Summary
- Target ship weak points to deal more damage and win battles faster.
- Learn to board enemy ships for an advantage in combat and loot opportunities.
- Make use of muskets and craft armor to defend against enemy attacks to survive for longer.
Skull and Bones focuses solely on ship combat, whether fighting other enemy vessels or creatures of the deep. When first learning the ropes of Ubisoft's live-service pirate game, beginner players may be eager to learn various Skull and Bones combat tips to help them win PVE battles and survive against more challenging opponents.
Skull and Bones: All Ships and How to Get Them
Master the seas with the Skull and Bones guide. Here's how to collect all 10 unique ships, each with its own perk, and become the ultimate pirate.
There are several handy tips and tricks for ship combat in the early game days to make battles much more plain sailing for new players, especially until they get bigger and better ships. Players looking to master Skull and Bones' ship combat should keep the following handy strategies in mind when navigating the various dangers of the seas.
9 Target Ship Weak Points
Inflict More Damage And Win Battles Faster
When actively seeking out ships to attack or while coming up against hostile enemy vessels, one of the first things players should know is where to hit. Some ships, like Skull and Bones' ghost ship, only take damage in weak spots, so knowing where to aim shots is crucial to one's survival.
Players can target enemy weak points by searching for the red-highlighted sections on ships. Their position varies and can range from the front, back, or the sides of vessels. It's easier to spot and target enemy ships at close range, so players mustn't be afraid of sailing closer in certain scenarios. Hitting these vulnerable points causes more damage, increasing the chances of success and allowing for faster ship takedowns.
8 Learn To Board
Get The Option To End The Fight Early
Boarding enemy ships in Skull and Bones becomes an option once players damage enough of an enemy ship's health. While it means ending the fight early, this can be advantageous for new players looking to win fights easier.
Skull and Bones: All Factions (& Where To Find Them)
Ubisoft's Skull & Bones has a few factions spread across its seas, and they all can be found in specific areas of the open-world map.
Towards the end of the fight, players can get the option to board their opponent's ship as long as they are close enough to it. It can be tricky to position boats so that the crew throws across harpoons at the right time to trigger the boarding cutscene. However, it can help players mop up loot and opponents much faster.
7 Make Use Of Muskets
Close-Range And High-Damage Crew Attacks
The best weapons in Skull and Bones include cannons like Flooding Demi-Cannon I and those that inflict fire damage, like Fire Bombard I. However, there is already a high-powered weapon that players can utilize with the help of their crew - muskets. When sailing closely alongside enemy ships during combat, the 'Fire Muskets' option will sometimes appear. When pressed, this causes the whole crew to pepper opponents with musket rounds, chopping off a decent chunk of the enemy's health.
Players should watch out for high-damage attacks like flamethrowers while sailing close and let crew attacks do the work when the option is available. It's also possible to switch to Fire Bomb shots later in the game.
6 Craft Armor
Effectively Defend Against Enemy Attacks
Beginner Skull and Bones players should also prioritize protecting their ship as much as possible during combat. However, beyond avoiding attacks with some strategic sailing, most of this comes down to preparation and gathering the necessary blueprints and resources to craft the best armor available in Skull and Bones.
Skull and Bones: All Infamy Ranks
You will build a level of Infamy as you plunder and loot in Skull and Bones. Find out here just how infamous you can get.
Some early-game armor new players might find helpful include La Forteresse I and The Bastion I, which don't require too many resources to craft. However, if players are fighting ships ranked much higher than them, some armor won't make much difference, especially against ramming techniques from level 10 ships, so it's crucial to keep this in mind.
5 Stock Up On Repair Kits
Restore Ship Hull Health And Survive Battles For Longer
Whether a brand new or seasoned Skull and Bones player, it's never wise to approach ship combat empty-handed. That means preparing plenty of ammunition and Repair and Restoration Kits to replenish hull health and remove any unwanted status effects as needed. Additionally, it's cheaper to repair ships at outposts in between combat and save Medkits for the battleground.
Knowing how to repair ships in Skull and Bones is often critical to surviving various battles, from dangerous vessels to deadly sea monsters, especially until players upgrade their ships and weaponry. A quick burst of health during combat can gamers the edge and permit them to survive for longer.
4 Learn To Cook For The Best Stamina Regains
Prepare And Make Quick Getaways
Plenty of food stored inside the ship's cargo is another way players can ensure they are battle-ready. It's even better to take the time to cook food for the best possible stamina gains when sailing or at least to refill flasks with water at outposts. Having enough food and water to hand can help players quickly escape battle when needed or avoid high-damage attacks, such as ramming ships.
Certain foods restore more stamina than others, but cooked food like Grilled Fish is best for some of the highest possible energy boosts. Players can also buy food from various vendors across the waves to resupply more conveniently.
3 Choose Battles Carefully
Fight Ships Of A Similar Level For The Best Chance Of Success
When players first begin in Skull and Bones, they start with a small hunting vessel called a Dhow but soon switch to a Bedar. The latter is a pretty weak ship compared to others in the game, so during the early-game days, it's best to prioritize upgrades or getting a better early-game ship like the Sloop rather than taking on high-level enemies too soon.
Some of Skull and Bones' early game activities can also prove too challenging until players upgrade their ship, such as the Turning the Page Investigation, where players battle level 10 crews. It helps to use the spyglass to check ship levels, and sometimes, it becomes necessary to move on to other activities when the odds are too great.
2 Upgrade Weapons And Farm Early-Game Materials
Hit Ships More Effectively With Upgraded Equipment
Beginner players looking to become the scourge of the seas in ship combat should also prioritize upgrading weapons and crafting ammunition for their ships. As soon as players know what resources they need to craft better equipment, they can farm early-game resources like Bog Iron to start getting more powerful weapons and valuable furniture for their ships.
Skull and Bones: All Hostile Wildlife (& Where to Find Them)
While other pirates are something you need to watch out for in Skull and Bones, the wildlife can also be just as dangerous.
As players progress, they'll be able to find specialized materials like Wood Tar to ramp up their weapon power and craft more advanced weapons at the Blacksmith to damage ships even more effectively during combat.
1 Call For Help
Winning Battles Is Easier With Friends
When all else fails and if a fight becomes too much of a struggle, it's sometimes best to use the Call for Help option. Although there's no guarantee other players will answer the call, and some won't, it's worth a try just in case there are others nearby who are happy to help out their fellow pirates.
It's also worth teaming up with friends through online multiplayer. In general, ship battles in Skull and Bones can feel much more approachable when taken on with a friend, making it easier for players to send enemies to Davy Jones' locker.
Skull and Bones
- Released
- February 16, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Singapore
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
