Jackdaw upgrades and naval progression
Ubisoft's official help and naval deep dive now make this route more useful than broad launch-week advice alone: players can verify where the upgrade menu lives, which currencies matter, and which activities actually feed Jackdaw progression.
Verified upgrade menu and currencies
Verified: Ubisoft's launch and help pages now confirm the practical upgrade loop. From the Captain's Cabin, approach the Jackdaw model, choose Outfit ship, then Jackdaw upgrades. Verified: Ubisoft also says ship upgrades and ship customisations use Reales and Materials.
Verified ways to stockpile ship materials
Verified: Ubisoft's naval deep dive gives a safer material checklist than most generic launch guides. It explicitly ties Jackdaw resources to repeatable sea activities instead of one copied farming route.
- Destroy or board enemy ships for loot.
- Collect floating loot while sailing.
- Open underwater chests with the diving bell or the new free-dive feature.
- Harpoon sea creatures.
- Take forts.
- Check burning ships for extra resources.
Safe early-priority guidance
Inferred: because Ubisoft frames legendary ships as the top naval check and confirms that routine sea activity feeds the Jackdaw, early players still get more value from hull, weapon control, and boarding reliability than from cosmetic customisation. Farm materials as part of normal route cleanup instead of sailing empty loops just for one vanity upgrade.
When to delay legendary ships
Verified: Ubisoft describes legendary ships as the ultimate naval challenge and says they were rebuilt to be stronger than in the original game. Verified: the same deep dive says they respawn after a while, so leaving them until your ship is stronger is normal, not a missable mistake.
Questions
Where do I open Jackdaw upgrades?
Ubisoft's public help page says to open the upgrade flow from the Captain's Cabin by approaching the Jackdaw model, choosing Outfit ship, and then selecting Jackdaw upgrades.
What do ship upgrades cost?
Ubisoft says ship upgrades and ship customisations use Reales and Materials.
Is Kenway's Fleet still in the game?
Ubisoft says Kenway's Fleet has been reworked and is now available in the Captain's Cabin and across versions.
Should I spend early money on ship cosmetics?
Only after core ship upgrades are comfortable. Cosmetic slots are fun, but survival and damage make the guide content easier.