Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced resurrects the legendary ships as a pinnacle challenge, boasting enhanced mechanics and increased difficulty over the original. These boss battles are designed to test even the most seasoned captains, but the game provides new tools and opportunities to overcome them. With the ability to respawn, these encounters offer repeatable challenges and unique cosmetic rewards.
Legendary Ship Locations and Preparation
The four legendary ships are strategically positioned in the corners of the map and become visible after you dismantle the fortresses in their respective regions:
- El Impoluto: Located in Dry Tortuga.
- HMS Fearless & Royal Sovereign: Found in Eleuthera.
- La Dama Negra: Situated in Serranilla.
- HMS Prince: Resides in Nevassa.
To stand a chance against these formidable foes, it is highly recommended to have your Jackdaw ship fully or near-fully upgraded. Prioritize acquiring the best armor, broadside cannons, swivel cannons, and ram. Many of these crucial upgrades can be found through hidden treasure maps or purchased via Ultimate Ship Plans. Additionally, recruiting new naval officers before engaging the legendary ships can provide significant advantages.
- Padre: Available through 'A Second Chance' quest after Sequence 4. He enables a charged ram for bonus speed and damage.
- Lucy Baldwin: Unlocked in 'A Proper Shipwright' after Sequence 4. She allows for a last-second brace to nearly nullify incoming damage.
- Tobias 'Deadman' Smith: Recruited via 'No Box Dark Enough' after Sequence 11. He maximizes broadside cannon damage and his quest rewards a powerful multi-shot mortar variant.
Battling the Legendary Ships
El Impoluto
Despite its early-game location, El Impoluto is one of the toughest legendary ships. It possesses exceptional durability and inflicts heavy damage with extended cannon barrages, making perfect bracing difficult. While it favors close-range ramming, its long-range cannons prevent simply sailing away.
Begin the fight by bracing for its initial ramming attack rather than retaliating directly to minimize damage. El Impoluto will periodically attempt to ram, firing heavy shots beforehand. A key tactic is to place explosive barrels behind you as it charges and fire a mortar into its path. Brace for the ram, then quickly maneuver to its sides for broadside volleys and barrel attacks before disengaging. Chain shots can disable its sails, preventing rams and creating openings for mortar strikes and broadsides. In its second phase, expect volleys of flaming cannonballs; brace to mitigate damage and counterattack when possible. The best damage windows remain when it attempts to ram.
Upon defeating El Impoluto, you will receive 12,000 Reales, along with the El Impoluto sails, wheel, hull, figurehead, and ship model.
HMS Fearless & Royal Sovereign
This unique two-on-one battle presents a significant challenge. To compensate, both ships have reduced health. The primary strategy is to avoid sailing between them. Instead, approach them side-on to expose their flanks for broadsides, mortar fire, and barrel drops. Chain shots from the front cannons can disable one ship, leaving it vulnerable to ramming, broadsides, and mortars. In the second phase, the ships will drop explosive barrels, which can be shot with swivel guns for additional damage. If one ship is destroyed, the other becomes more aggressive and attempts to ram, making it advisable to try and defeat them simultaneously.
Victory against HMS Fearless & Royal Sovereign yields 12,000 Reales, the HMS Fearless sails, wheel, hull, figurehead, and the Brothers in Arms ship model.
La Dama Negra
La Dama Negra is distinct for its armored hull, which reduces damage to its sides and prevents swivel gun critical hits. This necessitates focusing attacks on its vulnerable front and rear. Despite the side armor, don't neglect opportunities to deal damage to its flanks. The ship is relatively slow, aiding in positioning.
Employ chain shots and shrapnel barrels to disable its movement, facilitating frontal and rear attacks. Its incendiary mortar is fast-acting; watch for glowing orange patches on the sea to anticipate its strikes and brace accordingly. In its second phase, the mortar barrages become longer, and it begins dropping explosive barrels. Continue to avoid these and target its front and rear. In the final phase, La Dama Negra increases its aggression with flaming cannonballs and prolonged mortar attacks. Maintain a medium-range approach, brace for mortars, and deliver broadside volleys to its vulnerable ends.
Defeating La Dama Negra rewards 12,000 Reales, its namesake sails, wheel, hull, figurehead, and ship model.
HMS Prince
Considered the easiest of the legendary ships, the HMS Prince battle becomes protracted in its second phase due to its fog gimmick. Initially, engage at medium range to mitigate mortar and mine threats, using chain shots to disable its movement. The HMS Prince will then retreat into the fog, raining down mortar strikes. Sail towards it at an angle to cut it off while bracing against the mortar fire. Once close, the fight resumes with stronger flaming cannonballs. In the third phase, it retreats into the fog again, moving faster. Repeat the process of closing the distance while avoiding mortar fire to return to standard combat for the final stretch.
Upon defeating the HMS Prince, you will be awarded 12,000 Reales, the HMS Prince sails, wheel, hull, figurehead, and ship model.
New Rewards and Repeatability
A significant change in Black Flag Resynced is the reward system. The previously awarded Ram Dash upgrade is now unlocked by recruiting Padre. Instead, legendary ships now grant ship cosmetics, including figureheads, hulls, wheels, and sails. Furthermore, these challenging encounters are repeatable, respawning after a period, allowing players to challenge them again for their cosmetic rewards.