Subject 16 Puzzles

There is a series of puzzles that have been left in the game by a previous user of the Animus, Subject 16. Complete them to get the ".. .- -- .- .-.. .. ...- ." achievement, which translates to "I AM ALIVE" and then a very cool cut scene and hidden area within the Animus.

Cluster #1

These are much improved over their original implementation in AC2. You can return to the puzzle at anytime through the Animus Menu. They are still tricky to figure out and find. They are now only visible through Eagle Vision. It takes a lot more tracking than it did previously.


Picture Puzzle:
“Master All, They Did Not Work, But Ruled From On High”
Number the pictures 1 to 10 from left to right, starting with the top row. Select Pictures: 1,3,4,8 and 10

Chess Puzzle:
“Moving away from the Sovereign and his crossed brow, the people take two steps forward”
This one will be easier. Move the White Pawn in front of the King (the piece on the center right) forward two steps.

Quarantine Zone
Move the Cursor into the upper right area of the screen. Use the beeping to track it.

Cluster #2

Ring Puzzle
Rotate the Second Ring Two clicks to the right (it will also spin the First Ring)
Spin the Third Ring Three clicks to the left (The First Ring will spin as well)
Spin the First Ring Four clicks to the left
Spin the Fourth Ring Four clicks to the left

Ring Puzzle 2
Rotate the Fourth Ring Two clicks left (Also spins the First Ring)
Spin the First Ring Five clicks right (Also spins the Second Ring)
Spin the Third Ring Four clicks left
Spin the Second Ring Five clicks right

Ring Puzzle 3
Rotate the Fourth Ring One click to the right (The First Ring will also spin)
Spin the Third Ring Five clicks to the right (The Second Ring will also spin)
Spin the Second Ring Four clicks to the right
Spin the First Ring Three clicks to the right

Chess Puzzle
“The workforce increases. Brother right beside Brother”
Move the Pawn to the right of last one you moved.

Quarantine Puzzle:
One dot can be found in the lower center right.

Cluster #3

“Washington sits above the green, in 1944, keeping a cool head. Below the right 1, is the standard bearing 48. Behind, there is a company whose power is growing”.
Just below the One dollar bill, you will see a picture of a red and white building.
You want to scan the flag pole on the left side of the picture, raised above the building.

Cipher Puzzle
2798 – Strange 4, upward left to right crossed zero, downward right to left crossed zero, inverted strange 4

Chess Puzzle
“As a concession, a small piece is sacrificed for the greater good”
Continuing with the last piece you moved, take the nearby black pawn, letting it get taken by the black knight.

Quarantine Solutions
One dot is in the lower, center middle.
One dot is in the upper right, center.

Cluster #4
Picture Puzzle
“These intelligent works have no self-control”.
Number the pictures 1 to 10 from left to right, starting with the top row. Select Pictures:
2, 3, 5, 9 and 10

Ring Puzzle
Rotate the Third Ring Four clicks to the right (this also spins the First Ring)
Spin the First Ring One click right (this also spins the Fourth Ring)
Spin the Fourth Ring One click right (this also spins the Second Ring)
Spin the Second Ring Four clicks left

Chess Puzzle
“Alan Turing set out to solve the plight of the workers”.
This is only one legal chess move here, using a Pawn, to defend against the Black Queen. Move the Pawn, who is two spaces away from the king, up one space to block the Queen and defend your King.

Amplitude Puzzle
Select the First and Second Amplitudes to solve.

Quarantine Puzzle
The dot is above the bus door
The Dot is next to the Driver's Right Ankle

Cluster #5
Chess Puzzle
“Democratic nations were built, each lead by a powerful Vizier (known today by a different name), who made a move to block the Templar advance”.
You need to move your Queen into position to threaten the Black “Templar” Queen. Move her diagonally right one space, so she is in front of the King.

Riddle Puzzle
“From a Bolt of Electricity, Governments fall”.
In the Top Left Picture, scan the top of it, with the bolt, to find what you are looking for


Cipher Puzzle
7379 – Half Circle, Four Diagonal Slashes, Box divided by Vertical Line, Box divided by Vertical Line with X’s on both sides.


Quarantine Puzzle
One dot is midway between the bottom of the screen and the Left Templar Crest
One dot is just above the Exit to the Right
One dot is just below the Right Templar Crest

Cluster #6
Picture Puzzle
"Important Men befriended Russia as the Iron Curtain was blown apart. But the most influential comrade stayed out the spotlight."
Just below the photo the tree, to the left, is one of a building with several men in front of it. Place the cursor around the bottom center to reveal a camera man with a Templar Cross on his back

Cipher Puzzle
The numbers are: 20, 27, 33, 13

Amplitude Puzzle
Select, in the top row, the first and second. In the bottom row, select the first.

Chess Puzzle
“Although his piece represents a Savior, his self-serving actions reveal him a counterfeit”.
Move the right-side Knight to be adjacent to the Queen.

Quarantine Puzzle
One dot is in the lower left side, between the final two phrases of music
One dot is in the lower right side, about the man's elbow
One dot is just below the name "Putin"

Cluster #7
Picture Puzzle
“Fire, Water and Earth are contracted, with the complacency of the people, away from the people”.
Number the pictures 1 to 10 from left to right, starting with the top row. Select Pictures:
2, 4, 7, 8 and 10

Photo Puzzle
“Making use of that created by 3, the center behind the scenes waited for citizens united to wed the U.S. to the Templar’s Will”.
Select the left hand of the man in the middle, Chief Justice Roberts. This will reveal a Templar Ring.

Cipher Puzzle:
The solution is: C, M missing part the right leg, Z missing part of the top, K

Chess Puzzle
“B8-C6 6C-8B. Our moves are echoes, they are not our own”.
Move your left-side Knight to match that of the Black Knight that has moved. That is, move it one square right and two squares up.

Quarantine Puzzle
One Dot is Center Middle Left, just below the name Stevens.
One Dot is Lower Middle Right, next the Exit.
One Dot is Upper Center Right, just below the last line of text on that side.

Cluster #8
Ring Puzzle
Rotate the First Ring Four clicks right
Spin the Second Ring One click right
Spin the Fourth Ring Three clicks left

Amplitude Puzzle
Select the first choice in the top row. Choose the middle choice in the second row and in the third row choose the middle and right.

Chess Puzzle
“Watch! Move Fast! Shift from 1st to 2nd. 0-60, Don’t think”.
Move the King diagonally right One space.

Quarantine Zone
One Dot is just above the Abstergo Logo in the upper right.
One Dot is just below the low point in the line on the graph.
One Dot is just above the top-right edge of the graph.
One Dot is in the Center Middle Right
One Dot is in the Lower Middle Right

Cluster #9
Picture Puzzle
“They listen to us with these vehicles that are faster than race cars”.
Number the pictures 1 to 10 from left to right, starting with the top row. Select Pictures:
2, 3, 6, 8 and 10

Amplitude Puzzle
Choose the Following:
First Row: 1 and 3
Second Row: 3
Fourth Row: 3

Chess Puzzle
“The Dark Horseman approaches! Messenger and Fool, she can hear you along the straight and narrow, but once on the adjacent slope, observe the whites of her eyes”.
Move your right-side Bishop, diagonally, one square to the right.

Quarantine Puzzle
One Dot is in the Upper Middle Right
One Dot is in the Middle Center Right
One Dot is in the Lower Center Right
One Dot is in the Lower Center Left
One Dot is in the Upper Middle Left

Cluster #10(almost done, hang in there!)
Ring Puzzle
Rotate the Fourth Ring Five clicks to the right.
Spin the First Ring Two clicks to the right.
Spin the Second Ring Two clicks to the right.

Picture Puzzle
“A product that we make without hands or machines”.
Number the pictures 1 to 10 from left to right, starting with the top row. Select Pictures:
3, 4, 6, 8 and 10

Picture Puzzle
“With each passing day, the people get stronger, freedom ascends, heralding a revolution”.
Highlight the Upper Center of the picture with the overcast sky with the protest in the foreground. You will find an Eagle soaring the sky.

Cipher Puzzle
The Password is 89, 5, 334 and 21

Amplitude Puzzle
In the first row, choose the first panel. In the second panel, choose the second panel. For the rest of the rows, choose the third panel.

Chess Puzzle
“+64 squares, all ranks and files, every move anticipated. Every response engineered. Abstergo created it. It’s the company’s game, there is no way out. +H Act II, SC.2 192. Abran los ojos. Tuam Libera Mentem. The King. F2. Your Move”.
Just what does all that mean? Don’t play chess by the rules any more. Take the King and place him anywhere that is not the board!

Quarantine Puzzle
The dots are all in one long spiral. Just follow the dots along in their path, hitting your button all the while. This could be frustrating because of the sheer number.

Enjoy!

Advanced Techniques

Once you have mastered the basics, you'll probably be looking for some ways to up your game and speed through the game even faster.

Mastering Social Stealth

To become a master of stealth, there should be several things you focus on. One of these is the methods in which you take out the enemy. Use your recruits whenever needed. They have a speedy cool down, and using them won't have a negative effect as they don't draw attention to you. When selecting a weapon, keep in mind the 3 sneakiest weapons are poison, hidden blade, and crossbow. Crossbow for archers at distance, blade for archers in close proximity, and poison for groups of guards.

Advanced Execution Streaks

The normal execution streaks are simply highlighting an enemy and tapping X. But there is another, more efficient way. If you are positioned in between two guards, hold X down. If you are using a sword, Ezio will stab the first guard and pistol the other. If using a dagger, Ezio will punch the first guard, kill the second with a throwing knife, and then return to the first one to slit his throat. The tricky part of this isn't the timing or the button mashing. The hardest part is positioning yourself in between two guards at once.

Mastering Free Running
You will probably want to complete Leonardo's War Machine side missions. Doing so will grant you a parachute, will up your free running skills tremendously. This can aid you in clearing larger distances. If you know you can't make it by jumping, then what you'll want to do is right after you leave the building hit X, deploying a parachute and gliding closer to the building. Once near the building, hit B. You should grasp onto the ledge. This should help even more in races in thief missions.

Virtual Training

Virtual Training is a new feature offered by the Animus in AC: Brotherhood. They rank you on a scale of bronze, silver, and gold. While some can be easy, many will require a high level of skill. Getting bronze in all of the events will grant you the Raiden Armor from Metal Gear Solid, quite snazzy.

Combat

These will test your reflexes. You will have to get used to the execution streaks. To perform the execution streaks, highlight an enemy, then press x immediately after an execution to perform another. Watch for someone attacking, which may force you to counter-attack. On the flawless challenges, counters will be helpful, but dodges will be more helpful here than usual. If you have a choice of all your weapons, use your sword and hidden gun.

Race

When going about a race, select a path that won't force you to backtrack. I would recommend walking through the course first, so you can find the best route to take. Cut corners when possible, and never stop moving. Constantly be free running to maximize time effectiveness. These are fairly easy in my opinion, and you should be able to get at least bronze, if not silver or gold, on all of them.

Stealth

The objective of stealth is to assassinate all guards without gaining notoriety. The guards will only notice you if you get in front of them, so taking them out from below, above or behind will be a necessity. If you are doing the "All Weapons" mode, then using a crossbow at range is the way to go. If you use a crossbow you can risk getting in front of them momentarily. If you are doing hidden blade only, then you will have to have a much sneakier approach. I'd recommend taking them out from below, as there will be no way they will see you. If you are on a ledge and they are out of your range, hold RT and press X. This will allow you to jump up and assassinate the target.

Flag Hunt

Flag Hunt is a re-creation of the Borgia flags in normal single player. The flags almost have hidden status. Use your radar to determine if they are on your level, or above or below you. It looking the normal, light blue, will denote on your level. It looking a faded, darker blue, will denote above or below you. You may have to find the location of each flag before you attempt it. Now, when going about collecting flags, get the ones on the outside first. Never make yourself need to backtrack.

Unlockable Items

There is a series of unlockable items that one may want to look into getting. Most are very time consuming, and you should know you are taking on quite a challenge before you go in. I have compiled a list of the items, and their respective tasks to get them.

Outfits

Raiden Skin
Get a Bronze medal or higher in all Virtual Training challenges.

Florentine Noble Attire
You can buy this outfit for 2 tokens via Uplay.

Altair’s Robes
You can buy this outfit for 2 tokens via Uplay.

Armor of Altair
You can buy this outfit for 2 tokens via Uplay.

Caps

Auditore Cap
Complete the Rebuilding Rome meta game to get this cap.

Borgia Cap
Collect 100 Borgia Flags to get this cap.

Medici Cap
You need to get to level 30 on the “Assassin’s Creed: Project Legacy” to get this cap.

Venetian Cap
You need to get to level 30 on the “Assassin’s Creed: Project Legacy” to get this cap.

Artifacts

Leave Animus, and go to present day Monteriggioni. You will find these artifacts lying on the shelves in your sanctuary

Mario’s Sword

Search the street south of Villa, and you will come across it lying beneath the tree.

Medici Cape

You will find it in southeast of Monteriggioni Eastside Church

Claudia’s Record Book

You will find it inside Mario’s Library, just beside the back door.

Maria’s Feather Chest

Lying on Top of the Villa, use the rope to reach there.

Ezio’s Belt

Search the south east corner of Monterigioni, and you will find it in the lower roof of the small building.

Money Management

More resources, armor and weapons will cost a large sum of money. There is several things you should attempt to do when managing the money and resources at hand.

When possible, save all your money and at one time buy the newest and best equipment. If you're saving up for a 10,000 florin+ heavy weapon, don't get lazy and not save up all the way. There's almost no point in buying a medium powered weapon. I'd recommend you save up your money until you can afford a high powered weapon. Remember, once you buy a new weapon you won't use the ones that aren't as good as the new one, ever. So those florins will sit there wasted.

Buy every single building possible. The main way you will make money will be through your shops. At the later points in the game, you will be making nearly 60k an hour. It is an investment. If you have the money, invest it.

Completing missions, side missions included, is an amazing way to generate profit. If you only use bullets, crossbows or poison though, it can actually cause you to have a net loss. So when doing small missions call in recruits, or just use melee weapons. There are 3 types of side missions, courtesan assignments, assassin contracts(mercenaries), and thief contracts. Talk to the guild leaders to get the assignments, and scaling viewpoints may be required to find the assignments once given to you.

Leonardo's Weapons

As you progress in the game, the opposition will as well. You'll need to upgrade your arsenal to be able to stay successful. Investing in Leonardo's weaponry will be a wise decision.

The poison dart- An extremely helpful weapon. It is silent, and will give you time to sneak by guards. After you hit a guard with a dart they will die in roughly 10 seconds, giving you time to slip by before the others notice he's dead.

The iron glove- A tool for scaling buildings. It will allow the wearer to jump when on the side of a bulding, and grab on to a higher point of the same building. It will save valuable time in an escape, and is worth the investment.

The dual hidden blade- A returner from AC2, it was something that made the air assassinations worth it. When on a rooftop, lock on to two guards standing near each other and perform an air assassination to take out both at once without gaining noteriety.

Story Mode Intro

I have learned that walkthroughs for this game are almost pointless. Most areas are self explanatory on the goal, and it's simply that the skill will become a factor, rather than level knowledge. So I have aimed this at increasing skill, which can come through knowledge, but not necesarily level knowledge.

Firstly, I will cover the basic enemy types and how to defeat them. There are 3 basic types of archetypes, and then several other types of enemies that are a cross between several archetypes. The 3 archetypes are brutes, agiles, and seekers. The seekers constantly look for you, by checking hiding spots, blinding you, and using their long weapons as an advantage. The brutes have heavy armor, and can knock you over with their heavy weapons. Agiles have a much higher speed than others, dodge attacks, and can only be outran by climbing buildings. Now that we have covered the basic 3, let's look at the mixed characters.

Wolfmen- Made just for the Brutus lairs, these follows of Romulus have weak armor and weak weapons, but will outnumber you severely. I would reccomend a dagger to fight them, while using execution streaks. For more info on execution streaks, see the "Advanced Techniques" article.

Horsemen- Near impossible to take out without proper background knowledge. Use the pistol or crossbow if they are the only threat and you too are on horseback, or lock on their horse and hold RT to knock them off the horse, leaving them vulnerabe and on the ground.

Riflemen/Crossbowmen- The newest ranged enemies, weak armor and not too much of a challenge. They may be troublesome if you are trying to climb away. as they will shoot you off the wall.

Recruits/Leaders- With basic armor and basic weapons, they are a mix of all 3 archetypes. Anything can be used to kill them.