Once you have saved up enough (and unlocked the ability to upgrade in Sequence 3), purchasing hull upgrades is vital, followed by cannons, and then mortars, in that order. A vessel carrying 120 bits of metal is a tempting target, but each ship has an assigned level, and if the number is displayed in red it means the ship is more powerful than you are. Be sure your prey is alone too, unless you want to fight multiple enemies at once. Pay close attention to the ship’s level and what it is carrying, then choose wisely. You can earn cash in a multitude of ways, but supplies are the only way to upgrade the Jackdaw and there are only a few ways to earn them. Take your time and use the spy glass to identify targets that fit your needs, and are within your means to defeat. Do not sell these, as tempting as it may be.

While doing this you will also earn wood, metal, and cloth. The richer their stores, the more you can sell the loot for. One of the best ways to increase your worth though, is to take down ships carrying large amounts of rum and sugar. Treasure chests, side quests, and the looted bodies of your victims can earn you some quick reales, while main missions earn you significantly more. The latter is easy to find in small amounts. In order to upgrade your ship, you need two things: supplies and cash (known as “reales” in the game). That doesn’t mean you can’t prepare though.

Some of these take a long time to earn – the diving bell, for example, won’t be unlocked until the sixth sequence, which could be 15-20 hours in depending on how you play. Many of the upgrades will be locked at first, until you hit a specific mission in the story that introduces the associated features. This ship is more than your means of conveyance it is one of your primary means of earning money, obtaining supplies needed to upgrade the ship and make it more powerful, and securing hostile areas. Loot and plunderĪlthough Black Flag does allow you to roam the streets of Havana early on, the game doesn’t really open up until somewhere around the five-hour mark when you take possession of your ship, the Jackdaw.

Black flag buy metal