer can easily destroy it. Therefore, relying on environmental cover for prolonged periods is not advisable. Instead, focus on agile movement and precise timing. The Counter-Attack ability is highly effective against William if timed correctly after a parry, but parrying his hammer blows can be challenging due to their speed and power. If you are struggling with parries, focus on dodging. The Throwing Knives can be used to interrupt his slower attacks or to draw his attention, but they do minimal damage. It is more effective to use them to create an opening for melee engagement. Remember that William has a substantial health pool, so this fight requires patience and consistent execution of your chosen strategy. Avoid getting greedy with your attacks; prioritize landing safe hits and evading his powerful blows. Successfully defeating William of Montferrat is a sificant step in your mission within Acre.