Arcade-Style Trick to Beat Legendary Ships in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
A throwback combat lesson from the arcade era can still matter in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, especially when you’re going up against the game’s most infamous opponents: the Legendary Ships. In the original release, those battles were famously brutal—and the remade naval encounters keep that same tough reputation.
So yes, there’s a trick that can help you win those fights more reliably, but it won’t magically turn the encounters into easy mode. To get the most out of it, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced players should fully upgrade the Jackdaw, finish the Naval Officer questline, and be comfortable managing the ship during combat. Even with improvements across the remake, the naval combat remains one of the strongest and most demanding parts of the experience.
Fans also spotted a teaser pointing toward the upcoming release of Hexe in Black Flag Resynced, adding extra momentum beyond the ongoing ship battles.
Quick scan: what matters for Legendary Ships
- Legendary Ships are the toughest battles in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.
- This long-running mortar timing approach can improve consistency, but won’t make fights easy.
- Players should fully upgrade the Jackdaw and complete Naval Officer quests.
- Mortars work best when you aim where the ship is going, not where it currently is.
- El Impoluto is highlighted as especially hard due to high mobility.
- Deadman Smith’s quest provides an alternative mortar option with different trade-offs.
AC Black Flag Resynced’s Mortars Rely on an Old Trick vs. Legendary Ships
In normal naval combat, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced mortars are a reliable way to punish targets from a distance. They can be effective across multiple ship types, including cutters, and they’re also useful against Man O’Wars. The key detail is that these standard mortars aren’t the same as the spray-style version you unlock through Naval Officer Deadman Smith.
For the Legendary Ships, standard mortars can absolutely do the job—but some players will find they miss more often than they hit. A major reason is simple: these ships are usually quicker and more nimble than even a typical schooner. That means your shot needs to account for movement, so firing at where the Legendary Ship will be instead of where it is now can make a noticeable difference.
Before you try to lean on this, make sure your mortars are fully upgraded in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. If you’re short on upgrades, the trick won’t feel nearly as effective.
Also, don’t rush the process. The source advice is to identify the silhouettes before time runs out—basically, watch the ship’s shape and motion clearly before committing to an approach.
Timing beats lining up shots
Rather than trying to line up your mortars directly on the Legendary Ship (or firing from right next to it), the better method is to step out and wait for the timing window. When you’re ready, aim at the position the enemy is headed for, not the exact spot it occupies at the moment you pull the trigger.
Yes, you’ll need time to get the timing right. But the principle is as old as arcade play: learn the rhythm, read patterns, and execute consistently. Even the movie Pixels comes to mind for that kind of “old-school pattern learning” vibe. Once you nail the timing and lead your shots, the Legendary Ships will eventually fall.
Effectiveness can vary based on which Legendary Ship you’re fighting. El Impoluto is singled out as one of the hardest, and its mobility is part of why—it’s harder to predict and tougher to pin down. Still, the tactic shines when dealing with La Dama Nega’s armor, and it’s also described as a strong option against the twins: HMS Fearless and Royal Sovereign.
When executed properly, the same idea can even let you damage both ships at once when HMS Fearless and Royal Sovereign cross paths. And if you want to pull it off more frequently across the full set of fights, the guidance is to have a fully upgraded Jackdaw in AC Black Flag Resynced.
Deadman Smith’s mortars: preference and trade-offs
Some players will prefer the newer mortar option gained from Deadman Smith’s quest in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. The choice is ultimately personal, because the two mortar styles don’t just differ in feel—they come with real trade-offs.
Deadman’s Cohort is described as easier to land shots with, but it also requires more focus and delivers less damage per shot. For Legendary Ships, that trade can matter depending on your approach and the specific opponent’s behavior. Still, mastering the timing and hitting where the enemy will be is framed as the bigger factor for shaving down a ship’s health.
