Character Progression
In Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Edward Kenway's progression is deeply tied to both his personal gear and the upgrades to his ship, the Jackdaw. Mastering both aspects is crucial for surviving the treacherous waters and dangerous islands of the Caribbean. This section details how to effectively upgrade Edward's abilities and equipment.
Edward's Personal Upgrades
Edward's personal progression focuses on enhancing his combat prowess, stealth capabilities, and overall survivability. These upgrades are primarily acquired through crafting, purchasing, and completing specific challenges.
Crafting Upgrades
Crafting is the most significant way to improve Edward's stats. You'll need to hunt various animals across the game world to gather the necessary pelts and bones. Once acquired, these materials can be used at any General Store or by accessing the Crafting menu from the pause screen.
- Health Upgrades:
- Reinforced Health Upgrade: Requires 2x Deer Hide. Increases Edward's health bar. Deer are common on many islands, such as Abaco Island.
- Improved Health Upgrade: Requires 2x Howler Monkey Skin. Further increases health. Howler Monkeys can be found in locations like Pinos Isle.
- Advanced Health Upgrade: Requires 2x Jaguar Pelt. Significantly boosts health. Jaguars are dangerous predators found in areas like Tulum.
- Elite Health Upgrade: Requires 2x White Jaguar Pelt. The ultimate health boost. The White Jaguar is a rare animal found in the Great Inagua jungle, often requiring specific side missions or hunting contracts to appear.
- Pistol Holsters:
- Additional Pistol Holster: Requires 2x Ocelot Pelt. Allows Edward to carry a second pistol. Ocelots are found on islands like Cat Island.
- Improved Pistol Holster: Requires 2x Crocodile Leather. Enables carrying a third pistol. Crocodiles are prevalent in swamps and river areas, such as the Florida Keys.
- Elite Pistol Holster: Requires 2x Great White Shark Skin. Grants Edward the ability to wield four pistols simultaneously. Great White Sharks are found in specific hunting zones in the open sea; use your spyglass to locate them.
- Dart Pouch Upgrades:
- Sleep Dart Pouch Upgrade: Requires 2x Capybara Fur. Increases the capacity of Sleep Darts. Capybaras are common in swampy regions like the Florida Keys.
- Berserk Dart Pouch Upgrade: Requires 2x Red Howler Monkey Skin. Increases the capacity of Berserk Darts. Red Howler Monkeys are found in areas like Pinos Isle.
- Other Crafting Upgrades:
- Blowpipe Pouch Upgrade: Requires 2x Iguana Leather. Increases blowpipe dart capacity. Iguanas are found on many smaller islands.
- Explosive Dart Pouch Upgrade: Requires 2x Black Jaguar Pelt. Increases explosive dart capacity. Black Jaguars are found in areas like Pinos Isle.
- Heavy Shot Pouch Upgrade: Requires 2x Bull Shark Skin. Increases heavy shot capacity for pistols. Bull Sharks are found in various shark hunting spots.
Purchasable Upgrades & Equipment
Beyond crafting, Edward can purchase various items to enhance his abilities and appearance. These are available at General Stores located in major cities and settlements.
- Weapons:
- Swords: A wide array of swords are available, offering different damage, speed, and combo stats. Early game, focus on upgrading to the Officer's Rapier for a good balance. Later, aim for the Golden Flintlock Swords or the legendary Templar Swords (unlocked by completing all Templar Hunt missions).
- Pistols: Similar to swords, pistols vary in damage, range, and reload speed. The Golden Flintlock Pistols are an excellent mid-game choice, while the Captain's Pistols offer superior performance for late-game encounters. Remember to upgrade your holsters to carry more!
- Outfits:
Outfits are primarily cosmetic, but some offer minor perks or are required for certain achievements. The Hunter Outfit, for example, reduces the chance of being detected by animals, making hunting easier. The Templar Armor (unlocked after collecting all five Templar Keys from Templar Hunt missions) provides a significant defense boost.
- Consumables:
Always keep a stock of these essential items:
- Medicine: Instantly restores a portion of Edward's health during combat.
- Ammunition: For pistols and blowpipes. Always restock before major engagements.
- Smoke Bombs: Excellent for escaping combat or creating stealth opportunities.
Synchronization & Skill Unlocks
While there isn't a traditional skill tree, Edward's parkour and combat abilities naturally improve as you progress through the main story and perform various actions. Synchronizing viewpoints across the map is crucial for revealing map sections and unlocking fast travel points, which indirectly aids progression by making travel more efficient.
- Viewpoints: Climb and synchronize with every viewpoint you encounter. This not only reveals collectibles and activities on your map but also grants a small amount of experience.
- Combat Training: Practice your counter-attacks, disarms, and environmental kills. Mastering these techniques will make even large groups of enemies manageable, reducing the need for constant health upgrades early on.
- Stealth Mastery: Utilize cover, high ground, and distractions. The more efficiently you can clear areas without direct confrontation, the less damage you'll take and the more resources you'll conserve.
By focusing on a balanced approach of crafting essential health and weapon upgrades, acquiring powerful weapons, and honing your combat and stealth skills, Edward Kenway will become an unstoppable force in the Golden Age of Piracy.