Ship power
Upgrade the blocker, not everything at once
Use the Jackdaw page when a route fails because the ship cannot survive, hit hard enough, or control range.
| Upgrade lane | Best use | Route trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Hull and armor | Survive longer fights | Forts, legendary ships, hard contracts |
| Broadside and heavy shot | Win close-range exchanges | Boarding routes and large brigs |
| Mortars | Start fights safely at range | Forts and heavy ships |
| Ram and fire barrels | Control approach and pursuit | Chases, boarding setup, and escape routes |
| Harpoon and storage | Improve hunting and resource loops | Crafting and supply checks |
Priority route
Choose the next upgrade by failure symptom
Before spending reales, materials, or a long sail on an elite plan, name the exact naval failure you are trying to remove.
| If this keeps happening | Prioritize | Safe check |
|---|---|---|
| The Jackdaw sinks before boarding | Hull and armor | Retry only after the ship can survive the opening exchange |
| Enemy ships survive too long | Broadside cannons and heavy shot | Check damage before chasing a different route |
| Forts punish close approach | Mortars | Open at range before sailing under heavy fire |
| Targets escape or rams miss | Ram strength and fire barrels | Fix approach control before blaming route timing |
| A top upgrade is locked | Elite design plans | Confirm plan location, coordinate, and any treasure overlap first |
Upgrade checklist
Before chasing an elite design plan
Elite plan routes cost time, so confirm the need before sailing across the map.
- Check whether the upgrade is already installed.
- Confirm the location, coordinate, or treasure reward tied to the plan.
- Group nearby map and collectible checks into the same sail.
- Return to Naval when the next blocker is a fort, contract, or legendary ship.
Elite locations
Open the plan route only after choosing the upgrade lane
Elite plan locations are most useful when the Jackdaw menu already shows which late-game upgrade is missing.