Assassin's Creed - here's EVERY Assassin, ever!

Stab club

Assassin's Creed has become a staple of the gaming calendar. It's November, which means we get a new game featuring a man (or woman) in a cowl, who loves to stab bad people. And good people. And anyone else who gets in the way. As such, the series - with its labyrinthine lore - has generated a LOT of characters. Keeping track of them all is almost impossible, and creating a list of them all is nothing sort of madness.

Nonetheless - to celebrate the release of both AC Unity and AC Rogue - that's exactly what we've done. Not only that, we've reached out to developers from throughout the series to discover who their favourite characters are. AND we've listed our favourite Assassins. AND we've gathered loads of Assassin's Creed treasure to give away to two, lucky, UK-based (so sorry, US chums) readers. Phew. So click through, for an exhaustive list of EVERY Assassin ever.

Please note, that this list only includes characters who actually appear in either games or spin-offs. Characters who are ONLY referenced in the Animus Database don't count.

Wait - you said something about a prize?

Yes. Yes, I did. There are two prize-bundles to give away (one for PS3, one for Xbox 360), for two lucky readers. Here's what you get:

- Assassins Creed Anthology Edition
- Assassins Creed 4 Black Flag Buccaneer Edition
- Assassins Creed 3 Guide
- Assassins Creed 4 Guide
- Assassins Creed 3 Replica Tomahawk Axe
- A couple of smaller items (a small scroll/map, and a branded notebook both from Black Flag)

How do you enter? Just leave us a comment below, telling us: Who is your favourite Assassin, and why...

The winners will have their text entered into the feature too, which is pretty cool. All entries must be received by 9am GMT on Friday 28 November 2014, and this competition is ONLY OPEN TO UK READERS aged 18 and over. The usual Terms & Conditions apply.

Desmond Miles (Assassin's Creed 1-3)

The modern day protagonist of Assassin's Creed, AC2, AC3, Revelations and Brotherhood. Phew. Captured by the Templars, forced into an Animus, then busted loose by Lucy Stillman, Desmond pretty much saves the world from a solar flare, but dies in the process. Ho hum - he's a bit dull.

Daniel Cross (Assassin's Creed 3, Assassin's Creed: The Chain comic)

A descendent of Assassins captured early in life, Cross was a sleeper agent for the Templar Order. Instilled with an impulse to kill the Assassin mentor if the opportunity ever fell into his lap, Cross did just that in 2000, crippling the Order in time for an Assassin purge.

Lucy Stillman (Assassin's Creed, AC2, Brotherhood)

An Assassin trained alongside Desmond Miles by his father, Bill. She was then tasked with infiltrating Abstergo Industries as a mole for the Assassins, and received no contact from the Order for seven years. Thats one heck of a long time without even a phone call, so feeling abandoned by her people, Lucy defected to the Templar cause in 2011.

Shaun Hastings (Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, Revelations, AC3)

The sassy English Assassin in charge of intelligence for the American Brotherhood. Originally a junior professor who posted Abstergo company secrets to WikiLeaks in his spare time, Shaun was kidnapped by the Templars in 2010 and saved by Rebecca Crane. He joined the Assassins soon after as the resident, snarky history teacher.

Rebecca Crane (Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, Revelations, AC3)

The l33t haxxor of the Assassin team, Rebecca is responsible for all the technical doo-hickery that keeps the Animus running. During her travels with close friend Shaun Hastings (despite his dry criticism and terrible coffee), she discovers the Initiates spy network, and helps lead the charge to integrate Initiates into the Assassin Order.

Subject 16 (Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, Revelations, AC3)

Known as Clay Kaczmarek to those who didnt treat him like a science experiment, Subject 16 was an Assassin mole who became a test subject to learn details of the Animus Project. It was agreed that fellow mole Lucy Stillman would help him escape, but when her defection became apparent, Clay loaded himself into the Animus as a computer program. But not before painting the walls of the research facility with his blood.

Bill Miles (Assassin's Creed 3)

Desmond's father, and leader of the modern-day Assassin Order. Only decides to appear at the end of Revelations (and plays a big role in AC3), rocking a weak beard, and a poor attitude towards parenting.

Altair Ibn-La'Ahad (1165 - 1257) (Assassin's Creed)

The star of Assassin's Creed, and co-star of Assassin's Creed Revelations. He recovers the Apple of Eden in the Holy lands from his treacherous master Al Mualim. Interestingly, Altair married and had a child with a Templar called Maria Thorpe. Thorpe is a direct ancestor of Desmond Miles.