To fully upgrade the Jackdaw and Port Admiral in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, you need 4,755 metal, 2,750 wood, 550 cloth, and 310,800 reals. This includes all Harbor Master upgrades. The diving bell will cost another 5,000 if you don’t earn it as part of the story. But knowing the numbers isn’t always enough. The remake’s economy has been significantly overhauled: what worked in the 2013 original is either useless or downright detrimental here. With the May and June updates, the game received new features that changed farming priorities. Let’s break it down ship by ship.
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How much metal and wood is needed to fully upgrade the Jackdaw – a complete resource calculation
Before docking your ship, it’s important to understand the final cost. Here’s the full breakdown of upgrades:
Some guides list the cost as 309,800 reals. The discrepancy is easily explained: the developers have included the three Port Admiral upgrades, unlocked through the storyline, in the total cost on their official pages. If you’ve already equipped your shipyard with these upgrades, your final cost is 310,800.
In addition to resources, you’ll need to find all 12 Ultimate Blueprints. Six of these will be awarded by divers for sunken treasures, and the other six by treasure maps. The Diving Bell becomes available in Sequence 6 – Memory 01, so the Diving Blueprints will remain locked until then.
How the new resource extraction system works in Resynced — key differences from the original
The remake has overhauled the core mechanics. If you’re yearning for the old methods, get ready for a makeover.
Boarding now grants 100% of cargo. Sinking only grants half. This isn’t a bug, but a deliberate decision by Ubisoft: the game rewards a risky but more profitable approach. While previously it was possible to abandon ships without a second thought, now it’s a surefire way to prolong progression.
Animals no longer respawn when fast traveling. Instead, an internal timer is in effect — approximately 15-20 minutes of real time. Previously, players could accumulate the required amount of pelts in an hour by jumping between points. This won’t work anymore.
A spyglass is mandatory before an attack. Without it, you risk wasting time on a ship with an empty hold. In Resynced, cargo is generated randomly, and only the spyglass indicates whether there’s metal or wood on board. This isn’t the only aspect of the new strategy, but it’s a key one.
Metal and Wood Farming in the Early and Mid-Phases
At the start, your priority is the light forts in the central Caribbean. Dry Tortuga, Eleuthera, and Gibara are ideal targets. Each has fewer than five defensive towers, and with a smart mortar approach, you can succeed without losses. Capturing a fort rewards 80 to 120 metal and 60 to 90 wood—signs of life for your wallet.
Where to look for valuable ships early on:
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South of the Bahamas—schooners and brigs carrying metal and wood ply this area.
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Off the coast of Nassau, there’s heavy traffic, so you can intercept several ships in a single raid.
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In the central waters between the islands, there are hunter patrols, carrying surprisingly large amounts of resources.
The wanted level is your friend. Raise it deliberately to two or three stars. Hunter ships chasing you carry 55 to 80 metal and 40 to 60 wood. After boarding, use fast travel, and the hunters will respawn. This is a large and reliable source early on.
What you definitely shouldn’t do: sink ships instead of boarding, especially if their cargo holds contain metal and wood. Each sunken ship reduces your progress by a third.
Tactics for fast combat:
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Precise shots at vulnerable points help disable ships faster.
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Nipple shots at sails: reduce speed to prevent the enemy from escaping.
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Attack from the stern: Battleships turn slowly, and their stern is their weak point.
Table: Ship Types and Resources in Resynced
Ship Building Priorities
Late-game metal and wood farming
By the time you reach the southern half of the map, forts will no longer be your primary source. Their rewards exceed only your early needs. Now your target is battleships.
The best location is the Serranilla Island area. Four-star battleships regularly spawn here, carrying 150-180 metal and 100-130 wood. Five-star battleships yield more (up to 220 metal), but destroying them takes a tremendous amount of time and ammunition. Their effectiveness decreases—sacrifice five-star battleships for four-star ones.
Battleship tactics:
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Stay behind the stern—battleships turn slowly, and their stern is their weak point.
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Mortars—at long range—two salvos before closing will significantly weaken their sides.
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Sail snippets – if a ship tries to escape, intercept its maneuver, reducing its speed.
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Boarding – only when the enemy team is weakened to a minimum.
After boarding, raise your wanted level – hunters will begin to move to the battlefield, and you can collect additional cargo without leaving the area.
Three major resource farming mistakes that slow down progress
Mistake 1: sinking instead of boarding. In Resynced, this is a critical loss. Sinking gives 50% of the cargo – you voluntarily give up half of your metal and wood. Boarding requires time and skill, but it pays off handsomely.
Mistake 2: not using a spyglass. Without it, you risk attacking a ship with an empty hold. You waste gunpowder, cannonballs, and time – and get zero resources. The spyglass is your main reconnaissance tool.
Mistake 3: farming the wrong ships for the right stage. Early on, chasing battleships is pointless: you’ll lose the battle and waste time. Late on, wasting your resources on schooners and brigs, which yield a paltry 20-30 units. Match your capabilities to the type of ship.
Where to find all 12 Ultimate Blueprints
Via the Diving Bell (6 blueprints):
Via Treasure Maps (6 blueprints):
What to do next?
After you’ve accumulated 4,755 metal and 2,750 wood, don’t rush to the port. Make sure you have all 12 Ultimate Blueprints. Treasure maps can be found in governors’ mansions and from merchants in major cities.
The final upgrades to the Jackdaw will unlock legendary ships—the most challenging naval battles in the game. And when you take the helm of a fully upgraded vessel, you’ll realize it was worth it.
