Guild Challenges Walkthrough - Guide for Assassin's Creed: Revelations

No ASCII art. No editorializing. No fluff. No pampering.
        Straight strategy.

ASSASSIN'S CREED: REVELATIONS
Guild Challenges Walkthrough and FAQ
version 1.00

Written by C. S. Halloran ©2011

****LEGAL DISCLAIMER****

Assassin's Creed: Revelations, along with all other productions of the 
Assassin's Creed series, are the sole intellectual and trademark domain of
Ubisoft and its subsidiaries. References the content of the video game for 
entertainment purposes only and makes no claim, explicit or implicit, to be 
the owner of such.

The content of this guide is copyrighted under the guidelines of U.S. Title 17
and international laws where applicable.  It is the full and sole property of
its author and owner and cannot be reproduced, republished, or amended without
the explicit written consent of its owner.  Any person(s) or organization(s)
found violating this copyright is/are punishable by law and will be prosecuted
to the fullest extent of the law.  Publication is allowed only on
www.gamefaqs.com.


****VERSION HISTORY****

1.00 - 23 November 2011 - First draft finished.



****TABLE of CONTENTS****


I. Introduction						[INTR]
   A. About the Walkthrough				  [BOUT]
   B. Contacting the Author				  [MAIL]

II. About the Challenges                                [CHLN]

III. Assassin's Guild Challenges                        [ASGC]
     A. Challenge Set 1                                   [ASGC1]
     B. Challenge Set 2                                   [ASGC2]
     C. Challenge Set 3                                   [ASGC3]

IV. Mercenaries Guild Challenges                        [MCGC]
    A. Challenge Set 1                                    [MCGC1]
    B. Challenge Set 2                                    [MCGC2]
    C. Challenge Set 3                                    [MCGC3]

V. Romanies Guild Challenges                            [RMGC]
   A. Challenge Set 1                                     [RMGC1]
   B. Challenge Set 2                                     [RMGC2]
   C. Challenge Set 3                                     [RMGC3]

VI. Thieves Guild Challenges                            [TVGC]
    A. Challenge Set 1                                    [TVGC1]
    B. Challenge Set 2                                    [TVGC2]
    C. Challenge Set 3                                    [TVGC3]

VII. Bomb Challenges                                    [PRBC]
     A. Challenge Set 1                                   [PRBC1]
     B. Challenge Set 2                                   [PRBC2]

VIII. FAQ                                               [FAQS]


==============================================================================

I. Introduction						[INTRO]

   A. About the Walkthrough				[BOUT]

This is my second published guide that I have written and the first in years.
I write this for the "veteran" of the Assassin's Creed series; that is, new
'initiates' to the series will need to spend time familiarizing themselves 
with the mechanics of the game, especially combat, replaying memories, and the
map and its legend. This, by no means, is meant to imply that the novice will 
be lost.  Indeed, everybody should be able to utilize and gain from this 
walkthrough,  but I shan't be treating you, my reader, like an idiot who needs 
me to hold  their hand through the game.

This is SPOILER-FREE with the exception of some new forms of combat that Ezio 
learns in the early missions of the game.

Assassin's Creed: Revelations is having veteran authors produce well-written 
guides. For the majority of what you must accomplish to achieve 100% 
synchronization. This is limited solely to the Challenges.

Have suggestions for improvement, alternate strategies, or found a mistake? 
Please, tell me, and I will correct and give due credit.  Know when an outfit 
or vehicle becomes available and I don't have it there, definitely tell me. 
(Be honest and tell me if you know this fact from another FAQ and/or website. 
Give me the URL of the guide, and I will give credit to both you and your 
source.)


___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___

   B. Contacting the Author				[MAIL]

E-mail C. S. Halloran at his Gmail account. The username is my name as written 
on the above line sans the periods and the spaces. I will neither be able nor 
inclined to reply  to all e-mails, depending upon their quality and content on 
the latter point.  Please take it on faith that I have received the e-mail and 
will address it in the walkthrough's next update.

*****READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE E-MAILING ME*****

I feel it should be unnecessary to say this, but in your e-mails, please BE AS
SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE when referencing challenges and/or this guide.  Name the 
challenge or tell me precisely where in this walkthrough I erred and/or failed 
to figure out a better strategy.  I am not psychic and will not be able to 
magically discern what you meant.  If I cannot understand what you are getting 
at quickly, then I am not going to even try.  Attempts to be specific that say 
"the mission where you the killed that guy..." or something equally vague will 
be considered failures at specificity.

I will ignore rude e-mails and e-mails that have incomprehensible grammar, 
syntax, and/or spelling.  (That especially includes text messaging and IM 
lingo.)  I have take the time to write this FAQ clearly; return the favor.

Read ALL of a section before asking me a question about it.  If it is answered
already in this FAQ, I reserve the right to be snide, rude, and/or sarcastic
when and if I reply.

If it is beyond the scope of these Challenges, I will ignore you. You ought to
know that you should consult an appropriate walkthrough or FAQ.


==============================================================================

II. About the Challenges                                [CHLN]

For those who must have 100% Synchronization, these Challenges are necessary, 
time-consuming, and potentially frustrating. Most can be fulfilled during 
normal gameplay, but doing so requires conscientiousness and diligence. Each 
challenge is organized in two or three sets. The sets can be completed in any 
order. The reason for the sets is that you receive a reward upon the 
completion of the challenges belong to each set.

The good thing is that these Challenges open up early in the game during 
Sequence 2. This gives you plenty of time to casually and/or occasionally do 
the tasks to satisfy all requirements.

I suggest that you combine your pursuit of their fulfillment with your moving 
around Constantinople collecting Treasure Chests and Animus fragments, sending 
your Assassin recruits on missions, and recruiting new assassins to replace 
Level 10 assassins you establish in dens in other cities. That said, some 
challenges may best be fulfilled through a focused campaign, particularly if 
your style of gameplay involves solving the problem of guards' alert level 
with combat.

The format of this guide will be:

  Challenge ------ Repetitions
       Strategy or notes


==============================================================================

III. Assassin's Guild Challenges                        [ASGC]

     A. Challenge Set 1                                   [ASGC1]
        Reward: Assassins will be more effective when sent on missions. -- 
                The probability of success of the first Assassin recruit sent 
                on a mission will be ten percentage points higher.

  Call Assassins during a fight ----- 25 
       When in missions, after Ezio has entered combat mode, squeeze L2. 
       However, in missions, there is the tendency to focus on the objectives 
       as opposed to these Challenges. Pick fights with the groups of guards 
       around Constantinople. If you let your Assassins do the actual killing, 
       then the effect on your Templar Awareness meter will be nonexistent or 
       negligible.

  Call Assassins on a target ----- 20
       Target a highlighted guard with R1; then squeeze L2 to signal your 
       Assassin recruits. Try focusing on rooftop guards to kill to birds (the 
       guards and this challenge) with one stone.


     B. Challenge Set 2                                   [ASGC2]
        Reward: Assassin Signal recharges at increased speed. -- As this is a 
                highly valuable reward from a practical standpoint, I 
                recommend an early focus on this pair of challenges.

  Use Arrow Storm ----- 15
       Squeeze and hold L2 in the presence of enemy soldiers. (Note: 
       Janissaries may only be wounded by this.) As a significant amount of 
       time is required to let all three Assassin Signals recharge and as it 
       requires that you have at least six Assassin recruits not on a mission, 
       I recommend doing calling for these Assassin's Signals immediately 
       before visiting an aviary or Assassins den to send the recruits on 
       their missions.

       NOTE -- In Sequence 8, Memory 1, you receive an unlimited number of
       Assassins Signals, if you care to wait that long.

  Call your Assassins within a story mission ----- 5
       You can call your Assassins both in core missions and in side missions.


     C. Challenge Set 3                                   [ASGC3]
        Reward: Unlocks the Assassin faction weapon. -- Altaïr's Sword
                (Damage: 4/5, Speed: 3/5, Deflect: 4/5)

                NOTE -- This is not the best weapon of the game as is the 
                case in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Yusuf's Turkish Kijil
                (the reward for completing the Master Assassin mission 'The 
                Deacon Part 1') is the best, followed by the Almogovar Axe 
                (the reward for completing the Master Assassin mission 'The 
                Champion Part 1').

  Recruit Assassins ----- 12
       In other words, kill up all available slots in your active set of 
       unassigned Assassin recruits.

  Train recruits to the rank of Master Assassin ----- 7
       Complete all 14 Master Assassin missions after assigning a Level 10
       Assassin to each of Constantinople's 7 Assassin dens. This requires 
       that each of these seven recruits earn 15,500 XP from missions first.

  Successfully perform a Den Defense --- 3
       Den Defenses can and generally will be instigated when your Templar
       Awareness meter reaches 100%.

       NOTE -- Once all 7 Assassin dens have a Level 15 Master Assassin, they 
       can no longer be attacked. If you had not successfully defended a den
       three times due to a continual lack of success or due to diligence in 
       keeping your Templar Awareness meter under 100%, then you are given 
       full credit for this challenge.


==============================================================================

IV. Mercenaries Guild Challenges                        [MCGC]
    A. Challenge Set 1                                    [MCGC1]
        Reward: Cost of hiring Mercenaries decreases. -- The price drops by
                one-half from 150 akçe to 75 akçe. 

  Use Mercenaries on guards ----- 10
       If you are especially frugal, you can achieve this by purchasing the 
       services of a single group of mercenaries, for each segment of battle 
       into which you send them counts separately to this total. This saves 
       you 1350 akçe.

  Destroy scaffold by throwing someone into it ----- 5
       Scaffold are not at plentiful along guards' roots as they seemed to be 
       in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, so you will need to lure guards near 
       one. Good places include among the first streets south of the docks in 
       Imperial North and Bayezid North. I suggest getting their attention 
       using the Hook and Run method to give you an ample head start. Stop 
       just past the scaffolding, and immediately enter combat mode. Then, 
       simply grab an opponent with Circle, and use L3 to direct him towards 
       the scaffolding with another press of Circle.

  Kill an enemy using a thrown weapon ----- 5
       This requires a heavy weapon, which you can purchase from Blacksmiths 
       starting in Sequence 2 or you can get from picking up the dropped arms 
       of Almogovars. Target an enemy, press and hold Square. Release to 
       throw. If the weapon was your primary long blade, you can re-equip by 
       picking it up, visiting the armory in Headquarters, or visiting a 
       Blacksmith and selecting that weapon.

       NOTE -- As this requires wind up time, which leaves Ezio vulnerable to 
       attack, it is safest not to use this strategy while in active combat. 
       Also, immediately hold R2 to switch to your short weapon to rearm Ezio,
       unless you plan to disarm an opponent.


    B. Challenge Set 2                                    [MCGC2]
        Rewards: Unlocks Mercenary Faction ability. -- Hired mercenaries act 
                 as bodyguards, keeping inquisitive guards and harassers away.
                 Mercenaries Guild crest is awarded in Headquarters.

  Disarm and kill a guard with his own weapon ----- 5
       If you remember to engage in combat mode unarmed, this is simple.

  Kill a Byzantime Almogovar ----- 25
       These axe-bearing, heavily armed guards become increasingly common as 
       you progress through the sequences. Normal gameplay will satisfy this
       challenge easily.

  Perform a Hook and Throw ----- 10
       Run towards an enemy and tap Circle as you approach. I recommend 
       combining this with Assassin's Guild Set 1's challenge to call Assassin
       recruits into combat with you since you automatically enter combat upon 
       completion of this move.


    C. Challenge Set 3                                    [MCGC3]
       Reward: Unlocks Mercenary Faction weapon. -- Broadsword (Damage: 5/5, 
               Speed: 4/5, Deflect: 4/5)

  Perform a Double Assassination ----- 10
       Assassinations from above or by walking between two guards count. 
       Normal gameplay will satisfy this challenge easily.

  Kill 5 Guards in under 10 seconds in melee ----- 1
       The only challenge could be gathering 5 guards about you. Normal combat 
       gameplay will satisfy this challenge easily.

  Perform a combo kill streak of at least 5 kills ----- 10
       This must be completed in the earlier sequences, for by Sequence 8, 
       every set of guards contains at least one Janissary. Janissaries 
       require three hits in combo kills or counter-kills to dispatch them.
       Use Hook and Run to collect guards to chase after you before starting 
       combat. Around Templar-controlled dens is a good place. Sequence 4, 
       Memory 3 is a good mission to repeat until you satisfy this challenge.

  Kill an Ottoman Janissary ----- 25
       Janissaries are highly recognizable for their masks. If you wish to 
       satisfy this earlier in the game, you can find four Janissaries 
       stationed in the westernmost courtyard of the Galata district, directly 
       west from a Tailor's shop. The Janissaries have a camp in Constantine 
       North, just east of Fatih Mosque, if you are an expert in combat.


==============================================================================

V. Romanies Guild Challenges                            [RMGC]
   A. Challenge Set 1                                     [RMGC1]
      Reward: Cost of hiring Romanies decreases. -- The price drops by one-
                -half from 150 akçe to 75 akçe. 

  Use Romanies on guards ----- 10
       As few mission require using Romanies as decoys, I suggest hiring 
       Romanies as you come across them, and send them to distract patrolling 
       guards until you satisfy this challenge.

  Evade using stealth (crowd/hiding spots) ----- 10
       To those who find combat an easier way to deal with enemy awareness, 
       this challenge is annoying. Hiding spots are not as plentiful. The
       average building is taller, requiring more climbing time, and crossing 
       district borders means you lose the guards rather easily. If you can
       run and be watchful for groups of citizens speaking in the streets when 
       you are out of sight, find a blend spot is easier.

  Kill guards using the crossbow without being detected ----- 20
       Rooftop guards are the easiest targets, followed by station targets 
       that you shoot from rooftops.


   B. Challenge Set 2                                     [RMGC2]
      Rewards: Unlocks Romani Faction ability. -- Romanies that peal away from 
               Ezio when you walk too near will poison those guards.
               Romanies Guild crest is awarded in the Headquarters.

  Use Tactical Bombs to escape guards ----- 10
       The best bombs to use are either Caltrop Bomb or Smoke Screen (active 
       ingredient: phosphorous). I recommend using a hide spot or group of 
       citizens to combine satisfying this challenge with Set 1 above.

  Kill a Stalker without getting stabbed ----- 5
       Stalkers attack randomly when you are on street level, but they are 
       especially prevalent when your Templar Awareness meter is full. Press 
       Square to kill them quickly after the animation begins.

       NOTE -- Loot Stalkers' corpses for a rich haul.

  Kill guards using poison ----- 15
       The Datura Bomb is the easiest, if you find guards separated from 
       civilians, such as during missions, but as Fast Poison is available 
       early in the game (Sequence 2), traditional darts work, too.


   C. Challenge Set 3                                     [RMGC3]
      Reward: Unlocks Romani Faction weapon. -- Roman Stiletto (Damage: 5/5, 
              Speed: 3/5, Deflect: 4/5)

  Kill guards using bombs without being spotted ----- 20
       The Piri Reis missions will help get through this challenge, but any 
       bomb throw from a distance or from a rooftop will suffice.

  Assassinate a guard from behind ----- 10
       Normal gameplay will quickly satisfy this challenge. Rooftop guards are 
       especially easy targets.

  Assassinate a guard from a blend spot ----- 5
       Normal gameplay will satisfy this challenge. To help it along, as not
       too many guards' patrol routes pass haystacks and other blend spots, 
       throw a Diversion Bomb, such as a Cherry Bomb (active ingredient: 
       sulfur) or Smoke Decoy (active ingredient: Salt of Petra), at a 
       haystack when guards are in the area. Enter the haystack, and kill the 
       guard(s) who come to investigate.

  Kill 3 enemies dazed by a single smoke bomb before it dissipates ----- 1
       Make the strongest Smoke Screen bomb (active ingredient: phosphorous) 
       using Impact Shells and British Gunpowder. Throw it at the feet of a
       group of guards, and with Eagle Vision activated, enter the smoke. To 
       ensure you have enough time, aim for a double assassination for your 
       first kill.


==============================================================================

VI. Thieves Guild Challenges                            [TVGC]
    A. Challenge Set 1                                    [TVGC1]
       Reward: Cost of hiring the Thief Faction decreases. -- The cost drops 
               by one-half from 150 akçe to 75 akçe.

  Use Thieves on guards ----- 10
       A few missions require the use of thieves, but not nearly enough to
       satisfy this challenge. Hire thieves as you pass them, directing them 
       to lure away whichever set of guards you next come across.

  Sprint uninterrupted for 300 meters ------ 1
       The creek bed that separates Constantine North and South or the gardens 
       south of Hagia Sofia are the best locations. Neither has an open 
       distance of 300 meters, so careful turns are necessary.

  Perform a Hook and Run ----- 15
       Some later missions in Sequences 7 and 8 require you to bypass guards, 
       but this is best combined with Assassins Guild, Set 1 challenges and/or 
       collecting guards for Mercenaries Guild, Set 3 combo-kill challenge.


    B. Challenge Set 2                                    [TVGC2]
       Rewards: Unlocks the Thief Faction ability. -- Hired thieves will steal
                from the civilians and the dead bodies they pass as they 
                follow Ezio.
                Thieves Guild crest is awarded in the Headquarters.

  Perform a Leap of Faith ----- 40
       Normal gameplay will quickly satisfy this challenge.

  Climb a total distance of 1 km ----- 1
       Normal gameplay will quickly satisfy this challenge. If you wish to 
       speed things along, climbing Galata Tower a couple will quickly rack up 
       your climbed distance.

  Steal money with a Counter Steal ----- 250 akçe
       In combat, before you use Counter-Kill for Mercenary Guild, Set 3 or 
       call Assassin recruits from Assassins Guild, Set 1, do a Counter Steal.
       (Press Triangle when you would normally press Square for a Counter 
       Kill.) This is easy if you remember to do it, and it will require but 
       six through ten victims.


    C. Challenge Set 3                                    [TVGC3]
       Reward: Unlocks the Thief Faction weapon. -- Ottoman Mace (Damage: 4/5; 
               Speed: 4/5; Deflect: 2/5)

  Perform a dive of at least 30 meters ----- 1
       The tower ramparts along the south of Constantinople are ideal. Merely 
       remember to press X after jumping over water to enter into a dive.

  Kill a guard using throwing knives ----- 25
       Normal gameplay will satisfy this challenge easily.

  Perform an air assassination on guards from a beam ----- 5
       Use Eagle Sense to identify guards' routes. Perch along a beam over a 
       street, and air assassinate the guards when them come along.

  Perform a zipline assassination ----- 10
       Opportunities for these are not as prevalent as you might think. Some
       ziplines in Constantine South, east-southeast of the Romanies Guild 
       headquarters, provide a couple opportunities to accrue kills. Three 
       memories (Sequence 2, Memories 5 and 7; Sequence 5, Memory 3) include a 
       zipline kill as a part of the mission.



==============================================================================

VII. Bomb Challenges                                    [PRBC]
     NOTE -- Doing the Piri Reis missions, available after Sequence 3, Memory 
             4, will help you along these challenges well.

     A. Challenge Set 1                                   [PRBC1]
        Reward: Extra bomb ingredients found within Dens.

  Stick a bomb on a guard ----- 10
       Use the Stick Pouch. There is a five second fuse, so if you are 
       noticed, be sure to run.

  Kill a mission target with a bomb ----- 1
       Normal gameplay will satisfy this challenge easily.

  Distract a guard using bombs ----- 20
       Use Diversion bombs as you come across guards as you seek the Treasure 
       Chests, et al.

  Kill 5 guards with a single bomb ----- 1
       You want to use a Splinter Bomb (active ingredient: shrapnel) with an 
       Impact Shell and British Gunpowder. The only challenge to this is 
       finding a place with 5 guards unaware of your presence so that you can
       safely deploy a bomb. Seek the Bank in the Bayezid North district, 
       which is southwest of the westernmost ferry terminal. Two guard routes 
       overlap but a few meters west of the Bank. A little patience for the
       guards' routes to synchronize, and you will have 8 guards. I suggest 
       that you pre-target a spot, holding Triangle until the guards are in 
       your bloats radius. Other spots include along the docks of the Bayezid 
       North and Imperial North districts. Sets of guards congregate near the
       gates, and patrolling guards will periodically pass nearby.


     B. Challenge Set 2                                   [PRBC2]
        Reward: Bomb capacity upgrade. -- Ezio can now carry four of each bomb 
                type.

  Craft a bomb with every shell type ----- 1
       Make any type of bomb with a Fuse Shell, Impact Shell, Trip Wire, and 
       Stick Pouch. Using them is not necessary.

  Use a bomb ----- 50
       Normal gameplay will satisfy this challenge easily.

  Kill a guard incapacitated by a bomb ----- 25
       Normal gameplay will satisfy this challenge easily. The Master Assassin 
       'The Champion Part 2' essentially requires using Stink Bombs or Smoke 
       Decoys, which provide a fertile play to accrue your 25 kills.

  Craft one bomb of each effect type ----- 1
       There are ten types of effects (3 Lethal, 3 Tactical, 4 Diversion). A 
       little time at a crafting table will easily satisfy this challenge.

  Use every bomb effect at least twice ----- 1
       The Piri Reis missions will satisfy one-half of these and get you 
       halfway through another two of the effects. The Blood Bomb (active 
       ingredient: lamb's blood), the Stink Bomb (active ingredient: skunk 
       oil), and the Gold Bomb (active ingredient: pyrite coins) must still be 
       used twice. The Splinter Bomb (active ingredient: shrapnel) and the 
       Thunder Bomb (active ingredient: coal dust) must be used once more, 
       which you could do by repeating the 'Sticky Situations' and 'Thunder' 
       missions.


==============================================================================

VIII. FAQ                                               [FAQS]

     Nothing yet.


==============================================================================