Joining a guild is the most useful step after your first week; the beginner guide explains why. The World of Sea Battle hub has the overview of the game.
Factions
The political map has three warring states, a neutral trading union and the pirates. B13 described them like this:
| Faction | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antilia | Warring state | Balanced ships in the B21 shipyard |
| Español | Warring state | Ships with more durability, hold and crew |
| Severia (shipyard tree: Kai and Severia) | Warring state | Ships with more protection, speed and maneuverability |
| Khanfar Caliphate | Neutral trading union | Cannot capture cities; only trading ships can be built in its ports |
| Pirates | Outlaws | Hostile to everyone; some guild privileges are closed to pirate guilds |
Joining or forming a guild
- Guilds grow out of flotillas. Since B17 a flotilla can be upgraded into a guild.
- Guilds belong to a faction, and members must keep a positive reputation with it.
- B21 lowered the bar: you now need 15 reputation instead of 33 to join a warring faction guild.
- Pick by time zone and activity. A guild's attack window is fixed, so join one that fights when you can play.
What a good guild gives you: protection on trade routes, group content such as forts and whales, the privileges below and people who answer questions faster than any wiki.
How cities are captured: the tension system
Each guild sets one attack window for all its cities. Since B20 that window is one hour long, and tension can only be raised during it.
- Attackers raise tension in the city's waters during the window, in a separate layer that the owner's faction cannot join.
- Actions add tension: sinking a player gives 2 points (down from 3), and pirates get 5 points for a patrol (up from 3).
- Tension resets after the capture window.
- Huracan counts double when it removes tension.
- Enough tension leads to the port battle for the city.
B21 enlarged a port's waters from 765 to 900 and the patrol spawn zone from 510 to 900, which gives both sides more room around the city.
Port battles
Port battle explained from start to finish (LifeofKino)Port battles run in four sizes: 10 vs 10, 15 vs 15, 20 vs 20 and 40 vs 40. B21 put fixed limits on the Huracan:
| Format | Huracan limit |
|---|---|
| 10 vs 10 | 1 |
| 15 vs 15 | 1 |
| 20 vs 20 | 2 |
| 40 vs 40 | 4 |
The Huracan can still only take part in rank I port battles. For the rest of your lineup, follow the fleet commander: focus fire, keep the line, protect the heavies, and do not chase cripples out of position. The PvP guide covers the individual skills, and best ships covers hull choice.
What owning a city gets you
- Capture, abandon or impose tribute. Under tribute, which lasts seven days, 50 percent of the city's taxes go to the guild that imposed it.
- Season resets. The Empire resets city ownership every season.
- Faction war points. Since B19 points only count if a faction holds every port in a region, and since B21 home cities give double points.
- Season bonus. At season end, guilds of the winning faction get plus 30 percent influence and guilds of the second faction plus 15 percent (B20).
Guild privileges
Privileges arrived in B20. Guilds buy them with influence points, and one influence point costs 200 guild chests. Two from B21 are worth knowing:
| Privilege | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unified Market | Buy from the exchanges of neighbouring ports within a 3,000 radius, with a 7 percent delivery fee and no local exchange tax | Buying only; not for pirate guilds; costs 1,620 influence and 32,400 chests |
| Free Voyage | One free game mode per member per day | No scrolls needed |
Unified Market is the trader's privilege; see the trading guide for how to use it.
Pirates and port battles
Pirate guilds play by different rules: they gain more tension from patrols, but cannot use privileges such as Unified Market, and switching a guild to the pirate faction turns those privileges off. If you want to raid but keep your guild's economy, stay in a warring faction and use the combat flags instead.
Before your first port battle, learn the map around the city; our map and ports guide explains regions and danger levels.
How to choose a guild
- Choose the faction first. Your guild's faction decides which ports are friendly and where you get the shipyard discount.
- Check the attack window. If it falls when you are asleep, you will miss every port battle.
- Ask what the guild does. Some focus on port battles, some on trading and forts. A trader in a pure PvP guild is bored, and the reverse.
- Ask about privileges. Unified Market and Free Voyage are worth real money to every member.
- Look for activity. A guild with daily fort or whale runs teaches you more in a week than a month alone.
Your job in a port battle
| Ship type | Job |
|---|---|
| Heavy class | Hold the line, absorb fire, shield the damage dealers; heavy ships take 10 percent less mortar damage |
| Combat class | Main broadside damage on the called target |
| Fast class | Scout, chase cripples, block escapes, cut sails with bar shot |
| Siege and mortar ships | Area damage on clustered enemies |
| Huracan | Strong enough to be capped by format; only in rank I battles |
The common thread is discipline: fire at the called target, keep formation and do not leave the line to chase. The ammo side is in the cannons and ammo guide.
FAQ
How do port battles work in World of Sea Battle?
Attackers raise tension in the city's waters during the owner's one hour attack window. Enough tension leads to a port battle in a 10, 15, 20 or 40 per side format.
What factions are in World of Sea Battle?
Three warring states (Antilia, Español and Severia), the neutral Khanfar Caliphate trading union, and the pirates. The shipyard groups Severia ships as Kai and Severia.
How do I create a guild?
Since update B17 a flotilla can be upgraded into a guild. Guilds belong to a faction and members need positive reputation with it.
What reputation do I need to join a guild?
Since update B21 you need 15 reputation with the faction, down from 33, to join a warring faction guild.
How many Huracans can be in a port battle?
One in 10 vs 10 and 15 vs 15, two in 20 vs 20 and four in 40 vs 40, and only in rank I port battles.