Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Jackdaw Upgrade Guide: Ship Upgrade Priority List (2026)
Every time I replay Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, I end up remembering the same thing: Edward Kenway may be the hero, but the Jackdaw wins the game.
Sure, Edward becomes stronger with better swords, pistols, and outfits, but none of that matters when a heavily armed Man-O’-War appears on the horizon. If your ship isn’t ready, you’re either running away or watching your brig sink beneath the Caribbean waves.
With Black Flag Resynced bringing players back into one of Ubisoft’s greatest pirate adventures, I found myself following almost exactly the same upgrade path I’ve used for years. After dozens of hours sailing, capturing fleets, and hunting Legendary Ships, I’ve realized that some upgrades provide incredible value while others simply eat valuable Metal and Reales.
If you’re wondering where your resources should go first, here’s the priority list I’d recommend to anyone starting a new campaign.
Don’t Waste Your Resources Early
One mistake almost everyone makes during the first several hours is trying to upgrade everything equally.
That simply doesn’t work.
Early-game resources disappear incredibly fast, especially Metal. Wood is fairly common, Cloth isn’t difficult to find, but Metal quickly becomes the currency that limits your progress.
Whenever I board enemy ships, I always check their cargo first. If they aren’t carrying Metal, I’m usually not interested unless I need quick money.
One more habit that’s worth building immediately:
- Sell Sugar and Rum regularly.
- Save Metal whenever possible.
- Spend Wood on important structural upgrades only.
- Ignore cosmetic improvements until much later.
Those simple habits make progression much smoother.
Upgrade Priority #1: Hull Armor
If I could recommend only one upgrade to every new captain, it would be Hull Armor.
More health changes everything.
- You survive mistakes.
- You survive storms.
- You survive getting surrounded.
- You survive Legendary encounters long enough to actually learn their attack patterns.
The biggest reason I value Hull Armor so highly isn’t just durability—it’s confidence. When your ship can absorb punishment, you stop playing defensively and start controlling battles instead.
Whenever a new Hull tier becomes available through story progression, I almost always purchase it before anything else.
Upgrade Priority #2: More Broadside Cannons
Damage wins fights.
Broadside cannons are responsible for most of your offensive power throughout the entire game.
Many newer players spend resources unlocking fancy weapons before improving their standard cannon count, but I think that’s backwards.
Your regular broadsides are something you’ll fire hundreds of times during a single playthrough.
More cannons means:
- Faster enemy takedowns.
- Easier boarding opportunities.
- Better damage against Frigates.
- Less time exposed to return fire.
Getting your broadside count into the higher tiers completely changes how quickly naval encounters end.
Upgrade Priority #3: Round Shot Damage
Your standard cannonballs have unlimited ammunition.
That’s exactly why improving Round Shot Strength is such an efficient investment.
Instead of relying on situational weapons, you’re making your primary attack stronger every single time you pull the trigger.
It’s one of those upgrades that doesn’t look exciting in the menu, but you immediately feel the difference during combat.
Enemy ships simply melt faster.
Mid-Game Upgrades That Really Matter
Once your Jackdaw has respectable armor and respectable firepower, it’s time to expand your options.
These upgrades aren’t mandatory immediately, but they’re absolutely worth pursuing.
Mortars
Mortars completely change how naval battles begin.
Instead of sailing directly into danger, you can soften enemy ships from hundreds of meters away.
They’re also fantastic against forts.
I almost always open difficult encounters with one or two mortar volleys before moving in.
That free damage often determines whether the battle becomes easy or frustrating.
Heavy Shot
Heavy Shot feels incredibly satisfying.
At point-blank range it delivers devastating damage, especially when you’re sailing directly alongside another vessel.
Against larger enemies, one properly timed Heavy Shot volley can expose multiple weak points almost instantly.
If you enjoy aggressive naval combat, this upgrade deserves a high priority.
Swivel Guns
Some players overlook Swivel Guns because they aren’t traditional cannons.
I think that’s a mistake.
Landing precision shots on highlighted weak points finishes battles much faster than relying on broadsides alone.
Better Swivel Guns mean:
- Faster executions.
- Easier boarding.
- Less overall ammunition spent.
- Shorter engagements.
They’re a small investment with surprisingly noticeable returns.
Useful Upgrades…But Not Urgent
Not every upgrade deserves immediate attention.
Some are definitely helpful, but I rarely buy them until my core build is finished.
Chase Cannons
These are excellent during missions involving escaping targets.
Outside those situations, I don’t use them very often.
They’re useful—but definitely not essential.
Ram
Ramming enemy ships is incredibly fun.
It’s also incredibly risky.
When it works, you deal huge damage.
When it doesn’t, you’ve handed your broadside to the enemy.
If you enjoy an aggressive pirate playstyle, you’ll probably love investing here.
Personally, I treat it as a luxury upgrade.
Cargo Storage
Extra inventory space sounds attractive.
In reality, I almost never hit the storage limit during the early game because I’m constantly spending resources on upgrades.
Later? Absolutely.
Early on? Not really necessary.
Upgrades I Usually Ignore Until Late Game
There are a few upgrades that I honestly don’t think deserve early investment.
Fire Barrels
I’ve completed multiple playthroughs barely touching Fire Barrels.
They look cool.
They’re occasionally useful.
Most of the time, enemy ships simply avoid them or the opportunity never appears.
I’d rather spend those resources somewhere else.
Crew Quarters
Losing crew members isn’t difficult to fix.
- Rescue sailors.
- Visit taverns.
- Board enemy vessels.
Problem solved.
Unless you’re repeatedly failing boarding actions, Crew Quarters can safely wait.
Harpoon Equipment
Whaling is enjoyable for a change of pace, but it has almost no impact on normal naval combat.
Upgrade harpoons when you’re specifically planning to hunt sea creatures—not before.
My Personal Upgrade Roadmap
If I started a completely fresh save today, this is almost exactly how I’d spend my resources.
| Priority | Upgrade | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull Armor | Maximum survivability. |
| 2 | Broadside Cannons | Consistent damage increase. |
| 3 | Round Shot Strength | Stronger primary weapon. |
| 4 | Mortars | Long-range engagement advantage. |
| 5 | Heavy Shot | Massive close-range burst damage. |
| 6 | Swivel Guns | Faster weak-point destruction. |
| 7 | Chase Cannons | Situational utility. |
| 8 | Ram | Fun but optional. |
| 9 | Cargo Storage | Quality-of-life improvement. |
| 10 | Fire Barrels & Crew | Lowest priority. |
This order has consistently carried me through nearly every major story mission without excessive grinding.
Don’t Rush Elite Upgrades
Eventually you’ll discover Elite Upgrade Plans hidden inside treasure locations and underwater wrecks.
They’re absolutely worth collecting.
However, I don’t think new players should obsess over finding them immediately.
Standard upgrades are already powerful enough to comfortably complete most of the campaign.
Once you’ve reached the later sequences, then it’s worth tracking down Elite Hull Armor, Elite Mortars, Elite Broadside Cannons, and the other advanced blueprints.
Think of them as endgame goals rather than early objectives.
My Favorite Resource Farming Trick
If there’s one habit that has saved me the most time over the years, it’s checking enemy cargo before attacking.
Your spyglass tells you exactly what each ship is carrying.
Need Metal?
Ignore everything else.
Need quick money?
Target wealthy merchant ships.
Trying to upgrade efficiently isn’t about sinking every ship you see—it’s about attacking the right ones.
Another strategy I always recommend is keeping a moderate wanted level for Pirate Hunters. Their ships often carry excellent loot, making them surprisingly reliable sources of valuable upgrade materials if you’re confident in your naval combat skills.
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Final Thoughts
One of the reasons Black Flag remains my favorite Assassin’s Creed game is how rewarding naval progression feels.
Every upgrade has a visible impact.
Every improvement makes future battles more enjoyable.
Instead of chasing every available enhancement, focus on building a solid foundation first. Strong armor, powerful broadsides, and upgraded Round Shot will carry you through the majority of the adventure, while Mortars and Heavy Shot turn the Jackdaw into one of the deadliest ships in the Caribbean.
Once your brig reaches that point, you’ll stop worrying about surviving encounters—and start actively hunting the biggest ships on the map just because you can.
That’s when Black Flag is at its absolute best.
