All Assassin's Creed Protagonists Ranked

[@CatastrophicDisease]

You going through all these characters really made me realize how pretty much all of them had outstanding voice acting. It’s unfortunate that the writing didn’t always do the acting justice.

[@50.CalFilms]

I feel especially bad for shays voice actor because he was incredible

[@Doey135]

Apart from mirage, all of its awful, from every character

[@alyaasultan2172]

Evie's and Jacob's VA is barely/never spoken about unfortunately

[@Virtualsinner]

Edward's redemption is the core of what made Black flag stand out to me. The amount of change we see, only put into one game is astonishing. Ezio might be the better "assassin" character, but Edward is the better character in general. There are so many layers in this story that made him so tragic. Thanks to the awesome side characters.

[@Chadius_Thundercock]

Black flag is just straight up more fun than the other games as well. Only Unity is better with its co op, but apparently the servers for it were shut down

[@grayghost6704]

I used to think Bayek was kind of bland, but now that I’m replaying Origins I have a totally new appreciation. The way Aya totally cuts herself off from him at the end just hits so hard, she was his whole world after losing his son and now all he has left is the Hidden Ones. It’s just so poetic.

[@earnestc6110]

My thoughts exactly. I used to think he was more batman- ass and one dimensional than the other characters, but he expresses his sensitivity throughout the game. He is the best.

[@Sgt.chickens]

the only thing i didnt like was it seemed ham fisted the way they had to become hidden. aya just says "i was wrong to attack so brazenly in daylight" Ignoring the fact that Bayek has litterally become a well known Hero of egypt precisely because he woops everyones ass in public.

[@memecliparchives2254]

​@@Sgt.chickens Still doesn't take away that notoriety brings them trouble.

[@Sgt.chickens]

@@memecliparchives2254 Notoriwty brings trouble. But we litterally know the storyline of the future. Being sneaky doesnt do shit for them. Templars are stkll around fucking up the gaf. Its allways better to be a notorious hero when your fighting oppression. Even if you die you become a martyr

[@ronintair]

​@@Sgt.chickens shit you speak facts bro

[@ArgerasCZ]

God that Ezio speech at the start of Revelations always gives me goosebumps ''My story is one of many thousands, and the world will not suffer if it ends too soon''

[@MusicAllie24]

That was the trailer I watched continuously on repeat. His voice and the music...everything meshed perfectly. Pretty sure I played the game through around 6 times. Still miss Ezio...or maybe I miss having a main character I can actually enjoy connecting with emotionally.

[@davidcahill4670]

@@MusicAllie24 Would it help you if the character was non-binary yet still gay?

[@bk_dub7769]

It's good to see another person call out the Forest Gump syndrome of Connor. I've always felt that, too.

[@sosaysjay]

I think it was an interesting dichotomy to have Ratonhnhaké:ton (who feels so haphazardly written into his historical context) and Edward (who fits so naturally in his) only a year apart.

[@Face742]

Most of the protagonists have Forrest Gump syndrome to some extent but Connor has the worst case because of both historical familiarity Most players have with revolutionary war and the historical figures they choose were the biggest, the game doesn't pace it well either since it gives you big historical events in a very short span of time

[@ValiantInstance]

Yeah, in AC2 you're like 'holy shit it's Leonard Da Vinci' and then the writers for AC3 tried to milk that cow until it was dead.

[@Pooky1991]

​@@Face742 it didn't help that they had so many time skips, though liberation was worse to me in that regard. I love Connor, but damn I wish they would have gave him another game with better pacing.

[@calebkent6706]

Exactly is like “you remember this event he was there too” like forrest gump

[@Sohbek]

God, I'll never forget that sequence of Edward talking to the dead while he steers through the storm and changes the course of his life.

[@lukegregory5392]

Connor would have been great to see in a future game. I personally loved where his character was going at the end of the game and I think you start to see more of his personality at the end of the game. Would have been great to see him again after the events of assassins creed 3

[@blofi1594]

Totally agree. Especially since he most likely would have been alive during the Jackson Administration. My friend is Native and played AC3 with me when we were younger and we both loved it

[@jeremiahsoria938]

the tyrant DLC added a lot to his character but i also wish he got another game

[@xHiraeth1880]

From the moment I put my last little but of playtime on AC Origins to listening to your words on Bayek now, I still feel like it's such a crime that we didn't get to have more of Bayek's story. Would have loved to see more of the challenges a founding "Mentor" would have had to tackle, plus it would have been nice to see more time with him and Aya if their paths ever crossed again. He is by far my favorite of the protagonists.

[@Pooky1991]

Even sadder when you think that despite everything, Bayak and Anya were buried together, so despite the separation they still harbored love for each til death.

[@MrHoll87]

@@Pooky1991 This has always been my biggest question from Origins that remains unanswered: Did Bayak and Aya ever reconcile and rekindle their marriage? To Bayak, the Hidden Ones was secondary as Aya was his top priority. He wanted to continue their work TOGETHER. Aya, on the other hand, was solely focused on her mission that she felt she had no time or room in her life or heart for anything else, even though she very clearly loves him. So I'm wondering, if in their later years, after their prime, once they've slowed down and cooled off, if they ever reconnected and allowed themselves to fall in love with each other again or even remarry. Or did they just retain a healthy mutual respect for each other as comrades from a distance?

[@thirstershooter]

​@@MrHoll87you actually get to read a letter from Bayek's to Aya later in their lives in Valhalla. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXq2oqZohqtjgskfeature=shared

[@gustavgustav2670]

Kassandras reaction when she found out Phoebe is missing and screams 'i dont fucking care' at socrates is what sold her to me.

[@ASmartNameForMe]

Though hes not my favourite Ive always really liked Shay because hes pushed further than any other character in the series I think. You really feel like hes up against a wall with no allies or security, but chooses to push forward anyway going against all he stood for, for the sake of doing what he believed was right above what he wanted. He constantly questions if hes made the right choices and constantly wonders if theres any hope of going back. His regret over having to do what hes done but his unwavering conviction in acknowledging he HAD to do it made him a lot more unique and introspective than all but a few

[@sosaysjay]

I think Shay is a really likable character, I think if any of the games were to get a novelization I would have wished it were Rogue, because there is a lot they could have expanded on.

[@lazyaaron1240]

Shay is probably one of the most memorable characters in a bland game. He’s literally the red hood of the franchise, but instead of giving him a game suited for it, they put him in ac4, with a gun.

[@TwighlightLugia]

I actually rank Shay as my 2nd favorite, this side of Ezio. There's a lot to be said about the strength of Rogue's storytelling (plot contrivance by way of misunderstanding that could be solved with 10 minutes of adult conversation, hey there). But I always loved how, well, excellently fucked up Shay's character is. The utter despair and panic during the earthquake, the hesitation and regret every time he takes out a member of his old crew. I know I'm wrong (lol) but I personally find him a good deal more compelling than Edward Kenway; his screwed up actions are the fault of an extremely out-of-whack moral compass rather than personal greed. Edward Kenway falls because of his own vices, but Shay Cormac falls because he's effectively a tormented crusader constantly grappling with the reality of what he's really doing. He rips open his chest and fucking bleeds the entire time, and ultimately gains nothing for it.

[@lordyeezy840]

​@@TwighlightLugiaI honestly don't think it's wrong to think Shay is better then Edward. Personally, my favorite MC swings between them and Ezio, and it really depends on what part of the story their in. They all peak at different parts of their story for me.

[@amefuyuu]

@@TwighlightLugiaI really couldn’t have put it any better, this is exactly why Shay is my favorite protagonist as well 💗

[@calebmurphy9406]

Damn, dude, the way you recontextualized the parting glass at the end by showing moments and characters from the whole franchise, that...that really hit different. This channel is top shelf.

[@RariettyC]

The fact that I automatically tear up now whenever I hear "The Parting Glass" (including when it started playing in this video) is further proof that your #1 pick is truly #1

[@sosaysjay]

I am glad it resonates with you

[@renanleandro5914]

The scene at the end of AC 4 where Anne Bonny is singing this song and Edward looks at the table and see all of his friends who died along the story before going to his daughter is still one of the hardest hitting moments in vídeo games to me.

[@nathanielstoll4533]

Now that you've done a protagonist list, I'd love to see your thoughts on the main villains/antagonists of each game

[@sosaysjay]

That would be cool, if I get the chance I will

[@Sohbek]

I'd love to see that. For me it's probably Al Mualim and Torres (from AC4) at the top. Not sure which would be first and which second though.

[@huyvouc9785]

To be honest, I wish that Shay and Arno's story get expanded. Ubisoft clearly missed the opportunity to put a nice conclusion to both of their stories, especially how they set up that Shay killed Arno's father. Shay is a perfect guy to set up as a final boss for Arno to overcome. Before Shay's fans come here and say things like "no, Shay is a good guy so why we have to kill him", calm down. The conflict between them can be set up in a morally grey area, where both the Assassins and the Templars have the own reasons for their actions. Eventually, the last boss fight will be between Arno and Shay, and Shay will question Arno about his conviction and morality. At the end of the boss fight, Arno will not kill Shay since Arno now understand his opponent's point of view, but Arno still continue to believe in the Assassin's way to make a better world. To make each side seems more balanced, Shay is now an old man so he is not at his peak physic, but he is now an experienced high-ranking Templars with powerful allies and well-trained soldiers specialized in counter-assassin tactics; while Arno is still at his youth, he lacks experiences compared to Shay, so he will get supported by the allies he makes throughout the game (Connor can even appear as a support character and help Arno).

[@sosaysjay]

I’m not sure what the best way to tell the story would have been, but I also wish we got more from the two of them. Another story following them would be really cool

[@alexandruacatrinei1032]

What you said sound like a generic disney revenge story and I think ubisoft used for too many times this formula.

[@huyvouc9785]

@@alexandruacatrinei1032 yes, and so what? At this point, we can all agree any hope that Ubisoft may make a game with good story has gone to dust, and the best scenario possible is Ubisoft re-use their old tropes, this time with new settings and a functional gameplay. And any tropes can be fresh as long as they do it right. Not to mention the fact that Shay had his own game - a thing that none of the final bosses in other games have.

[@mister_salmon5693]

I know this is a year later and you’ll probably never see this, but I’ve been thinking of something similar for along time. If the story was set up in a similar manner as AC 3, with us being able to play as both characters, but this time for equal halves of the game. Maybe it would start with Arno finding out who killed his father by a Templar in France and travelling to Canada or New York (although I think Quebec City would be a unique setting) to seek out shay and Shay continuing his work for the templars until he is ordered to kill Arno when word gets out that he’s in North America. Or maybe the two meet coincidentally with Napoleon asking Arno to go to North America. Shay would be adewalae’s age in Rogue since the setting would probably be right after dead kings or else Shay would be pushing 70 (I think he was born in the 1720s if I’m not mistaken). He would be much older, wiser, and would offer a unique protagonist that we haven’t really seen since AC revelations with older Ezio. And Arno would likely be a high ranking assassin too. The ending could be more advanced, with the player being able to choose who to kill (adding an element of choice that AC has tried by failed to implement) although them figuring it out would be my pick, maybe even teaming to kill a more evil enemy. Realistically something like this would be a slam dunk for Ubisoft. Two already established characters that leave 0 room for fan and media criticism about the character before the game comes out. Like with shadows having a black samurai or Evior be gender fluid, which although I personally have no strong opinions on these choices, it’s undeniable that they pushed old fans away and hurt the sales on launch. Also seeing Arno and Shay in next gen graphics would be insane.

[@huyvouc9785]

@@mister_salmon5693 I'm glad that there are still people who is interested in the potential of a game that feature both Arno and Shay. It's been a while since I wrote the og comment, so I may add some gameplay ideas that I've been thinking: +At the start of the game, Arno will have access to some of the tools that he had back in Unity (phantom blade, berserk blades, bombs,...). As the story progress, he would gain access to more tools (for example, bombs customization like Mirage or Revelations, rope darts, traps,...). +Since in this game both the Assassins and the Templars are trying to gain the upper hand, there should be some kind of "faction affinity" bar. The more you do missions for the Assassins successfully, the bar will go up, and you will receive more and more support from the citizens (for example, give you presents or money, or maybe even try to stall the guards for you to escape, let you stand in crowds and hide from the guards, give you more info about the Templar dens). On the other hand, if you die in a mission/ignore a mission for too long/attack citizens, the bar will drop and the citizens' opinion will lean more to the Templar (for example, call you out when you are hiding in crowds and attract guard's attention, throwing rocks at you when you are parkour-ing, refuse to give you information about the Templars). +Also, the kidnapping system from Syndicate should make a comeback, this time, with one more feature: interrogating.. For example, if Arno successful kidnap a low ranking Templar, he can use "interrogating" to make him spill the info about the location of the guards, and show them on the mini map, or even the info about the assassinated target (sth like MGSV).

[@unicorntomboy9736]

I think aside from Ezio Auditore, Edward Kenway is the best protagonist of the entire franchise. He had a fantastically written character arc with so many memorable and powerful moments in his journey from a scoundrel to a soldier. Not to mention Matt Ryan doing a fantastic job in portraying the voice for Edward. It was a perfect performance in my opinion

[@PabloNavarrete5780]

I’d have to say that I mostly agree with the list, very good points and very true things. Personally I would’ve bumped Connor just because I personally really resonate with him, he’s quiet and introspective and maybe a little introverted as well as being able to be brutal and angry at the inequality and injustice, which are some of the qualities I do have. Id also like to say that I would’ve liked for you to have given some honorable mentions to Haytham and Adéwale who I feel help a lot to contrast the whole of the Americas games, as well as showing the different elements of the Kenway bloodline and how each of the three Kenways do have similarities of each other but what matters is their differences.

[@sosaysjay]

Thank you for watching. I did consider including characters like Haytham and Adewale, but once I moved away from main characters I had to consider adding characters like Shao Jun, Nikolai, Lydia Frye, and all the other DLC or temporary main characters, and I realized it was more streamlined to just focus on the main characters of the mainline games. Haytham and Adewale would both be high on the list if I did include them however

[@karangtavana1283]

Connors story makes no sense. He finds out that it was actually Washington who killed his mother, and still goes after Lee in a forced rivalry that made no sense. His tribe leaves anyway, so he ultimately fails his mission. What was the point of his story?

[@keironlaer]

I love the exploration and deep dives you do for your videos; Keep it up 💯🖤

[@sosaysjay]

Much appreciated, thank you

[@butnobodycame7022]

FINALLY, someone that gets why Odyssey is good (notice I didn't say AC), the main character actually has a good damn story and he is not a robot that emoted once or twice like Connor, now that doesn't mean AC 3 is worse than Odyssey, just the main character in my opinion.

[@jonnybird8495]

I have to say, I like the line up presented in this video. Personally, I enjoyed Bayek’s journey the most and I liked that he too in dialogue pointed out to Cleopatra that the targets that she added in the later half was taking him off course of his main objective. My only qualm was that they took away some of his depth in more heavier emotional scenes for the sake of story progression and only had him question the worth of it all after the death of his best friend when it probably should’ve happened after facing the Crocodile.

[@EngBlijven]

Bro this video was pure quality, i’m surprised you’re below the 10k subscribers. If you continue making such videos you could definitely blow up

[@sosaysjay]

I am glad you enjoyed it, thank you

[@richardroyce4128]

Probably because he chooses to play as a girl

[@jaysanj152]

Kinda wounds me to see Connor below characters like Arno and especially Alexios/Kassandra, both i've never really bothered to care all that much cus of how flat,lazy and boring they felt.Arno's entire story mostly being Elize this Elize that with some small decent character development while Alexios/Kassandra story is as Stereotypicaly Greek as it gets. Feels like i am the only people understand why he's the way he is the game purely because not only he's a native and a foreigner,He wasn't nurtured properly as a child too as his home got destroyed with his mother dying rather early and ofc Haytham abandoned him at such a younger age and he had a really depressing past cus he got only himself to help..So it makes sense why he can be dumb because he's not like other characters and he did take his time getting adjusted to such foreign society and setting. If anything i'd say he's on my top 3 with Ezio and Edward taking the first and second spot respectively.It's understandable why most really don't like him but it just sucks that not many bother to understand or sympathize with him and prefer simple written characters because they are easier to understand and digest.

[@esf5328]

Kassandra is a better character by miles compared to Conor. Baaa. Malakas

[@MrHoll87]

Honestly it's a breath of fresh air to see someone not automatically rank Ezio number 1 at anything. I like him too but the borderline creepy obsession most fans have with him means they all blindly rank him first at everything without actually thinking about it, even if it doesn't make sense. Edward is probably my pick for best main character as well. His whole journey, start to finish is just so damn good and the ending so heartbreakingly beautiful and perfect. It works cause I think deep down, secretly, every man on the planet can relate to Edward and his struggles, the stress and pressure to provide and protect conflicting with his lust for adventure and heroics and his desire to be respected. Like most men, Edward goes through life wanting to be the hero of his own story while striving for more, for better days, unaware of the fact that everything he could ever want or need is right here right now and before he knows it, it's all past and he realizes all too late that those WERE the best years of his life and not only did he take them for granted, he squandered them and made a mess not just of his own life, but the lives of those he loved most.

[@PsychedelicDude]

It's not automatic, it's just logical.

[@MrHoll87]

@@PsychedelicDude I disagree. From my experience, the number of polls that I've seen, Ezio fans DO automatically rate him as the best in every category, even when there is not logic to it. If I asked you which two assassins has more brute strength and raw combat abilities, Ezio or Connor, a lot of fans wouldn't hesitate to say Ezio. Silly things like that.

[@chrisnieto3620]

@@MrHoll87it’s just ppl blinded by nostalgia cause ezio was part of great AC game! Edward Kenway in my opinion is the better character along with black flag being my fav of all time!

[@elusivent]

​@@MrHoll87 that's true, you see it ALL the time. I just saw a poll about that exact topic the other day and mostly everyone voted ezio

[@MrHoll87]

@@elusivent Exactly. Lol I think most people confuse "favorite" with "greatest". They think that just because he's their favorite, he's the best literally EVER. At everything. lol

[@Kaijugan]

Niavite isn't being dumb. Stop calling Connor dumb

[@superchickin86]

While I agree with everything you said (I love how well thought out and reasonable your opinions are), I’m sad Connor ranks so low for you. While I think your assessment is apt, personally there’s something about him that really resonates with me, and that cut speech is still one of my favorite pieces of AC writing to this day. Anyway, love this list and your videos!

[@thelastpersononearth9765]

I really agree to the list. Edward's story arc was done in a single game, while Ezio's took 3 games. I like ezio a bit more, but side characters in black flag makes Edward even better.

[@karangtavana1283]

Edward isn’t an assassin throughout the game though, and him killing assassins like Duncan Walpole and the ones in Havana makes no sense. He’s a pirate with minimal training who also has the eagle vision which is never properly explained.

[@thelastpersononearth9765]

@@karangtavana1283 He is not good as an assassin, but a good character. One who was developed throught the story.

[@karangtavana1283]

@@thelastpersononearth9765 I like his development, but his accomplishments make no sense. How is he capable of beating a full grown assassin in a one on one fight? How is he able to infiltrate the assassin lair and knock out many of their members without a scratch? How was he able to demonstrate assassination techniques to the templars despite zero assassin training? Where did he receive all this training? How does he have eagle vision and why doesn’t he mention it?

[@NoName-oo2td]

​@@karangtavana1283 None of the games do a great job of explaining how these characters have eagle vision or any other supernatural abilities they have. It's just something we're supposed to accept 🤷‍♂️.

[@karangtavana1283]

@@NoName-oo2td Yeah, maybe the eagle vision gets a pass but Edward’s accomplishments as a fighter have bugged me much more. The other assassins at the very least had extensive training for years, most started as kids with the exception of Arno, so them being efficient killer makes sense. Edward had no assassin training. His swordsmanship couldn’t have been better than minimal considering he was only a privateer and a pirate. Yet, we see him fight a full grown, prime assassin in the first 20 minutes of the game and we see him kill that assassin in a duel. How is this possible? How did he display assassins action techniques to the Templars despite no training? And let’s not forget him killing multiple assassins in Havana, which was even more ridiculous. He technically isn’t even an assassin throughout the game, and joins the brotherhood after the events of the game, and only works with them at the very end and somehow is forgiven for his crimes against them.

[@luisfermin608]

I just started playing my first AC “ origins “ and I’m loving this game. I can’t believe it took me this long to play AC. Really like how bayek is portrayed

[@kubyasek1406]

Damn, such a great video. Thanks to you I realized and remembered how much I loved playing as Kassandra and Edward. Great video quality.

[@sosaysjay]

Thank you!

[@MasterJangleLeg]

Bayek Bayek Bayek that opening scene will be one i always remember, that man deserved a sequel.

[@Domithan1]

dude the ac origins intro with bayek murdering that cult dude is so fucking cool

[@justrandomstuff6828]

I love Connor, i don't think he's stupid, i think he believes too much that what he's doing is pure good, he's naive, lazer focused on his goals, and very cool too

[@tomjamesstevenson]

As insulted as I am by Kassandra ranking higher than Altaïr, you back up your points well. Solid vid, man

[@sosaysjay]

I appreciate that, thank you

[@MuhammadHudhaifa]

You would rock as a reviewer I mean it’s great man. From the research you do, the way you properly organise the video and your voice. It’s all great man, props to you!

[@sosaysjay]

Thank you, I am glad you liked the video

[@triplezeroxz5875]

Thank you for mentioning Aveline 🙇🏾‍♂️

[@pasca15qc]

I love to see the love for Kassandra in this ranking. I mostly played Odyssey because of her and I was not disappointed

[@sosaysjay]

I was very happy to see her in The Sandman, instantly recognized her voice

[@huahwfduyhawfbuawbyfwa]

Bro the voice actors for Alexios and Kassandra were horrible, Kassandra just a little bit more bareable

[@pasca15qc]

@@huahwfduyhawfbuawbyfwa Well, a lot of people (me included) really enjoyed their performance. I can't talk about Alexios because I played mostly as Kassandra but I vividly remember several scenes where Kassandra's voice actor give some much heart to her acting. Honestly don't think i would enjoyed the game that much at all without it lol I guess that a lot of things fall down to personal preference at some point and I can understand that it's not everyone's style, but calling it 'horrible' feels a bit superficial imo

[@huahwfduyhawfbuawbyfwa]

@@pasca15qc i played as Alexios and the voice acting just wasnt it. Ive heard that Kassandra wasnt the best either

[@JamesSmith-ny2gb]

She was so mid, actually think alexios was a better hero though and kassandra was a better villain

[@TheStickz6]

Damn this list might be even more controversial than mine haha. Many surprises but I respect you for sticking to your guns! Thanks for the video

[@sosaysjay]

What would yours be if you don’t mind my asking?

[@TheStickz6]

@sosaysjay I thought I replied but it never showed up. I apologise. My list would be from best to worst: Ezio Altair Bayek/Aya Arno Connor Evie Kassandra Edward Shay Eivor Jacob Alexios Re-reading my list maybe were equally controversial haha. If you're curious about my reasons they're in my video from a few weeks ago. Thanks for the reply :)

[@504godzilla]

Bayek was not afraid to express his emotions. His joy, his sorrow, his rage. You're feeling all of that with him in the moment. Bayek has the fatherly aspect about him

[@starry_wizard22]

Edward definitely deserves the spot of 1st play. I love that game.

[@tadeuszekpl]

Going from Arno to fucking Altair feels like a slap in the face

[@efe8870]

Quality content here. You deserve much more.

[@sosaysjay]

That is kind of you, thank you

[@drewda8397]

Loved the video! I'm playing through all the games right now and these types of videos definitely help me get into it a little more

[@johnnytwoshots976]

Really great video so well done and some really great points brought up. For me I definitely appreciated Eivor more than most, but I'm so glad you gave the Frye twins the respect they deserve.

[@sosaysjay]

Thanks for watching!

[@dunhillsupramk3]

1st: Ezio Auditore da Firenze 2nd: Bayek of Siwa 3rd: Edward James Kenway you may start your list from No.4

[@hesham8721]

Your videos are really amazing, and your voice tone and pacing is excellent for these videos, so much that you made me interested in the franchise when I only played one game, Unity. Thanks for the effort you put into making your videos.

[@alyaasultan2172]

I'm glad the Frye twins weren't placed very low because personally i liked them and Evie is one of my favourite assassins. Also i appreciate that you mentioned how superb Victoria Atkin's and Paul Amos's voice acting was, their performance was truly slept on🙏💛

[@coladict]

I wouldn't describe Edward's story as one of a man trying to become a better person. He was forced into becoming better against all his efforts. He spends 90% of the main story being the worse person, trying to get the Observatory for personal gain. It's along the way that as he tries to stay true to his principles, he is stripped of his friends one by one, until only Adewale remains, and each loss drives him to thinking what really matters to him in life. Is it wealth or freedom? And with the Templars being an omnipresent threat to that freedom, he finds purpose in protecting the world from them.

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

I agree with Edward Kenway, he feels like perfect example of what franchise could achieve post Desmond trilogy times by focusing how people accidentally found their way into assassin/templar war while reflecting on own baggage through main theme of Assassin's Creed while keeping it together with modern day plot. But due to Unity being such mess it pretty much shoot series in the foot of eternal confusion of what to do. Honestly, Assassin Creed has the framework for the most diverse and genre melding stories, but it really doesn't do them justice in most cases. JoJo BA, Final Fantasy and Zelda pretty much display how much variety one series can achieve while keeping some mechanics and themes same. JoJo Part 7 simply would make for great Assassin's Creed game with few changes.

[@mysryuza]

I’m not Native American, but it feels so satisfying to hear people say Ratonhnhaké:ton’s name and not just “Connor.” I feel proud of anyone who acknowledges his birth name.

[@JamesSmith-ny2gb]

Underrated assassins creed youtuber

[@sosaysjay]

Very kind of you, thank you

[@JamesSmith-ny2gb]

@@sosaysjay would put kassandra and the Frye twins much lower in my opinion but overall good list with good reasons

[@JamesSmith-ny2gb]

@@sosaysjay also interesting you put Ezio second place, but edward is awesome

[@as_tb]

Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Revelations) is absolutely legendary

[@jdsilber772]

I was going to disagree with the place you put Edward, but man, that song just hit me like a train. The feels, the memories... all came back

[@RustyBagel11]

Thank you for a different number 1 than ezio

[@BillyTheBigKid82]

For me Bayek and Connor. Yes, I know, Connor. But I really enjoy him in AC3.

[@sosaysjay]

I am glad you enjoyed them

[@PensFan35]

You’re a great writer and, more importantly, your particular style translates nicely to video essay format. I hope this comment reminds you of that talent and encourages you to continue. Don’t get cute-you have something that will work.

[@GreyWarden00]

I have played all the games except Valhalla and Liberation. I can confidently say your top 3 are mine as well. Edward and AC4 are still my ultimate favorite games and I remember the ending so vividly the most to this day than I have any other AC game to date. I remembered being so surprised when I started to tear up at the end and to realize how much I truly loved AC4 and Edward, even over AC2, ACB, and ACR with Ezio. It truly was a great character journey. It's a shame how Edward eventually died and how Haytham ended up 😞

[@glibchubik4090]

Yeah man Black Flag and Edward are a gem, i remember tearing up the first time when Ann Bonnie started singing and I'm no easy target to squeeze the tears from xD

[@sosaysjay]

I do wish Edward had a better ending, but I appreciate that not every Assassin lives to their 90s like Altair. The fact that Ezio dies peacefully at 65 and Edward dies barely out of his prime makes them feel a little more human. I hope in the future we get more games that showcase the protagonist’s whole life, beginning to end

[@jojotheswede8444]

think i need to replay black flag now... again

[@djoakeydoakey1076]

@@jojotheswede8444 I've replayed it 3 times, one recently. The environment and the exploration was amazing.

[@lincolntommila3006]

Connor is so underrated

[@kiethhadford3733]

This is a great channel. Good content. Detailed. Gentle voice as well.

[@FauulaBoy]

Even though AC is going in a direction I don't really like this series is so precious to me. My brother and I loved it as kids and we were always excited in waiting for which era and country the next game will be in.

[@TehKonde]

Personally i love Connor. Ac III is also my favorite of the series so that might play part in it. The homestead missions make him an even better character to me. I get where you are coming from but i have to disagree. Video was all around very well made and you deserve more attention.

[@sosaysjay]

I can definitely understand that take, I appreciate you watching the video

[@komlat253]

Hey I guess we are the minority opinion. Looking for someone who actually thinks conner is amazing. I think he's just much more of a respectable character to play as and follow . He has a clear care for people and his homeland and I love the humble beginning while the others really don't

[@Cardoee]

THE GOAT IS BACK!!

[@sosaysjay]

That is kind of you, thank you

[@daughterofodin9]

I can't tell how much I love Jacob Frye!

[@meteorical8036]

Has anyone ever told you that your voice and delivery is so similar to Garret from the told in stone channel? Keep up the good work!

[@sosaysjay]

I haven’t actually heard that before, but thank you for exposing me to that channel!

[@SamayGhosh]

The depth you reached in edward was pretty awesome Im sure if you try and reach the same depth in connor's psyche, you'll definitely rank him closer to or at the first rank

[@krithik09]

Felt like i watched a IGN video, nice work dude.

[@enman009]

Hard agree on everything you said. When it comes to characters, it feels like Ezio, Edward, Bayek and Kassandra get the most out of their games and how they interact with the world. I agree that Bayek feels so much nuanced than Kassandra, yet I feel Odyssey fleshed out the secondary characters and villains far more than Origins. Ezio has the benefits of 3 games and Edward's redemption arc was just beautiful.

[@ShadowChief117]

Coward for not including modern day protags, Unnamed Abstergo Employee clears all of them 😤

[@KittensLeftFoot]

Comment before watching. Bayek is the best by far, and the fact you opened up the video with him made me immediately wanna watch to the end.

[@imarockinpanda]

I'm not gonna lie the parting glass with all protagonists gave me goosebumps

[@guyyy1515]

6:31 I feel like this point was actually something that makes connor more complex. I like the idea that connor is naïve because he is a native american venturing through the unknown world that is the American colonies. All of these concepts are new to him so connor seeing all sides and sticking to the assassin’s ideals was something i loved about him. Ngl i am bias coming up with this argument bc i love ac3 tho so idk just a thought

[@SamayGhosh]

In AC3, I think most people didn't really understand the deeper meaning of "it seems your tongue has tasted sour grapes" idiom of connor They already assumed connor was dumb and just brushed it off thinking he's bringing fruits in politics

[@hayk3000]

You seem to be the best AC youtuber (I promise that's actually a compliment!) So I hope you make a Valhalla review at some point, I've run out of cathartic videos to watch shitting on it after every play session

[@sosaysjay]

The last video I made was actually a Valhalla review

[@hayk3000]

@@sosaysjay omg I'm so dumb! I've already watched your video and thought it was very smart, that's why I subscribed to your channel... anyway, don't mind me. I guess I just wanted someone smart to keep shitting on Valhalla. Oh well, I've run out of catharsis. Keep up the good work! I'm sure if you stick to the channel, you'll go big in no time.

[@gamiezion]

the love between bayek and aya felt natural? excuse you? all i saw was bayek desperatly chasing after someone who had moved on a LONG time ago, possibly even before the death of their son. and for that matter, my main complaint about origins was that aya regularly stole bayeks thunder, not only taking out bayeks targets (wtf?!? only ac game that does this btw). aya also plays a major part in the endgame where it just doesn't make ANY sense. kinda showing ubisoft came back from making her the main protagonist.

[@miggy2696]

Great list, only thing I would do is put Kassandra right after eivor. I just didn’t mesh with her character and found that her/alexios came off more annoying than anything. I do love the voice actors though, as they did a pretty great job.

[@morittz3808]

very good video - keep it up!

[@sosaysjay]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@thedamntrain3467]

Edward would have been better if he had 2 more games like Ezio, as it stands his development from a glory chasing rascal to a mature assassin is way, WAY too hamfisted so he is #3 on my list after Ezio and Bayek.

[@Buckethead1_2]

There are no words to describe the feeling of joy I felt when I saw that someone else on the internet agreed with Edward being their personal best.

[@question-q1n]

Thats a very good Video! I already commented it on your last Video but your Videos are all very good and of high quality. I agree with most of your rankings, especially woth Arno. I always felt like he wasnt at his full potential, skill wise aswell as Character wise. He felt like a stranger. But like you said, Bayek is amazing. I could really connect to him and the 30 hours of orihins felt like 10. Amazing Video you've got my sub.

[@sosaysjay]

That is kind of you, I am glad you liked it. I think all of the characters had a lot of potential, but I am glad some of them were able to go beyond that and be really great

[@bauerrat3587]

Conner was my favourite, he was a proper bad ass!!

[@The_GlitchWitch]

Edward has been my favorite since Black Flag came out, and no other protagonist has been able to live up to his character since then. I feel that he is the most complex out of any protagonist we’ve had.

[@Relinsander]

I do not play Assassin's Creed games anymore, but from age 12-16, Assassin's creed was my entire life, so I am a bit biased. AC4 was the last AC game I played to completion, and I fell in love with the story back in 2013. Edward had become my favorite character in the entire series. Just last night, I finished the game for the second time after 10 years, and I think I love him even more than before, I cried just the same as I did when I was a teenager. The way you put it is just the way I was trying to explain to my friends why I love him so much. I was deep in the trenches defending him when people were calling him a "bad assassins" back when he was new, and I am still here, praising him for everything he is worth... Anyway EDWARD KENWAY 🗣🗣🔛🔝🗣🗣

[@vaalthangceu9516]

Thanks you so much for putting Edward in No.1 ❤❤❤

[@CinematicSeriesGaming]

Bro, I think you might be me cuz this is exactly the list I would make. Excellent job at analyzing each character. BTW I think Ubisoft should seriously consider REMAKING classic Assassin's Creed games. Now they seem to be just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. IMO they should just take the beloved story from the Desmond Saga and remake all 5 games. Having the hindsight, writers could improve on the story as a whole and make each character more interesting and fleshed out. Just imagine how interesting AC1 could be if it was remade. We could get a fascinating story about a man of conviction whose beliefs are being constantly challenged by morally grey antagonists. If I were to remake AC1, I would ensure that the story is morally ambivalent. Templars should not feel to us like "the bad guys". To Altair, they should be simply TARGETS - people he kills because the master ordered it, not because they are objectively evil tyrants. Confession scenes where the targets shake Altair's beliefs are the most interesting moments of AC1 in my opinion. This should be the theme of the entire game!

[@georgebofylatos9901]

Curious now.. Where do you think you'd rank Basim after Mirage?

[@sosaysjay]

It would be tough to say. The issue is he is way more interesting in AC Valhalla, but in Mirage, the game where he is actually the protagonist, he is really dull.

[@AirAnimeAngel]

I adore Kassandra in every playthrough I choose. She`s such a great female protagonist in general,and even more for the genre AC falls in. It was a joy playing with her,and her voice actor was just a delight.

[@SL4PSH0CK]

Great list, respectable

[@jnort95]

Great Video!

[@dingoactual1094]

Love this content. Very well spoken and enjoyable to listen to, and you did a really good job of putting words to ideas about characters that I couldn't put my finger on! I would love to hear your take on ranking the character's visual designs, how well their equipment and outfits blend with their character and themes.

[@sosaysjay]

I appreciate that, thank you. If I can, maybe some day I will make a video about that, it is an interesting idea

[@Gabriel-wi7bx]

The Templar order is the work of the inu civilization. They have all the known artifacts. The assassins are just the outcasts who hide and kill corrupt officials. It would be really cool to see a major entry/reboot that you're in abstergo stealing information and God items and you play as an assassin that's just insane and all seeing and a living demonic entity, which would make the search for power more intense. An actual well thought out psychopath with completely jarring morality would be an interesting entry. Would be a cool precursor to assassins who were actually not human but could be followed through their experiences in other parallel dimensions. Plus youre adding in a character motivation that includes historian first accounts/accurate divine intervention which is kinda hype from a player perspective.

[@thedoncjg6263]

Bayek is easily my favourite from the recent games - such a fantastic story & game

[@BobPantsSpongeSquare97]

Something I found interesting when playing Assassins Creed Rogue was how Shay is of Irish decent with a thick Irish accent yet he sides with the British throughout the game 😂

[@EternalDeath4]

Kinda late to the party, but I enjoyed the video. Its funny becasue before I watched it i created my own list of the protagonists and I have the same rankings lol.

[@hammad9091]

I got into Assassins Creed in 2013, when they were giving AC2 out cor free on Xbox. I was hooked. The latest game coming to the franchise that year was Black Flag. I rememerb watching the trailers everyday, waiting for more news week by week, and being amazed by Edward in the trailers. And then I played the game when it came out, and throughly appreciated Edward for his character. I didn't expect to see him on the top of the list, but I'm glad I did.

[@ElvisDDG7]

Very good video compañero, I was watching your other videos and I like how you maintain great quality and expose the topic in detail, it's been a while since I've seen people reflect so much on one of my favorite franchises. I liked the top a lot, very aligned to my personal top, the top 3 is also my top 3 although in a different order, but it is what Bayek, Ezio and Edward have, they are very complete characters and they made us love their respective games. Keep it up, I'll be looking forward to more of your content :) Saludos desde Perú. 🔴⚪🔴

[@sosaysjay]

Thank you for the comment, I am glad you enjoyed the video

[@benjaminmendezcasariego5266]

I appreciate you took the time to learn how to pronounce Ratonhnhake:ton and said it without making too much fuzz about it. Other youtuber would have just said connor (which is fine) or maybe make fun of the fact that the name is too difficult to pronounce (which is obvious and not funny). Not that Im part of kanien'keha:ka or any other mohawk group, just appreciate the detail :)

[@bonesthekitty]

For the sole fact he’s the only one with 2 or more games, Ezio #1 is the only correct answer

[@Legionari3]

Edward above Ezio... did get me to say what... but you make a fantastic point he really was the most human and he did have a arc that covered the whole game, the last scene with the Parting glass is one of the more emotional AC games too. He was in more of a DLC role but how would you have ranked Adéwalé?

[@FauulaBoy]

Connor is one of my favorite character since he kind of reminds me of young Kratos. An unstoppable force that wouldn't stop until his revenge is done. Kinda wish there was another game showing his growth to being a wise man trying to ensure his people survival against the increasing USA expansion.

[@BonnieFluff]

This makes me think. Where would you squeeze other 'main' characters in? Desmond, Layla, Adewale (he got a mini-game for some reason, he counts) and Haytham especially. I mean, I'd personally put Haytham at number one. His story in Forsaken is number one worthy alone. I agree with most of this though, Jacob (who I share a name with so I'm biased) and Evie are very underrated, as is Syndicate as a whole. I mean it has songs after you kill the targets, what other game has that? It's great to find an AC channel that's mostly positive reflection, I really like it.

[@sosaysjay]

I appreciate that. I know I am very critical of the series but it does come from a place of putting hours into each one and really enjoying them all, and I’m glad that comes across

[@sosaysjay]

And to actually answer your question, I think it would be too hard to actually try to rank them as well (and that’s honestly why I didn’t). But Adewale and Haytham would both be in the top 5 for me I’d say.

[@BrendonPatrickWatts]

Always good to see some edward love

[@Void-Realm]

Kassandra, Edward and Ezio are my top 3 and surpass the others by a long shot. Bottom 3 are definetly Connor, Arno and Altair. Connor and Arno were really annoying characters that I actively despised and Altair was just very boring.

[@OfOurLife]

Are you a girl ? Its the exact opposite actually. Arno is the typical man you cant ignore that . Connor is the typical man / boy so its very similar . And Odyssey chars are so talented. You have to be a girl it is not explainable otherwise.

[@renanleandro5914]

Few are the ones who have the courage to face the wrath of Ezio fans by not putting him in the top 1, but I agree with you, Edward is the best main character in AC.