The 10 DARKEST Moments In Assassin's Creed Games
Phoibe's Death
“Assassin's Creed: Odyssey” (2018) Our first entry on this list is also the earliest–and for it we go back to 429 BCE with the death of a young protege. For Phoibe, the misthios Kassandra was a true hero. She wanted to be around her all of the time, and follow in Kassandra’s footsteps to become a Misthios herself. Her interactions are highlights in the game for their humour and upbeat nature. But the brighter character (which is ironically the meaning of Phoibe’s name) makes for a darker moment later. Her murder is a fixed point in the usually RPG style of narrative. meaning it can't be avoided–and reminds Kassandra of revenge. Phoibe appears once more, in the underworld, and the sadness begins again…
Basim Returns
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“Assassin's Creed: Valhalla” (2020) Basim Ibn Ishaq is an old-school Hidden One, who’s design invokes more than a few memories of Altair. With his uniquely dark voice, and his mysterious aura, Basim is a character that players enjoy getting to know throughout “Valhalla.” But as it turns out, he is a Sage–a reincarnation of Loki–and had been taken over by the Isu consciousness. His betrayal of Eivor and Sigurd should have been his end, but Loki/Basim survived and summoned the modern Assassins to his tomb. His return through the restorative powers of the Staff of Hermes came at Layla's expense, and now an Isu consciousness exists in the present day. The last we see of him, he is on his way to William Miles himself.
Mary Read Succumbs to Illness
“Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag” (2013) Initially posing as James Kidd, the illegitimate son of William, it becomes apparent very quickly that there is something about Mary Read. Her crossdressing is purely to guarantee a place in the fight against the Templars, a one which ultimately costs her her life. Having given birth in prison, an incarcerated Mary falls seriously ill. When Edward Kenway arrives to rescue her, it is just too late. As Mary goes from leaning, to being carried; the sense of hopelessness grows until she finally asks Edward to put her down. Despite pleas, Mary gives up the ghost and dies mere steps away from freedom, but assuring her friend that she'll be with him.
Al Mualim Betrays Masyaf
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“Assassin's Creed” (2007) The first big bad of Assassin's Creed was also the first big betrayal. Much of the original “Assassin’s Creed” is spent seeking advice and talking philosophy with 12th Century Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins leader Rashid ad-din Sinan–otherwise known as Al Mualim: The Mentor. His assimilation of the mind controlling Apple of Eden turns Al Mualim against his ideals and he brainwashes his assassins into doing his bidding. He then attempts to lay waste to the hometown of Masyaf, but is unable to overcome protagonist Altaïr –who is forced to kill his father figure and stop him from controlling the world with his treasured Isu tech.
Élise Dies
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“Assassin's Creed Unity” (2014) A rare instance of a bridge built between the Assassins and their Templar enemies came through the young love of Arno Dorrian and Élise de la Serre. However, the differences are apparent in their approach to pacify antagonist Germain, who fell into possession of the Sword of Eden. With Arno stuck under rubble, Élise goes after their enemy alone, but receives the full force of its Isu power, killing her. Despite being feet away, Arno is unable to save her, and she dies without getting to say goodbye. Without her love, Arno devotes himself fully to the Assassin's Creed–and heads up the Paris Brotherhood, alone.
Desmond's Sacrifice
“Assassin's Creed III” (2012) Though it was building for five games, Desmond Miles' most heroic act would be his last. As the world was threatened with a solar flare–of which similar occurrences had destroyed the pre-human civilisation Isu population–Desmond stepped up. The series protagonist had come a long way from bartending at the Bad Weather nightclub–through to living his ancestors' memories and wielding the Apple of Eden. But to save the world with tech that the Isu left behind, he would have to sacrifice himself–and release the malevolent Juno too. It was a small price to pay in Desmond’s eyes–and although part of him lives on within the Grey as ‘The Reader’ Desmond’s death was shocking.
The Auditores Are Executed
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“Assassin's Creed II” (2009) The moment that took the Assassin's Creed games down an unexpected path is arguably that of the Auditore Family being framed–and subsequently executed–in front of new protagonist Ezio's eyes. As an Assassin, the family patriarch Giovanni is set up by his Templar enemies for uncovering the Pazzi conspiracy, but all the male members are to pay the price. With Ezio elsewhere, they are arrested and taken away. The family are all fun characters within the narrative, providing a much needed levity from the seriousness of the first game. The deaths of the warm Giovanni and amusing brothers Federico and Petruccio start Ezio on his quest for vengeance, and players feel the shock of the execution.
Lucy's Death & Betrayal
“Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood” (2010) & “Assassin's Creed III” (2012) From the moment we meet her, Lucy Stillman is a light-hearted relief for Desmond Miles–and doesn’t seem to be the typical Abstergo antagonist. It’s quite a relief when she busts Desmond out of the facility at the beginning of the second game, establishing her as one of the good guys. Except, sadly–she isn’t, and is in fact a triple agent. Though he later admitted some knowledge in his actions, the Isu entity of Juno showed Desmond that Lucy Stillman was a traitor and controlled him into using his hidden blade to assassinate her, before shutting him down before he can explain himself.
The Lisbon Earthquake
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“Assassin's Creed: Rogue” (2014) There has always been an element of Indiana Jones-esque tomb-raiding in the Assassin’s Creed series, from Altair finding the Apple of Eden, to Ezio discovering his resting place. Whilst it seemed that controlling Shay McCormick to find an artifact in Portugal was more of the same, it had very surprising consequences. In retrieving Isu Technology, McCormick triggers an earthquake that (in actual historical records) left 30,000 people dead. Whilst he escaped with the artifact, the tragedy turned Shay against the Assassins, and he would seek revenge against his order.
Khemu's Fate
“Assassin's Creed: Origins” (2017) From his entrance in the game, Bayek of Siwa is not presented as a typical assassin–bound to his creed and unafraid to take a life. Instead, players find that they are controlling a family man, who has a more positive air about him. His interactions with his son Khemu are testament to his unique brightness. All that changes very quickly, though. Despite being unintentional, stabbing his own son forced Bayek onto a path of vengeance and sadness that only he could navigate. And whilst the story details the start of the Assassins, players are consistently reminded of the Medji's pain–and it is apparent that the Assassin’s Creed was born out of pain and darkness.
