Welcome, fellow Assassin, to the ultimate Assassin’s Creed 2 Collectibles Guide! Exploring the vibrant cities of Renaissance Italy as Ezio Auditore da Firenze is an unforgettable experience, but true mastery involves uncovering every secret. Collecting all items in Assassin’s Creed 2 is not just about completion; it unlocks crucial lore, special gear, and valuable achievements or trophies.
This guide is designed to help you systematically find every collectible, ensuring you don’t miss a single feather, glyph, or secret location. Prepare to dive deep into Florence, Venice, Forlì, San Gimignano, and the Tuscan countryside to achieve 100% synchronization.
Understanding Assassin’s Creed 2 Collectibles
Assassin’s Creed 2 features several distinct types of collectibles, each offering unique rewards and challenges. Knowing what to look for and why it matters is the first step to a successful collection.
Feathers: Ezio’s Grief and Reward
The most numerous collectible in Assassin’s Creed 2, feathers are scattered across all major locations. There are 100 feathers in total, and collecting them all is a poignant side quest for Ezio. Each feather represents a step towards healing from past tragedies.
Quantity: 100 feathers.
Locations: Florence, Venice, Tuscan Countryside, Forlì, San Gimignano.
Reward: Collecting all 100 feathers unlocks the Auditore Cape, a unique garment that makes Ezio notorious in every city, ensuring guards will always be hostile. It also grants the ‘Vitruvian Man’ achievement/trophy.
Tips for Finding Feathers:
Purchase treasure maps from art merchants in each city; these reveal feather locations on your map.
Listen carefully for a distinct shimmering sound when a feather is nearby.
Feathers are often found on rooftops, ledges, and sometimes in hidden corners at ground level.
Utilize Ezio’s Eagle Vision to spot feathers from a distance, as they glow faintly.
Glyphs: Unraveling ‘The Truth’
Glyphs are a unique type of collectible that reveal pieces of a larger puzzle known as ‘The Truth’. These are found on specific landmarks and require Ezio to solve a small puzzle to unlock a video clip.
Quantity: 20 glyphs.
Locations: Hidden on famous historical buildings across Florence, Venice, Forlì, and San Gimignano.
Reward: Solving all 20 glyph puzzles and watching their corresponding videos unlocks a final, shocking video that reveals a major plot twist about Subject 16 and the First Civilization. It also grants the ‘Myth Maker’ achievement/trophy.
Tips for Finding Glyphs:
Glyphs are often very faint markings on walls; using Eagle Vision is crucial to make them visible.
Consult online guides or maps if you’re struggling, as their exact locations can be tricky.
Each glyph presents a different kind of puzzle, ranging from image rotation to code breaking. Take your time to understand each one.
Assassin’s Tombs and Templar Lairs: Secret Locations
These special missions are not just collectibles but offer unique parkour challenges and combat encounters. They provide valuable rewards and deepen the lore of the Assassin’s Creed universe.
Assassin’s Tombs (6 in total):
Locations: Scattered across Florence, Venice, and the Tuscan Countryside.
Reward: Each tomb contains a Seal of the Assassin. Collecting all six seals unlocks Altaïr’s Armor, the best armor set in the game, providing superior defense and health regeneration. It also grants the ‘Undertaker’ achievement/trophy.
Tips: These are marked on your map as skull icons. They are essentially mini-dungeons that test your platforming skills.
Templar Lairs (3 in total, DLC):
Locations: Two in Florence (‘Palazzo Medici’ and ‘Santa Maria dei Frari’), one in Venice (‘Arsenal Shipyard’).
Reward: Completing these Lairs provides additional florins and unlocks the ‘Master Assassin’ achievement/trophy.
Tips: These Lairs were originally pre-order bonuses or DLC. They offer similar gameplay to Assassin’s Tombs but are generally more combat-focused.
Codex Pages: Leonardo’s Insights
The Codex Pages are crucial to Ezio’s journey, containing the wisdom of Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad. These pages are collected throughout the main story, but a few can be missed if not careful.
Quantity: 30 pages.
Locations: Found in treasure chests, dropped by specific enemies, or given as quest rewards during story missions.
Reward: All Codex Pages must be collected and deciphered by Leonardo da Vinci to unlock the final mission of Assassin’s Creed 2 and reveal the location of the Apple of Eden.
Tips: Most Codex Pages are acquired automatically through story progression. Ensure you fully explore mission areas where they are indicated to be present.
Statues: The Auditore Family Legacy
These smaller collectibles are found exclusively within the Auditore Villa in Monteriggioni. They are dedicated to the Roman gods.
Quantity: 8 statues.
Location: Only in Monteriggioni, within the Villa Auditore’s grounds.
Reward: Placing all 8 statues on their respective pedestals around the Villa rewards Ezio with 8,000 florins, a significant boost to your economy.
Tips: The statues are relatively easy to find once you know where to look. They are usually nestled in alcoves or gardens around the Villa. The pedestals are clearly marked.
Strategies for Efficient Collecting
To make your Assassin’s Creed 2 collectibles hunt as smooth as possible, consider these general strategies:
Prioritize Treasure Maps: Always buy treasure maps from art merchants as soon as you enter a new city. This will save you countless hours of aimless searching.
Explore Systematically: Divide each city into districts. Focus on clearing all collectibles from one district before moving to the next.
Utilize Eagle Vision: This ability highlights collectibles and points of interest, making them easier to spot from rooftops or crowded streets.
Climb Everything: Many collectibles, especially feathers, are located on the highest points of buildings or precarious ledges. Embrace Ezio’s parkour skills.
Revisit Areas: Some collectibles might only become accessible after certain story events, or you might simply miss them on your first pass. Don’t hesitate to backtrack.
Consult Online Resources: If you’re truly stuck, detailed video guides and interactive maps are readily available online for every single collectible in Assassin’s Creed 2.
Conclusion: Master Every Secret in Assassin’s Creed 2
Collecting every item in Assassin’s Creed 2 is a rewarding endeavor that enriches your experience and truly completes Ezio’s journey. From the somber task of gathering feathers to unraveling the mysteries of the glyphs, each collectible plays a part in the grand narrative. By following this comprehensive Assassin’s Creed 2 Collectibles Guide, you are now equipped to find every hidden secret, unlock every reward, and achieve that coveted 100% synchronization. Dive back into the Renaissance and let no collectible escape your grasp!