This quest will unlock once you complete the "Prizes and Plunder" quest. To start it, talk to Benjamin Hornigold, who is standing nearby on the pier at Salt Key Bank.
Edward learns the basics of plundering ships from Benjamin Hornigold.
Raise the Black Flag
Quest stages of Raise the Black Flag
1. Gather Metal for the Jackdaw
Your goal is to collect 70 units of metal to upgrade the broadside cannons. The required metal is carried by brigs - two-star ships, which means they are harder to defeat than schooners because, for example, they will try to ram you.
Attacking ships raises your Wanted Level, which draws powerful pirate hunters to the Jackdaw. The Wanted level indicator is located in the top-right corner.
Remember that boarding enemy ship is the only way to gather all the resources from its hold. If you sink the enemy vessel, you will only receive half of the loot.
When fighting enemy ships and then their crews, use the same methods you used during the previous main quest. Additionally, you can also climb the highest mast - use the lift at the base of the mast first - and cut down the ship's flag. This will lower the enemy crew's morale by about 20%.
From now on, winning a boarding action will also allow you to repair the Jackdaw or lower your Wanted Level.
2. Sail to Salt Key
After gathering the required amount of metal, your Wanted Level will increase significantly and pirate hunters - ships with red sails that actively seek to fight you - will show up. Fighting them is difficult and unprofitable, so it is best to avoid them and return to Salt Key.
3. Bribe the local officer
Disembark, approach the local officer, and pay him to reset your Wanted Level.
4. Upgrade the broadside cannons
Talk to the harbor master and spend some metal on upgrading the broadside cannons. This quest will come to an end and the next main quest will be unlocked - Sugarcane and Its Yields.
