Boarding | Naval battles AC IV: Black Flag Guide

Boarding is a process that allows Edward take control of the ship that he attacks, and loot it for its cargo. This the only effective way to acquire the entire loot. If, during the fire exchange, you sink the ship, only half of its cargo will float on the water's surface - the other half goes to the bottom alongside with the smoldering vessel.

Classical boarding

To think about boarding in the first place, you first need to immobilize the ship, i.e. damage it to the state where the condition meter is at its critical level. (marked in red). Destroying the ship makes it defenseless in the sea battle - the crew is unable to conduct fire from the deck guns. While wreaking havoc, you need to be extra careful, because one accidental salvo will send the ship to the bottom. You also need to know how to sail up to such a ship to prevent ramming into it by accident.

The bleeding out.

Once the Jackdaw is sufficiently close to its victim, the game will inform you that you can start boarding the ship. Starting the process causes Edward to leave the steering wheel automatically, the crew to throw the hook-and-ropes who, after coming closer to the vessel, start to jump aboard the enemy ship. To seize the ship, you need to perform all of the following:

• Kill the required number of the enemy soldiers- the enemies will be arriving at the deck through the manholes in the deck, and your sailors will actively join in the fights. The fight ends faster if Edward joins his crew and starts to kill out the enemies. The later you do that, the heavier losses you will sustain so, taking over the initiative, even though the game suggests otherwise - is recommendable.
• Kill the scouting officers - it is easier to locate them, because they are marked with red dots above their heads. The extermination method is up to you, the most important thing is to eliminate them in the first place. The officers stay at the deck and you can, without any problems, discharge the swivel gun at them, the scouting officers always occupy masts so, Edward will have to use the pistol, or climb over the ropes and deal with them on his own.
• Explode the gunpowder barrels - they are standing on the deck, just waiting for Edward's well-aimed shot. They are easy to locate, because they are marked with red dots. You can detonate them both with the pistol and the swivel gun. While performing this task, you need to be extra careful and not stand too close to the charges.
• Destroy the ensign - the flag is on top of the middle mast so, you will have to climb up there. Along your way, you need to watch out for the gunners, who always occupy the platforms below.

Before you make it over to the enemy unit, it is a good choice to use the swivel guns, which are located on both side-boards of the ship, near the steering wheel. The number of projectiles is restricted to five so, you should shoot only when you are sure that the cannonball will not go to waste. Hitting directly into the hull, automatically eliminates the enemy from further battle - still, you can achieve even better results by aiming into the deck, right next to several enemies standing in a group.

Before you go aboard, it is a good idea to shoot the crew with the swivel gun

Assassin's boarding

The game allows you to seize the enemy ship without the necessity to engage in the naval fight, regardless f the size of the vessel. To use this option, Kenway needs to make it over to the ship and kill out all of the crew, before he lays down the fire from the Jackdaw. The sailing ships move faster than Edward and that is why your character needs to be present at the projected course of the vessel selected for the attack, and climb onto the hull.

The greatest threat are the gunners, who are located on the masts, that is why you need to dispose of them in the first place. Then, you need to start eliminating the enemies on the deck - best by using the pistol to shoot at them safely from above, or employ the classical attacks from above. Of course, there is also an option of foolhardy landing among the opponents and dealing with one-by-one with your blades. In this case, however, you need to watch yourself, especially while around the officers who, apart from blades and pistols, are also packing bombs. The larger the vessel the more difficult the crew to eliminate.

Disposing of everyone will immobilize the sailing ship. The enemies will not only be incapable of sailing ahead, but also to defend against possible attacks. Therefore, it suffices to return to the Jackdaw, take the steering wheel and launch a salvo towards the immobile ship. Regardless of its size, a well-aimed shot will deplete its energy down to the red region. If you approach the unit after you have fired at it, and start the process of boarding, you will seize it immediately, without the necessity to fight the crew again.

Do not put the friends in harm's way and get to it yourself

Decision of the ship's fate

Regardless of how you seized the ship, a successful boarding will grant you the right to decide on the ship's further purpose. There are three available options:

• Repair the Jackdaw - allows you to repair Kenway's ship but, at the cost of the seized vessel. This option destroys the seized ship irreversibly.
• Decrease the fame level - decreases the extent to which the enemies are interested in seizing Edward and, as a result, decreases the risk of running into the pesky pursuit units (the so called hunters). Taking this decision, also destroys the ship.
• Incorporation of the unit to Kenway's fleet- if you are hooked up to the internet, you can enroll the ship with your fleet.

It is worth knowing

You can aboard at any given moment, also when you are fighting not only one ship, but more of them. After you issue the order to seize the enemy vessel, the Jackdaw becomes invulnerable to damage, the remaining ships deal no damage. An approach like this means that, with a bit of thought, you could repair your ship during the battle. It only takes seizing the immobilized ship, decide to make the repairs and voila! - after you resume fighting, your health bar fill be back to full.

What works very well while boarding is the smoke bombs, because the battles take place in a limited area and Edward is almost always surrounded by enemies. Of course, this facilitates their elimination.