Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A Guide to High Seas Haymaker
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players can dive into numerous side quests that can keep you engaged for hours. Although the game generally offers guidance during missions, some tasks can get quite challenging. One such mission is the High Seas Haymaker.
You can begin this quest at Obama in the Wasaka region. Once you initiate High Seas Haymaker, you’ll need to eliminate 100 pirates. Locating these pirates can be tricky and may take some time. In this guide, we’ll provide tips to help you finish this mission efficiently.
How to Start High Seas Haymaker
When you reach Obama in the Wasaka region, look for the marker for High Seas Haymaker on your map. After speaking with Niwa Toshikazu, you’ll receive your instructions to find and defeat the required number of pirates. Although this mission may seem daunting, we’ve compiled some effective strategies and locations to make the process smoother.
How to Find the Pirates
To streamline your progress, it’s beneficial to start The Pirate Alliance quest. During this mission, you’ll encounter two pirates with many subordinates, making it an excellent chance to boost your pirate count. First, board a boat and head west from the trading port, where you’ll come across several pirate ships.
By defeating all the pirates in this area, you can quickly add 17 to your total. Remember to stay alert, as these pirates will shoot arrows, so use stealth to your advantage. Utilize your kunai effectively and try to aim for headshots.
Tip: When approaching pirates on a ship, be discreet. Disembark before they notice you, and use kunai to eliminate two pirates on a smaller boat first.
Afterward, proceed to the larger ship where you can take out the enemies more easily. With more cover available, you’re better positioned to deal with any remaining threats.
Once you’ve handled the pirates on the open water, your next stop is Nairu’s Lair. Here, you’ll encounter a significant number of pirates, which will further contribute to your count—up to 50 more. However, be warned: if you alert the pirates, they may overwhelm you, making your survival more difficult.
Warning: If you haven’t completed The Pirate Alliance Assassination quest yet, Lopo Cruz will be found at Nairu’s Lair. He is a formidable opponent, so if you’re not at a high enough level, it’s advisable to avoid this confrontation until you’re better prepared.
Use stealth tactics to take down the pirates quietly. If you find that you can’t take them out due to level discrepancies, consider gaining some experience points (EXP) before continuing this mission; it will make things considerably easier.
Next Steps: Maizuru’s Lair
After clearing Nairu’s Lair, your next destination is Maizuru’s Lair. While you won’t find as many pirates here, you’ll still accumulate a count of over 60. This area may not have a plethora of pirate spawns, but there are strategies to complete your quest.
Warning: Similar to before, if you haven’t finished The Pirate Alliance Assassination, Little Kappa will appear at Maizuru’s Lair. He is a tough adversary, so if you struggle with stealth, it’s best to avoid him.
Continue west of the trading port and proceed past the locations where you previously eliminated pirates until you reach solid ground. Be sure to save your game and test a densynchronize by killing a citizen or simply allowing your character to die.
Doing this will respawn the pirates on the boats, offering you a great opportunity to farm them for kills. You can repeat this process until reaching your goal. Be cautious, as these pirates are no pushovers, so ensure your character is sufficiently leveled. Consider tackling some palaces and castles like Njio Palace and Tsuruga Castle beforehand to level up your equipment and abilities.
Final Steps: Reporting Back
After you have dispatched 100 pirates, your objective will be updated. Head back to Niwa Toshikazu and provide him with an account of your efforts. He will reward you with gold (a crafting material) and 2,000 Mon, marking the completion of the quest.
With these tips in hand, you’ll master the High Seas Haymaker quest and sail through this adventure with ease!
