The Legendary Ships are among the hardest naval challenges in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. There are four encounters, but one battle features two ships at once, giving you five legendary vessels in total. These fights are optional, so you should not rush into them. A fully upgraded Jackdaw, strong naval weapons, and enough supplies will make a huge difference.
Prepare the Jackdaw Before Fighting
Your first priority should be upgrading the Jackdaw as much as possible. Legendary Ships are level 75 and can destroy an unprepared ship quickly. Focus especially on these upgrades:
- Hull armor for better survivability
- Broadside cannons for reliable damage
- Heavy shot for close-range attacks
- Mortars for long-range damage
- Ram strength for aggressive attacks
- Fire barrels for defensive and offensive use
Carry plenty of ammunition and repair materials. Mortar and heavy shot upgrades are particularly useful because they let you damage enemies before entering their strongest firing range.
El Impoluto
El Impoluto is found in the northwest corner of the map and is famous for its brutal ramming attacks. Do not try to fight it head-on for long. The safest position is generally behind the ship, where you can avoid much of its broadside fire.
Keep moving, watch its turning behavior, and be ready when it suddenly accelerates toward you. Fire heavy shot when you have a clean angle, then move away before it can ram. Fire barrels can also help interrupt its approach. Patience is more important than chasing damage.
HMS Fearless and Royal Sovereign
This encounter in the northeast is a two-on-one battle. The two ships work together and can surround the Jackdaw, making positioning extremely important.
Try to damage both ships instead of immediately sinking one. If one is destroyed too early, the surviving ship becomes significantly more dangerous. Use chain shot to control their movement when necessary, then use broadside and heavy shot attacks whenever you have a safe opening.
Keep both enemies where you can see them. Getting trapped between them is usually a quick route to losing the fight.
La Dama Negra
La Dama Negra waits in the southwest. Its armor makes attacking from the sides far less effective, so positioning is the key to winning.
Try to stay behind the ship and attack its rear. Watch carefully for its mortar attacks, which can be difficult to see compared with normal mortar indicators. Keep moving while maintaining your position behind the vessel. Mortars can deal heavy damage, but close-range attacks become much safer once you control the distance.
HMS Prince
HMS Prince is located in the southeast. This fast ship uses long-range attacks and can create distance when you try to close in. Its mortar fire is the biggest threat.
Avoid staying directly in its attack path. Use your own mortars when you have a clear opportunity, then close the distance and use broadside attacks. When HMS Prince retreats, do not blindly chase it through dangerous fire. Survive first, then attack when the opening appears.
