In Skull and Bones, boarding enemy ships allows you to plunder their cargo and potentially gain valuable loot beyond what simply sinking them would offer. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
Requirements:
Weaken the enemy ship: Before attempting to board, you need to reduce the enemy ship’s health to below half. This can be done through various means, including cannon fire, ramming, and utilizing damaging auxiliary weapons like Mortars.
Initiating the Boarding:
Get close: Once the enemy ship is sufficiently weakened (their health bar starts flashing blue), maneuver your ship alongside them, ideally at their port or starboard side.
Aim and fire grappling hooks: Enter aiming mode (usually right-click on PC) and target the enemy ship’s rigging (the network of ropes and lines supporting the masts and sails).
Look for the prompt: Once you’re aiming at the correct location, a prompt like "Crew Boarding" should appear.
Activate boarding: Press the assigned button (usually "R" on PC or "Y" on Xbox controllers) to launch grappling hooks and initiate the boarding sequence.
Boarding Sequence:
Grappling and securing: Your ship will launch grappling hooks towards the enemy ship. If successful, they will latch onto the rigging, securing your ships together.
Cutscene and transition: A short cutscene might play, and you’ll transition to a cinematic view of the boarding action.
Combat on deck: You’ll have limited control over your character during the automatic boarding sequence. However, you can still use space bar (PC) or the designated button (consoles) to perform quick attacks and help your crew overpower the enemy.
Outcome:
Successful boarding: If your crew overpowers the enemy crew, you’ll gain access to the enemy ship’s loot, which you can collect by interacting with highlighted objects on the deck.
Failed boarding: If the enemy crew overpowers your crew, you’ll be forced to retreat, and the boarding attempt will fail.
Additional Tips:
Upgrade your crew: Investing in crew skills that enhance boarding capabilities, such as increased attack damage or faster movement, can improve your chances of success.
Consider your ship: The Bombardier Padewakang is known for its offensive capabilities and might be a good choice for players who prefer aggressive boarding tactics.
Enemy composition: Some enemy ships might have stronger crews or defensive measures making boarding more challenging. Assess the situation before attempting to board.
By understanding the mechanics, following these tips, and adapting your approach, you can successfully board enemy ships in Skull and Bones and claim valuable loot on your pirate adventures!