Naval combat in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced can be a frequent and engaging part of the experience. While generally enjoyable, challenging conditions like nighttime, storms, or navigating treacherous weather can turn sea battles into a frustrating endeavor. This guide breaks down the core mechanics to give players an advantage.

Ship Control and Combat Maneuvers

Effective ship control involves managing sails for speed and positioning. Half-sail is ideal for docking and undocking, while full-sail is necessary for high-speed travel or encircling enemy vessels during combat. Once engaged, players cannot leave the helm or fast travel. Instead, they must confront the enemy or attempt to sail away. Steering the ship requires using the left analog stick, with the right analog stick used to pan the camera. Firing cannons at targets is initiated by pressing R2.

Different firing directions offer distinct tactical advantages. Firing forward launches a long-range Chain Shot, useful for initiating combat or attacking distant forts, though its initial damage is low. Firing backward expels Fire Barrels that can detonate on pursuing ships or be detonated manually with R1 to destroy tailing enemies. Broadside cannons, fired from the sides of the ship, unleash multiple explosives and are a primary attack method, especially once upgraded with incendiary ammunition. Targeting and hitting exposed red weak points on enemy ships with the Swivel Gun (R1) can trigger explosions, quickly sinking foes or reducing their health for boarding.

Ramming enemy ships head-on using L1 + R1 can also deal damage, but players must be mindful of their own ship's condition. Secondary firing modes for weapons, such as fiery broadsides, can be switched using Triangle on PlayStation or Y on Xbox.

Defense and Environmental Hazards

Defensive actions include having the crew brace for incoming attacks by pressing Square on PlayStation or X on Xbox. This action reduces incoming damage, allowing the player's ship to endure battles longer. However, the environment itself poses significant threats. Storms drastically reduce visibility, making it difficult to spot enemies or navigate around terrain. Tornadoes can destroy the ship if avoided, and players cannot use travel sails during storms. Facing rogue waves head-on is the recommended approach to minimize damage, and players should avoid tornadoes entirely. Engaging in combat during storms is generally ill-advised due to the dual threat of enemies and adverse weather, though it can be unavoidable in certain regions.

Boarding and Capturing Ships

Players have the option to either sink enemy ships or board them. Before initiating an attack, using the Spyglass to scout and mark a ship reveals its onboard resources. Choosing to board a ship grants access to all its resources, whereas sinking a ship only yields a portion. Successfully boarding an enemy vessel allows players to claim it, offering three choices: repair the Jackdaw using salvaged materials, lower the player's Wanted Level, or send the ship to Kenway's Fleet for passive income.

While boarding is generally more rewarding, smaller ships may be sunk, especially if they are part of a fleet, to focus efforts on larger, more profitable targets.

Enhancing Crew Morale

During voyages or before battles, players can have their crew sing Sea Shanties to boost morale. This is activated by pressing up on the D-Pad, with available shanties cycled using the right directional button. Holding right on the D-Pad stops the singing. Additional Sea Shanties can be found as collectibles across the map to expand the crew's repertoire.