Metal and Wood are the two most important ship materials in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Nearly every Jackdaw upgrade requires large quantities of both resources, and as enemy fleets become stronger, keeping your ship fully upgraded becomes essential. Fortunately, there are several reliable ways to stockpile these materials, with the best farming method changing as you progress through the game.
Capture Forts During the Early Game
Conquering forts is one of the quickest ways to earn Metal and Wood during the opening chapters.
Each captured fort rewards valuable ship resources while also unlocking new Fleet Missions, providing additional opportunities to collect materials later in the game.
If your Jackdaw is still lightly upgraded, target smaller forts with fewer defensive towers. They are much easier to clear and still provide worthwhile rewards.
Before attacking a fort, clear out nearby enemy ships whenever possible. Hostile vessels often join the battle, making the assault much more difficult than necessary. Drawing them away with Mortar fire, sinking or boarding them first, and then returning to the fort creates a much safer encounter while earning extra resources along the way.
Inspect Ships Before Starting a Fight
Not every enemy vessel is worth chasing.
Use the Spyglass to inspect a ship’s cargo before engaging it. This reveals exactly what resources it is carrying, allowing you to prioritize ships loaded with Metal or Wood while ignoring those transporting less useful trade goods.
Spending a few seconds scouting targets saves considerable time during long farming sessions.
Farm Hunter Ships in the Mid-Game
Most players try to lower their Wanted Level, but deliberately increasing it can actually become one of the most efficient ways to gather upgrade materials.
As your notoriety rises, Hunter Ships begin pursuing the Jackdaw. These enemies are tougher than ordinary ships, but they typically carry much larger supplies of Metal and Wood.
After defeating and boarding them, fast travel to another synchronization point to refresh nearby spawns. Raising your Wanted Level again allows you to repeat the process, creating a steady farming loop throughout the mid-game.
Hunt Man o’ Wars for Maximum Resources
Once your Jackdaw is heavily upgraded, Man o’ Wars become the best regular source of Metal and Wood.
These powerful warships patrol the southern Caribbean and offer some of the highest resource payouts available outside of unique encounters.
Although they’re significantly tougher than brigs or frigates, the rewards easily justify the challenge.
Whenever possible, wait until a Man o’ War separates from its escort ships before attacking. Fighting multiple vessels at once dramatically increases the difficulty, even with a fully upgraded Jackdaw.
Combine Hunter Ships and Man o’ Wars
One of the fastest late-game farming strategies is to maintain a high Wanted Level while searching for Man o’ Wars.
As you travel between encounters, Hunter Ships will continue spawning to pursue you. Since both enemy types provide generous amounts of Metal and Wood, you’ll constantly earn upgrade materials without interrupting your route to search for new targets.
This approach offers one of the most efficient ways to gather the resources needed for the Jackdaw’s final upgrades.
Best Metal and Wood Farming Strategy
The most effective farming method depends on your stage of progression:
| Game Stage | Best Method |
|---|---|
| Early Game | Capture forts and defeat nearby enemy ships |
| Mid-Game | Raise your Wanted Level and farm Hunter Ships |
| Late Game | Hunt Man o’ Wars while keeping Hunter Ships active |
By adapting your farming strategy as the campaign progresses, you’ll have a much easier time keeping the Jackdaw fully upgraded and ready for the increasingly dangerous naval battles waiting across the Caribbean.
