If you’re diving into Skull and Bones during Year 2, Season 1, you’ve likely noticed the game has evolved-offering more ship customization, deeper crafting systems Skull and Bones Items, and a heavier focus on weapon and ship ascension. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to upgrade your ships, ascend your weapons, and maximize your progression without wasting precious materials or time.
Whether you’re a new player or a returning sea dog, this comprehensive breakdown will give you the edge you need to dominate the Indian Ocean.
Why Upgrading Ships Matters
Upgrading your ship is essential because ship level directly affects your survivability and firepower. Your base ship-whether it’s a Sloop, Cutter, or Schooner-starts off relatively weak, usually around level 4. But with the right upgrades and gear, you can push it all the way to level 15 or higher, drastically boosting your combat effectiveness.
How Ship Levels Work:
Base Ship Level: Determined by the hull and core upgrades.
Combat Level: Influenced by equipped weapons, furniture, and armor.
Displayed Level (Top Left of Screen): Your overall power rating, which enemies and players see.
For example, equipping long guns, flame weapons, and cannon turrets can increase your combat level, especially when they’re rare or ascended. Each item you add contributes to the green bar shown in your ship management UI.
Pro Tip: Always manage your loadout before combat. Equipping low-tier items can lower your level significantly-even on high-end ships.
How to Upgrade Ships
Upgrading your ship starts at any port with a Shipwright or Blacksmith. Here’s what you need:
Materials Required:
Cobbait Ingots
Casting Sand
Upgrade Parts
Silver (around 18,000 per upgrade)
Let’s say you’re upgrading the Reaper, a sloop-class ship. You’ll pay the fee, provide the materials, and after a short cutscene (which you can skip), your ship goes from Level 0 → Level 1 Ascension. Repeat this process to hit Level 2, Level 3, and so on.
The true power jump happens once your ship’s base level improves through multiple upgrades. However, equipping high-end weapons and armor also contributes significantly to that power level.
How to Ascend Weapons
To ascend a weapon, visit your Blacksmith, select the weapon you want to upgrade, and review the required materials. Ascending increases the weapon’s power and unlocks new modifiers.
Materials Required to Ascend:
Ascension Modules
Lightning Dragon Scale
Lightning Dragon Claw
Pieces of Eight
Silver
These materials are typically obtained from sea monster hunts, boss fights, and capital ship raids. Once you have the required resources:
Select the weapon (e.g. Divine Thunder)
Confirm the Ascend option
Choose a modification (e.g. +29% Weak Point Damage)
Reforge (optional) if you want a different stat bonus
Reforge Tip: If you get a perk you don’t like, reforge it for a new one. This allows greater customization to suit your build.
Where to Get Upgrade Materials
There are three key locations to focus your farming:
1. Blackwood & Yanita
Great for Ascension Modules and Upgrade Parts
Offers armor, furniture, and other gear to push ship power
2. Yita Black Market
Sells essential crafting components like:
Eel Twine and Sturdy Eel Rope
Precision Drill Bits
Torsion Springs
Signal Flares
Use Pieces of Eight to purchase these high-value items
3. Combat Farming
Capital ships with flares above them often drop 500+ Pieces of Eight
Defeating sea monsters yields rare monster components
Random ship encounters can provide:
Long guns
Heavy lances
Ascension parts
Monster Loot Tip: Farming sea monsters is essential if you’re ascending weapons with dragon-based materials.
Efficient Combat Farming-Example Encounter
While sailing, keep an eye out for enemy ships marked with signal flares. These often carry:
Valuable weapons
Rare crafting items
Up to 150+ Pieces of Eight
In a recent example, defeating a flagged ship yielded:
1 Long Gun
1 Heavy Lance
1 Treasure Chest
Torsion Springs
150 Pieces of Eight
Don’t underestimate the value of random sea battles. They’re not just fun-they’re profitable.Strategic Ascension-One Ship at a Time
Trying to upgrade every ship and every weapon all at once is a recipe for burnout. Instead:
Pick Your Role: DPS, Tank, or Support
Choose Your Favorite Ship Type: (e.g. Schooner for speed)
Ascend It to Max Level (15 for Medium, 14 for Small)
Focus on One Weapon Type at a Time: Fire, Cannon, Long Gun, or Torpedoes
Final Thoughts-Enjoy the Journey
Upgrading and ascending in Skull and Bones is a rewarding grind, especially once you get into the rhythm of combat cheap Skull and Bones Silver, crafting, and customization. Whether you prefer fast sloops or beastly schooners, the depth of systems in Year 2 allows every player to carve out a unique pirate identity.
