A collection of beginner tips to help you balance your progress with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Learn some tricks for the early game and discover how to improve your experience!
Naval Combat and Sailing
The Jackdaw is essentially your co-protagonist. Surviving the hardest zones means learning exactly how to upgrade your ship, manage your crew, and pick your battles smartly.
Prioritize your ship’s upgrades
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has many things in the game that require you to earn (and spend) money. With weapons, outfits, hideout, and ship upgrades being the most expensive ones.
It can be difficult to decide what to upgrade first and what to leave for later. Especially because it’s difficult to earn a large amount of Reales in the early game.
Without a doubt, upgrading the ship as fast as possible is the best thing to do. The reason is that having a strong ship is also the best way to earn money. Boarding ships to take their cargo and selling it later is the best way to earn a considerable amount of money.
To do this, you need a ship with proper upgrades. If you don’t do this, even Schooners might pose a considerable threat.
The things you should update first are:
- Round and Heated Shot: Your main source of damage
- Broadside Cannons: Increases the number of cannons
- Armored Hull: This is what allows the ship to sustain damage
The Jackdaw has other weapons, but none of them come close to being as important as the Round and Heated Shot. Upgrade whatever fits your playstyle.
Crew Quarters are necessary because they increase your crew’s size, which is important when it comes to boarding enemy ships. However, it’s not as important as the first three because it’s very easy/free to get new crew members.
Recruit the officers
There are three different officers you can recruit. Each one provides a perk for naval combat.
- Padre: The Ram Dash deals massive collision damage. In the first game, this was unlocked only after defeating all the Legendary Ships. Padre will also join the boarding party.
- Lucy Baldwin: Perfect Brace is basically a Parry ability for the Jackdaw. Time it correctly and you’ll nullify incoming damage.
- Tobias “Deadman” Smith: The mortar receives a secondary firing option that fires many projectiles into a single area. You’ll be able to manually control where each projectile lands. You’ll also be able to fire an additional volley from your broadside cannons.
Lure enemies into each other
There will be times when you find a very tempting prize, like the head of a Royal Convoy. But attacking a convoy puts you at a massive disadvantage due to the enemy’s powerful ships and numbers. In the worst scenario, you have no money or patience to go back, upgrade your ship and return to the same spot. In these cases, the only way out of a sticky situation is to play smart.
My favorite strategy is to lure English and Spanish fleets into each other. They’ll attack each other on sight, but only attack you if you shoot first. What I do is position myself at a safe distance and use the mortar to make them head my way, then go straight into the other fleet’s position.
There will be other times where you find that they are already in a massive battle with only Man O War’s and Frigates. When this happens, all you have to do is stay away from the damage, join in when your target is around 25% health, and give it all you’ve got so you can board and grab the Captain’s lockbox.
If the enemy ship’s health is too low when you attack it, you won’t be able to board it*
Board enemy ships in the middle of a naval battle
As you enter the Hard difficulty zones, you’ll encounter fleets made of stronger ships. The risks of attacking these convoys are as high as the rewards, though it’s easier said than done.
A great way to improve your chances of success is by boarding ships in the middle of the battle. The best way to explain this is with an example.
Let’s say you attack a fleet made of a Man O’ War, two Frigates, and a Brig. You incapacitate both Frigates and the Brig, but your Jackdaw is in no shape to face the almighty Man O’ War.
What you do next is board the Brig and Frigates and choose the Repair option to be at full strength again. Doing it in this order allows you not only to have better chances against the strongest foe but also to acquire the best reward.
There’s no need to worry about the other enemies while you do this; boarding a ship immediately stops other ships from attacking you.
Never ignore the bell
Aside from your own eyes, the bell on the Jackdaw is the only way the game lets you know about incoming danger. This comes in handy when you’re focused on an enemy ship or simply contemplating the view. Water spouts, thunder strikes, or rogue waves can appear anytime when there’s bad weather.
If you get hit, you will receive a ton of damage. This is a death sentence when the Jackdaw has been recently damaged.
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing; if the bell sounds, look around immediately to see what’s happening. It can be a lifesaver.
Give the Jackdaw a personal touch
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has very few cosmetic items compared to Assassin’s Creed Shadows, at least when it comes to weapons and outfits. Instead, this game emphasizes customization for the Jackdaw.
You can buy them, find them in treasure chests, get them from the Exchange, or even claim them from Projects. They’re simple, but it’s a very nice way to add a personal touch. My personal favorite is the Dark Animus Corsair set that is obtained through the Riptides (AC Shadows) and Eye in the Dark Projects.
Ground Combat and Stealth Tips
Whether you prefer the stealthy approach or a chaotic entrance, Edward’s arsenal has been heavily updated in Resynced. Here is how to master the new weapon mechanics, exploit takedowns, and use your tools to get out of overwhelming situations.
Don’t be afraid of making a chaotic entrance
It sounds counterintuitive to go into a dangerous location and kill every soldier in an Assassin’s Creed game, right? Well, keep in mind that there are a decent number of missions where you have to infiltrate and then get away as fast as possible.
Getting in with pure stealth is a skill by itself, but all the guards that are left alive will be there and on high alert when you have to escape. If you kill some before going in, your escape might be smoother. Obviously, this comes with risk, but it’s all part of the fun.
This tip is aimed specifically at players like me who aren’t good at being stealthy. If you are skilled enough to kill everyone and not make a fuss in the process, you should probably stick to that.
Rapier, Cutlass or Pistol-Sword?
Legendary Weapons come with different Perks. Each one is different and can be useful depending on the situation and your playstyle. Check what each of them does and consider what suits you better before spending money on them.
Additionally, melee weapons now have different effects when using the Heavy Attack.
- Rapier: Deal more damage and pierce through foes
- Cutlass: Covers a wide area, and it can hit multiple enemies
- Pistol-Sword: Two shots are fired
Check what legendary weapon suits you
There aren’t too many weapons in Black Flag Resynced compared to Shadows. However, you can still combine the perks of pistols and trinkets to find something that benefits your playstyle.
My favorite combination is Ezio’s Swords with the Lock of Hair Trinket. The swords allow me to parry unblockable attacks while the trinket restores my health after a perfect parry. With this, I can forget about dodging while also having additional survivability.
Become a parry master
Perfecting your parries will make you virtually unstoppable. This is the combat mechanic in the game that demands some skill. If you are struggling with it, you can use the Obsidian Monolith trinket. Its perk makes the Perfect Dodge easier to perform.
Abuse wall takedowns
Kicking enemies against walls allows you to perform a takedown. The best thing is that there are no restrictions for this; you can use it ten times in a row and kill 10 enemies like this. While it’s easier to do when boarding ships, this ability is also useful in smaller areas like hallways or courtyards.
Take advantage of the Rope Dart’s versatility
In Black Flag Resynced, the Rope Dart is obtained very early in the game. This gives you an extra tool with a lot of value because it doesn’t require you to buy ammo and has a very short cooldown.
Aside from hanging enemies like in the first game, you can pull them towards you. The two scenarios where I’ve used this the most are to grab an enemy that isn’t close enough to the bush where I’m hiding, or to make an enemy fall from a cliff or roof.
Berserk Darts are still overpowered
It’s hard to express how strong Berserk Darts are. Making enemies attack each other can clear areas and allow you to sneak without entering combat. But the best use is, without a doubt, using it on soldiers who are next to an important target. All you have to do is shoot at them and see how they make your job for you.
In the First Black Flag, it was possible to affect the main targets from story quests, but this mechanic has been removed from Resynced. Not that this is a huge problem, but it’s still important to point it out.
Smoke bombs are life-savers
As I mentioned before, I suck at stealth. Because of this, I ended up being surrounded by many enemies on multiple occasions. Attempting to fight both melee and ranged enemies when you have no room to move is very hard. This is where the smoke bombs shine.
A single smoke bomb blocks enemy vision and leaves them vulnerable to assassinations. Or you can just run away and escape the area.
Just keep in mind that this works better against the weaker NPCs. Brutes or important targets will move out of the smoke almost immediately.
You can bypass weaker enemies to force a cutscene
You will need to kill some specific targets that are key to the story; immediately succeeding triggers a cutscene. Meaning that even if there are ten other enemies around, you can ignore them and go for the kill since you don’t have to deal with them later. Though it takes some of the fun out of it.
Exploration and Progression
The map is massive, but trying to conquer it all immediately will just get you overwhelmed and outgunned. Here is how to pace your exploration, build up your hideout, and make the open world more immersive.
Unlock new locations naturally
Open-world games made in recent years are notable for allowing you to explore most of the map whenever you want. While Black Flag Resynced falls into the same category, you must keep in mind that many areas will prove almost impossible to navigate if you plan to engage in combat.
Completing the main quests will grant you access to most of the map when you are prepared for it, or to be more precise, when your Jackdaw can handle it. This way, you won’t stumble upon enemies that are completely impossible for you to beat.
My suggestion is that you progress naturally through the story to prevent any unnecessary frustration.
Remember to upgrade Great Inagua and your hideout
To upgrade these things, you simply need to pay money. For each of the three upgrades, The Hideout or Manor grants increased Maximum Protection Money and a new ship berth for your fleet.
Great Inagua has seven buildings that you can restore and/or upgrade, but the most important ones are the General Store and Harbourmaster. When fully upgraded, the Harbourmaster unlocks the best upgrades for the Jackdaw, while the General Store gets Legendary Weapons and all wildlife skins available for purchase.
Customize your HUD
You can fully customize the HUD with as many or as few elements as you desire. This is personal preference, so I recommend that you try tweaking a few things to see how you like it.
In my case, I only removed the Control Reminders to make my sailing experience more immersive. The following picture wasn’t taken in photo mode; it shows exactly what I see when going at full speed.
You also have the option to choose from the following presets:
- Default – Enables most HUD elements to provide maximum clarity. Ideal if you want clear guidance, button prompts, and combat feedback.
- Simple – A pared‑down HUD that removes some reminders and highlights, while still offering enough feedback for combat and navigation.
- Minimal – Displays only essential information, such as Edward’s health, interaction prompts, and cannon aiming arcs while aboard the Jackdaw.
- Disabled – Removes nearly all HUD elements for a fully immersion‑focused experience.
Negate fall damage
When falling from considerable heights, press the Dodge/Roll button right before landing to negate fall damage.
Enjoy the ocean
Without a doubt, Black Flag Resynced has the most beautiful water visuals and mechanics I have ever seen in a game. The movement, lighting, reflections, dynamic weather, and ocean life make it feel so alive.
I have spent hours just navigating without any real direction. I’d even say it’s relaxing! Give it a try whenever you have the chance.
Capture the best moments
The Caribbean is one of the most stunning places on the planet, and this game’s visuals do it justice. Without noticing, you’ll be sailing the ocean with the sun right behind you or even in the middle of a small war between English and Spanish fleets.
Photo Mode lets you “pause the game” and capture the moment from different angles while also providing visual effects or filters for those who love getting the perfect picture.
In terms of features, this photo mode is less sophisticated than what we got in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Look for easter eggs
Finding easter eggs in open-world games can be time-consuming, but when you manage to find something, it’s very satisfactory. If you’ve ever been to any of the places in the game, are knowledgeable about this time period, or even if you’re just a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, you should give it a try. What begins as a simple trip could lead to a fantastic discovery.
