Pets are one of the quieter surprises in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. Hidden across the Caribbean, a small collection of animals can be found, unlocked, and brought aboard the Jackdaw as companions. The game barely explains any of this, so plenty of players sail right past the opportunities without realizing what they missed.
What pets are available in AC Black Flag Resynced?
There are currently 3 known pets in the game. Two are earned through gameplay, and one is locked behind the Deluxe Edition. Here's the full breakdown:
How to find the Monkey Business Local Event
Soot the Cat requires completing the Monkey Business Local Event. Head to southeast Havana and look for a ship in that area. Local Events are short, spontaneous side activities scattered across the Caribbean. They typically ask you to find an item, beat some enemies, or hear someone out. The Monkey Business event follows this same format, and finishing it hands over Soot as your reward.
Monkey Business event location
How to find the Cat Distribution System Local Event
Albert the Monkey comes from the Cat Distribution System Local Event, but you cannot access it right away. The event only becomes available after you unlock the Hideout, which happens at the conclusion of A Single Madman in Sequence 3. Once that milestone is hit, the event opens up in the world and can be completed to recruit Albert.
If you're still working through early sequences, check out the guide on unlocking the Man-At-Arms to stay on top of other progression-gated content around the same point in the story.
How to equip your pet
Once you've unlocked a pet, go into your Inventory menu and look for the last slot. That's where pets live. You can swap between any pets you've already unlocked at any time, so there's no permanent choice to stress over.
Pet slot in inventory menu
Where does your pet appear in the world?
After equipping a pet, it starts showing up in a few different locations depending on what Edward is doing. Spotted the pet lounging in the manor, sitting inside the ship's cabin, and perched on the railing next to the ship's wheel while actively sailing. The pet's position shifts contextually, so keep an eye out as you move between areas.
For players who want to get the most out of the Jackdaw beyond cosmetics, the Shipwright unlock guide covers how to bring Lucy Baldwin aboard and make the most of the Perfect Brace ability in naval combat.
Is Gold Tom worth buying the Deluxe Edition for?
Honestly, no. Gold Tom, Ship's Pet is a cosmetic bonus tied to the Deluxe Edition and offers nothing gameplay-relevant that the other two pets don't also provide. If you were already planning to buy the Deluxe Edition for other included content, Gold Tom is a nice extra. Buying the upgrade purely for a ship cat is hard to justify.
For a full picture of everything that's changed from the original 2013 game, the complete list of Black Flag Resynced changes is worth a read before you commit to any edition. And if you're working toward full completion, the AC Black Flag Resynced guides hub has everything from sea shanty locations to trophy tips in one place.