Assassin’s Creed Animus – Character Tactics Part 1

Today, let's dive into the incredible 'cast' of Assassin's Creed: Animus - The Board Game.

See just who you'll be playing as, depending on the edition you choose - plus tips and tricks to get the best out of them. And for a bit of added fun, we're going to progress through them in chronological order from the most ancient origins of the series' central power struggle, through to the most modern setting. Let's go!

General Tips

Finding Your Targets: The only way to win is by assassination, so always keep an eye on where your next target is hiding. If you don't have any targets on your player board you should be looking to move to a space that will either (i) allow you to uncover them from the memory deck or (ii) a viewpoint to snatch a previously missed opportunity out of the memory discard. Once they're in play you can start to gear up and make a plan.

Taking Risks: Most desync tokens will only lose you a few points, so while you're certainly aiming for precision/style/synchronisation, you don't need to be perfect. It's almost always worth taking a couple of tokens to score an assassination target rather than fail the attempt, so be aggressive and keep taking bold actions towards your goal.

Kassandra (Assassin's Creed Odyssey) - Collector's Edition Only

Kassandra, renowned as the Eagle Bearer, was a Spartan mercenary in ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War. A descendant of King Leonidas, Kassandra wields the legendary Spear of Leonidas, carving her own path through war-torn Greece, uncovering ancient secrets, and battling the Cult of Kosmos. Cunning, strong-willed, and unstoppable, she was a fierce warrior on a quest to find the truth about her family.

Classical Greece: The Peloponnesian War is raging. Your odyssey will take you from Athens to Sparta and Olympia, making use of Docks and Temples scattered throughout Ancient Greece. You'll be hunting the Cult of Kosmos, and they're not the only threats roaming the land...

Mythic Beasts: You have the ability to find and hunt Mythic Beasts. These are a good source of extra points that do not hasten the end of the game. Be careful with having too many beasts out, as they can make some of your targets harder to assassinate.

Deimos: Deimos is available at the start of the game, but is worth more as your last target. With that in mind, other players are likely to put memory blocks in your way. Carefully decide whether it is worth hunting them early for a lesser reward.

Alexios: you may instead choose to play as Alexios on this board, who brings an alternate Deimos card and four alternate reaction cards into play for a different experience.

Bayek (Assassin's Creed Origins) - Collector's Edition Only

Bayek of Siwa was a fearless Medjay and the co-founder of the Hidden Ones (which later became the Assassins), alongside his wife Aya. He dedicated his life to protecting the security and welfare of the Egyptian people, but tragedy turned his mission into a personal crusade against tyranny. A relentless warrior and devoted protector, his story is one of duty, sacrifice, and the birth of a brotherhood dedicated to freedom.

Ptolemaic Egypt: Bayek will travel across the Valley of Kings, Giza and Sinai in pursuit of The Order of the Ancients. Be guided by your dreams, and travel up and down the Nile to keep your possibilities open...until the right target and opportunity reveals itself.

Senu: Bayek can make use of Senu, his eagle, to scout out locations and set up future assassinations. These cards are powerful, but combined with your player board, can telegraph where you are heading to other players...

First Assassin: As one of the founders of the Hidden Ones, Bayek's actions have more of an effect on other players. The Monument space is a good example of this, allowing Bayek to draw a large number of Assassin cards if other players are also in need of them.

Eivor (Assassin's Creed Valhalla) - All Editions

Eivor Varinsdottir is a fierce Viking raider who lived during the late 9th century, a time marked by Norse expansion and the shaping of medieval England. Raised by Jarl Styrbjorn of the Raven Clan, she grew into a bold and determined warrior with an unbreakable spirit. On reaching adulthood Eivor led her people across the North Sea to England, seeking to establish a new home. Her journey brought her into contact with the Hidden Ones and the growing conflict between Assassins and Templars.

Viking Age England: You're stepping into the boots of a hardened Viking explorer. Your adventures will take you from Norway to Suthsexe (Sussex) and East Anglia, and along the way you'll need to make cunning use of longboats, stables, blacksmiths, inns and markets to spring your assassination attempts.

Raiding and Conquest: Eivor can complete raids in their three major locations (Suthsexe, Norway, and East Anglia) to gain powerful Conquest actions (activated on the Command space). Gaining a powerful conquest action early in the game can put you in a strong position going forward.

Hit Hard: Eivor has a pretty impressive suite of weapons and skills, allowing her to deal with fight challenges easier than a lot of other Assassins. This, combined with easy access to targets (through Odin's Sight) means you have all the tools you need to hit hard and go home.

Male Eivor (Collector's Edition Only): though Eivor Varinsdottir is canonically female, Assassin's Creed Valhalla also allows you to play the game as a male character - so the Collector's Edition includes an alternate character miniature, giving you the same choice on tabletop!

Altaïr (Assassin's Creed) - All Editions

Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad is one of the most renowned Assassins in the history of the Brotherhood. Born in1165 in the Holy Land, he lived during the time of the Third Crusade. Altaïr was raised in the Brotherhood from a young age, quickly rising through its ranks thanks to his exceptional skills, intellect, and determination. Despite his talents, his early arrogance and impulsiveness often clashed with the order’s principles. Through a pivotal mission, Altaïr’s journey became one of self-discovery and redemption, leading him to become a legendary Assassin.

The Third Crusade: Rival powers vie for control of the Holy Land. Venturing out from Masyaf, your travels will take you from Damascus to Acre and Jerusalem, as you make cunning use of bureaus and viewpoints to uncover Templar targets and conspiracies across these incredible cities.

Upgrades: Altaïr has unique cards called Upgrades which can be added to your draw deck. These cards are better than your starting cards, so focus on getting a couple early on in the game to give yourself an edge.

Resetting Your Deck: With Altaïr's upgrades and improved Calibration space (most Assassins only draw 3 cards when calibrating), returning to the Animus is not as much of a setback for you than it is for other players. If you have a few Upgrade cards in your discard, consider resyncing to reset your deck.

NEXT: Join us in Part 2 (of 3) for a look at more eras and characters, ranging from the Assassins of Renaissance Italy to the American Revolution.

Your Special Launch Offer

Now that you're ready to begin your own journey through the Animus, there's never been a better time to join the Brotherhood - because we're running a special launch offer until the end of November 2026.

Use code HIDDENONE at checkout and you'll save £8/€10/$13 on the or save £35/€39/$45 on the !

Need a reminder of what's in each box? Click below and we'll walk you through what comes in the two versions of the game so you can pick the right one for you:

Whichever edition you choose, orders are open and shipping now. (If you're after that Collector's Edition, don't wait around - it's a special limited print run, so when it's gone it's gone!)

Work in the dark to serve the light. The World of Assassin's Creed awaits.