Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced gives Edward Kenway a full arsenal to work with, but not every weapon or trinket is worth your time. The gap between a mediocre loadout and an optimized one is noticeable from the first real fight. This guide covers the exact weapons, trinkets, and crafting upgrades that carry you through the entire game, along with where to get each one.
What is the best weapon combo in AC Black Flag Resynced?
The strongest on-foot loadout pairs the Le Bourgeoys Blades with the Golden Flintlock Pistols. Together, they cover every combat range Edward will face.
Le Bourgeoys Blades
These are Legendary Pistol Swords with a base damage of 38 and a maximum of 2 takedowns. The standout perk fires three bullets instead of two on a Heavy Strike, which is a meaningful upgrade over other pistol swords that only shoot two. At close range, chaining a heavy strike into the extra shot deals significant burst damage without needing to switch weapons.
You earn the Le Bourgeoys Blades by completing the Art Lover side quest.
Golden Flintlock Pistols
For your firearm slot, the Golden Flintlock Pistols are the clear pick. They carry a range stat of 28 and a draw speed of 1.20, making them the best option for picking off gunners at a distance before they can return fire. The perk slows time briefly after a pistol kill, giving you a window to line up a follow-up shot or reposition. You unlock these from the Great Inagua General Store once it reaches max level.
Pistol Holster upgrade tiers
What are the best trinkets to equip?
Trinkets are easy to overlook, but the right pair makes a real difference in how many Health Remedies you burn through per fight.
Templar Cross (primary trinket)
The Templar Cross is a Legendary Trinket that reduces incoming melee damage. Since most enemies close the distance fast and swing hard, cutting that damage consistently is more reliable than any offensive trinket. You get it by collecting all 5 Templar Keys and opening the cage in the manor.
Rabbit's Foot (secondary trinket)
Slot the Rabbit's Foot in your second trinket position. It adds a chance to stagger enemies after a successful parry, which chains well into follow-up attacks and helps you manage multiple attackers at once. Completing the first quest in the Opia Apito Templar Hunt questline rewards this one.
Which crafting upgrades should you prioritize?
Three upgrades stand above everything else in the crafting menu. Prioritize them in this order:
The Pistol Holster is the single most impactful upgrade in the game. Resynced's reworked reload speed means each additional holster translates directly into more shots per engagement. Getting to 4 pistols as early as possible changes how aggressively you can play.
Health Upgrades come second because the damage spike from elite enemies mid-game is steep. Maxing the Health Upgrade tree doubles your survivability without requiring any tactical adjustment. Pair it with the Templar Cross trinket and you'll rarely need to dip into your remedy stock.
The Pistol Ammo Pouch supports the firepower you're building. At 30 maximum rounds, you have enough to handle extended fights and naval boarding sequences without running dry.
For a broader look at what Resynced changed from the original, the full breakdown of every AC Black Flag Resynced change covers the reworked combat system and how it affects weapon choices like these.
How does this build perform across the whole game?
The Le Bourgeoys Blades and Golden Flintlock Pistols combo holds up from early story missions through to the late-game elite encounters. The pistol sword's melee damage stat of 38 keeps pace with what enemies can throw at you, and the triple-shot Heavy Strike perk means you're never forced to switch weapons to deal with armored targets.
The Templar Cross trinket is what makes the build sustainable. Reducing melee damage intake consistently is more valuable than any single offensive bonus, particularly in sequences where multiple enemies rush at once. Paired with maxed Health Upgrades, you can absorb hits that would otherwise force a retry.
If you're still finding your footing with the new systems, the things you should do first in AC Black Flag Resynced guide walks through early priorities that set up this build faster. For everything else, including officer quests, naval upgrades, and trophy requirements, the full AC Black Flag Resynced guide collection has you covered.