Legendary Ships remain the toughest naval encounters in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, but a simple aiming technique can significantly improve your chances of winning. Rather than firing mortars directly at enemy ships, leading your shots based on their movement can dramatically increase your accuracy against these fast-moving opponents.

While this strategy won’t replace proper preparation, it can make some of the game’s hardest naval battles much more manageable.

Aim Where the Ship Is Going, Not Where It Is

The Jackdaw’s standard mortars are designed for long-range engagements, making them an excellent way to chip away at enemy health before closing the distance. Against regular ships, landing mortar shots is relatively straightforward, but Legendary Ships move much faster and change direction more frequently.

Instead of targeting the ship’s current location, try placing your mortar reticle ahead of its path. Waiting for the enemy vessel to commit to a direction before firing gives the shells time to land where the ship is expected to be rather than where it was when you launched the attack.

Like many classic gaming techniques, this approach relies on timing and anticipating enemy movement. It takes practice to master, but once you become comfortable leading your shots, your mortar accuracy improves noticeably.

Which Legendary Ships Benefit Most From This Strategy?

The tactic works against every Legendary Ship, although some encounters benefit more than others.

El Impoluto, widely regarded as one of the hardest naval bosses, constantly changes course and closes distance quickly. Predictive mortar fire can help land consistent damage before the ship gets within broadside range.

The heavily armored La Dama Negra also gives players plenty of opportunities to soften its defenses from a distance before engaging in closer combat.

The strategy is especially effective during the battle against HMS Fearless and Royal Sovereign. Since the two ships frequently cross paths, carefully timed mortar shots can sometimes damage both vessels with a single barrage.

Preparation Still Matters

Although better mortar placement makes these encounters easier, it won’t compensate for an underpowered Jackdaw.

Before challenging any Legendary Ship, it’s still recommended to:

  • Fully upgrade the Jackdaw.
  • Complete Naval Officer quests to unlock additional ship upgrades.
  • Become comfortable with naval combat mechanics, including broadsides, chain shots, and defensive maneuvers.

Legendary Ships are designed as endgame encounters, and even perfect mortar accuracy won’t overcome weak armor or underpowered weapons.

Standard Mortars vs. Deadman’s Cohort

Players who complete Tobias “Deadman” Smith’s Naval Officer questline gain access to an alternate mortar ability known as Deadman’s Cohort.

This upgraded mortar is generally easier to land thanks to its wider area of effect, making it more forgiving during fast-paced encounters. However, the standard mortars still deal greater damage per hit when used accurately.

As a result, the better choice largely comes down to personal preference. Players who consistently predict enemy movement may get more value from the standard mortars, while those looking for more reliable hits may prefer Deadman’s Cohort despite its lower damage output.

Mastering predictive mortar fire won’t eliminate the challenge of Legendary Ship battles, but it remains one of the most effective techniques for wearing down these powerful enemies and turning some of the game’s toughest naval fights in your favor.