How to get the House of Wisdom Gear Chest in Assassin’s Creed Mirage

An astronomical challenge.

Basim near the House of Wisdom
Screenshot by Dot Esports

In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the House of Wisdom is a huge academic building in Abbasiyah on the westernmost edge of Baghdad. When you first enter the courtyard of the House of Wisdom, a Gear Chest will be highlighted in its tower. Knowing the location of a Gear Chest is one thing, but getting it is another.

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The House of Wisdom Gear Chest is in a high tower on the northwest side of the House of Wisdom. Some guides will tell you that you need to break the chandelier in the tower to get the chest, but you don’t. You need to get the Astronomical Library Key first.

How to get the Astronomical Library Key

Basim using Eagle Vision to see a Gear Chest
Getting up there isn’t hard, but there’s a locked door. Screenshot by Dot Esports

There are various ways to get to the Astronomical Library Key, but here’s what I did. It’s a fairly direct, stealthy route. Standing in the House of Wisdom courtyard and facing the Gear Chest tower, you’ll see a high scaffold on the right. Use this to climb up the inside wall of the courtyard. When you reach the top, you’ll be in a restricted area and close to the base of that tower.

A map marking the location of the Astronomical Library Key
As you can see, the key is directly east of the chest. Screenshot by Dot Esports

The Astronomical Library Key is held by a scholar standing in a rooftop study area directly east of the tower (marked on the map above). You won’t be able to see that he has the key using Eagle Vision from as far away as the tower, but I sent Enkidu out that way (up on the D-pad), and he spotted the key immediately.

Basim hiding from a guard
He’s moving away, so it’s time to climb up. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Hang off the inside of the central courtyard wall, using the lower edge to make you less visible (see the screenshot above)—shimmy along the northeast, then southeast. Stop when you’re level with the archway leading through the covered area.

Please wait for the guard to come; he’ll briefly examine you, then head off to the left. Now, climb up and go through that passage, then turn right and up the stairs. Here, you’ll find the scholar with the key, and you can pickpocket him easily.

How to reach the House of Wisdom Gear Chest in Abbasiyah

Basim opening a Gear Chest
It’s just like Christmas every time. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Head back the way you came toward the tower’s base, but watch out for the patrolling guard. Enter the passage running through the tower and use the Astronomical Library Key to unlock the door on the right. Climb several ladders to reach the floor with the Gear Chest on it.

What’s inside the House of Wisdom Gear Chest?

The inventory description of the Abbasid Knight Sword
In-game screengrab via Ubisoft

Inside the chest is Abbasid Knight Sword, which grants you a damage bonus when you’re at low health. This is a classic sword in terms of its ability. Tons of games have similar effects, and I never use them. In a game focused on stealth, I can’t see you needing a weapon that relies on low health all that much. If you find yourself fighting your way out of hideouts because that’s how you play, sure, give the sword a go, as it could be your saving grace, but it isn’t that huge of a game-changer for those being sneaky.

Author
Image of Gavin Mackenzie
Gavin Mackenzie
Gavin Mackenzie has been playing video games since the early 80s, and writing about them professionally since the late 90s. Having been a writer and editor on various British magazines including PLAY, GamesTM, and X360, he's now a freelance guides specialist at Dot Esports.
Author
Image of Austin Ernst
Austin Ernst
Austin is an Updates Writer and Fallout Fanatic. He founded his podcast channel, Shared Screens, and his words can be found at Six One Indie and TheGamer on top of writing for Gamurs. Austin is recently married as of October 2022, and has two Aussie dogs.