Best Jackdaw Upgrades in Black Flag Resynced

The Jackdaw carries the entire game on its back. Naval battles, merchant convoys, heavily defended forts, legendary ship encounters, all of it comes down to how well you've prepared your vessel. Edward Kenway gets top billing in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, but the Jackdaw is what actually lets his story keep moving.

Most action games let you skip equipment upgrades and just get by. Not this one. A stronger Jackdaw opens up tougher enemy ships, better loot, and stretches of the Caribbean you'd otherwise avoid. Fall behind on upgrades and even routine naval fights start feeling like a grind.

The trouble is that Harbourmasters throw a lot at you at once. Stronger cannons, thicker hull armor, mortars, storage space, harpoon upgrades, it all sounds useful, and you'll never have enough Reales or crafting materials to buy it all up front. So you're forced to pick.

Picking well pays off fast. Put your resources into the right upgrades early and you'll start beating stronger ships, which hands you better materials for the next round of purchases. Spend on the wrong things and progression slows to a crawl while enemy ships keep getting tougher around you.

This guide ranks the Jackdaw's upgrades by how much they're actually worth, not just by their raw stats. We'll walk through what deserves your Reales first, what can wait, and how your priorities should shift as the campaign throws harder naval fights at you.

Whether this is your first trip into the Caribbean or you're back for another playthrough, this should help you build a Jackdaw that can handle everything from routine skirmishes to the game's toughest endgame fights.

How Jackdaw Upgrades Work

Edward's personal gear can usually be upgraded whenever you've got the cash. The Jackdaw is stingier. Nearly every upgrade costs a mix of Reales and crafting materials, so every purchase has an opportunity cost. Spend too much on one system early and you'll be putting off another upgrade that would've mattered more.

The upgrade loop is designed to reward you for playing well, though. A stronger ship lets you beat tougher vessels, capture bigger prizes, and take on more dangerous naval activities, all of which hand you more resources to keep the cycle going.

You'll buy nearly every ship upgrade through Harbourmasters, found in most major settlements and marked with a ship anchor icon on your map. Beyond upgrades, they'll repair the Jackdaw, restock your ammunition, and let you customize the ship's appearance. Note that in Resynced, unlike the 2013 original, you can no longer upgrade from the Captain's Cabin at sea. Every purchase has to happen while docked at a Harbourmaster.

Materials come from a few different places. Boarding and looting enemy ships is the fastest way to stack up Wood, Metal, and Cloth, always board instead of sinking, since sinking a ship only gives you a fraction of its resources. Reales come from selling trade goods like Sugar, Rum, and Wine, along with treasure chests, quests, and exploration. Once your Jackdaw can handle multiple enemies at once, Naval Convoys become worth hunting too, since they carry some of the largest material payouts in the game.

Most Jackdaw improvements fall into one of four categories.

Ship Upgrades

This category covers survivability and structure: Hull Armor (your health pool in naval combat), crew capacity, the Ram, and the Diving Bell, which unlocks underwater exploration through the story. These tend to have the biggest long-term impact, since they decide how aggressively you can afford to fight.

Weapon Upgrades

Broadside Cannons, Round and Heated Shot, Heavy Shot, Mortars, Chain Shot, Fire Barrels, and Swivel Guns all get stronger as you invest resources into them. Some become essential far earlier than others, which is exactly why prioritizing matters here.

Storage Upgrades

Storage doesn't add damage, but it lets you carry more ammunition for weapons with limited rounds, Heavy Shot, Mortars, and Fire Barrels among them. That means fewer trips back to a Harbourmaster mid-expedition. These are convenient later on, but they generally matter less than upgrades that directly boost your survivability or firepower.

Harpooning Upgrades

These are built for players who hunt whales, sharks, and other large sea creatures with the rowboat. More harpoon damage and ammo capacity makes those encounters easier and speeds up the flow of crafting materials for Edward's personal gear. Since harpooning isn't required for story progression, treat these as a lower priority than anything that strengthens the Jackdaw itself.

As you play, you'll also start finding Ultimate Ship Plans, rare blueprints needed to unlock some of the Jackdaw's highest-tier upgrades. Finding a plan isn't enough on its own; you'll still need the Reales and materials before a Harbourmaster can install it. Grab these plans the moment you find them, even if you can't afford the upgrade yet.

How We Ranked the Best Jackdaw Upgrades

Not every Jackdaw upgrade is worth the same, even at a similar Reales and material cost. Some pay off the moment you buy them. Others only matter during specific activities, or much later in the game.

Instead of ranking purely by damage numbers or max upgrade tier, we looked at how much value each purchase adds across the whole campaign, from the opening hours through the toughest endgame fights.

Here's what factored into where each upgrade landed:

• Overall usefulness across the full campaign, not just one chapter or activity.
• Return on investment: how much value you get relative to what the upgrade costs.
• Early-game impact, since resources are tightest in the opening hours.
• Long-term scaling, favoring upgrades that stay useful instead of going obsolete after a few missions.
• Endgame prep, including legendary ships, naval convoys, and heavily defended forts.

We also thought about how players actually approach naval combat. Experienced captains already understand positioning and ammunition management, but newer players tend to lean on stronger defenses while they're still learning the systems, which makes certain upgrades worth more than their raw numbers suggest.

No ranking here is gospel. Your playstyle will shift what feels worth it. Players who spend hours hunting whales and sharks will get more mileage out of harpoon upgrades than someone racing through the main story, and players who board every ship they can will want offensive upgrades a bit sooner than those who prefer to fight at range.

With that said, here's the progression we'd recommend for most players looking to balance survivability, damage, and long-term efficiency.

1. Hull Armor

Recommended Priority: Upgrade First

If you only make one major early-game investment, make it Hull Armor.

Every naval fight gets easier when your ship can survive longer. Stronger Hull Armor gives you room for error, lets you stay in a fight instead of retreating, and makes it possible to challenge bigger ships well before you'd otherwise be ready.

Most upgrades only shine in specific situations. Hull Armor isn't one of them. The extra durability lets you engage larger ships with confidence, which funds the rest of your upgrades through better loot.

That's why it tops this list. Everything you buy after Hull Armor becomes more valuable because your ship survives long enough to actually use it.

Why Hull Armor ranks first

Enemy ships get bigger and better armed as you progress, and mistakes get expensive fast. A stronger hull doesn't just pad your health bar, it buys you room to recover from bad positioning, survive concentrated cannon fire, and win fights you'd otherwise lose. That matters most in encounters against multiple ships, convoys, and the tougher naval battles waiting later on.

Should You Rush It?

Yes. Keep Hull Armor as your top priority until ordinary naval fights stop feeling scary. Once you're winning without limping back to port every time, shift more of your budget toward offense.

Verdict

Hull Armor is the single most important upgrade in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. It supports every stage of the game, works with every weapon on the Jackdaw, and smooths out your entire progression from the opening hours to the toughest Legendary Ship fights.

2. Broadside Cannons

Recommended Priority: Upgrade Early

Hull Armor keeps you alive. Broadside Cannons win the fight.

They're your primary weapon for almost the entire campaign, which makes them one of the safest, most reliable investments you can make. Every upgrade sinks ships faster, speeds up boarding, and lets you tackle stronger opponents without leaning on specialized weapons.

Because you'll use Broadsides in nearly every encounter, even small upgrades keep paying off. Unlike situational weapons that shine in specific fights, stronger Broadsides make basically every battle better.

Once Hull Armor is in a comfortable spot, this should be next.

Why Broadside Cannons matter so much

Every naval strategy eventually comes back to your Broadsides. Whether you're hunting convoys, fighting military ships, or setting up a boarding, they're what deals the bulk of your consistent damage. Upgrading them doesn't just speed up fights, it also cuts down on the return fire you have to eat, making every encounter safer.

Even after you've unlocked Heavy Shot and Mortars, Broadsides stay the weapon you lean on most.

Should You Rush It?

Yes, once Hull Armor stops feeling like a weakness. Stronger Broadsides shorten every fight, make boarding easier, and speed up your future upgrades thanks to faster wins and better loot.

Verdict

Broadside Cannons are the Jackdaw's most dependable damage source and one of the smartest long-term investments in the game. Paired with strong Hull Armor, they turn the Jackdaw from a ship that's merely surviving fights into one that's controlling them.

3. Heavy Shot

Recommended Priority: Unlock Early, Upgrade During the Mid Game

Heavy Shot is the first offensive upgrade that genuinely changes how naval combat feels. Your Broadsides remain the backbone of every fight, but Heavy Shot gives you the burst damage to punish larger ships once you've closed the distance. It's a close-range, unaimed blast, fired without a targeting reticle once an enemy gets in tight.

Rather than replacing your Broadsides, it complements them. A solid Broadside followed by a point-blank Heavy Shot can strip huge chunks of an enemy ship's health, cutting down fights that would otherwise drag on.

Why Heavy Shot deserves a top-three ranking

As the Caribbean opens up, you'll run into military vessels that shrug off repeated Broadsides. Heavy Shot closes that gap by delivering devastating close-range damage the moment you pull alongside an enemy ship.

The catch is you have to get close. That's exactly why we recommend upgrading Hull Armor and Broadside Cannons first, once those are in place, Heavy Shot becomes the natural next step, rewarding confident positioning with some of the Jackdaw's highest burst damage.

Should You Rush It?

Yes, once your foundations are set. Heavy Shot comes after Hull Armor and Broadside Cannons, not before. Once those two are keeping pace with the campaign, it becomes one of the most impactful purchases you can make, and it stays useful into the endgame.

Verdict

Heavy Shot earns its spot by adding explosive finishing power without overcomplicating naval combat. Paired with strong Broadsides and solid Hull Armor, it turns the Jackdaw into a ship that overwhelms even heavily armed opponents before they get a chance to recover.

4. Mortars

Recommended Priority: Upgrade During the Mid Game

Mortars are the Jackdaw's main long-range weapon, letting you damage enemy ships before they're close enough to fire back. They aren't as universally useful as Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, or Heavy Shot, but they get more valuable as naval battles grow bigger and more demanding. They're also the most mechanically demanding weapon on the ship: shots take a few seconds to land, and the game's physics account for the Jackdaw's own momentum, so you'll need to lead your target rather than aim directly at it.

Whether you're attacking forts or engaging powerful warships, Mortars let you weaken opponents before the main exchange even starts, one of the few upgrades that can swing a fight before your Broadsides ever come into play.

Why Mortars become essential later

Early fights are usually decided at close or medium range, where Broadsides and Heavy Shot do most of the work. As the campaign progresses, ships get tougher and fleets get bigger, leaving less room for mistakes. Mortars help offset that by letting you deal damage from a safe distance and shape how the fight unfolds before it even starts.

Should You Rush It?

Not right away. Get Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, and Heavy Shot established first. Once those core systems are in place, Mortars become one of the Jackdaw's most valuable tactical tools, especially as encounters get harder.

Verdict

Mortars reward preparation and patience. They don't need to be your first purchase, but they quickly become one of the Jackdaw's most valuable tactical weapons and stay relevant through the toughest naval encounters in the game.

5. Round and Heated Shot

Recommended Priority: Upgrade During the Mid to Late Game

Round and Heated Shot doesn't add a new weapon or change how the Jackdaw fights. It improves the ammunition your Broadsides fire, both the flexible standard Round Shot and the faster-firing Heated Shot volleys, making it one of the most dependable upgrades once your core combat systems are already in place.

Since your Broadsides stay the Jackdaw's main damage source from start to finish, boosting every volley pays off across the entire campaign. It won't feel as transformative as unlocking Heavy Shot or Mortars, but it quietly shortens every fight you're in.

Why Round and Heated Shot ranks in the top five

The strength here is consistency. Unlike situational weapons that only shine in certain fights, this upgrade improves the attack you'll use more than any other. Every Broadside fired against merchant ships, military vessels, forts, or Legendary Ships benefits from it. You won't notice it much day to day, but you'll definitely feel it if it falls behind while enemies keep getting tougher.

Should You Rush It?

Not before the essentials. Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, Heavy Shot, and Mortars should all come first. Once those are established, this becomes one of the smartest long-term investments, since it improves the weapon you'll fire most.

Verdict

Round and Heated Shot quietly makes every naval encounter better. It won't redefine the Jackdaw on its own, but its constant contribution to your damage output makes it one of the best upgrades to chase once your core systems are solid.

6. Swivel Guns

Recommended Priority: Upgrade During the Mid to Late Game

Swivel Guns won't dramatically boost the Jackdaw's raw firepower, but they make naval fights run smoother. They're manually aimed, and their main job is detonating Fire Barrels and Shrapnel Barrels at range for bonus damage, plus giving you an extra edge once you've weakened a ship and want to close things out efficiently.

That supporting role is why they land just outside the top five. Not essential early on, but a solid pickup once the Jackdaw's core upgrades are in place.

Why Swivel Guns are worth upgrading

As enemy ships get bigger and boarding gets more rewarding, every second you save in the closing stages of a fight matters. Swivel Guns help you finish cleanly and keep momentum, letting you capture ships, grab resources, and keep sailing without unnecessary delays. They complement your primary weapons rather than competing with them, Broadsides and Heavy Shot do the softening, Swivel Guns help you close it out.

Should You Rush It?

No. Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, Heavy Shot, Mortars, and Round and Heated Shot all provide more value during the main campaign. Once those are established, Swivel Guns become a solid quality-of-life pickup.

Verdict

Swivel Guns are a dependable supporting upgrade for players who frequently board enemy ships. Not a priority early, but worth picking up once your core combat systems are fully established.

7. Ram

Recommended Priority: Upgrade During the Late Mid Game

The Ram is a genuinely useful upgrade in Black Flag Resynced, especially once you've recruited the Officer known as The Padre, whose Ram Dash perk lets you ram at significantly higher speed for far more impact damage. It's still not a substitute for the Jackdaw's core weapons, but it's an excellent finisher once an enemy ship has already been softened up.

Think of it as the last step in your attack sequence rather than an opener. Broadsides and Heavy Shot strip an enemy's health, then a well-timed Ram finishes the job before you board or move on.

Why the Ram is worth upgrading

The Ram rewards confident captains who are comfortable fighting close. Used right, it shortens fights and works alongside the Jackdaw's other offensive upgrades. Its usefulness also scales with Hull Armor, the stronger your defenses, the safer it is to close distance and take advantage of ramming opportunities.

Should You Rush It?

No. The Ram works best once your core upgrades are established. Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, Heavy Shot, Mortars, and Round and Heated Shot should all come first.

Verdict

The Ram has become a genuinely worthwhile upgrade for players who enjoy aggressive naval combat, particularly once The Padre's Ram Dash is unlocked. Not essential early, but a strong supporting weapon once the Jackdaw's core systems are developed.

8. Chain Shot

Recommended Priority: Upgrade During the Late Game

Chain Shot fires from the Jackdaw's bow rather than the sides, and it's not built to sink ships fast. Instead, it slows an opponent down, giving you control over the pace of a fight, making it easier to line up Broadsides, cut off an escape, and keep faster ships from dictating the terms.

That might sound situational early on, but it matters more as naval encounters grow tougher and enemy ships start relying on speed and positioning to pressure the Jackdaw.

Why Chain Shot deserves a place in your arsenal

Fast ships are dangerous less because of their firepower and more because they're hard to pin down. Chain Shot solves that by slowing enemy vessels, buying you time to reposition, unload a Broadside, or line up a Heavy Shot. It's especially useful in tougher optional fights where controlling an enemy's movement matters as much as raw damage.

Should You Rush It?

No. Chain Shot works best once the Jackdaw's primary systems are already well established. Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, Heavy Shot, Mortars, and Round and Heated Shot all matter more during the main campaign before you start investing in specialized tactical weapons.

Verdict

Chain Shot is a specialist upgrade for players who like controlling engagements rather than relying purely on firepower. Once your core upgrades are done, it becomes another useful tool for handling the Caribbean's fastest, most dangerous opponents.

9. Fire Barrels

Recommended Priority: Upgrade During the Late Game

Fire Barrels are dropped from the rear of the Jackdaw and give you another way to influence enemy movement instead of just piling on damage. They won't replace your primary weapons, but they're excellent for disrupting pursuers and creating space during hectic naval fights, which makes them a solid addition once your core upgrades are complete, especially if you're taking on larger fleets.

Why Fire Barrels are useful

Unlike Broadside Cannons or Heavy Shot, Fire Barrels don't win fights through raw damage. They force pursuing ships to alter course or risk sailing through an explosion, buying you time to reposition, line up another Broadside, or separate one enemy from the rest of a fleet. That kind of battlefield control gets more valuable the more opponents you're facing at once.

Should You Rush It?

No. Fire Barrels are a specialist pickup, worth considering only after Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, Heavy Shot, Mortars, Round and Heated Shot, and your other primary combat upgrades are already well established.

Verdict

Fire Barrels won't dramatically boost the Jackdaw's offensive power, but they add tactical flexibility once your core build is done. Good pickup for players who enjoy controlling enemy movement and managing bigger fleet battles.

10. Harpoon Upgrades

Recommended Priority: Upgrade Only If You Hunt Regularly

Harpoon Upgrades are the only ones on this list that don't touch naval combat at all. They're built to make hunting whales, sharks, and other sea creatures with the rowboat faster and less punishing. That doesn't make them bad, it just means their value depends entirely on how much time you plan to spend on hunting.

Why Harpoon Upgrades rank last

Everything else on this list either boosts survivability, increases damage, or gives you more control in a naval fight. Harpoon Upgrades serve a different purpose entirely.

If your goal is finishing the story or getting better at naval combat, you'll get far more out of investing in the Jackdaw's core systems first. Players chasing 100% completion or regularly hunting for crafting materials will eventually appreciate the extra efficiency, but it's not urgent.

Should You Rush It?

Almost never. Save these for once your Jackdaw is fully prepared for naval combat. At that point you can return to hunting without feeling underpowered anywhere else.

Verdict

Harpoon Upgrades aren't essential for naval combat, but they're worthwhile for players who want to experience everything Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has to offer. Treat them as a completionist pickup rather than a combat priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Jackdaw upgrade in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced?

Hull Armor is our top pick for nearly every player. Improving the Jackdaw's survivability makes every naval encounter more forgiving, lets you challenge stronger ships earlier, and smooths out the rest of your upgrade path. Offensive upgrades matter too, eventually, but staying afloat is what lets everything else deliver its full value.

What should I upgrade first?

Hull Armor, then Broadside Cannons, then Heavy Shot and Mortars. That order gives you a healthy balance of survivability and damage while preparing the Jackdaw for tougher naval fights ahead.

Should I prioritize Hull Armor or Broadside Cannons?

If you're struggling to survive fights, Hull Armor first. If you're winning comfortably but fights drag on, Broadside Cannons are the better call. Ideally the two progress together instead of one falling far behind the other.

Are Mortars worth upgrading?

Yes. They get more valuable through the mid and late game, especially against forts, larger warships, and enemies you'd rather soften before they close to Broadside range. One of the Jackdaw's strongest tactical weapons, though they shouldn't come before Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, or Heavy Shot.

Do I need to upgrade every weapon?

No. You can get through most of the campaign without upgrading everything. Focusing on the Jackdaw's core combat systems first almost always produces a stronger ship than spreading resources across every upgrade the moment it's available.

Are Harpoon Upgrades required?

Not for the main story. They're mainly for players who enjoy hunting sea creatures or are chasing 100% completion. If naval combat is your focus, they're the lowest priority on this list.

What are Ultimate Ship Plans?

Rare blueprints needed to unlock some of the Jackdaw's highest-tier upgrades, found in underwater shipwrecks, buried treasure chests, and as quest rewards. Finding a plan doesn't upgrade the ship automatically, it just unlocks the option to buy that upgrade once you've got the resources.

Can I beat Legendary Ships without fully upgrading the Jackdaw?

Highly skilled players might pull it off with fewer upgrades, but for most people it's worth having the Jackdaw's core systems in place first. Strong Hull Armor, powerful Broadsides, Heavy Shot, and Mortars make these fights far more manageable.

Should I upgrade Storage early?

Storage upgrades are convenient, but shouldn't come at the expense of Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, Heavy Shot, or Mortars. Once your primary combat upgrades are in place, the extra ammo capacity becomes a nice quality-of-life boost on longer expeditions.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading the Jackdaw isn't about buying every improvement the second it unlocks. It's about knowing which investments matter most at each stage of the game.

Prioritize Hull Armor, Broadside Cannons, Heavy Shot, and Mortars before branching into the more specialized upgrades, and you'll end up with a ship that handles everything from routine pirate skirmishes to the Caribbean's toughest naval battles. Once those foundations are set, the remaining upgrades just add tactical options on top, refining the Jackdaw into one of the most dangerous ships sailing the West Indies.

No single upgrade wins fights on its own. Strong defenses set up devastating Broadsides. Heavy Shot capitalizes on the openings they create. Mortars soften dangerous enemies before they're even in range, and the utility upgrades give you more say over how a fight actually plays out.

Get that balance right and you'll spend a lot less time reacting to enemy ships, and a lot more time deciding how every fight goes.

Note: This guide reflects the Jackdaw's ship upgrade system as of launch, based on hands-on play and official Ubisoft naval gameplay documentation. We'll keep it updated as any post-launch balance changes arrive.