Assassin’s Creed Unity – The Phantom Blade

Many things come to mind when you think about Assassin’s Creed, but the most iconic of all is perhaps the Assassins’ weapon of choice: the Hidden Blade. It has undergone a few changes throughout the series, and now we have been introduced to the latest iteration. The Phantom Blade in Assassin’s Creed Unity turns our standard, trusty wristblade into a silent projectile, allowing us to quickly and quietly deal with opponents from a distance. And like with Edward’s Hidden Blade from Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, you can now wield your very own Phantom Blade, thanks to our continued partnership with the legendary McFarlane Toys. Find out how you can win your own Phantom Blade at the end of this post.

The Phantom Blade

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Hidden Blades turned into projectile weapons. Lead Game Designer Alex Pedneault called out Ezio’s pistol and dart adaptations, and said Arno will have his own unique set of weapons. The Phantom Blade is meant to be a crossbow of sorts, and eventually he will be able to upgrade it with different kinds of darts and blades. Concept artist Remko Troost is the man behind this new design. He drew inspiration from the time period to create an initial design and Creative Director Alex Amancio proposed the projectile function. A piece of the concept art can be seen below.

*Click for a larger version of the Phantom Blade concept art by Remko Troost*

“Our philosophy is not simply to add gadgets, but to develop a feature linked to one of the core brand pillars,” Pedneault explains. “With Assassin’s Creed Unity, the Phantom Blade is a new feature that affects two core brand pillars: stealth and combat.”

And the Phantom Blade really is perfect for both stealth and all-out combat. It can be used to silence an enemy without alerting others, or it can be paired with his “louder” weapons in group combat. Arno can take on one opponent with his rapier, and then whip around to hit an enemy further away with the blade; a handy tool for anyone looking to even out the odds.

McFarlane Toys

We are once more partnering with McFarlane toys to bring you a stunning replica of the in-game weapon. Each detail is hand-crafted, making a must-have for the diehard fans and the dedicated cosplayers. Product Manager Antoine Ceszynski is already saying he can’t wait to see all the French Assassins at future conventions.

“We started our collaboration with McFarlane on this project six months ago,” Ceszynski told us. “We provided references and they came back few weeks after that with the first prototype. After that, when the 3-D model was ready, they created the final version of the Phantom Blade. The rest was a fine-tuning process to get the colors, packaging, and everything else just right.”

*Click for larger version*

And because we just know you’re going to ask, yes it really is a functioning projectile (the dart is soft). Both the development team and McFarlane wanted to ensure the weapon was as accurate to the in-game weapon as possible, so a working projectile was important.

The McFarlane Toys Phantom Blade is available now for $59.99 and it comes with a code to unlock the exclusive French Cavalry Pistol. You can pre-order your very own Phantom Blade right here. Assassin’s Creed Unity releases on November 11 on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

*GIVEAWAY* Do you want a free Phantom Blade? Lucky for you, we happen to have a few we’ll be giving away. All you have to do is tell us what kind of an Assassin you’re going to be in Assassin’s Creed Unity. Will you be one with the shadows or will you charge headlong into battle? Maybe a mix of both? Let us know in the comments below. We will contact the winners on Friday, so be sure to attach the correct email address when you sign in to comment. This contest is for US residents only.

For more on Assassin’s Creed Unity, check out these posts:

Assassin’s Creed Unity – Side Content Guide

Assassin’s Creed Unity – Inside the Brotherhood

Assassin’s Creed Unity – Dead Kings & Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China/a>

Assassin’s Creed Unity – Carve Your Unique Path Through Paris