Which Assassin’s Creed game first introduced the Recruit system for expanding the Brotherhood?

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood first introduced the Recruit system for expanding the Brotherhood.

During Brotherhood, Ezio can rescue civilians from Borgia control and invite them to join the Assassins. Recruits can then be trained, assigned to missions across Europe, and called into combat to assist Ezio in Rome.

The system turns the rebuilding of the Brotherhood into an active gameplay feature. Recruits gain experience and ranks, and successful missions can improve their effectiveness. Their progress also reflects Ezio’s broader effort to replace Borgia influence with an organized Assassin network.

Assassin’s Creed II established Ezio’s personal origin story but did not include this recruit-management system. Later games expanded the idea in different ways, yet Brotherhood remains the first series entry to make recruiting and developing Assassin allies a core mechanic.