10 Best Assassin's Creed Characters, Ranked

Over the years since its initial release in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed series has churned out numerous games, each featuring distinct settings and fresh sets of characters. Given the abundance of heroes and villains across various continents and centuries, it’s challenging to single out a specific character as the franchise’s central protagonist or symbol in the future.

Instead, numerous characters with unique legacies will propel the saga of Assassin’s Creed into the future. Each character embodies a different playstyle, visual aesthetic, and mood, offering a diverse range that rivals any collection. Given criticisms about the series being repetitive, its memorable characters are as varied as they come. With such a multitude of individual personas to select from, those whose legacy and influence will resonate with the franchise for years to come are the most outstanding.

10. Amunet

What All Assassins Aspire To

In the world of “Assassin’s Creed Origins”, Aya is widely recognized as Bayek’s wife and one of the founders of the Hidden Ones. However, by the game’s conclusion, Aya transforms into Amunet, a name that symbolizes her character’s evolving role within the game and beyond, shifting more towards being a symbol rather than an assassin.

In the Assassin’s Creed series, Amunet or Aya has been a representation of its deep historical roots, dating back to Assassin’s Creed II where her assassination of Cleopatra is mentioned as the first major feat by the Brotherhood. Although she was only playable for a limited number of missions in Origins, Amunet has held significant importance within the series since close to its inception. She embodies the crucial role that female assassins have played in a world that often portrays a predominantly male environment.

9. Odin

The Series Lets Players Get Godly

In the narrative of “Assassin’s Creed”, Odin is portrayed living two lives and meeting a death on two occasions – initially as the Isu (Ancient Civilization) character Odin and later as the Viking assassin known as Eivor. Despite his demise, the impact of Odin remains inestimable due to the significance he holds for future player-controlled characters.

In a distinctive turn, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla stands out as it centers its DLC around a playable Isu figure, specifically Odin. Although Eivor experiences him through visions, it’s unveiled that she is his reborn form, making Odin’s narrative tangible within the game. Future DLC are planned to maintain this pattern by allowing players to embody Isu/gods, thereby expanding the series’ possibilities more than any single character has before.

8. Basim Ibn Ishaq

A New Way To Build Stories

In the game “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla”, Basim exhibits many similarities with Eivor, as they are both Scandinavian reincarnations of the Isu, taking on human forms as assassins. However, unlike Eivor, Basim is a malevolent, cunning antagonist whose narrative spans multiple games, hinting at potential future revelations.

In most games within the franchise, main characters explore their ancestry by accessing genetic memories through an Animus, connecting them in a common family tree. However, Basim, also known as Loki, offers a fresh method to intertwine narratives using technological resurrection. For example, Basim’s tale in Valhalla and Mirage presents the opportunity for future games to bypass the Kenways and Auditores and instead focus on whatever Isu lineage and reincarnation they prefer.

7. Ezio Auditore da Firenze

The Undisputed Face Of The Games

Ezio from ‘Assassin’s Creed’ stands out as one of the characters most loved by players due to his extensive screen time and character development, second only to Altaïr. However, what truly makes Ezio emblematic of the franchise is his role as its recognizable face, a position he has maintained up until now.

At this stage, Ezio has essentially become identified with the very essence of “Assassin’s Creed.” He is frequently chosen for collaborations, like his appearances in “Soulcalibur V” and “Fortnite,” and it will take Ubisoft some time to separate his influence from the overall legacy of the series.

6. Edward Kenway

A Funnier, More Complex Protagonist

For years, enthusiasts had been eagerly anticipating a swashbuckling pirate-themed Assassin’s Creed game, and fortunately, Black Flag met those expectations splendidly. At the heart of this success is Edward Kenway, a character who serves not only as a pirate assassin but also marks a significant change in the series’ tone towards playful and innovative directions.

Among all the games in the series, Black Flag has undeniably sparked the most enduring desire among fans for a remastered version, with Edward being a significant factor fueling this ongoing enthusiasm. In a way, Edward serves as a connection or junction point for the games, linking the older European titles to their more recent, globally-focused counterparts, since he’s one of the rare characters who spans both eras.

5. Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad

Defined The Role Of Assassin

The Assassin’s Creed series spans various settings, eras, and cultural landscapes, making it exceptionally rich in content. However, managing this diversity carefully is crucial to maintain a long-lasting franchise, as an overabundance could potentially lead to confusion or dissatisfaction among fans. Notably, the first protagonist that many fans are drawn to is Altaïr.

Apart from being the initial playable assassin, Altair stands out among a select few who have their own separate spin-offs. Ubisoft devotes more screen time to Altair than possibly any other series hero, and this is reinforced when considering the abundance of promotional materials showcasing his image and the numerous games that offer his distinctive robes as an unlockable feature.

4. Desmond Miles

The Heart Of The Ancestry Years

Despite varied opinions about the contemporary sections of the game since its inception, it’s clear that these segments link all the games together and remind players of the broader narrative. It’s unlikely that Ubisoft will discard the structure of ancestral memories in the future, if at all, suggesting that Desmond Miles, their most renowned character, continues to play a crucial role in the story.

In essence, Desmond serves as the central character in the initial narrative of the Assassin’s Creed series, representing the lineage-focused stories. Although his story arc has been resolved, future narratives aiming to tie up loose ends and create a cohesive whole will likely involve references to Desmond and his ancestry.

3. Kassandra

A Millenia-Long Puppet-Master

In the finale of “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey,” it’s suggested that Spartan assassin Kassandra has been a significant and hidden figure across nearly every game and series storyline. If true, she could be the most crucial character canonically, not just in the game world but potentially in reality as well. With the Staff of Hermes and her lineage from the Isu, Kassandra lived for over 2,500 years, amassing a record-breaking collection of achievements during this time.

Despite meeting her end within the confines of her game, Kassandra successfully alters the stories of both “Origins” and “Valhalla”, as well as propels the larger Isu narrative towards its conclusion. Beyond the virtual world, she has garnered a devoted fanbase, hinting at potential future appearances based on her enduring popularity and significant storyline influence.

2. Yasuke

A Fresh New Style Of Play

For individuals who’ve experienced “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, it becomes evident right away that Yasuke stands out as an extraordinary protagonist compared to those previously introduced in the series. Not only does he find himself in unfamiliar waters within his own narrative, but he also stands out among the franchise’s playable characters, being a unique case. Unlike his covert counterparts, Yasuke embodies more of a tank-like character, and his gameplay style could potentially pave the way for future games to explore new directions.

Considering Ubisoft’s current focus on multiple protagonists in their titles, it seems that Yasuke’s unique gameplay style might be indicative of a more collaborative approach for upcoming games, featuring specialized team members rather than interchangeable assassins. Plus, being one of the rare main characters in the Assassin’s Creed series to be based on an actual historical figure, Yasuke could bring a sense of authenticity and depth to future storylines.

1. Fujibayashi Naoe

The Most Natural Assassin

In terms of the Assassin’s Creed series, Assassin’s Creed Shadows appears to be the installment that feels most authentic and suitable. Starting with the early games set during the Crusades and featuring the Knights Templar, moving through Valhalla and its focus on Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, none of these settings and characters have seemed to align perfectly with the parkour, stealth, and assassination gameplay until we reach the shinobi/ninja character in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Among all potential characters, Naoe stands out as the most suitable fit for the distinctive gameplay, aesthetic, and atmosphere of the Assassin’s Creed series, with Japan’s Warring States era serving as an ideal backdrop to emphasize these aspects. Although she doesn’t have the same renown as earlier figures such as Altair and Ezio, Naoe is captivating, youthful, and perfectly encapsulates the essence of Assassin’s Creed, positioning her as a promising ambassador for the franchise in the future.

2025-03-27 07:22

10 Best Assassin’s Creed Characters, Ranked