Villains have come and gone. But Assassin's Creed's rich history invites fans to revisit their favorites. Some of these beloved villains were extremely human and often fought for deep personal gain. Some only wanted power. Throughout the video game series, Templars known by many names hunt for "Pieces of Eden", incredibly powerful artifacts of a forgotten civilization.
With these artifacts, Templars would be an unstoppable force. But the world doesn't have to worry. Ezio and his many brothers and sisters are on the case. Defeating these enigmatic figures throughout the years can be hard. Many of these Templars are strong even without a "Piece of Eden".
10 Haytham Kenway
Haytham Kenway solidified himself as one of the strongest templars in the third entry of the franchise. Cunning, quick, and charming; Haytham tricked new players into thinking he was an experienced assassin. But Haytham chose a different path.
His desire for power and order led him to rule the American Colonial Templar Order. Once taking control of Connor, players come toe to toe with cruelty at the hands of Haytham's men. Deadly and smart, strength isn't just muscles for Haytham. It's his ability to command.
9 El Tiburon
Strength is muscles for El Tiburon. The notorious bodyguard of Spanish Governor Torres is an armored brute. While his motives remain a mystery, his actions are obviously cruel. With no true backstory to the armored man, his strength is measured by his ability to knock out, kill, and maim just about everyone that he interacts with throughout the events of Assassin's Creed IV. But, while he may be strong, Edward Kenway is smarter and more resourceful. El Tiburon suffers his fate at the hands of Edward Kenway and is delivered his final rites.
8 Shahkulu
Shahkulu was a powerful templar not only for his commanding presence and leadership. But for his untamed cruelty. Unlike certain templars, Shahkulu kills for pleasure. Working with the main villain of Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Shahkulu operated as a right-hand man in an attempt to restore the Byzantine Empire. In his final fight, Shahkulu denied Ezio an assassination and prompted a duel to the death. But Ezio survives the altercation and finishes Shahkulu; ignoring his own wounds.
7 Cesare Borgia
During the events of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Cesare Borgia declares himself the leader of the Italian Templars. Then promptly kills his father in a bid for power. With Templars and soldiers both at his side, Cesare Borgia cements himself as one of the most powerful templars in the franchise. Deadly, ambitious, and charming; Ezio finds himself struggling on his own. Luckily, this entry in the series is called "Brotherhood". With allies all across Rome, Ezio is able to combat Cesare's forces. Ezio and Cesare face off amid the Siege of Viana atop the castle walls. Near the end of the fight, Ezio throws Cesare off the castle walls to his death.
6 Crawford Starrick
While he didn't have an army, Crawford Starrick owned a city. As a businessman in Victorian London, Crawford had his fingers in the pot. His factories created jobs for many in the city and even employed children. Influential, Smart, and well known; Starrick was a modern king. When he had problems, his gangs solved them. Upon acquiring the Shroud, a piece of clothing with ancient power, Starrick was close to an unstoppable force. But the Frye Twins quickly put an end to Starrick's hold over London and killed him.
5 Deimos
The Cult of Kosmos was the first incarnation of the Templar Order that appeared in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey. Deimos, the forgotten sibling of Kassandra, was considered a demi-god by those among the cult. While stupid and stubborn, Deimos was an extremely strong warrior. Molded to do the Cult's bidding,
Deimos showed little remorse for others as he mercilessly killed many. Unlike others on the list, Deimos's fate is not a sad one. Deimos eventually recalls who he was before the cult took him in as a child and breaks his mental binds to assist Kassandra in her Odyssey.
4 Francois-Thomas Germain
Francois Germain was a silversmith, sage and Grand Master of the French Templar Order. As a sage, he was the reincarnation of an Isu; members of the first civilization. Using his knowledge as both a templar and a sage, Francois led the Templars into an age of secrecy and deception. Unlike previous Templars, Germain promoted chaos within the French Revolution to end the monarchy within France. Francois was eventually killed by Arno Dorian in an act of revenge. Germain's large set of abilities and his use of the Sword of Eden, made him one of the strongest Templars in the franchise.
3 Al Mualim
The notorious Grand Mentor of the Assassins in the first entry of the franchise. While he served as an assassin for several years, his own desire for a Piece of Eden drew him to side with the Templar Order, using disgraced assassin Altair to do his bidding. In his final moments after betraying the assassins and Altair, Al Mualim explains that nothing is true and everything is allowed. Using the Piece of Eden, he attempts to kill Altair by creating copies of himself. Then, on his dying breath, Al Mualim defended his use of the Piece of Eden to create a better world and told Altair he could not destroy the artifact.
2 Rodrigo Borgia
The climax of Assassin's Creed II has players come face to face with the notorious Rodrigo Borgia. The hooded man responsible for the death of Ezio's two brothers and his father. Even without the famed Apple of Eden, Rodrigo was a powerful Templar and Pope with large influence that spread across Italy. Once Ezio obtained the Apple of Eden, he used it against Rodrigo in the final fight of Assassin's Creed II. Though Rodrigo survives the final fight, his own son Cesare Borgia later kills him. Fans have long claimed Rodrigo Borgia to be the strongest Templar in the order.
1 King Washington
Using the power of the Apple of Eden, George Washington crowned himself and ruled over the Kingdom of The United States. Of course, this is an alternate reality. King Washington uses this new found power to harshly rule the United States with famous Americans to carry out his bidding. Benjamin Franklin, Israel Putnam and Benedict Arnold all serve King Washington. Connor wakes as a member of his family's tribe, fighting side by side with his mother. Fighting to end the reign of The King. King Washington, though in an alternate reality, carries the mantel as King and strongest of the templars with his many powerful abilities.