Jackdaw Upgrade Costs — All 40+ Upgrades in AC Black Flag Resynced
AC Black Flag Resynced Jackdaw upgrade guide: all categories, upgrade priority for early/mid/late game, where to buy upgrades, resource types, and farming strategies for the strongest ship in the Caribbean.
Upgrading the Jackdaw works differently in Resynced. You no longer visit the Captain's Cabin — instead, you deal with the Harbormaster at ports throughout the Caribbean. Here's everything we know about the upgrade system, resource economy, and how to build the deadliest ship on the seas.
All Upgrade Costs (Confirmed — via IGN/Game8)
Hull Armor
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Armored Hull I | 1,000 Reales | +600 defense |
| Armored Hull II | 4,000 Reales, 100 Metal, 200 Wood | +800 defense |
| Armored Hull III | 15,000 Reales, 200 Metal, 500 Wood | +1,200 defense |
| Armored Hull IV (Max) | 30,000 Reales, 400 Metal, 750 Wood, Ultimate Plan | +1,800 defense |
Broadside Cannons
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| I | 70 Metal | +2 cannons |
| II | 2,000 Reales, 150 Metal | +2 cannons |
| III | 4,000 Reales, 300 Metal | +2 cannons |
| IV | 8,000 Reales, 350 Metal | +2 cannons |
| V | 12,000 Reales, 500 Metal | +2 cannons |
| VI (Max) | 20,000 Reales, 650 Metal, Ultimate Plan | +2 cannons |
Mortar
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Mortar (unlock) | 3,000 Reales | Base damage |
| Mortar I | 3,500 Reales, 200 Metal | +100% damage |
| Mortar II | 8,000 Reales, 300 Metal | +200% damage |
| Mortar III (Max) | 25,000 Reales, 650 Metal, Ultimate Plan | +300% damage |
Ram
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ram (unlock) | 500 Reales, 25 Wood | Base collision damage |
| Ram I | 2,000 Reales, 75 Wood | +600 damage |
| Ram II | 5,000 Reales, 150 Metal, 250 Wood | +800 damage |
| Ram III (Max) | 15,000 Reales, 200 Metal, 600 Wood, Ultimate Plan | +4,000 damage |
Round & Heated Shot
| Level | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| I | 900 Reales | +30% damage |
| II | 4,000 Reales | +70% damage |
| III | 12,000 Reales | +110% damage |
| IV (Max) | 35,000 Reales, Ultimate Plan | +160% damage |
Other Key Upgrades
| Upgrade | Cost |
|---|---|
| Diving Bell | 5,000 Reales |
| Crew Quarters I | 800 Reales, 100 Cloth (+10 crew) |
| Crew Quarters II | 3,500 Reales, 450 Cloth (+10 crew) |
| Heavy Shot (unlock) | 900 Reales |
| Heavy Shot I | 6,000 Reales (+53% damage) |
| Swivel Guns I | 700 Reales, 25 Metal (+50% damage) |
| Swivel Guns II | 5,000 Reales, 200 Metal (+100% damage) |
| Bow Chasers I | 2,500 Reales (+33% damage) |
| Barrel Launcher I | 3,000 Reales (+100% damage) |
Total to max the Jackdaw: ~250,000+ Reales plus hundreds of Metal, Wood, and Cloth. This is a long-term project — focus on Hull and Broadside first.
Where to Buy Upgrades
All ship upgrades are purchased from the local Harbormaster, found at docks in every major port. There is no single upgrade screen on the Jackdaw itself — you need to be docked and speaking to the Harbormaster.
This change means planning your upgrade runs: dock, sell cargo, buy upgrades, restock, sail out. It makes port visits more meaningful than the original's menu-driven approach.
Upgrade Categories
| Category | What It Improves |
|---|---|
| Hull Armor | Damage resistance, survivability |
| Broadside Cannons | Side cannon damage, new ammo types |
| Mortar | Long-range bombardment, Deadman's Cohort secondary mode |
| Ram | Ramming damage, Ram Dash (requires Padre recruitment) |
| Round Shot | Standard cannonball damage and range |
| Heavy Shot | Close-range devastating damage |
| Crew | Boarding strength, crew capacity |
| Storage | Cargo capacity for loot and resources |
New Secondary Firing Modes
Every weapon now has a secondary ammo type you can swap to while aiming:
| Weapon | Primary | Secondary (New!) |
|---|---|---|
| Broadside Cannons | Round shot | Heated shot |
| Mortar | Explosive shells | Deadman's Cohort |
| Bow Chasers | Chain shot | Double shot |
| Stern | Fire barrels | Shrapnel barrels |
Ram Dash — Padre Recruitment
In the original, Ram Dash was locked behind defeating all four Legendary Ships — effectively post-game content. In Resynced, recruit the Padre to unlock it much earlier. This makes the Ram a viable weapon throughout the story, not just cleanup duty.
Upgrade Priority Order
Early Game (Sequences 1–4)
Your Jackdaw is fragile and under-gunned. Survival is everything.
- Hull Armor — you can't fight if you're sunk. Every point here keeps you alive longer.
- Broadside Cannons — your primary damage dealer. Upgrade these to win fights faster.
- Crew — more crew means stronger boarding actions and faster repairs.
Mid Game (Sequences 5–9)
You're taking on stronger ships and your first forts. Offense scales up.
- Mortar — essential for fort assaults and softening targets at range. The Deadman's Cohort secondary mode is devastating.
- Heavy Shot — close-range broadside punch for frigates and Man-o-Wars.
- Ram — now that you have the Padre recruited, Ram Dash becomes a tactical tool.
- Storage — more cargo room means more loot per voyage.
Late Game (Sequences 10+)
Legendary Ships and max-level Pirate Hunters demand a fully kitted Jackdaw.
- Max Hull Armor — legendary ships hit hard. You need every point.
- Max Broadside Cannons & Heavy Shot — your sustained damage output.
- Max Mortar — Deadman's Cohort at full power clears decks on impact.
- Round Shot & Bow Chasers — finish out your arsenal for flexibility.
Resources You Need
| Resource | Used For | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | Hull, structural upgrades | Boarding merchant ships, warehouses |
| Metal | Cannons, ram, weapon upgrades | Boarding military ships, forts |
| Cloth | Sails, crew upgrades | Boarding, warehouse raids |
| Reales | All upgrades (currency) | Boarding, fleet missions, hideout income |
Resource Farming Tips
Boarding Gives Double Loot
Sinking a ship yields significantly fewer resources than boarding it. Always board when you can — you get roughly double the resources plus the option to send the ship to Kenway's Fleet.
Use the Spyglass
Before engaging, pull out your spyglass and scan enemy ships. It now shows what materials they're carrying — wood, metal, cloth quantities — so you can target ships with the resources you actually need.
Captain's Lockbox on Large Ships
When boarding frigates and Man-o-Wars, you get a new option alongside the standard three: Captain's Lockbox. This gives a significant bonus of reales. Always choose it when boarding high-value targets — the extra gold adds up fast.
General Farming Loop
- Sail a trade route with your spyglass out
- Identify ships carrying resources you need
- Disable with chain shot, then board
- Choose Captain's Lockbox (if available) or send to fleet
- Dock at nearest port, sell excess, upgrade at Harbormaster
- Repeat
What We Don't Know Yet
Exact upgrade costs (wood/metal/cloth/reales per tier) have not been publicly released. The priority order above is based on developer commentary about the intended progression curve. We'll update this guide with specific numbers once they're available.
Related: How to Make Money Fast | Ships & Naval Combat Guide | Best Jackdaw Build | Legendary Ships Guide | Beginner's Guide