Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Character Customization

Personalize Edward Kenway in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Customize weapons like the Flintlock Pistols and outfits for combat and stealth advantages.

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Character Customization

While Edward Kenway's core appearance remains consistent with his swashbuckling persona, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag offers a robust system for customizing his attire and weaponry. This not only allows you to personalize your pirate assassin but also provides practical benefits, such as enhanced stealth or improved combat prowess. Mastering customization is key to both style and survival in the treacherous Caribbean.

Accessing Customization Options

You can modify Edward's appearance and gear in a few primary locations:

  • General Stores: Found in major cities like Havana, Kingston, and Nassau, these stores are your go-to for purchasing new outfits, pistol sets, and sword sets. Look for the clothing icon on your map.
  • The Jackdaw's Captain's Cabin: Once you unlock the Jackdaw, Edward's cabin provides a convenient customization hub. Interact with the mannequin to change outfits and the weapon racks to equip different swords and pistols. This is particularly useful when at sea or in remote locations.
  • Crafting Menu: Certain upgrades and cosmetic items, particularly those related to hunting and crafting, are unlocked and applied through the Crafting menu, accessible from the pause screen.

Outfits: Style and Substance

Edward's outfits are more than just cosmetic; some provide distinct advantages. While most are purely aesthetic, a few offer subtle gameplay benefits, such as reducing notoriety gain or improving stealth. Always check the item description before purchasing.

Purchasing Outfits

General Stores are the primary source for new outfits. Simply approach the vendor, select "Buy Outfits," and browse the available options. Prices vary, so ensure you have enough Reales.

  • Explorer Outfit: Often available early on, a good basic option.
  • Officer's Outfit: Grants a slight reduction in notoriety. Useful for blending in more easily in restricted areas.
  • Templar Armor: A powerful late-game outfit unlocked by completing all Templar Hunt missions. This provides significant damage resistance.
  • Mayan Outfit: Unlocked by collecting all Mayan Stelae and solving their puzzles. This outfit deflects bullets, making Edward temporarily immune to ranged attacks.
Crafting Outfits and Upgrades

Some of Edward's most iconic and useful attire pieces are crafted using resources gathered from hunting. Access the Crafting menu from the pause screen.

  • Hunter Outfit: Requires specific animal hides. Enhances stealth by making Edward less detectable by animals, useful for hunting.
    • Requirement: 2x Jaguar Pelt, 2x Ocelot Pelt. Jaguars can be found on Isla Providencia, while Ocelots are common on Cat Island.
  • Whaler Outfit: Reduces the chance of being spotted by sharks while swimming.
    • Requirement: 3x White Whale Skin. White Whales are rare spawns, often found in the open sea. Look for their distinctive spout on your map.
  • Pistol Holsters: Essential for carrying more pistols.
    • Second Pistol Holster: 2x Deer Hide (found on Great Inagua, Abaco Island).
    • Third Pistol Holster: 2x Shark Skin (hunt sharks in the open sea).
    • Fourth Pistol Holster: 2x Crocodile Leather (hunt crocodiles in rivers and swamps, e.g., on Cayman Sound).

Weapon Customization: Swords and Pistols

Edward can equip two swords and up to four pistols, depending on holster upgrades. Different weapons offer varying stats in Damage, Speed, and Combo potential. Experiment to find a setup that suits your playstyle.

Swords

Swords are your primary melee weapons. Higher damage swords dispatch enemies faster, while faster swords allow for quicker combos.

  • Purchasing Swords: Visit General Stores and select "Buy Swords."
    • Officer's Rapier: A good early-game upgrade from the basic cutlass.
    • Pirate Captain's Swords: Often a balanced choice available mid-game.
    • Golden Scimitars: High damage and speed, typically found later in the game or through specific treasure maps.
  • Unlocking Unique Swords:
    • Templar Swords: Awarded upon completing specific Templar Hunt missions.
    • Captain Drake's Swords: Found in a specific treasure chest after deciphering a treasure map. (Hint: The map is often found on a shipwreck or in a diving bell location.)
Pistols

Pistols are excellent for ranged combat and quickly dispatching multiple foes. The number of pistols you can carry depends on your crafted holsters.

  • Purchasing Pistols: General Stores offer various pistol sets.
    • Standard Flintlock Pistols: Your starting weapons, decent but quickly outclassed.
    • Golden Flintlock Pistols: Improved damage and accuracy.
    • English Flintlock Pistols: Often a good balance of stats.
  • Unlocking Unique Pistols:
    • Pistols of the Royal Flush: A powerful set often unlocked through Uplay rewards or special editions.
    • Dual Golden Pistols: Can be found in specific treasure chests or as rewards for side activities.

Dyes: A Splash of Color

Once you've acquired an outfit, you can often purchase different color dyes for it at General Stores. This allows for further personalization without changing the outfit's stats. Simply select an owned outfit and then choose "Buy Dyes" to see the available color palettes.

  • Common Dyes: Red, Blue, Green, Brown.
  • Rare Dyes: Black, White, Purple. These might be more expensive or unlocked later in the game.

By actively engaging with the character customization options, you can tailor Edward Kenway to your preferred aesthetic and combat style, making your journey through the Golden Age of Piracy truly your own.