Contracts & Bounties
Notice boards, found in nearly every settlement and military camp across the Aegean, are your go-to hubs for a steady stream of side activities in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. These boards offer two primary types of repeatable quests: Contracts and Bounties. Engaging with these missions is crucial for any aspiring Misthios, providing a reliable source of XP, Drachmae, and valuable resources, all while seamlessly integrating with your main story progression and exploration.
Understanding Contract & Bounty Types
While both categories offer similar rewards, their objectives and scope differ:
Contracts: The Bread and Butter
Contracts are generally more generalized tasks, often focusing on common enemy types or activities. They are excellent for passively earning rewards as you traverse the world. You can accept multiple contracts simultaneously, and their objectives often overlap, allowing for efficient completion.
- Naval Contracts: These tasks typically involve sinking a certain number of Athenian or Spartan ships. For example, "Sink 5 Athenian Triremes" or "Destroy 3 Spartan Brigs." These are perfect for players who enjoy naval combat and are looking to upgrade their Adrestia.
- Animal Contracts: You might be tasked with hunting specific types of animals, such as "Kill 10 Wolves" or "Hunt 5 Bears." These are great for gathering animal hides and pelts for crafting and upgrades.
- Bandit/Cultist Contracts: These contracts require you to eliminate a set number of bandits, cultists, or other hostile human enemies. "Eliminate 15 Bandits" or "Kill 8 Cultist Guards" are common examples. These often align with exploring ruins or fortresses.
- Resource Contracts: Some contracts ask you to gather a certain amount of specific resources, like "Collect 20 Iron Metal" or "Loot 10 Wood." While less common, they can be useful if you're low on a particular material.
Bounties: Hunting Notorious Targets
Bounties are more specific and often involve tracking down and eliminating a named, high-value target. These individuals are typically stronger than regular enemies and may have unique attack patterns or be surrounded by guards. Bounties are excellent for challenging combat encounters and often yield better gear rewards.
- Mercenary Bounties: These are bounties placed on specific Mercenaries, often those who have been causing trouble in a region or have a high bounty on their own head. The target's name and general location will be provided.
- Leader Bounties: Occasionally, you'll find bounties on regional Leaders. These are powerful individuals who govern a territory. Eliminating them contributes to weakening the region and can be a stepping stone to conquest battles.
- Cultist Bounties: Some bounties will specifically target members of the Cult of Kosmos. These are critical for progressing the Cult storyline and often involve more intricate tracking.
Locating and Accepting Quests
Finding contracts and bounties is straightforward:
- Locate a Notice Board: Look for the distinctive scroll icon on your world map or mini-map. These are prevalent in towns, villages, military camps, and even some smaller outposts.
- Interact with the Board: Approach the board and press the interact button (e.g., E on PC, Triangle on PS4, Y on Xbox One).
- Browse Available Quests: A menu will appear, displaying a list of available contracts and bounties. Each entry will show the quest name, objective, and primary rewards.
- Accept Desired Quests: Select the quests you wish to undertake. You can accept multiple quests at once, and it's often strategic to pick quests that align with your current location or objectives.
Rewards and Benefits
Completing contracts and bounties offers substantial benefits:
| Reward Type | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Drachmae | The primary currency of Ancient Greece. | Essential for purchasing gear, upgrading weapons/armor, and paying off bounties on your own head. |
| Experience Points (XP) | Contributes to your character level. | Leveling up unlocks new abilities, increases your stats, and allows you to equip higher-level gear. |
| Resources | Iron Metal, Wood, Leather, Obsidian, Precious Gems. | Crucial for upgrading your ship (Adrestia) and enhancing your weapons and armor at a Blacksmith. |
| Gear | Occasionally, bounties on powerful targets will reward rare or epic weapons/armor. | Directly improves your combat effectiveness and allows for build specialization. |
Strategy Tips for Efficient Completion
- Stack Quests: Always accept multiple contracts, especially those with overlapping objectives. For example, if you need to kill Athenian soldiers for a main quest, pick up any "Kill Athenian Soldiers" contracts from the notice board.
- Prioritize Bounties: Bounties often offer better rewards and more challenging combat. If you're looking for a specific piece of gear or a significant XP boost, prioritize bounties.
- Check Region State: Some contracts, particularly those involving weakening a region, are easier to complete if the region is already in a "Weakened" state.
- Naval Combat Synergy: If you enjoy naval combat, always have a few "Sink X Ships" contracts active. You'll naturally complete them as you sail between islands or engage in naval battles.
- Resource Management: If you're low on a specific resource for upgrades, keep an eye out for contracts that reward that material.
- Mercenary Hunting: If you have a bounty on your head, you'll be hunted by Mercenaries. Often, these Mercenaries themselves will be bounty targets on notice boards. Killing them can clear your own bounty and complete a contract simultaneously.
- Use Ikaros: For bounties on specific individuals, use Ikaros to scout the target's location and identify their patrol routes, guards, and potential environmental hazards.
- Stealth vs. Combat: For human targets, consider your playstyle. Stealthily assassinating a target can be quicker and safer, but direct combat can be more rewarding if you're confident in your abilities.
Common Pitfalls and Missables
- Forgetting to Turn In: Unlike some other quest types, contracts and bounties are often automatically completed and rewarded upon fulfilling their objectives. However, some specific bounties might require you to return to the notice board or a specific NPC to claim the final reward. Always check your quest log.
- Overlooking Notice Boards: It's easy to get caught up in the main story, but regularly checking notice boards will ensure a steady flow of XP and Drachmae, preventing you from falling behind on levels or lacking funds for crucial upgrades.
- Ignoring Naval Contracts: If you neglect naval combat, you'll miss out on a significant source of income and resources for upgrading the Adrestia, which is vital for later game exploration and battles.
- Not Utilizing Overlap: The biggest mistake is not stacking quests. Always look for opportunities where a contract's objective can be completed while pursuing a main quest, side quest, or even just exploring. This maximizes your efficiency.
By actively engaging with the contract and bounty system, you'll find yourself well-equipped, wealthy, and powerful enough to face any challenge the Greek world throws at you, making your journey as the Misthios far more rewarding and efficient.