The Apple of Eden is the ancient artifact repeatedly sought in Assassin's Creed games.
An Apple of Eden is a Piece of Eden, a technologically advanced artifact created by the First Civilization, also called the Isu. Although it often resembles a golden orb, it is not simply a magical apple; the series describes its effects through advanced technology and manipulation of human perception.
Different games show Apples being used for control, illusions, energy effects, and the projection of information. Their history connects ancient Isu civilization with later human conflicts between Assassins and Templars.
The phrase “Apple of Eden” identifies a type of artifact, not one single object that appears unchanged in every game. Other Pieces of Eden include the Sword of Eden and Staff of Eden, which explains why artifact names are sometimes confused.