In the dangerous waters of Skull and Bones, having a powerful ship can mean the difference between sinking and surviving. Your ship's level is key to determining its strength in combat and plunder. Here are tips for increasing your ship's level quickly in Skull and Bones.
Obtain Blueprints for Higher Tier Ships
The most significant way to boost your ship's level is to acquire blueprints for more advanced ships. Each ship has a base level that goes up as you move to higher tiers. Focus on finding schematics for larger Brigs, Galleons, Frigates, and Man-o-Wars to make major level jumps.
However, note that building the top ships requires reaching certain Infamy ranks first. As you complete story missions, your Infamy will increase and unlock new ship options. Prioritize story progress early on to gain access to the strongest vessels.
Skull and Bones - Review | |
why skull and bones is BONED | |
FINALLY they have FIXED IT! Skull and Bones | |
Season 1 Endgame Brigantine Build for Skull & Bones |
Install Upgraded Weapons, Armor, and Gear
The second way to increase ship level is installing upgraded equipment like weapons, armor, sails, wheels, and more. When docked at an Outpost or Den, access the Manage Ship menu. Here you can browse gear to install, with rarer items providing larger level boosts.
Hover over an item to see its power rating, which contributes to your overall level. For example, Common Cannons may provide +2 power, while Rare Cannons provide +5. Stack multiple upgrades to get sizable boosts. Like ships, higher tier gear is locked behind Infamy ranks so progress steadily.
Purchase Gear from Various Vendors
Once you unlock the ability to visit Settlements, you can browse gear sold by vendors. These offer another source for finding upgrades. Check vendors frequently for new inventory, and buy any affordable gear that surpasses your current loadout. Vendors can carry rare items that significantly boost your power.
Steal Upgrades from Stronger Ships
Boarding and plundering higher level ships allows stealing their equipped gear for your own use. Even if the ship itself is out of reach, you can look for lone high level ships to ambush and pillage for upgrades. Swapping your weaker gear for purloined higher tier items can give major level jumps early on.
Complete Bounties and World Events
Various bounties and world events reward rare ship upgrades upon completion. Take on bounties to hunt down notorious named ships for gear pieces. Keep an eye out for world events like Merchant Escorts that conclude with unlocking special rewards. The loot from these can offer gear unavailable for purchase to boost your power.
Buy Gear from Trading Posts and Auction Houses
For quick power boosts, Trading Posts and player Auction Houses offer gear for purchase from other players. While often more expensive than vendors, you can find titans way above your current level. Investing some Buy Cheap Skull and Bones Silver at MTMMO.COM into elite items from other players can save the time and danger of gathering gear manually.
Optimize Your Ship's Layout
Carefully placing gear in optimal slots can maximize your level. Place the most powerful weapons in slots with the widest fire arcs. Cluster armor plating around vulnerable spots. Double up sails in forward slots for speed. An efficient layout distributes upgrades where they contribute the most power. Review your layout often and adjust as you acquire new items.
Upgrade Your Ship Regularly
As soon as you gain some Infamy ranks, visit Settlement shipwrights to check for new ship blueprints you can build. Even if your current ship feels comfortable, building a bigger vessel immediately boosts your base power. Replace aging gear with newer equipment. Small incremental upgrades keep your ship strong without wasting resources on items you will outgrow quickly.
Avoid Wasting Resources on Temporary Items
Be careful not to spend too much on equipment you will replace soon. Buyingminor +1 or +2 upgrades can drain resources quickly for minimal gain. Hold off for more impactful +5 or higher gear. Focus on long-term upgrades for weapons, hull, sails, and attachments. Temporary boosts from consumables work in a pinch.
Recruit Higher Tier Officers
Skilled officers offer bonuses including extra ship power. Before departing port, browse potential recruits in the Bar. Higher tier specialists come at greater cost, but provide better rewards. Invest in the best Quartermaster, Navigator, and Specialist you can afford for bonuses to health, speed, detection range, and more.
Officer Tier | Ship Level Bonus |
Common | +1 |
Uncommon | +2 |
Rare | +4 |
Epic | +6 |
Complete Profitable Contracts
Taking on Contracts for various factions provides targets to take down, along with rewarding gold, items, and Infamy. Use the gold payouts to purchase ship upgrades from vendors. The gear rewards can directly boost your power. Higher Infamy unlocks better ships and gear. Contracts keep resources and progression flowing.
Hunt Bounties and World Bosses
Keep an eye out for special Bounty Hunt contracts against deadly named ships. Although risky, defeating these bosses drops rare gear unobtainable otherwise. Also sail out to engage powerful emergent World Bosses for major loot payouts. With sufficient skill and preparations, the prizes are well worth the fight.
Maintain a Reserve of Upgrade Materials
Check requirements for gear and ship blueprints you want to unlock next. Collect the necessary Wood, Tallow, Cloth, Metal, Gunpowder ahead of time through naval battles, plunder and salvaging. Having resources stockpiled allows crafting upgrades immediately rather than waiting to gather materials. Quick upgrades keep your power on pace.
Maximize Proficiency with Your Ship
Part of your ship's effectiveness comes from your own skill with navigation and combat. As you sail more with a ship, your Proficiency with it increases, up to a maximum of 300. Higher Proficiency improves speed, durability, handling and more. Stick with a ship long term to maximize these benefits.
Sailing Tips
- Avoid enemies more than 1-2 levels higher until you close the gap
- Use range and obstacles to break line of sight from overwhelming threats
- Approach unfamiliar ships cautiously until you can gauge their level
- Flee combat quickly if it becomes clear you are severely outmatched
- Strike a good balance between offense and defense when upgrading
- Carry Mortars to quickly sink lower tier ships from a distance
Upgrade Priorities
When starting out, focus ship upgrades on:
- Maneuverability - Mobility is key to surviving early battles
- Cargo Capacity - Allows taking on more lucrative contracts
- Crew Quarters - Additional crew boosts efficiency
- Armory - Outfit the ship with proper cannons and weapons
At higher levels, priority shifts to:
- Armor Plating - Absorb more damage in prolonged fights
- Reinforced Hull - Increases maximum durability
- Officer Quarters - Recruit tier 5 officers
- Magazine - Unlock more cannon ammo types
Carefully upgrading key systems keeps your ship combat-ready as you take on greater challenges. Eventually you will be strong enough to directly engage massive warships and take their best gear for yourself.
A ship's level represents its overall power and capabilities. Increasing it requires steady Infamy progression to unlock new ships and gear. Combat, upgrades, officers, layouts and proficiency all contribute to greater levels. Face threats carefully until you close the gap through efficient progression. Trading silver from vendors can shortcut the item hunt. With patience and the right priorities, you will transform fragile sloops into an unstoppable armada fit to conquer the high seas of Skull and Bones.