Although the names and locations often change with each new entry, the formula for the Assassin's Creed series has largely remained the same. After a short hiatus, however, Assassin's Creed Valhalla does its best to freshen up the franchise with some new mechanics, a highly customizable assassin, and a deep dive into Norse mythology. One thing that hasn't changed though is the importance of the pieces of Eden.
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The pieces of Eden have played an integral role throughout the series and have featured in every entry in some capacity. Some have helped to shape history, while others have the potential to bring about humanity's end. The Templars, through the guise of the evil Abstergo Industries, are willing to do anything in order to get their hands on them. There are many different pieces out there, each with their own unique powers.
Updated August 3, 2021 by Tom Bowen: With Assassin's Creed Valhalla having now come and gone, many series fans are starting to turn their attention to the next game. Others, however, find themselves taking some time to reflect on the new information provided in Valhalla, particularly that which pertained to new and existing Pieces of Eden. Given the various changes that Ubisoft has made to the franchise in recent years, it's difficult to predict what Assassin's Creed 2022 will end up being like. One thing that does seem certain though is that the Pieces of Eden will continue to play a pivotal role in the overarching story.
12 Mjölnir
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the various other franchises that dabble in Norse mythology, even those who have never played an Assassin's Creed game should be pretty familiar with Mjölnir already. The mighty warhammer once belonged to the Aesir God Thor and is capable of some pretty incredible things.
Just like in the MCU, the weapon is capable of harnessing the power of thunder and lightning and can be used to fire electric energy blasts at one's foes. It can also stun and incapacitate surrounding enemies due to its large area of effect, making it one of the best weapons that players can obtain in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
11 The Trident of Eden
First Referenced: Last Descendants: An Assassin's Creed Series
The Trident of Eden was said to imbue its wielder with God-like powers, although these typically manifested in the form of emotional manipulation. Alexander the Great used the Trident to strike fear into his enemies and command the devotion of his armies. As a result, he never lost a battle.
After Alexander's death, the prongs of the trident were used to create three daggers, each one able to manipulate a different emotion. The Faith Prong found its way into the hands of the papacy, the Fear Prong was used by Mongolian warlords and the Devotion Prong made its way to the Vikings. Despite being separated, each remains incredibly powerful.
10 Crystal Skulls
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
At first glance, the Crystal Skulls are little more than satellite telephones that were used by the Isu to communicate over long distances. With the right equipment and know-how, however, they are incredibly powerful tools that can be used to observe events taking place anywhere on earth.
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As well as sending and receiving messages, the Crytal Skulls can be used to monitor the lives of any living person. If taken to the Isu observatory in Jamaica and combined with a vial of a person's blood, it's possible to see what that person is doing no matter where they are.
9 Staves Of Eden
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed 2
As with the Apples of Eden, there are many different Staves that have appeared across history. Each has slightly different powers, although there are some abilities that are seemingly common to them all. The Isu created them to control the bodies and minds of men although to really get the most out of the staves, they need to be combined with an Apple of Eden.
When combined, they greatly amplify the Apple's mind control abilities and can allow the user to levitate. There are reports that they can even allow the user to become invisible, although this may simply be a trick of the mind. The staves can also grant access to secret Isu locations and, when combined with a precursor box, can imprint other peoples' memories into the user's mind.
8 Rings Of Eden
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed 3
At times referred to as Shards of Eden, the rings were created by the Isu as a form of protection. When worn, they create an electromagnetic shield around the user that's able to deflect energy blasts and magnetic projectiles. Prior to the Great Catastrophe, the Isu tried to use this technology to create a shield around the planet. Unfortunately, they lacked both the time and resources to succeed.
There are several rings in existence, one of which was found by Connor during the events of Assassin's Creed 3. Its powers enabled him to avoid incoming gunfire and likely saved his life on multiple occasions. Sadly, it could not erase his tragic past. Several other rings were found in the tunnels beneath the Mayan city of Chichen Itza around the same time.
7 Swords Of Eden
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed 2
The Swords of Eden are incredibly powerful and have been wielded by some of history's greatest leaders. They're able to produce great energy blasts and can't be damaged. They also make the wielder incredibly charismatic and can even be used to locate enemies. On top of all this, those in possession of a Sword of Eden are immune to the powers of Apples of Eden.
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The swords can be traced back to Ancient Greece, with Perseus said to have used one to cut off Medusa's head. Attila the Hun possessed one during the fifth century as did the Mongol warlord Genghis Khan. The most prominent sword however was Excalibur. This was the sword that King Arthur famously pulled from a stone to become the King of England.
6 Shrouds Of Eden
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed 2
The Shrouds of Eden are incredibly sophisticated devices with strong regenerative abilities. They can scan a person's body for injuries and repair them on a cellular level. They've been used to heal both wounds and birth defects although are unable to resurrect the dead. The shrouds can also store a person's consciousness within them.
There may be more, but, at present, there is only one known shroud in existence. It's currently in the possession of the Templar scientist Álvaro Gramática, having changed hands multiple times throughout history. A second Shroud of Eden was destroyed by the Assassins in 2015 during a raid of an Abstergo Lab.
5 Apples Of Eden
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed
Apples of Eden are by far the most common pieces of Eden and have been popping up throughout history for millennia. They enable the user to control the minds of men and can even emit small energy blasts. Furthermore, they can also be used to store and transfer knowledge across the ages. There are at least nine of them in existence, although there are very likely more.
The apples have been linked with numerous past events, including the Trojan War and Moses parting the Red Sea. Some of the apples are seemingly capable of manifesting illusions too. This was demonstrated when Altair used one to conjure a wave of Assassins when fighting off a Mongol horde.
4 Crystal Balls
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy
Much like the Crystal Skulls, the Crystal Balls were used primarily as communication devices. Where they differ though is that Crystal Balls allow the user to communicate with people across time rather than simply space. They grant users access to the Nexus, a disruption in time that has some very unique properties.
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As well as being able to communicate with people throughout time, the Isu used the Nexus to calculate probable outcomes. This effectively allowed them to predict the future with a high degree of accuracy. As a result, it's one of the most desirable pieces of Eden in existence.
3 The Staff Of Hermes Trismegistus
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy
The Staff Of Hermes Trismegistus first appeared in Project Legacy, but has since returned in both Odyssey and Valhalla. The staff, which once belonged to the famed mathemetician Pythagoras, is said to be incredibly intelligent and is even able to speak. Believe it or not, though, that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the staff's powers.
Those who wield the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus are able to teleport and manipulate energy and can even regenerate their health. Perhaps most importantly though, the staff grants its wielder complete immortality, making it one of the most powerful and most desirable Pieces of Eden in the entire Assassin's Creed universe.
2 The Ankh of Isis
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed: The Ankh of Isis Trilogy
The Ankh of Isis is similar to the Shrouds of Eden, although is significantly more powerful. It can heal wounds and sicknesses and even has the power to temporarily raise the dead. It's also able to store a person's consciousness and later place it into a corpse.
The first recorded instance of the Ankh dates back to Ancient Egypt where the Goddess Isis used its powers to resurrect her fallen husband Osiris. From there it was taken to Rome and later fell into the hands of the Assassins. Its current whereabouts are unknown though with many now believing it to be little more than a myth.
1 The Koh-i-Noor Diamond
First Referenced: Assassin's Creed: Brahman
Very little is actually known about the Koh-i-Noor diamond, but most seem to be in agreement that it's the most powerful piece of Eden known to man. It's able to locate other pieces of Eden and can bind them together, greatly amplifying their powers. Rumors say that its power is so great that only a God or a woman can wield it.
Like many of the pieces of Eden, the Koh-i-Noor diamond is based on a real-world object. It was mined in India hundreds of years ago and is one of the largest and most valuable diamonds in existence. It has traded hands many times since its discovery but currently sits in the crown of the reigning British monarch.
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