Masyaf is the historical city containing the fortress that serves as the Assassins' headquarters in Assassin's Creed.
In the original Assassin's Creed, Masyaf is the home base of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and the Levantine Assassin Brotherhood. Altaïr returns there to receive instructions from Al Mualim, the Brotherhood's mentor. The fortress overlooks the settlement and functions as the starting point and narrative anchor for Altaïr's missions.
The game also sends Altaïr to three major cities: Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus. Those cities contain the targets of his investigations, while Masyaf is the Brotherhood's own stronghold. Because the game moves repeatedly between these locations, players can sometimes confuse Masyaf with one of the larger target cities.
Masyaf is a real town in western Syria, known for its medieval castle. The game dramatizes its connection to the historical Nizari Ismaili community and incorporates fictional characters and events into the wider Assassin–Templar mythology. Later games, especially Revelations, return to Masyaf and give the fortress additional importance.