Edward's Weapons & Tools
As a seasoned Assassin and notorious pirate, Edward Kenway commands a diverse arsenal of weapons and tools, each crucial for navigating the treacherous waters and bustling cities of the Golden Age of Piracy. Mastering these implements is key to both overt combat and stealthy infiltration. This section will detail Edward's primary weapons, their variations, acquisition methods, and essential consumables.
Swords: Edward's Primary Melee Weapons
Edward can dual-wield swords, allowing for fluid, deadly combos. Swords are categorized by three primary stats: Damage (how much health they remove per hit), Speed (how quickly Edward attacks), and Combo (how many hits Edward can chain together before a pause). While all swords are effective, some offer distinct advantages in specific combat scenarios.
Notable Swords and Acquisition
Here's a selection of some of the most impactful swords Edward can acquire, along with their stats and how to obtain them:
| Sword Name | Damage | Speed | Combo | Acquisition Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Swords | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-2 | Default, General Stores | Basic starting weapons. Good for early game. |
| Officer's Rapiers | 3 | 3 | 3 | Purchased from General Stores (approx. 2,000 Reales) | A solid early-to-mid game upgrade, offering balanced stats. |
| Pirate Scimitars | 4 | 3 | 4 | Purchased from General Stores (approx. 5,000 Reales) | Excellent combo potential, great for crowd control. |
| French Court Swords | 4 | 4 | 3 | Purchased from General Stores (approx. 7,000 Reales) | High speed, ideal for quickly dispatching single targets. |
| Mayan Swords | 5 | 4 | 4 | Complete the "Mystery of the Mayan Stelae" mission. | Reward for finding all Mayan Stelae. One of the best balanced swords in the game. |
| Golden Scimitars | 5 | 5 | 5 | Purchased from General Stores (approx. 10,000 Reales) | The best purchasable swords, offering top-tier stats across the board. |
| Captain's Cutlasses | 5 | 4 | 5 | Complete the "Templar Hunt" missions. | Reward for completing the final Templar Hunt mission. Excellent combo potential, strong damage. |
Strategy Tip: While higher damage is always good, consider your playstyle. If you prefer to quickly dispatch enemies, prioritize speed. If you enjoy chaining long combos, focus on the combo stat. The Mayan Swords and Golden Scimitars offer the best all-around performance.
Pistols: Ranged Firepower
Edward can carry up to four pistols, offering crucial ranged support in combat. Pistols vary in Damage (per shot), Reload Speed (how quickly Edward can fire again), and Range. While reload speed is often a trade-off for damage, having multiple pistols allows you to fire several shots in quick succession before needing to reload.
Notable Pistols and Acquisition
Here are some key pistols Edward can acquire:
| Pistol Name | Damage | Reload Speed | Range | Acquisition Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Pistols | 1 | 1 | 1 | Default, General Stores | Basic starting weapon. |
| English Flintlock Pistols | 2 | 2 | 2 | Purchased from General Stores (approx. 1,500 Reales) | A good early upgrade, balanced stats. |
| Venezuelan Pistols | 3 | 1 | 2 | Purchased from General Stores (approx. 3,000 Reales) | High damage per shot, but slow reload. Good for single, powerful shots. |
| Officer's Pistols | 2 | 3 | 2 | Purchased from General Stores (approx. 4,500 Reales) | Faster reload, allowing for more rapid fire. |
| Golden Flintlock Pistols | 4 | 3 | 3 | Purchased from General Stores (approx. 8,000 Reales) | Top-tier purchasable pistols, excellent damage and good reload speed. |
| Edward's Pistols | 5 | 4 | 4 | Complete the "Pistol Set" mission (unlocks after completing Sequence 4, Memory 3). | Reward for completing the final Pistol Set mission. The best pistols in the game, offering superior damage and reload speed. |
Strategy Tip: Always aim for headshots with pistols for instant kills on most standard enemies. Using multiple pistols in quick succession can clear out groups or quickly take down tougher foes like Brutes. Consider equipping two high-damage pistols and two faster-reloading ones for versatility.
Tools: Stealth and Crowd Control
Beyond blades and bullets, Edward uses several tools to aid in stealth, distraction, and combat manipulation. These are essential for a true Assassin's approach.
Sleep Darts
- Effect: Puts targets to sleep for a short duration, allowing Edward to bypass or assassinate them silently.
- Acquisition: Crafted from animal resources or purchased from General Stores.
- Carry Capacity: Edward can carry up to 10 sleep darts initially, upgradable to 20 via crafting upgrades.
- Usage: Ideal for disabling guards patrolling critical paths, creating openings for stealth assassinations, or temporarily removing a threat during open combat to focus on other enemies.
Berserk Darts
- Effect: Infuriates targets, causing them to attack anyone nearby, including their allies. This creates diversions and can thin out enemy ranks.
- Acquisition: Crafted from animal resources or purchased from General Stores.
- Carry Capacity: Edward can carry up to 10 berserk darts initially, upgradable to 20 via crafting upgrades.
- Usage: Excellent for distracting large groups of guards, causing chaos during open combat, or drawing enemies away from a specific location. Target Brutes or high-ranking officers for maximum impact.
Smoke Bombs
- Effect: Creates a cloud of smoke that disorients enemies, allowing Edward to escape, assassinate, or reposition.
- Acquisition: Purchased from General Stores.
- Carry Capacity: Edward can carry up to 3 smoke bombs initially, upgradable to 5 via crafting upgrades.
- Usage: Your best friend for escaping overwhelming odds or performing multi-kills in quick succession. Throw one down, then quickly assassinate disoriented enemies.
Rope Darts
- Effect: A versatile tool for silent takedowns from above, pulling enemies into environmental hazards, or creating ziplines.
- Acquisition: Unlocked early in the story.
- Carry Capacity: Edward can carry up to 5 rope darts initially, upgradable to 10 via crafting upgrades.
- Usage: Essential for stealth. Use them to hang enemies from trees or ledges, or pull them into bushes for a silent kill. Can also be used in combat to pull enemies off balance.
Ammunition & Consumables: Keeping Stocked
Maintaining a healthy supply of ammunition for your pistols and darts for your blowpipe is crucial for sustained effectiveness. Running out in the middle of a mission can be disastrous.
Acquiring Ammunition and Darts
- General Stores: The most reliable way to restock. Visit any General Store icon on your map (represented by a 'G') and purchase pistol ammunition, sleep darts, berserk darts, smoke bombs, and rope darts.
- Looting Enemies: Defeated enemies, particularly guards, often drop pistol ammunition and occasionally darts. Always loot bodies after an encounter.
- Chests: Treasure chests found throughout the world often contain small amounts of ammunition and consumables.
- Crafting (Darts & Pouches): While you can purchase darts, you can also craft them using animal resources. More importantly, crafting upgrades for your ammunition and dart pouches significantly increases your carry capacity.
Crafting Pouch Upgrades
To increase the amount of ammunition and darts Edward can carry, you must craft pouch upgrades. These are accessed via the crafting menu on the Jackdaw. You'll need specific animal hides and bones, which are acquired through hunting on islands or harpooning at sea.
- Pistol Holster Upgrades: Increases the number of pistols Edward can carry (up to 4) and their total ammunition capacity. Requires various animal hides.
- Dart Pouch Upgrades: Increases the carry capacity for both Sleep and Berserk darts. Requires specific animal hides (e.g., Howler Monkey Skin, Red Howler Monkey Skin).
- Smoke Bomb Pouch Upgrade: Increases the carry capacity for Smoke Bombs. Requires specific animal hides.
- Rope Dart Pouch Upgrade: Increases the carry capacity for Rope Darts. Requires specific animal hides.
Common Pitfall: Don't neglect hunting! Early game hunting for animals like iguanas, ocelots, and monkeys provides essential resources for these crucial pouch upgrades. Prioritize these upgrades to avoid constantly running out of supplies.
