Assassin’s Creed has come a long way since the series debuted back in 2007, and so have its weapons. Back in the day, Altair mostly just used a sword when his Hidden Blade wasn’t going to cut it. Now, in more recent entries like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players can use a kusarigama, naginata, teppo, and other fancy weapons to slay their enemies.
Dual swords are the crux of pirate captain Edward Kenway’s arsenal in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, but they’re not all he has at his disposal. Pistols are great for staggering bosses, the rope dart lets Edward ruthlessly dispose of guards by hanging them from trees (yikes), and the classic Hidden Blades are as deadly as ever. But there’s one weapon I prefer using above them all: Edward’s boots.
Deadly feet aren’t new to the series. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey featured the aptly named Spartan Kick, and Shadows included a War Kick too for Yasuke. Kickin’ foes is very useful to get them off your back in combat, and I get a kick out of climbing up a guard tower or building just to stick my boot in a guard’s chest and have gravity do the rest.
Black Flag Resynced’s kick might be the most fun in the series, and that’s because of all the battles that take place on the sea. A large part of the game’s appeal is naval warfare in which you weaken enemy ships and board them to steal all their loot like, ya know, the pirate you are. Obviously, the British and Spanish sailors won’t give up willingly, so the boot they get. Why should I waste time with Black Flag Resynced’s slash-and-parry sword fighting when I could just send an enemy overboard with my feet?
Combat in Assassin’s Creed games have always been a little hit-or-miss — for me, the series is at its best when focusing on stealthily striking from the shadows. But these skirmishes on decimated enemy ships are some of my favorite moments in Black Flag Resynced. I don’t even use Edward’s pistols or rope dart in combat. I simply try to position an enemy by the edge of their ship before giving them a swift boot overboard.
Honestly, I’m doing them a mercy, right? Think about it — would you rather get stabbed in the larynx (certain death) or take a nice dip in the Caribbean (less certain death)? If anything, I give these sailors a fighting chance. Maybe they’ll swim ashore, rethink their life choices, and spend their remaining reales on a nice pair of studded boots on their way to joining my death-by-feet movement. Or maybe they’ll get swept away at sea and die from starvation on a remote tiny island. I don’t know, man, I just kicked ‘em overboard.
I’m not alone in my love for Black Flag Resynced’s kick attack. Players have shared clips on social media of them sending foes flying to their dooms with a gratifying kick. One shows an enemy repeatedly getting kicked off a pier, only to swim over just to get booted again. Take a hint, buddy! The kick is unbeatable. Go swim somewhere else.
I’m only about eight hours into Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced’s sprawling seafaring adventure, but making the most out of the game’s Spartan Kick is undoubtedly the highlight so far. I’m sure there is plenty of booty, treasure maps, Mayan stones, and fancy swords left to find, but none will bring me as much joy as the act of kicking goons off their own ships.