Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad
Official artwork of Altaïr in Assassin's Creed: Revelations.
Universe	Assassin's Creed
Debut	Assassin's Creed (2007)
Smash Bros. appearances	Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance	Assassin's Creed: Rebellion (2018)
Console/platform of origin	Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Place of origin	Masyaf, Syria
Article on Wikipedia	Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (Japanese: アルタイル・イブン・ラ・アハド Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Arabic: الطائر ابن لا أحد‎) is a major character in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise and the main protagonist of the first installment of the series.

Origin

Altaïr is an ancestor of Desmond Miles, a modern-day American bartender and assassin who is forced to use a contraption called the Animus to relive the memories of his ancestors. In the year 1191, during the Third Crusade, the Crusaders battle against the Saracens for control over the Holy City of Jerusalem. A member of the Assassin Brotherhood, Altaïr, along with two other assassins, botch an attempt to assassinate Robert de Sablé, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, in order to retrieve a treasure known as the Piece of Eden. This causes one assassin to be killed and another to be seriously injured, and Altaïr's master, Al Mualim, admonishes him. Later, Altaïr fends off a group of Templars attacking their home village of Masyaf, partially redeeming himself, but Al Mualim soon orders him to assassinate nine individuals that he might fully redeem himself.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

As a costume

A Mii Swordfighter dressed as Altaïr.

Altaïr was announced as a Mii Swordfighter costume for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on January 16, 2020, and was released on January 28th, both alongside Byleth.

Altaïr's reveal trailer primarily makes reference to the maneuvers used by Assassins throughout the Assassin's Creed series. It begins with the Mii Swordfighter landing in a bird's nest on Skyloft, akin to the Leap of Faith, a move used to safely fall from great heights by landing on a soft material, most commonly a pile of hay. During the move, a faint screech from a bird of prey can be heard while the Assassin is airborne, which is reflected in the trailer. Following this, the Swordfighter is seen hanging from an edge in Gerudo Valley where Sheik stands near, then briefly getting up and back throwing Sheik into the chasm below, mirroring a similar move used when hanging on ledges to pull a near target downwards to their death with the assistence of the Hidden Blade. Afterwards, the Swordfighter confronts Robin, whose appearance resembles that of Al Mualim, Altaïr's mentor, wearing a dark cloak and wielding a sword, as well as another item. This mirrors an event near the end of Assassin's Creed, where Altaïr must confront his mentor to prevent him from further controlling the minds of the Masyaf populace at his will. The tome held by Robin represents the Apple of Eden, an item held by Al Mualim throughout the confront, with the casting of Arcfire resembling the Apple's strong, yellow glow.

Trivia

• Unlike other regions, the logo for Assassin's Creed, the series Altaïr hails from, is absent in the American version of his Mii Costume reveal trailer, being replaced with a wordmark featuring the character's name. This is also the case with Vault Boy. There has not been an explanation for this.
  • Despite this, Assassin's Creed is mentioned by name in the North American version via the “News” section, also the case with Vault Boy.
• Despite being the protagonist of the original Assassin's Creed, his reveal trailer uses the main theme from Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, being "Ezio's Family".
• Altaïr's name was initially misspelled "Altïar" on the American eShop, but was fixed shortly after his release.