Combat in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced asks rather more of Edward Kenway than enthusiastically pressing the attack button until everyone else stops moving.
Perfect Parries, Defence meters, Heavy Strikes and Chain Takedowns now matter. Weapons have distinct classes and perks, while pistols can support a melee build rather than serving as decorative objects strapped across Edward’s chest.
The Persian Scimitars are the best swords overall, while the Golden Flintlock Pistols offer the strongest balance of range, speed and utility. That pairing is brutally effective, but it is not automatically the most entertaining loadout. Pistol-Swords create more chaotic fights, rapiers reward precision, and several specialist weapons can outperform the supposed best option in the right situation.
Here is how the strongest weapons compare, which ones are worth finding and the best loadouts for different playstyles.
The best weapons in AC Black Flag at a glance
| Rank | Weapon | Class | Best quality | Main weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Persian Scimitars | Cutlass | Maximum damage and four takedowns | Requires a lengthy treasure hunt |
| 2 | Golden Flintlock Pistols | Pistol | Exceptional range and slow-time perk | Expensive late-game purchase |
| 3 | Dragon’s Fang Swords | Cutlass | Damage rises after kills | Premium DLC weapon |
| 4 | Order of Gold | Pistol-Sword | Fires after a Perfect Dodge | Only three maximum takedowns |
| 5 | Naoe’s Shadowblade | Cutlass | Easier Perfect Parries and dodges | Lower base damage |
| 6 | Le Bourgeoys Blades | Pistol-Sword | Extra shot during Heavy Strikes | Limited Chain Takedown potential |
| 7 | Matched Golden Swords | Cutlass | Longer, easier Chain Takedowns | Lower damage than the top weapons |
| 8 | Masterwork Blades | Rapier | Restores health with Heavy Strikes | Requires measured, accurate play |
| 9 | Gargoyle’s Breath | Pistol | Explosive crowd control | Ammunition costs mount quickly |
| 10 | Dual Cleavers | Cutlass | Huge damage at low health | Perk requires unnecessary danger |
How weapon statistics work
Resynced divides Edward’s main melee weapons into three classes. Each has a different Heavy Strike and favours a slightly different approach.
| Weapon class | Heavy Strike | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Cutlass | Sweeping attack across a wide area | Crowd fights and boarding actions |
| Rapier | Powerful thrust capable of piercing enemies | Duels and precise counterattacks |
| Pistol-Sword | Fires two damaging shots | Aggressive hybrid combat |
Two statistics determine the basic strength of a melee weapon:
- Damage controls the power of normal and Heavy Strikes.
- Maximum Takedowns determines how many enemies Edward can eliminate during a Chain Takedown.
Four is the highest Maximum Takedowns rating. This is often more valuable than a small increase in damage, particularly when boarding a large ship or fighting several guards in a confined courtyard.
Pistols use different statistics:
- Range determines how far Edward can fire effectively.
- Draw Speed affects how quickly the weapon can be readied.
- Perks add effects such as slowed time, healing or area damage.
Raw figures help, but perks tend to decide which weapons remain useful. A weapon that makes Perfect Parries easier can outperform a more damaging alternative if your timing is slightly less than prophetic.
1. Persian Scimitars
Damage: 38
Maximum Takedowns: 4
Perk: Brutes cannot deny Chain Takedowns
How to unlock: Complete the Restored Weathered Map and recover the treasure on Mystery Island
The Persian Scimitars have the strongest overall combination of statistics and utility. They reach the damage ceiling, permit four successive takedowns and prevent Brutes from interrupting the sequence.
That last perk is what places them above other 38-damage swords. Brutes are built to break Edward’s rhythm, usually at precisely the moment a fight begins to look stylish. The Persian Scimitars remove that problem and allow Chain Takedowns to continue through mixed groups.
Their sweeping Cutlass Heavy Strike is equally useful during boarding actions, where enemies tend to crowd together on decks with all the personal space of commuters during a rail strike.
These are the best swords for players who want one answer to almost every land-based fight.
Best for: Late-game combat, boarding ships and large groups.
2. Golden Flintlock Pistols
Range: 28
Draw Speed: 1.20
Perk: Pistol kills briefly slow time
How to unlock: Upgrade the Great Inagua General Store to Level 3 and purchase them for 18,000 Reales
The Golden Flintlocks are the best all-round pistols. Their range reaches 28, while the draw speed remains fast enough to make them useful during active combat.
The slow-time perk makes them especially effective in crowded encounters. Kill one enemy, use the brief pause to select another target, then continue the sequence before the fight has time to become untidy.
They work with almost any melee weapon. Pairing them with a four-takedown Cutlass creates a conventional but extremely effective build. Using them alongside a rapier gives Edward a reliable answer when an enemy refuses to stand at a polite duelling distance.
Their only meaningful drawback is the cost. Great Inagua must be developed and 18,000 Reales is a considerable expense when the Jackdaw is also demanding armour, cannons and what appears to be the entire Caribbean timber supply.
Best for: General combat, ranged openings and Gun Kata sequences.
3. Dragon’s Fang Swords
Damage: 38
Maximum Takedowns: 4
Perk: Kills temporarily increase attack power
How to unlock: Dragon Storm premium content
Dragon’s Fang Swords may produce the highest offensive momentum in the game. Their base statistics match the Persian Scimitars, while each kill temporarily raises Edward’s attack power.
The effect can turn a routine Chain Takedown into a rapidly escalating massacre. It is particularly strong during boarding battles, fort assaults and missions that place several waves of enemies in Edward’s path.
The ranking comes with an obvious qualification. These swords are attached to premium content, so they cannot be considered the fairest answer to a standard progression guide. They are excellent, but buying extra content to make Edward stronger is less satisfying than solving maps and digging something impressive out of the ground.
Best for: Relentless aggressive combat and consecutive kills.
4. Order of Gold
Damage: 38
Maximum Takedowns: 3
Perk: Automatically fires a shot after every Perfect Dodge
How to unlock: Purchase through an upgraded General Store
Order of Gold is the best Pistol-Sword set for players who use Perfect Dodges consistently. Each successful dodge triggers a pistol shot, allowing Edward to turn defence into immediate ranged damage.
That interaction makes the weapon particularly effective against dangerous single targets. Dodge an attack, fire automatically, then use a Heavy Strike to release two further shots. It feels wonderfully excessive, which is about right for Edward.
The set loses a little ground because its three-takedown limit cannot match the best Cutlasses. Ammunition management also matters more than it does with an ordinary sword.
Even so, Order of Gold offers one of the most distinctive combat styles in Resynced. It rewards timing without demanding complete restraint, a useful compromise for players who enjoy parrying but still want the occasional explosion of black powder.
Best for: Dodge-focused builds, officers and elite enemies.
5. Naoe’s Shadowblade
Damage: 25
Maximum Takedowns: 4
Perk: Perfect Parries and Perfect Dodges are easier to perform
How to unlock: Master Assassin Character Pack
Naoe’s Shadowblade is not the strongest weapon on paper. Its damage sits well below the 38-point maximum, yet its perk makes two of the combat system’s most important actions considerably more forgiving.
This is an excellent weapon for players still learning Resynced’s timing. Easier Perfect Parries mean more openings for Chain Takedowns, while easier Perfect Dodges improve survival against attacks that are awkward to counter.
The four-takedown rating also means the weapon remains effective in crowds. Lower damage matters less when Edward can move directly from a successful parry into several executions.
Experienced players may eventually prefer a harder-hitting blade, but the Shadowblade has genuine value rather than being a glorified accessibility option. Reliable timing produces more results than impressive statistics followed by repeated contact with the floor.
Best for: Learning the combat system and timing-based builds.
6. Le Bourgeoys Blades
Damage: 38
Maximum Takedowns: 2
Perk: Fires an additional shot with every Heavy Strike
How to unlock: Complete the Art Lover quest after collecting 15 art pieces
Le Bourgeoys Blades are arguably the most enjoyable weapons in the game. Their Pistol-Sword Heavy Strike already fires two shots, and the perk adds another. Edward effectively answers close combat with a small personal firing squad.
The 38 damage rating gives the blades excellent basic power. Their weakness is the two-takedown limit, which makes them less efficient than the Persian Scimitars when surrounded.
That hardly makes them poor. Heavy Strikes can shred enemy Defence and damage several targets rapidly. They are especially effective on ship decks, where the close spacing helps every shot find something unfortunate.
The Art Lover requirement provides a reasonable route to an excellent weapon without demanding the full endgame treasure hunt.
Best for: Pistol-Sword fans, boarding actions and spectacular violence.
7. Matched Golden Swords
Damage: 25
Maximum Takedowns: 4
Perk: Chain Takedowns are easier to perform and have greater range
How to unlock: Purchase from the Treasure Dealer at Great Inagua
The Matched Golden Swords are built around control rather than raw damage. Their perk increases the reach of Chain Takedowns and makes them easier to continue, reducing the chance that Edward’s sequence ends because the next guard is standing a few inches too far away.
They are superb in open spaces and large boarding encounters. The extended range helps Edward cross awkward gaps between enemies, while the four-takedown maximum keeps the sequence competitive with the best weapons.
Their base damage is merely respectable. Against tougher enemies, the Persian Scimitars finish the job more quickly. Against ordinary groups, however, the Golden Swords can feel smoother and more consistent.
Best for: Long Chain Takedowns and widely spaced groups.
8. Masterwork Blades
Damage: 29
Maximum Takedowns: 3
Perk: Heavy Strikes restore health
How to unlock: Purchase from the Treasure Dealer at Great Inagua
The Masterwork Blades are the best rapiers for a sustainable combat build. Their Heavy Strike delivers a powerful piercing thrust, while successful hits restore some of Edward’s health.
This creates a measured rhythm. Parry, create space, land the thrust and recover. The weapon is less effective when surrounded because the rapier Heavy Strike lacks the broad sweep of a Cutlass, but it is excellent against officers and durable individual enemies.
It is also a strong choice on higher difficulties, where dependable healing can matter more than the ability to dispatch one additional guard during a takedown sequence.
Best for: Duels, careful players and self-healing builds.
9. Gargoyle’s Breath
Range: 24
Draw Speed: 1.50
Perk: Fires explosive ammunition that damages an area
How to unlock: Recover the treasure marked on the Restored Weathered Map
Gargoyle’s Breath sacrifices some conventional pistol range for explosive crowd control. Its shots can damage several nearby enemies, making it immensely useful during boarding actions and compact street battles.
It is the best specialist pistol in the game. One well-placed shot can soften an entire group before Edward draws his swords. The effect also pairs beautifully with Pistol-Swords, if your preferred combat philosophy is that every problem can be improved by adding another firearm.
Explosive ammunition costs 100 Reales per shot. That is manageable later in the game but wasteful during the early economic grind. Firing it at a solitary guard is rather like using a cannon to open a coconut.
Best for: Crowds, ship boarding and area damage.
10. Dual Cleavers
Damage: 38
Maximum Takedowns: 2
Perk: Sword damage increases while Edward’s health is low
How to unlock: Upgrade the Great Inagua General Store to Level 3 and purchase them for 19,000 Reales
The Dual Cleavers hit extremely hard and become even more dangerous when Edward’s health drops. In the hands of a confident player, they can produce frightening damage.
The problem is that their perk rewards a situation sensible players generally try to avoid. Remaining at low health deliberately increases the chance that a missed parry ends the fight with Edward folded across the nearest barrel.
Their two-takedown maximum also limits their usefulness against crowds. They are entertaining and powerful, but less dependable than the top Cutlasses.
Best for: High-risk builds and players who enjoy living irresponsibly.
Best loadouts for every playstyle
Best overall loadout
| Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Melee weapon | Persian Scimitars |
| Pistols | Golden Flintlock Pistols |
| Main strength | Damage, crowd control and ranged utility |
This is the most complete combination in the game. The Persian Scimitars handle crowds and Brutes, while the Golden Flintlocks provide range and a useful slow-time effect after kills.
It is not a subtle build. It is simply very good at turning hostile groups into historical footnotes.
Best aggressive loadout
| Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Melee weapon | Dragon’s Fang Swords |
| Pistols | Gargoyle’s Breath |
| Main strength | Escalating damage and explosive crowd control |
Open with an explosive shot, move into melee and use the Dragon’s Fang perk to increase attack power as enemies fall. This setup thrives during fort assaults and boarding actions.
Players without the Dragon Storm content can substitute the Dual Cleavers or Persian Scimitars.
Best Pistol-Sword loadout
| Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Melee weapon | Order of Gold |
| Pistols | Golden Flintlock Pistols |
| Main strength | Perfect Dodge counterattacks and rapid shooting |
Order of Gold turns Perfect Dodges into automatic pistol counters. The Golden Flintlocks add excellent range and slowed time after a kill.
Ammunition upgrades should be prioritised before relying heavily on this build. Edward can carry several pistols, but regrettably none of them load themselves.
Best beginner loadout
| Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Melee weapon | Naoe’s Shadowblade |
| Pistols | Baldwin’s Golden Pistols |
| Main strength | Forgiving parry timing and strong mid-game range |
The Shadowblade provides larger timing windows for Perfect Parries and dodges. Baldwin’s Golden Pistols are earned through Lucy Baldwin’s officer questline and offer 26 range before the final store upgrades become affordable.
This setup makes the revised combat system easier to learn without removing its challenge.
Best survival loadout
| Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Melee weapon | Masterwork Blades |
| Pistols | Fury of the Deep Pistols |
| Main strength | Health recovery from Heavy Strikes and headshots |
Both weapons provide healing opportunities. The rapier rewards controlled Heavy Strikes, while Fury of the Deep restores some health after a headshot.
The pistols are premium content, so Golden Flintlocks remain the best standard-game substitute.
Best standard-game loadout without premium content
| Slot | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Melee weapon | Persian Scimitars |
| Pistols | Golden Flintlock Pistols |
| Alternative pistol | Baldwin’s Golden Pistols |
| Main strength | Top-tier equipment earned through play |
This is the loadout I would recommend to most players. Both main weapons are available without premium packs, and each remains useful throughout the late game.
Baldwin’s Golden Pistols make an excellent interim choice while Great Inagua is being upgraded.
Best weapons to get early
The strongest equipment is locked behind exploration, store development or side content, but Edward does not need to spend half the story using starter gear.
Prioritise these early acquisitions:
- Standard Wheellock Pistols: A cheap early improvement available from General Stores.
- Officer’s Rapiers: Low damage but four Maximum Takedowns, making them surprisingly useful in crowds.
- Pirate Scimitars: An excellent store purchase with 38 damage and three Maximum Takedowns.
- Spanish Officer Pistols: A dependable Level 2 store option with 24 range.
- Baldwin’s Golden Pistols: One of the best mid-game rewards, obtained from Lucy Baldwin’s third officer quest.
- Le Bourgeoys Blades: Worth pursuing once the Art Lover quest becomes available.
The Pirate Scimitars are probably the best value purchase. They lack a Legendary perk, but their basic statistics rival far more elaborate weapons. Sometimes the Caribbean’s finest solution is simply buying two sharp objects from a shop.
Which upgrades should you prioritise?
A powerful weapon matters less if Edward can only fire a couple of shots and collapses whenever a Brute looks annoyed.
Prioritise crafting upgrades in this order:
- Additional pistol holsters
- Ammunition capacity
- Health upgrades
- Smoke Bomb capacity
- Sleep Dart capacity
- Berserk Dart capacity
More pistol holsters expand Edward’s Quick Shot and Gun Kata potential. Health upgrades provide more room for missed parries, while Smoke Bombs remain one of the strongest emergency tools in the game.
Sleep Darts are excellent for stealth and difficult objectives. Berserk Darts are slower but can dismantle guarded areas without direct involvement. There is something deeply efficient about making the opposition perform its own staff reductions.
Are the Hidden Blades worth using?
Hidden Blades remain essential for assassinations, but they are not a standard selectable melee weapon in open combat.
Use them for:
- Assassinations from cover
- Air assassinations
- Double assassinations
- Running assassinations
- Contextual takedowns
They remain the best weapons for undetected kills because damage statistics are irrelevant when the target never enters combat. A successful assassination is still stronger than any Legendary sword, mostly because the victim does not get a turn.
Which weapon is best overall?
The Persian Scimitars are the best melee weapons in AC Black Flag Resynced. Their 38 damage, four Maximum Takedowns and anti-Brute perk make them effective in practically every open fight.
The Golden Flintlock Pistols are the best general-purpose firearms. Their combination of maximum range, useful draw speed and slowed time after kills gives them more consistent value than specialist alternatives.
Together, they form the strongest overall loadout. Players looking for something more expressive should try Le Bourgeoys Blades or Order of Gold. They are less efficient in large Chain Takedowns, but efficiency is not always the point. Edward Kenway is a pirate carrying multiple loaded pistols and two swords. Restraint has already left the building.
Frequently asked questions
What is the strongest sword in AC Black Flag Resynced?
The Persian Scimitars are the strongest overall. They have 38 damage, four Maximum Takedowns and prevent Brutes from denying Chain Takedowns.
What are the best pistols?
The Golden Flintlock Pistols are the best all-round choice. Gargoyle’s Breath is better for explosive crowd damage, while Baldwin’s Golden Pistols are the strongest practical mid-game option.
What does Maximum Takedowns mean?
It controls how many enemies Edward can eliminate during a Chain Takedown after creating the correct opening, usually through a Perfect Parry.
Are Pistol-Swords better than Cutlasses?
Pistol-Swords are more explosive and versatile, but Cutlasses generally offer better crowd control and higher Chain Takedown potential. The better class depends on whether you value consistent efficiency or dramatic black-powder nonsense.
Can the starting weapons complete the game?
Yes. Better weapons make combat faster and provide useful perks, but success still depends on parrying, dodging and breaking enemy Defence.
Do outfits provide combat bonuses?
Outfits are cosmetic in Resynced. Their old special effects are handled through the trinket system, allowing Edward to use useful bonuses without being forced into a particular costume.
