Eagle Vision

AC1 Eagle Vision

Altar using Eagle Vision to observe William of Montferrat and his guards
Eagle Vision is a dormant sixth sense that humans possess, as a result of being created by the First
Civilization and also through interbreeding between some early humans and their precursors. Though
each average human holds the potential to utilize it through an intense and very long training, some
gifted individuals display a greater concentration of the necessary precursor genes, and thus are more
likely to naturally exhibit Eagle Vision as well as some of it more advanced variations.

Those who possess the gift are able to instinctively sense how people and objects relate to them, which
manifests as a colored glow, much like an aura. Red indicates enemies or spilled blood, blue indicates
allies, white indicates sources of information or hiding spots, and gold indicates targets or objects of
interest. However, as Desmond Miles was at least initially unaware of Lucy Stillman's true affiliation
with the Templar Order, it suggests the sixth sense is not entirely infallible.

When an individual masters Eagle Vision, the ability can evolve to the more advanced Eagle Sense. This
stage heightens all the senses of its user, allowing them to detect the heartbeat of a target in the area,
or even foresee a target's path. Some individuals also developed exotic variations of the gift, with one
application allowing its wielder to peer into the memories of their target upon killing them.
History
Middle Ages
The Assassin Altar Ibn-La'Ahad possessed Eagle Vision from an early age. His fellow Assassins knew of
his special ability as well, and were the ones to dub it as "Eagle Vision".

With it, Altar found himself able to read the emotions and intentions of all those around him, driving
him to perfect the ability in secret.[1] In his later life, he would make use of it during his many
assassinations and investigations.

Eagle Vision aided Altar in locating targets, and was particularly useful during his duel with Al Mualim,
who used an Apple of Eden to create phantoms of himself. With his ability, Altar was able to pinpoint
the true one from the crowd.[2]

Renaissance
Ezio Auditore da Firenze
"Listen closely: Return to the house. In my office is a hidden door. Use your talent to find it."
Giovanni Auditore instructing Ezio to use his Eagle Vision, 1476.[src]
ACII Codex Eagle V
Eagle Vision used on the Codex Wall
Ezio Auditore da Firenze, much like Altar, possessed Eagle Vision and made use of it to locate hidden
passages, as well as to predict the intentions of his allies and enemies. Additionally, he was also able to
see the map hidden beneath the pages of Altar's Codex with it.

Though it was never explicitly labeled "Eagle Vision", Giovanni Auditore da Firenze once referred to
Ezio's ability as his "talent",[3] and Sala spoke of it as his "gift".[4]

The Ottoman Assassins also knew of Ezio's ability, even before they had met him. When Piri Reis
instructed him to use it to see through a smoke screen, Ezio pretended not to know what he was
referring to, but Piri merely answered that "word gets around". Upon hearing this, Ezio asked that he
keep the information to himself.

Yusuf Tazim spoke of Ezio's skill as his "legendary senses", and Piri once mentioned that Ezio was a
"special sort of man, with strange gifts". Ezio himself also admitted that his senses were "more finely
tuned than most".[1]

Others
"The note told me to use my other eyes. Sometimes I see things that are not there. Drawings or waves."
Giovanni Borgia describing his Eagle Vision.[src]
My Own Eyes PL
Giovanni Borgia using Eagle Vision

La Volpe was thought to possess an advanced form of Eagle Vision, as it was claimed that he could "look
through walls".[3]

Giovanni Borgia also had Eagle Vision, which he used to locate and tail Francesco Vecellio through a
crowd. He was also able to see images or drawings that were not really there, such as waves, arrows,
and footprints; Francesco referred to Giovanni's ability as "using his other eyes".[5]

Caribbean
The Assassin Mary Read described Eagle Vision as the residue of life essence, attaching itself to every
living thing around those with what she called "the Sense". She claimed that every person could harness
the Sense, but most either did not know they could or were unable to truly use the power until later in
life. Edward Kenway claimed to have known the ability since childhood.[6]

Much like Altar and Ezio, Edward could identify enemies, allies, and targets, but he could also 'tag' these
people, allowing him to see their location when out of Eagle Vision, even through walls and other
obstacles. He was also able to see hiding spots, such as hay bales and bushes, which would shine with
golden and green glows respectively.

Adwal, Edward Kenway's second-in-command and the Jackdaw's quartermaster-turned-Assassin, also

possessed Eagle Vision, in similar capacity to Edward.[7]

Colonial America
Shay Cormac possessed a form of Eagle Vision similar to Edward Kenway's, having the ability to mark
potential targets. Besides hunting, investigations, and assassination attempts, he would ultimately use it
to track down his former Assassin associates, following his defection to the Templar Order.

Haytham Kenway possessed Eagle Vision, though he was unable to mark specifict targets. Haytham's
son, Ratonhnhak:ton also possessed Eagle Vision which functioned in a similar manner. During his early
years, Ratonhnhak:ton learned how to use his gift to improve his tracking skills, and would use his gift
to hunt animals. He continued to rely on the Eagle Vision upon joining the Assassin Order, during his
hunt for the Colonial Templars.

One notable instance of this presented itself while Connor hunted down one of the pieces of Captain
William Kidd's map, contained at Edinburgh Castle in Jamaica, where he used his Eagle Vision to examine
clues in order to reconstruct the murder of one of Lewis Hutchinson's victims, later finding the man's
body and retrieving the map piece.

Father's Troubles 1
Aveline using Eagle Vision to see hidden tracks
Aveline de Grandpr was one of the few known female Assassins to possess Eagle Vision, which
functioned similarly to Connor's, though certain things possessed purple highlights such as blood and
wanted posters. Much like Connor, she could use Eagle Vision to examine clues to reconstruct past
events and crimes, aiding her in investigations and finding targets.

By the year 1784, Aveline had gained the ability to mark targets with Eagle Vision, similar to Adwal
and Edward Kenway. It is unknown whether Connor or Haytham also developed this ability.

Revolutionary France
The French Assassin Arno Dorian possessed three variations of Eagle Vision during the French
Revolution. The first was Eagle Pulse, a momentary vision that soon faded away. The second was akin to
Ezio Auditore's Eagle Sense, a longer lasting effect. The third version was Communal Sense, allowing
Arno's fellow Assassins to see what he saw, within a limited range.[8]

Arno also showed the ability to view the memories of his targets, rather than conversing with them
directly. He also had the ability to read the paths that guards would take, much like Eagle Sense, but
only could fully utilize this skill once he read the paths on a map. Lastly, this skill appears to have been
connected with his auditory system, allowing him to hear conversations far away with perfect clarity
once he achieved a high enough vantage point and focused in on the locations. Even when Arno was
heavily consuming alcohol, he could still use Eagle Vision, albeit causing him pain when used.[9]

Modern times
"Try using that special sight you learned from Altar."
Lucy Stillman to Desmond Miles in the Sanctuary, 2012.[src]

AC2 Eagle Vision Code

Desmond using Eagle Vision to find the code to a keypad
By using the Animus to follow the memories of his ancestors, Desmond Miles also gained the ability to
use Eagle Vision, likely as a result of the Bleeding Effect. Through it, he was able to see Lucy Stillman and
Warren Vidic, shimmering with a blue and red auras, respectively. He was also able to use this ability to
see the cryptic messages that Subject 16, Clay Kaczmarek, had written in the Abstergo laboratory with
his own blood.[2]

Clay also hid a series of Glyphs within the rendered Animus environment, which needed to be scanned
with Eagle Vision to be unlocked.[3] Similarly, the Rifts that the Glyph puzzles led to also needed Eagle
Vision to be both seen and accessed.[10]

During his escape from Abstergo Industries, Desmond found another application for his newly acquired
power. Much like thermal vision, he used it to discover the code of a keypad, by seeing the heat
signature of the fingerprints left upon the correct numbers.[3]

Later, upon reaching Monteriggioni, Desmond was also able to use Eagle Vision to see a message that
Ezio had left upon the wall of the Sanctuary stairwell, which bore the password to the Colosseum Vault.

While traveling through the Colosseum to the Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Desmond used Eagle Vision to
locate a series of switches to open hidden entrances. He also made use of it to see the proper sequence
of levers he needed to activate, in order to access the Apple of Eden hidden within the Colosseum Vault.

The Abstergo recruits who participated in the Animi Training Program were also granted an ability
named Templar Vision. This rendered ability mimicked Eagle Vision, and was able to be used for
approximately 3.5 seconds.[10]

When he traveled to Osaka in 4 December 2013, Gavin Banks used his Eagle Vision to determine that
the yakuza, not Abstergo, had killed the Assassin cell in the city, though this invariably taxed his
energy.[11]

Eagle Sense
"As Ezio matured, so did many of his stranger abilities, not least of which was a rare form of
extrasensory perception you know, what we Assassins call "Eagle Sense" in its most robust form."
Clay Kaczmarek's digital construct, 2012.[src]
The Wounded Eagle 6
Ezio using Eagle Sense
Mastering Eagle Vision led to the user being granted Eagle Sense. A more heightened form of Eagle
Vision, it allowed one to focus on a target and sense approximately where they had gone, or inversely,
where they would go. This was particularly helpful in tailing a target, or detecting the path a guard
would take, in order to set up a bomb or lay an ambush.

With Eagle Sense, Ezio was also able to pick up cold trails, or locate disguised enemies. However, for the
latter, he was required to concentrate harder and scrutinize people individually, rather than as a crowd.

Ezio also once used his Eagle Sense to follow the scent vapors of datura, and to diagnose an injured
mercenary by listening to his heartbeat. As such, the latter technique allowed him to conclude that the
man was alive but weak, and likely affected by some form of poison.[1]

Trivia
Assassin's Creed
An Assassin guard could be seen glowing red in Eagle Vision at the Kingdom entrance to Masyaf, but he
reacted in normal guard behavior. This guard was Jamal, an Assassin who aided Masun in betraying the
Brotherhood, and was originally intended to have been a target. However, the sequence where Altar
assassinated him was cut, leaving him as a minor Easter egg.
In the original Assassin's Creed, movement was restricted while using Eagle Vision, and Altar was
required to be at maximum synchronization. These requirements were removed in most of the
succeeding games.
In Assassin's Creed, Eagle Vision was said to actually be the Animus' visualization of the Assassin's
observational skills.
Assassin's Creed II
The users of Eagle Vision saw themselves marked with blue.

At the beginning of the game, while playing as Desmond in the hideout, he could see equipment shine
blue in Eagle Vision. This indicated that they could be used for freerunning purposes.
Lucy made a reference to the ability by saying "Open your eyes, Desmond," when Desmond asked her
how to find the sensors for the hideout's defense system, which she had tasked him to switch on.
In some memories in both Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, water was shown to be
glowing white like hiding spots when Eagle Vision was activated.
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
When traveling through Rome, Eagle Vision could be used to mark flags, feathers or treasure chests on
the map.
While using Eagle Vision and roaming Monteriggioni as Desmond, a red trail was visible that led from
the fountain with the Assassin insignia to the door of Mario Auditore's study. The trail was colored
similarly to the blood glyphs of Subject 16, and appeared to be made up of many footprints.
An interview with Darby McDevitt and Falko Poiker explained that the trail was intended to help gamers
find their way back to the Sanctuary, though its red color was a developer oversight.
When outside of the Animus, there was sometimes a pause that caused allies to glow gold for a few
seconds.
Unlike in Assassins Creed II, enemies and allies did not glow their standard colors after they died, and
would appear grey like civilians and inanimate objects.
When dressed as a Borgia guard captain in the memory "When In Rome," if Eagle Vision was activated,
the armor would glow red, though Ezio himself would still be marked with blue.
Unlike Eagle Vision, Templar Vision marked targets with blue rather than with gold, since they were
hunting other Templars and could be considered allies within a contained session.
Assassin's Creed: Revelations
During Ezio's pilgrimage and Altar's return from exile, ghostly images from Altar's past could be seen in
Masyaf.
Unlike regular enemies, the paths of officials and the two guards accompanying them could not be
tracked with Eagle Sense.
Assassin's Creed III
In the Grand Temple, Desmond, Rebecca, Shaun and William were not highlighted at all in Eagle Vision.
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Similar to the way it functioned in the original Assassin's Creed, Eagle Vision could not be used while
moving in high profile.
Others
A mini-game in the Assassin's Creed room of PlayStation Home featured an Eagle Vision puzzle that,
when completed, opened up the Hideout.
An issue of Nintendo Power stated that the Wii U tablet controller could be used as an alternate view for
Eagle Vision in Assassin's Creed III, using the built-in accelerometer to control the camera view.
Ezio's Eagle Sense functioned in a clairvoyant manner.
References
1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: Revelations
2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed
3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - The Da Vinci Disappearance
Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy - Rome: Chapter 2 - Giovanni Borgia
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Freedom Cry
Access the Animus: E3 2014 - Uplay Lounge
Assassin's Creed: Unity
10.0 10.1 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Initiates