01 - Black Bart's Gambit | Sequence 10 AC IV: Black Flag Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE- stay out of combat
You will have to locate the nearby Portuguese ship and steal the flag from it. Jump into water and swim around the vessel in a wide arch, to prevent being spotted (if you still are, dive). Once you get over to the other side, start climbing. Almost everyone on the ship is facing towards the Jackdaw, save one soldier, who is patrolling the ship between the bow and the stern. Once you notice him marching right, like in the screenshot, start climbing up the mast.
On the mast's top, you will find a guard, who you need to kill silently. Keep to the left to remain out of the sight of the gunner, who is standing on the top of the other mast.
When the gunner on the other mast is turned with his back at you, make it over quickly above him. From there, you can jump down onto him but, you can also ignore him and climb onto the very top straight away, where you will notice the flag. Rip it off and watch the cutscene.
Jump off the mast into water on the same side along which you climbed. Then, swimming in the arch, return to your ship.
Sail slowly deeper into the region and keep your distance away from the nearby ships. In a moment, you will notice a large galleon and a chest carried down from it, whose content you will have to obtain.
Loot the chest
Swim towards the right side of the shore and hide there among the nearby bushes, thanks to which you will avoid the two patrolmen.
Go deeper into the land and keep to the right wall. Keep an eye on the area around, when it is clear, run towards the next patch of thickets to hide among. If anybody spots you and follows you into the bushes, kill him quickly from hiding, after he comes close.
You will reach a small passage with two guards in front of it. Jump down onto them and air assassinate them. Then, bolt to the other side and hide among the bushes on the left, past the exit.
Keep to the left. The nearby area is being patrolled by three guards. A couple and a single one behind them, who you need to lure your way by whistling. Then, kill him. When the two remaining ones go away, into the background, run after them and hide among the bushes at the foot of the large tree in the background of the screenshot.
From there, run directly to the watchtower (make sure that the two that you have just passed by , go into the background, before you start running). Before you do that, you can deal with the nearby brute.
When the last soldier, at the chest, walks away into the background, dash towards the chest and loot it for its contents. Then, return to your cover.
In a moment, the Jackdaw will arrive. While swimming towards your ship, you may still have some problems with the gunner on the watchtower so, dive if necessary. Once aboard the ship, follow the galleon.
Once you reach the spot where the river widens, sail to the left, where the way is blocked by two ships. Along the open way, on the right, there will be one ship sailing. Wait for it to pass you by and only then, sail back. The galleon that you are following stopped a bit ahead so, you do not need to worry about losing it.
Clear the way for the Jackdaw
You will have to deal with two gunners on watchtowers. Just like before, swim towards the right side of the shore. There are two soldiers patrolling the beach. Either run assassinate them, once they are far away from the rest, or simply swim around them and get into the nearby thickets.
While still keeping near the bushes, approach the tower enough to be able to shoot the musketeer with the blowpipe. Discharge the berserk dart at him. Some of the soldiers should kill him . If, he survives anyways, take another shot at him. Most probably this will spur some chaos, and someone might even raise the alarm. Still, you should not worry about that. You are safe and sound in the thickets that you are in. Start retreating as soon as the gunner dies and return to water. Then, swim around everybody on the shore, within a safe distance. Steer towards the next target.
Reach the shipwreck projecting above the water surface and run up to the very top. From there, discharge a berserk dart at the second gunner. This time, his death is not necessary because you will have to get to the tower anyways but, with a bit of luck, the numbers of the enemy soldiers guarding this area will go considerably thinner. Right after you take the shot, jump down into water to prevent being spotted. You may also be spotted by an enemy patrol still before you manage to climb onto the shipwreck and take the shot. In such a situation, jump down into water as well, and wait until the patrol go away. Then, try again.
Along your way, wait for the berserk to wear off and for the nearby guards to stop searching for threats. Then, climb onto the shipwreck again and jump from it, over to the tower's region. At the foot of the tower, there are thickets in which you need to hide.
Depending on how effective the berserk was, getting onto the tower will be more or less complicated. If necessary, deal with the nearby soldiers while lurking in the thickets at the foot of the tower. Once it is clear, climb onto the tower. Even if the gunner is dead, most probably there is one more soldier there so, deal with him by surprise to avoid squandering the optional objective towards the end of the mission.
Seize the ship and escape
OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE- use a rope swing to kill the captain.
On the watchtower, there is a rope which you can use to gain access onto the ship easily. Wait for the target to appear at the level of the stairs, just like in the screenshot, run onto the rope and press the attack button, when you are close to the captain, to kill him. Another cutscene will start.
Finally, you will have to shake off a pursuit. You are commanding a slow, but formidable galleon so, ignore your escaping ally and stay in the area to deal with the company. First of all, you have, exceptionally strong mortars and an unlimited number of shots so, focus on that. With one salvo, you will be capable of destroying several ships close to each other! At close range, use the heavy shot and do not forget to aim at the weak point. Although the enemy is large in numbers, with the firepower that you pack, you should not have major problems. Sweep all away and follow your ally. Once you reach your destination, another cutscene will start, and the mission will conclude afterwards.