The quest “Blackbeard’s Treasure” begins after Sequence 8, immediately following the mission “Don’t Go Quietly.” Edward finds a map in Thatch’s hat—and it’s not just another hidden treasure, but a full-fledged adventure with underwater tunnels, explosions, and a few surprises. Here’s how to play it from start to finish.
In the original Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Blackbeard’s death marked the end of Edward Thatch’s story. In the Resynced remake, his legacy has been revived. The developers at Ubisoft Singapore have added a new final chapter, “A World Without Gold,” with eight additional missions expanding the story of one of the game’s most charismatic pirates. The treasure quest is part of this extensive legacy and is significantly more challenging than standard buried chest hunts.
Table of Contents
Where can I find the treasure map and how do I start the quest?
The map appears in your inventory automatically after completing the mission “Don’t Go Quietly” in Sequence 8. Edward finds it in Blackbeard’s hat—a sort of parting gift from an old friend.
Unlike other treasure maps in the game, this one doesn’t have coordinates. It only has a drawing: north of Kingston, an arrow pointing to a bay. All you need to do is compare the sketch with the world map and figure out that the destination is Anotto Bay in the eastern part of Charlotte Sea.
Important: the quest only becomes available after receiving the map. You can swim to the bay earlier, but you won’t be able to complete the route and open the chest.
The exact coordinates of Anotto Bay—and why they vary
Different guides list the bay’s coordinates differently: 590, 244, 591, 243, 590, 245. The discrepancy lies in the cursor position on the map; all three point to the same point. Focus on the northern part of Kingston; the bay is located right outside the city.
As you approach the Jackdaw, you’ll be met by enemy pirate ships. If you’ve been to the bay before, you can quickly move and avoid combat. If not, prepare your cannons: they need to be sunk before disembarking.
| Landmark | Coordinates / Description |
|---|---|
| Annotto Bay | ≈ 590, 244–591, 245, north of Kingston |
| Underwater Tunnel Entrance | Near the wooden ladder and diving bell, on the left side of the bay |
| First Blockage | Large room with enemies, eastern wall |
| Second Blockage | Behind the waterfall, on the rocky slope |
How to navigate the underwater caves – step-by-step route
Tunnel Entrance
After dismantling the ships, dive into the water on the left side of the bay. Look for the wooden ladder and diving bell. Glowing jellyfish nearby will point the way to the tunnel entrance. The tunnel begins deep, some distance from the rocks.
The first part of the caves
Inside is a branching system of underwater passages. Be prepared for sharks. You’ll come across several regular chests along the way—they’re related to the “Smuggler’s Den,” not the quest, but they’re worth picking up.
If you don’t have infinite oxygen, use the air pockets. Eagle Vision highlights chests and mission objectives with green dots—don’t ignore it.
At the fork: you can go right and up the stairs—this is the path to the main objective. You can turn left—there’s another chest there, but be careful: there’s another shark around the corner.
Land, Enemies, and the First Explosion
The tunnels will lead you to dry land, but only briefly. Descend into the water again on the opposite side and follow the next set of tunnels to a large room with a group of enemies.
Kill them all. At the far end of the room is a collapsed passage. Nearby is a small barrel of gunpowder. Carry it to the rubble, step back, and shoot it. The explosion will clear the way.
There’s a locked chest in the corner of the room. Ignore it for now—you can’t open it now. We’ll come back to it later.
Part Two—Meeting with Israel Hands
After the explosion, you’ll find yourself in another open area. Here, pirates and Blackbeard’s former first mate, Israel Hands, await you. Kill them all.
At the top of the rocky slope is a second collapsed passage, exactly like the one on the map. Nearby is another small barrel of gunpowder (don’t confuse it with the large one). Repeat the trick: barrel against rubble, shot, explosion.
Go inside—a cutscene will trigger. Afterward, return to Great Inagua and interact with the chest. Another cutscene will trigger, and you’ll receive the key item “Blackbeard’s Portrait.”
What does the quest reward—and why the reward isn’t the most important thing?
The main reward is “Blackbeard’s Portrait,” which can be placed in the trophy cave in the estate on Great Inagua. In terms of gameplay mechanics, it’s modest. But in terms of plot, it’s a worthy conclusion to Edward Thatch’s story.
The quest is just one part of eight new missions dedicated to Blackbeard. They add about six hours of endgame gameplay and reveal why Thatch’s story ends the way it does.
How to open the locked chest in the smuggler’s lair
That same chest in the corner of the room with the sign “Key needed.” It’s part of the “Smuggler’s Den” in Anotto Bay, not Blackbeard’s quest. Therefore, it can’t be opened during the gameplay.
What to do:
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Complete the “Blackbeard’s Treasure” quest.
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Return to Anotto Bay.
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This time, an NPC with a key will appear among the pirates.
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Kill him and take the key.
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Open the chest.
Inside:
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4,962 reals
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“Weather Map Fragment” – one of six needed to compile the “Faded Map”
How to prepare for Anotto Bay
A couple of tips before you set out on your quest:
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Upgrade your Jackdaw. Naval combat in the bay is a must. Upgraded guns and hull will be helpful.
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Stock up on ammunition. There are barrels of gunpowder in the caves, but cannonballs are still available for ship combat.
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Enable infinite breathing in the settings if you don’t want to monitor your oxygen levels during underwater maneuvers.
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Use Eagle Vision—it highlights not only targets but also easily missed chests.
After receiving the “Portrait,” don’t stop there. The “World Without Gold” chapter unlocks at the endgame, where new Jackdaw officers, additional quests, and a final confrontation with pirate hunter Robert Maynard await. Blackbeard’s treasure is just the beginning.
