While Skull and Bones allows you to board enemy ships to plunder their cargo and gain valuable loot, it’s important to understand that you don’t directly control the boarding combat itself. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
Preparation and Initiation:
Weaken the enemy ship: Reduce its health to below half. This can be done through cannon fire, ramming, or using damaging auxiliary weapons like Mortars.
Get close: Once sufficiently weakened (health bar flashes blue), maneuver your ship alongside the enemy vessel, ideally on its port or starboard side.
Initiate boarding: 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 like "Crew Boarding" to 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 and Outcome:
Grappling and securing: Grappling hooks latch onto the enemy ship’s rigging, securing your ships together.
Cutscene and transition: A short cutscene shows your crew grappling and boarding the enemy ship.
Automatic combat: You have limited control during this phase. However, you can actively participate by:
Spamming the designated button (spacebar on PC, "X" on Xbox controllers) to perform quick attacks and support your crew.
Focusing on weaker enemies or high-value targets (officers) if possible.
Success and Aftermath:
Successful boarding: If your crew overpowers the enemy crew, you gain access to the enemy ship’s loot, collectable by interacting with highlighted objects on the deck.
Failed boarding: If the enemy crew overpowers yours, you’ll be forced to retreat.
Additional Tips:
Upgrade crew skills: Invest in crew skills that enhance boarding capabilities, such as increased attack damage, health, or movement speed, for better performance.
Consider your ship: Some ships, like the Bombardier Padewakang with its offensive power, might be better suited for aggressive boarding tactics.
Analyze enemy composition: Assess the enemy ship’s crew size, equipment, and potential defenses before attempting to board. Heavily fortified ships or those with larger crews might be more challenging.
Key Points:
You don’t directly control the boarding combat itself.
Your role is to support your crew by:
Weakening the enemy ship strategically.
Positioning your ship effectively.
Using support abilities (if available) before boarding.
Spamming the designated button during the automatic combat to enhance your crew’s performance.
Success depends on various factors:
Crew skills.
Ship choice.
Enemy composition.
By understanding the mechanics, making informed decisions, and strategically using your resources, you can increase your chances of successfully plundering enemy ships in Skull and Bones.