Honestly, people give Ratonhnhaké:ton—most of us just call him Connor—a hard time. When Assassin's Creed 3 dropped back in 2012, everyone was still obsessed with Ezio Auditore's Italian charm and the Renaissance flair of the previous three games. Moving to the muddy, snow-covered forests of Colonial America felt like a cold shower. But if you actually look at the Assassin's Creed 3 assassins and the way the Brotherhood was rebuilt from the ashes of the Colonial Rite, there’s a level of grit and realism there that the series hasn't quite touched since.
It wasn’t about gold-trimmed robes. It was about survival.
The Colonial Brotherhood had been systematically wiped out by Shay Patrick Cormac during the events of Assassin's Creed Rogue. By the time Connor finds Achilles Davenport at the Homestead, the "Brotherhood" is literally just one grumpy old man in a rocking chair. That’s why the recruitment system in this game felt so personal. You weren't just clicking a menu button to hire "Assassin Recruit #4." You were saving specific people from the tyranny of the British occupation and the Templar influence in the colonies. These characters had names, backstories, and unique combat styles that made the Assassin's Creed 3 assassins feel like a genuine resistance cell rather than a faceless army.
The Faces Behind the Hood: Not Your Average Killers
When you start roaming the streets of Boston and New York, you realize that the recruits Connor picks up aren't traditional initiates. They’re angry, disenfranchised citizens. Take Stephane Chapheau, for instance. He’s the first one you get. He’s a French cook who gets so fed up with tax collectors that he starts a riot with a meat cleaver. That is such a departure from the "born into the Creed" vibe of the earlier games. Stephane doesn't care about the philosophy of "Nothing is true, everything is permitted" at first; he just wants the Redcoats out of his kitchen.
Then there’s Jamie Colley in New York, a doctor trying to fight the smallpox outbreaks while the Templars exploit the sick. Or Deborah "Dobby" Carter, who disguises herself as a man just to work and gather intel. These are the Assassin's Creed 3 assassins that built the foundation of the American branch. They represented the different facets of the Revolution—the medical, the culinary, the blue-collar, and the desperate.
The gameplay mechanics for these guys were actually pretty deep, even if the UI didn't always make that obvious. Each recruit had a specific "specialty" move. You could have them start a riot to distract guards, or have them dress up as British soldiers to "escort" Connor into a restricted area like a prisoner. It was tactical. It felt like you were actually leading a cell of insurgents.
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Why the Homestead Matters for the Lore
You can't talk about the assassins in this game without talking about the Homestead. Some players skipped the Homestead missions because they felt like "filler," but that’s where the soul of the game lives. It’s where Connor learns that being an Assassin isn't just about the hidden blade. It’s about community.
As you recruit people to live on the Davenport lands—the woodworkers, the blacksmiths, the hunters—you're building a microcosm of the world Connor wants to see. A world where different races and professions coexist without a crown over their heads. Achilles Davenport, despite his cynicism, acts as the bridge between the old world and this new, messy American experiment. His relationship with Connor is arguably the most complex mentor-student dynamic in the entire franchise. It’s built on grief, failure, and a very reluctant kind of hope.
The Templar Influence: A Mirror Image
The reason the Assassin's Creed 3 assassins had such a steep hill to climb was because the Templar Order in the colonies was actually... well, they had a point. This is what Assassin's Creed 3 did better than almost any other entry. It made the villains human. Haytham Kenway, Charles Lee, and Thomas Hickey weren't just mustache-twirling bad guys. They were trying to bring order to a chaotic frontier.
When Connor confronts his father, Haytham, the dialogue is incredible. Haytham argues that the Assassins' obsession with freedom is just a recipe for chaos. He points out that the "freedom" Connor is fighting for doesn't actually include his own people, the Kanien'kehá:ka. And he’s right. That’s the tragedy of the Assassin's Creed 3 assassins. They won the war for the Americans, but they lost the peace for themselves.
Tactical Mastery in the American Wilderness
Let's get into the nitty-gritty of how these assassins operated. The shift from dense European cities to the sprawling Frontier changed everything about the "Assassin" archetype. Connor is a predator. His movement through the trees—the "tree-running" system—was a mechanical revelation at the time.
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- The Rope Dart: This tool, gifted by the Chinese Assassin Shao Jun (in the lore), turned Connor into a terrifying force. Hanging a guard from a tree limb while you vanish into the shadows is the peak of the Assassin's Creed 3 assassins experience.
- Dual Counters: The combat system allowed for double-counters, where Connor would take out two Redcoats simultaneously in a highly choreographed, brutal animation.
- Naval Command: We can't forget the Aquila. While Black Flag perfected naval combat, it started here. Connor was a Captain as much as he was a Master Assassin.
The versatility of the tools—trip mines, snares, the bow and arrow—reflected the hybrid nature of Connor’s heritage. He took the refined techniques of the European Assassins and fused them with the survivalist skills of the Mohawk. It made him arguably the most physically imposing protagonist in the series. He doesn't flow like Ezio; he hits like a freight train.
The Forgotten Legacy of the Colonial Rite
A lot of people think the Brotherhood died with Achilles or ended with Connor. But the Assassin's Creed 3 assassins actually set the stage for the entire modern era of the Creed. The lessons Connor learned about the "gray areas" of politics and revolution are what defined the Brotherhood's move into the 19th century.
It’s also worth noting the sheer difficulty of their mission. In Assassin's Creed 2, Ezio had the support of the Medicis and half of Italy's nobility. In Assassin's Creed 3, Connor is an outcast. He's a Native American man in a country that is actively trying to displace his people. He’s fighting for a Continental Army that often views him with suspicion. The resilience required to be one of the Assassin's Creed 3 assassins is on a whole different level.
The ending of the game is famously bittersweet. Connor watches the British leave, but he also sees his people’s land being sold off. He realizes that the Templars weren't the only ones who could be oppressive. It’s a sophisticated narrative that respects the player’s intelligence. It tells us that sometimes, even when the Assassins "win," the world remains a complicated, unfair place.
Re-evaluating Connor’s Recruits
If you go back and play the game today, pay closer attention to the recruitment missions.
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- Clipper Wilkinson in the South District of New York is a sharpshooter who brings long-range lethality to your squad.
- Duncan Little is an Irishman who brings a more traditional, brawling style to the mix.
When you send these recruits on "Contracts" across the colonies, you aren't just leveling them up for stats. You’re actually seeing the map change. The Templar icons vanish. The influence of the Order wanes. It’s a slow, methodical reclamation of a continent.
How to Maximize Your Assassin Brotherhood in AC3
If you're jumping back into the Remastered version or dusting off an old copy, don't just rush the main story. You'll miss the best parts of the Assassin's Creed 3 assassins experience.
First, hit the Liberation missions early. You want your recruits unlocked by the time you reach the mid-game. Each recruit you add makes Connor exponentially more powerful in open-world segments. If you get overwhelmed by a squad of Jaegers, calling in a "Bodyguard" or an "Ambush" from your recruits can save your life.
Second, do the Homestead missions as they appear. They provide the materials needed to craft the best gear in the game, including the dual-holsters which let you carry more pistols. More importantly, they provide the emotional context that makes Connor’s journey feel earned.
Third, pay attention to the "Recruit Conversations" in taverns. If you go to a tavern where your recruits are hanging out, you can actually sit down and talk to them. They’ll tell you more about their lives, their families, and why they chose to follow a man like Connor. It’s some of the best writing in the game and most players completely miss it.
The Assassin's Creed 3 assassins weren't just a group of guys in hoods. They were a ragtag collection of rebels, chefs, doctors, and hunters who stood up when the world felt like it was ending. They might not have the glamour of the Parisian Assassins or the mystery of the Egyptian Hidden Ones, but they have a heart that is uniquely American—rugged, flawed, and incredibly persistent.
Next Steps for Players:
- Complete all Liberation missions in North and South Boston and New York to unlock all six unique Assassin recruits.
- Visit taverns frequently to trigger the optional dialogue sequences with your recruits to unlock the full narrative depth of your Brotherhood.
- Prioritize the "Big Game Hunter" and "Blacksmith" Homestead missions to ensure you have the resources to upgrade Connor’s specialized Assassin tools early in the game.
- Experiment with the "Covert Escort" ability during high-notoriety missions to see a completely different side of the game’s stealth mechanics.