Monday, October 18, 2021

Assassin's Creed Unity - Before you play Cheat Sheet

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Assassin's Creed Unity: Comprehensive Player's Cheat Sheet By gerharar The goal of this guide is to provide a concise "before you play" overview with key gameplay and progression points. This guide should be most helpful for people like me who're playing through all Assassin's Creed games in chronological order for the first time, focusing on the story and aiming at full game completion. Intro The goal of this guide is to provide a concise "before you play" overview with key gameplay and progression points. This guide should be most helpful for people like me who're playing through all Assassin's Creed games in chronological order for the first time, focusing on the story and aiming at full game completion. Why I made this guide: there's a lot of information about AC games on the web, but it's either scattered through message board posts or spread over long-winded walkthroughs. My guide aims to remedy this -- it collects all information that I deemed important to know before playing the game. I avoided spoilers or details like "how do I complete this mission". If you're stuck, Google/Youtube the solution. What this guide is: Overview of available game content with progression details Key gameplay changes compared to the previous game in the franchise Hints & tips for comfortable gameplay experience What this guide isn't: It's not a walkthrough of specific missions It's not a full gameplay tutorial It's not a lore guide I will be using Xbox controller mappings for reference, since the game is best played with a controller (as is the case with all Assassin's Creed games). Game Content / DLCs Base game now includes the following content for free: Underground Armory Pack -- no story content, 2 gear items, 2 outfits, 5 weapons Dead Kings DLC -- story expansion Content purchased separately: Revolutionary Armaments Pack -- no story content, six weapons. Skip Secrets Of The Revolution Pack -- 3 extra missions, 6 gear items, 8 weapons. Buy for the missions Content purchased via Helix credits: Helix credits are in-game currency purchased for real money You can use Helix credits to buy and upgrade gear, get time-limited boosts (melee, health, stealth), and acquire four time saver packs Time saver packs will show the following things on the map once it's revealed through a viewpoint: Paris Stories map Murder Mysteries map Cockades & Chests map Nostradamus Enigma map Buy time saver packs if you want convenience. Small Helix credits pack (500H) should be enough to buy all four time saver packs (150Hx4=600H), given that you'll have some gratis Helix credits from the start Note: time saver packs do not apply to Dead Kings DLC. You will need to explore the DLC map yourself or find it online Using Helix credits to buy and upgrade gear or get time-limited boosts is not required for game completion Technical Issues Issue: Using DualShock 4 v2 controller with DS4Windows causes an issue where Arno regularly drops smoke bombs whenever your press R1 (High Profile) Solution: Exit DS4Windows Open game config file (ACU.ini) and replace the bindings under the [Wireless Controller DefaultBindings] section with the corresponding bindings from https://pastebin.com/TgrSQdhQ Progression Sequence Main story: complete Sequences 1 & 2 Purchase all four time saver packs Unlock Cafe Theatre hideout Purchase lockpicking lvl 1 Complete all available side content: unlock chests, gather collectibles, purchase Cafe Theatre renovations, complete side missions Travel to Versailles to unlock all chests and collectibles there Main story: complete Sequence 3 Complete the first 2 Helix Rifts Main story: complete Sequence 4 Complete Marquis De Sade side missions & "The Body In The Brothel" Murder Mystery Main story: complete Sequence 5 Purchase lockpicking lvl 2. Note: I recommend skipping lvl 2 chests now until you have lockpicking lvl 3 to avoid combing the whole map for the third time Main story: complete Sequences 6 & 7 Complete the second 3 Helix Rifts Complete Sequence 8 Complete the final bunch of Paris Memories missions Complete Sequence 9 Purchase lockpicking lvl 3 Complete the rest of available side content: unlock lvl 2 & lvl 3 chests, gather leftover collectibles, collect leftover sync points from coop side missions, complete "The Red Ghost of the Tuileries" Murder Mystery Complete Sequences 10 & 11 Complete the last 2 Helix Rifts Complete Sequence 12 to finish the main game Travel to Franciade to start Sequence 13 (Dead Kings DLC) and complete the first 4 Memories Complete all DLC side content: unlock chests, gather collectibles, complete side missions, free outposts Complete the last 2 Memories of Sequence 13 Gameplay & World: Changes What's changed since Assassin's Creed: Rogue? (Note: this is not an exhaustive list) Things changed Assassin's Creed Unity uses a new game engine (AnvilNext 2.0), so there are a lot of major and minor changes Both combat and parkour systems were heavily redesigned, you will have to re-learn both (treat it as a new game, not a sequel that's only slightly different) New set of combat and parkour animations Control scheme is changed Certain actions are now mapped to different buttons (for example, Eagle Vision) Dedicated stealth button Dedicated cover button Dedicated control for free run up Dedicated control for free run down To make screenshots, hide the interface ("camera mode") by pressing and holding your RS Missing health does not regenerate, you'll need to use medicine for healing Eagle Vision is now working like a temporary buff You can now use Eagle Vision in High Profile Enemies will no longer parkour after you if you climb a building -- they will try shooting you instead Things added Enemies, areas, and gear now have levels (1 to 5+) District (area) levels indicate the level of enemies there Several types of weapons are (re)introduced: Melee: One-handed weapons (swords, etc) Long weapons (halberds, etc) Heavy (axes, etc) Ranged: Pistols Rifles Mixed: Guillotine guns Mix of grenade launcher + heavy melee Take up both melee and ranged slots Acquired in Dead Kings DLC Armor is (re)introduced: Hood Chest Bracers Waist Legs Weapons and armor can be upgraded Skill system is introduced Skills unlock assassin abilities (like Double Assassination) and certain items/gadgets (like Bombs: Money Pouch) You can now refill all consumables in one go at a vendor New types of side missions, collectibles, and activities In-game currency purchased for real money (Helix Credits) is added Things removed No whistling to lure enemies No ships, no ship combat, no naval missions No optional minigames No sleeping darts No kill streaks Certain types of side missions, collectibles, and activities were removed Cannot pick up enemy weapons anymore Cannot pick up, move, and hide bodies anymore
Gameplay & World: Economy There are four types of currency: Livres (F) Earned: Looting enemies & chests Completing missions Passive Cafe Theatre chest income Spent: Purchasing gear Purchasing consumables Sync points (A) Earned: Completing main missions Collecting sync points in co-op missions Spent: Skills Creed Points (/A) Earned: Performing "assassin" actions like vanishing, air assasinating enemies, or using a fast lift Spent: Upgrading gear Helix Credits (H) Earned: [In-game eStore (need real money) Limited amount is provided at the start and after reaching certain main story points Spent: Time saver packs Boosts (melee, health, stealth) Standard boost lasts 3 minutes Premium boost lasts 5 minutes Purchasing gear Upgrading gear After Cafe Theatre is unlocked, you gain access to a chest that provides you with passive income Income capacity is limited. It can be increased by completing 5 Cafe Theatre missions, purchasing 5 Cafe Theatre renovations, and purchasing 7 Social Clubs You receive 1/4th of your total income capacity every 20 minutes. Maximizing your passive income will net you 10798F each 20 minutes with total chest capacity of 43192F that's reached in 80 minutes. Time passes by even when you are in the pause menu or looking at the map Medicine cost scales with your health skills With all health skills maxed out, 1 medicine costs 2500F Try looting the corpses if you don't want to spend too much money on medicine Gameplay & World: Combat Combat is more methodical and harder than in previous games Button mashing will quickly get you killed There are no more kill streaks Multiple enemies can attack you very quickly, not allowing you to build up a combo streak or finish an opponent If enemy puts you on the ground, they can ground execute you, removing a lot of your health Hit Parry as soon as enemy health bar is flashing red Hitting Parry when enemy health bar is flashing yellow results in perfect parry which break down enemy's guard, allowing you to immediately go on offensive You can cancel your attack animations at any time to parry incoming strikes by hitting Parry button Hit Dodge as soon as you see a red gunsight icon flashing to avoid getting shot If enemy health bar is blinking, hold X to kill them If there's a big level difference between you and your opponent (~2 levels or more), higher level can one-shot lower-level (that includes you). Enemy types Soldiers Basic enemies with one-handed weapons No special abilities / weaknesses Strategy: Go on offensive Parry if they attack Brutes Slow powerful enemies with heavy weapons Have a strong attack that cannot be parried and will put you on the ground Cannot be parried, only blocked Immune to Staggering Strike Strategy: Go on offensive - they cannot block or dodge your attacks Block or roll away when they use standard attack, then retaliate Roll away or interrupt their strong attack with a quick strike or a shot Watchers Glass cannons with rifles and large detection radius Inflict a lot of damage Kill ASAP or break line of sight They can one-shot you if you don't have Thick Skin or high level armor Strategy: Kill first Go on offensive - they cannot block or dodge your attacks Dodge if they're shooting you Defenders Defense-focused enemies with long weapons Have a sweeping attack that cannot be parried and will put you on the ground Staggering Strike can be used only after parrying them Will parry all standard offense Strategy: Dodge their sweeping attack, then retaliate Break their guard with Strong Attack, then go on offensive Alternatively, parry their attacks, then go on offensive Seekers/Officers Advanced enemies with one-handed weapons, pistols, and bombs Attack in 2-3 hit combos, last hit can be parried Will use bombs if you're fighting other enemies Officers have strong attack that cannot be parried and will put you on the ground Will parry all standard offense Susceptible to Staggering Strike (second consecutive one will put them on the ground) Cannot be perfect parried Cannot be ground executed Will dodge your shots Can be shot after hitting them with staggering strike, parrying them, or putting them on the ground Strategy: Dodge officers' strong attack, then relatiate Use Eagle Vision if blinded by bomb Parry their combos, then retaliate Break their guard with Strong Attack, then go on offensive Gameplay & World: Parkour Arno's movements have more inertia, so parkour might not feel as responsive at first You can buffer your next movement Holding High Profile when running will genererally keep you on the same level Once you start climbing, you don't need to hold High Profile Free Run Up in High Profile (RT+A) will make you do the longest possible jumps and jump up whenever possible Free Run Down in High Profile (RT+B) will make Arno do the shortest possible jumps and jump down whenever possible When you need to free run down the building, you don't need to press a direction, Arno will climb down as long as you hold both Free Run Down and High Profile To enter a window from a ledge, press LB w/o any additional inputs (directional or other), when prompted Stealth button is a toggle, no need to keep it pressed Gameplay & World: Gear Buying new melee weapon is more important than buying new armor Don't bother upgrading your lower level armor, it's more effective to buy higher level armor Choose armor based on its level and skills it boosts Ignore "Melee / Health / Stealth / Ranged" indicators on armor, they don't apply these stats to armor -- they indicate the focus of the armor based on skills the armor boosts Recommended gear Melee: Eagle of Suger Eagle of Suger has a (post-upgrade) 30% chance of blinding enemies around you, so it's the best melee weapon in the game Focus on one-handed weapons instead of long or heavy weapons Ranged: Gold-plated pistol Focus on pistols instead of rifles Hood: Legendary Napoleonic Hood Legendary Sans-Culottes Hood has 5% more Eagle Vision Duration and a buff to Communal Sense skill (useless in single player), so it's preferred by many stealth-oriented players. I prefer Napoleonic Hood since it has 50% Eagle Vision Cooldown and 10 extra HP Chest: Legendary Sans-Culottes Coat Bracers: Legendary Military Bracers Waist: Legendary Phantom Belt Sans-Culottes or Military belts are also very good choices, depending on which tools you're using the most Legs: Legendary Sans-Culottes Trousers Outfit: all outfits are cosmetic
Gameplay & World: Skills Skills are unlocked (made available for purchase) in 3 batches: after finishing Sequences 2, 5, and 9. To purchase all skills, you need to finish all main sequences in the base game and gather all sync points from co-op missions Certain skills are considered special co-op skills: Disguise, Communal Sense, Assassin Cache, Group Healing Co-op skills take up a special co-op skill slot. You can only have one active co-op skill at a time (in a slot) Co-op skills affect other players in co-op missions After activation, these skills have a lengthy cooldown Most useful skills Lockpicking 3 different skills/levels (Apprentice, Journeyman, Master) Unlocks chests and many doors that can be used as a safe and quick shortcut in missions Lockpicking is not automatic and requires completing a minigame You can try lockpicking locks that have higher level than your lockpicking skill, but it will be very difficult to pull off since your gauge will travel too fast Ranged Weapon You cannot use a pistol without this skill Disguise Top co-op skill Top stealth skill Transforms you into another NPC for a limited amount of time, which allows you to enter restricted areas unnoticed Disguise breaks when you get very close to an enemy, perform a high-profile action, or wait until it runs out Double Assassination Speeds up combat You don't break stealth anymore if you come across a pair of enemies guarding a chokepoint Double Air Assassination Thick Skin 4 different skills/levels (Thick, Thicker, Thickest, Iron) Snipers will one-shot you without investing in this skill One-handed Weapon Master If you're using long or heavy weapons, choose a different "weapon master" skill instead Break enemy blocks when you press & hold the attack button Moderately useful skills Staggering Strike Demo version of One-handed Weapon Master Bombs: Poison Gas Good DoT: 2 bombs can kill level 5 mobs Only 2 bombs available by default - need to equip special waist armor to increase this number Bombs: Money Pouch Situationally useful decent distraction tool Can use smoke bomb instead Environmental Blending Situationally useful, but generally inferior to Disguise (less versatile) Group Healing Also heals Arno Can be useful in emergency situation when on a mission Least useful skills Communal Sense Does not affect Arno himself, only other co-op players Uses up co-op skill slot Completely useless in solo play Improved Phantom Blade Don't remember actually having to use it Ground Execution Available late where it's not really needed anymore Difficult to use effectively, especially in large brawls Bombs: Stun Grenades Very short duration Use smoke bomb instead Assassin Cache Contents are random Can be useful in emergency situation when on a mission Roll Recovery Game never forces you to jump on the solid ground from a large height instead of safely free running down Long Weapon Master If you're using one-handed weapons, this skill is useless Heavy Weapon Master If you're using one-handed weapons, this skill is useless Story Content: Main Story Note (applicable to main missions and side missions): Do not quick travel if you need to "Escape The Area", you will fail your mission Main story contains 32 missions (Memories) split into 12 chapters (Sequences) Main story progression unlocks skills and access to side content Main story missions: Have optional objectives required for 100% sync Can be replayed via Progression Tracker menu Award sync points for purchasing skills Phantom Blade & Berserk Blade are unlocked after finishing Sequence 3 These make "Women's March" and "The Tournament" co-op missions a bit easier solo, but these missions can be completed before these unlocks New newspapers will appear as you progress through the story Modern day story is told in cutscenes, there is no modern day gameplay Last boss can only be damaged by the hidden blade. Don't bother shooting him Story Content: Side Stories Most side activities can be completed right after finishing Sequence 2 All side activities (except crowd events) are required for 100% completion All side activities, except co-op missions and Helix Rifts: Do not have optional objectives Cannot be replayed Disappear from the map once completed Co-op missions and Helix Rifts: Have optional objectives Can be replayed Stay on the map after completion Paris Memories - 52 story missions Unlocked after finishing Sequence 2 Some missions are a part of mission chains (you have to finish the first mission in a chain in order for another one to appear) Marquis De Sade missions are unlocked after finishing Sequence 4. Finishing these side missions unlocks "The Body in the Brothel" murder mystery Final bunch of Paris Memories missions is unlocked after finishing Sequence 8 Murder Mysteries - 15 "detective" story missions Unlocked after finishing Sequence 2 "The Body in the Brothel" murder mystery is unlocked by finishing Marquis De Sade memories One piece of evidence in "The Body Politic" murder mystery is locked in a level 3 chest "The Red Ghost of the Tuileries" murder mystery is locked behind level 3 door Two murder mysteries ("The Body Politic" & "The Red Ghost of the Tuileries") have a clue location that is not highlighted on a map If you accuse the wrong person, you won't get a monetary bonus at the mission completion Nostradamus Enigmas - 18 "riddle" missions Unlocked after finishing Sequence 2 Completing these missions unlocks puzzles that guard Thomas de Carneillon Master Assassin outfit in the basement of Cafe Theatre First basement puzzle is unlocked after completing 4 Nostradamus Enigma missions Second basement puzzle is unlocked after completing 10 missions Third (last) basement puzzle is unlocked after completing all 18 missions Cafe Theatre missions - 5 story missions Unlocked after finishing Sequence 2 and discovering Cafe Theatre Complete ASAP to increase your Cafe Theatre income Companion Missions - 24 basic tasks Unlocked after finishing Sequence 2 No longer require the companion app Social Club missions - 20 story missions Unlocked after finishing Sequence 2 and purchasing social clubs Each purchased social club has several missions tied to it Helix Rifts - 7 instanced collect-a-thon missions Helix Rifts are unlocked in 3 batches: after finishing Sequences 3, 7, and 11 Helix Rift missions are on a timer that can be increased by collecting more data Following the shadow of the assassin you're saving usually provides you with a guaranteed amount of data for successful mission completion Each Helix Rift needs to be successfully completed 2 or 3 times to get all available Assassin Intel, providing you with modern day lore entries in the Database The exact number of available Assassin Intel can be seen in the mission summary Helix Rifts cannot be replayed from the Progress Tracker -- you need to start them visiting the rift in the game world
Story Content: Co-Op Missions Сo-op missions involve 2 to 4 players, depending on a mission All co-op missions can be completed solo right after they become available when you finish Sequence 2 Use "Play in private" option to play any co-op mission solo Co-op missions can be replayed from the Progress Tracker or from their giver in the game world Co-op missions - 11 story missions with an extra cutscene Contain sync points used for purhasing skills Completing a co-op mission gives you a specific piece of gear as a reward Each mission offers 3 different pieces of gear, so you need to complete each mission 3 times to get all gear Heist missions - 7 "heist" missions Do not contain sync points or gear Provide monetary rewards on each completion Provide a minimum guaranteed payment plus a significant bonus that depends on how stealthy you are Useful for farming money Desynchronization (death) fully resets the memory Story Content: Crowd Events Crowd events are randomly generated events that ask you to complete a basic task: Stop thief Run after the thief and tackle when prompted Avoid running towards the thief, tacking from the front doesn't really work Scare off bullies Draw your weapon next to them Kill criminals Protect civilians Kill criminals Kill the messenger without being seen Use phantom blade from afar Can use double assassination on guards, then kill the messenger I usually skip this crowd event, as it usually takes too much time and prep compared to others Give money to beggars Throw a money pouch at them (requires Bombs: Money Pouch skill) Crowd event rewards are given for completing a set of crowd events that increases the number of required events in the increments of 5: 5 event set: 500F 10 event set: Tailored Prowler Hood 15 event set: 2500F 20 event set: Improved Phantom Bracer 25 event set: 10000F 30 event set: Master Phantom Bracer 35 event set and further event sets: 25000F Story Content: Dead Kings DLC Main Story Main DLC story contains 6 Memories in a single Sequence 13 DLC location (Franchiade) opens after finishing Sequence 5 in the main game After you travel to Franchiade for the first time, you cannot go back to Paris until you complete the first two DLC memories Franchiade consists of 6 districts (all level 4), 3 of them underground Mission levels range from 1 to 5 regardless of district level Story Content: Dead Kings DLC Side Stories All side DLC stories are required for 100% completion Stories of Franciade - 4 story missions All these missions except one are unlocked after completing Memory 1 "The Unopened Rose" mission is unlocked after completing Memory 2 Murder Mysteries - 2 "detective" story missions Unlocked after completing Memory 2 Require completing at least one murder mystery from the main game Suger's Legacy - 7 "riddle" missions First two missions ("V - Crux" and "III - Diabolus") are unlocked after Memory 3 Completing these two missions is required to unlock Memory 4 in the main story Completing these two missions unlocks the rest of Suger's Legacy missions Suger's Legacy missions are functionally identical to Nostradamus Enigma missions from the main game Completing all Suger's Legacy missions unlocks the location of Eagle of Suger one-handed sword Outposts - 3 area liberation activities Unlocked after completing Memory 2 Co-op missions - 1 story mission Does not contain sync points Unlocked after completing Memory 4 Heists - 1 "heist" mission Unlocked after completing Memory 2 Collectibles All collectibles are required for 100% completion (except nomad points, nomad chests, and initiate chests) Most collectibles can be collected right after finishing sequence 2 Major exception is locked chests that require Lockpicking level 2 (can be acquired after finishing Sequence 5) and level 3 (can be acquired after finishing Sequence 9) A small number of collectibles is locked behind doors that require Lockpicking level 2 or 3 Collectible progress is saved immediately upon collection Collected cockades, sync points, and artifacts are displayed as empty contours in the game world Visit Versailles to collect one initiates chest, multiple white chests, and multiple cockades To visit Versailles, find a tear-shaped icon with letter V next to Cafe Theatre and use fast travel Nomad points are not used anymore, ignore them Viewpoints - 23 (Eventually) reveal the (whole) map Sync a viewpoint to reveal a number of missions and collectibles on the map A number of missions and collectibles need to be discovered manually or by purchasing time saver packs If you have purchased time saver packs, you still need to sync a viewpoint to reveal everything Sync points - 40 Used for purchasing skills Granted by completing the main missions and collecting in co-op missions Not all sync points can be collected from co-op missions immediately -- you will need Lockpicking level 2 and 3 to open some doors Co-op mission sync points can be collected without completing the missions Chests - 294 Chests (white): Reward a small sum of money based on district level Not locked Unguarded At least one white chest is locked behind a door that requires Lockpicking level 3 Locked chests (red): Reward a large sum of money based on district level and lock level Level 1 lock chests reward ~250-1000F depending on district level Level 2 lock chests reward ~1000-4500F depending on district level Level 3 lock chests reward 1000F per district level, but can sometimes reward more (from 6000F to 10000F) Level 2 chests (and doors) require Lockpicking level 2 skill which is unlocked after finishing Sequence 5 Level 3 chests (and doors) require Lockpicking level 3 skill which is unlocked after finishing Sequence 9 Almost all locked chests in level 5 districts require Lockinging level 3. Don't bother checking them until you finish Sequence 9 and purchase Lockpinging level 3 Locked chests on the ground and in buildings are always guarded Locked chests on top of buildings are unguarded, except a couple of level 3 chests that have a single rifleman next to them Nomad chests (blue): Reward a large sum of money Not locked Unguarded Do not require companion app anymore Initiate chests (golden): Reward a large sum of money or outfits Not locked Unguarded Do not require participation in the Initiates program anymore Chests give no rewards except money To access the underground locked chest in Tuileries, finish Sequence 8 Memory 1 to open a hole in the building wall. This also opens access to a cockade in the same underground area Cockades - 128 Collecting a number of cockades unlocks new color schemes for your armor Collect all to reveal a new memento in Cafe Theatre To access the underground cockade in Tuileries, finish Sequence 8 Memory 1 to open a hole in the building wall. This also opens access to a locked chest in the same underground area
Artifacts - 60 Large coats of arms hanging on walls Collecting a full set of artifacts from one district grants you a weapon or a piece of armor At least one artifact is behind a locked door that requires Lockpicking level 3 Each Helix Rift contains several artifacts Each Helix Rift run will spawn one artifact, including already collected ones Restart Helix Rift checkpoints over and over until you get all artifacts in each Rift Cafe Theatre renovations - 5 Purchased at Intendant's Study room in Cafe Theatre Purchase ASAP to increase your Cafe Theatre income Social Clubs - 7 Purchased by visiting the Social Club icon in the game world Purchase ASAP to increase your Cafe Theatre income Purchasing unlocks side missions specific for purchased social club Collectibles: Dead Kings DLC Viewpoints - 3 Artifacts - 14 Napoleon's Bicorns - 26 Take place of cockades from the main game Collecting all bicorns unlocks Napoleon's artillery outfit Chests - 61 Chests provide significantly more money than in the main game The End That's all I have. If I missed something that you feel belongs here, let me know.

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