02 - Vainglorious Bastards | Sequence 8 AC IV: Black Flag Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Before you start this mission, ensure the Jackdaw's proper condition! First of all, invest in the ram and reinforced hull. Once you start, simply sail towards the marked area. Vane will attack a merchant ship but, do not bother with that and sail towards your destination. Once you locate the ship, approach it.
Eventually, the ship will start to escape. Sail along the left side and conduct every possible fire at the same time. The ship will be throwing barrels as it goes. Although you are at the other side and they will pose no threat to you, you can explode them anyways, to damage the enemy ship.
Soon after you sail out into the open sea, Vane's vessel will become critically damaged. Sail up to him, which ill start a short cutscene.
OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE- Damage the Royal African Pearl with an upgraded ram
Right after the cutscene, lay mortar fire on the Pearl and start sailing towards it to ram it. Along your way, you can discharge one or two chainshots. After you ram the vessel, stay closer. The Pearl's salvos are surprisingly strong so, sail in circles around it, in order to mitigate them. Serve it with heavy shots at all times, and repeat with shots into the weak point. Assuming that you have severely damaged the ship during the pursuit, the battle should be short. Once the ship is immobilized, the option to board will appear but, if you want to complete the second optional objective, you should wait with boarding, for now.
OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE- Use the fort's defenses to sink a ship
Around, there should be two brigs. You will have to bring about the sinking o one of the ships with the fort cannons. If you are heavily damaged after the battle with the Pearl, deal with one of them and, after you board, perform the necessary repairs. If you still are in a good shape, you should get about it straight away. Lure the enemy ships within the range of the fort mortars and lay fire on one of them, until you render it immobile. Make sure, at the same time, that you do not sink it. Once the ship is ready for boarding, sail up to it and wait for the fort cannons to lock on you and fire, which you will be able to tell by the water color. Then, set full sail and sail away to allow the salvo to reach the immobile brig. You can also search for some small schooners around, or a hunter if you are wanted, and try this out on them.
Completing the second objective may be problematic, especially if you do not have your ship properly upgraded. If you don't seem to be able to handle this mission, skipping the bonus objective and return to it after some time, once you have properly upgraded the Jackdaw. The alternative that will make things a lot easier, is to seize the fort before you actually start this mission.
Once you have completed the bonus objective, return to the Pearl and start boarding it. Use the gunpowder barrels to eliminate the soldiers quickly. Once you have seized the ship, the mission will conclude.