Ubisoft has officially launched the first major content update for Skull and Bones Year 2, marking the start of Season 1 with a sweeping overhaul of the game’s endgame structure, player progression systems, and faction conflicts. The update significantly expands on the foundation established during Year 1, incorporating heightened combat challenges, a new gear upgrade system, and rebalanced ship mechanics—all designed to improve gameplay depth and address community concerns regarding late-game variety and difficulty scaling.
At the core of the update is the introduction of World Tier 2, known as the Cutthroat Seas, which elevates the difficulty of open-world encounters through more aggressive AI behavior, unique enemy modifiers, and combat dynamics that demand greater coordination and strategy. Access to this tier is unlocked through a dedicated Infamy Quest after players reach the Kingpin rank. Within this tier, players can earn Ascended Gear—a new class of loot featuring randomized modifications that increase in complexity and rarity. These items can be further customized through a new Item Ascension System, which includes the ability to reforge perks and improve weapon traits using specialized resources. However, once ascended, these items become account-bound and cannot be traded.
Other notable additions include a Seasonal Reset that wipes previously acquired Pieces of Eight and replaces seasonal currency with Kupfer Bars, which can now be exchanged for Sovereigns. A newly introduced Schooner ship, themed around explosive combat, features exclusive perks and is obtainable via the Smuggler Pass. Players can also participate in the limited-time event, The Honorless, running from May 6 to June 10, offering rare bombards and cannons as rewards. The update also brings with it a major ship progression rework, shifting rank progression toward ship upgrades rather than gear power, while simultaneously reducing early upgrade costs and increasing the maximum rank to 15.
Skull and Bones Year 2 Season 1 – Major Update Summary
New Conflict and Seasonal Changes
- The ongoing war between the DMC and Compagnie factions escalates.
- Seasonal Reset:
- Pieces of Eight removed from caches.
- Kupfer Bars now convertible to Sovereigns (100:50).
- Silver remains unaffected.
World Tier 2: Cutthroat Seas
- Increased AI difficulty, combat affixes, and aggression levels.
- Exclusive loot and Ascended Gear drops, including mythic boss rewards.
- Unlocked via a post-Kingpin Infamy Quest.
- Group play requires leader synchronization.
Item Ascension System
- Ascension Modules unlock randomized modifications:
- Basic, Advanced, or Special mods depending on item rarity.
- Reforging allows perk rerolls with Upgrade Parts (limited uses).
- Bound Gear: Ascended weapons cannot be traded but can be salvaged.
- Found primarily in World Tier 2.
New Content and Features
- Schooner Ship: Medium-sized ship focused on explosives and DPS.
- Perks: Fury (boosts damage), Volatile (explosion bonuses).
- Unlocked via Smuggler Pass Tier 45.
- Shell-Shocked Status: Disarms enemies with explosive-based weapons.
- Smuggler Pass:
- New explosive-themed weapons (e.g., Lange Kartouwe).
- New furniture, Tiger Cub pet, and post-Tier 90 rewards.
- Limited-Time Event – The Honorless:
- May 6 to June 10
- Earn Epic Bombard and Demi-Cannon weapons.
Progression and Balance Adjustments
- Ship Rank Overhaul:
- Rank now more influenced by ship upgrades than gear score.
- Maximum ship rank raised to 15.
- Ship Upgrades:
- Costs reduced, especially for earlier levels.
- Masterwork Kits required at Level 7+.
- Manufactory Changes:
- Now produce Refined and Specialized materials for upgrades.
- Combat Tweaks:
- Repair kits heal less and have longer cooldowns.
- Punctured effect weakened.
- Ramming damage improved against AI ships.
Quality-of-Life Improvements
- UI/UX Overhaul:
- Mini-map redesign, improved Journal sorting by quest type.
- HUD Enhancements:
- Optional cosmetic toggle to hide armor visuals.
- Bug Fixes:
- Addressed contract issues, loot problems in world events, and spawn errors.
- Improved navigation and localization accuracy.
Miscellaneous Changes
- New Weather Hazard: Lightning Storms introduced during storms.
- Leaderboard Revamp:
- Rankings now based on Infamy.
- Seasonal Currency replaces Sovereigns as leaderboard rewards.
- Helm Empire Upgrades:
- New skill tree for passive material generation and fleet upgrades.
Skull and Bones is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S|X.
