Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Guide: Ship Upgrades and Customization
Most Assassin’s Creed entries ask you to move through towns, stealth past guards, and hunt down treasure—but AC Black Flag Resynced leans hard into something different. Instead of focusing only on land, it puts naval travel front and center, turning ship life into the core of your gameplay loop.
That means your time at sea isn’t just about sailing between islands. You’ll also clash with hostile vessels, press your advantage against heavily fortified positions, and spend a lot of effort making your ship feel like your own. Both customization and upgrading are tied to a specific point in the story—Sequence 3—and if you’re trying to figure out where to access those systems, this guide has the details.
And if you’re stuck trying to interpret treasure maps in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, don’t worry—there are ways to get your bearings so you can start chasing what those clues are pointing to.
How to Customize Your Ship in AC Black Flag Resynced
Ship customization unlocks early in Sequence 3, starting with the very first mission. You’ll get access right after Edward takes command of the Jackdaw. When you’re back aboard, go below the ship’s wheel to reach the Captain’s Cabin, where you’ll find two interactive stations.
The mannequin on the left table is where you can adjust Edward’s look. On the right, the model ship station is where you’ll customize the Jackdaw itself, letting you swap cosmetics and style elements for your vessel.
Want to avoid running back to the ship each time you discover a new cosmetic option? You don’t have to. Every Harbormaster provides access to the same customization menu, making it simpler to change your ship’s appearance while you’re docked.
If you bought the Deluxe Edition, you’ll already have a set of cosmetic choices available from the start, spread across different categories. Still, if you want even more pieces, you can continue unlocking additional customization items by progressing through the campaign and taking part in naval activities.
One of the most productive ways to grow your cosmetics collection is to capture forts. Doing so doesn’t just reward you with new ship looks—it also pays out Reales, which gives you more currency to spend on further customization options as you continue through the game.
Just keep expectations realistic: none of these cosmetics will boost your ship’s performance. Like other appearance-focused options in Black Flag Resynced, they’re visual only and don’t provide gameplay benefits—unlike certain bonus items included with the Deluxe Edition.
How to Upgrade Your Ship in AC Black Flag Resynced
Ship upgrades roll out during the third mission of Sequence 3, titled Prizes and Plunder. Early on, the game directs you to visit a Harbormaster and purchase your first upgrade. Once you’ve completed that initial purchase, the upgrade menu stays available permanently, letting you improve the Jackdaw whenever you have enough Reales and the required crafting materials—Wood, Metal, and similar resources.
At first, you’ll likely see that multiple upgrades are locked. The reason is tied to your Hideout. After upgrading Great Inagua, talk to the NPC stationed beside the Harbormaster there. By spending a bit more, you’ll unlock higher upgrade tiers for the Jackdaw—giving you access to some of its most powerful improvements.
When it comes to what to prioritize, the Armored Hull, Round Shot & Heated Shot, and Broadside Cannons are strong picks. More durability helps you last longer during naval fights, while better cannons and improved ammunition make it easier to bring down enemy ships.
As you begin taking on tougher threats—like challenging forts and larger ships such as the Man o’ Wars—those upgrades start paying off even more. The more capable your Jackdaw becomes, the easier those encounters tend to feel, so it’s a good idea to invest your resources into the ship before spending them elsewhere.
