New here? Read the beginner guide and the World of Sea Battle hub first. This page is about fighting the game rather than other players; for player fights see the PvP guide.
NPC ships: who to hunt
World of Sea Battle gameplay trailer (official channel)The open sea is full of NPC ships: merchants, military patrols and pirates. Always inspect a ship before engaging; you see its cargo and can judge its strength.
| Target | Why hunt it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Merchants | Gold and materials in the hold, easy to board | Killing a faction's merchants turns that faction's NPCs against you |
| Military patrols | Experience, tougher fights | Since B21 patrols appear in a wider zone around ports (900 instead of 510) |
| Pirates | No faction to anger | They can jump you while you loot a wreck |
| Enhanced NPCs in the central zone | Better rewards (more of them since B19) | The central circle is also open PvP, from level 15 |
Capturing instead of sinking pays twice: you can dismantle the ship for beams or, with the right skill, take captives for your island. See the ship crafting guide for the dismantling steps.
Missions: taverns, academies and pirate cities
- Tavern quests come in three categories; the Gold quests are the hardest and pay best. Rum is no longer needed to take them (B17).
- Military and Trade academy missions were added in B20.
- Pirate city missions can appear rarely and pay double (B20).
- Shoreline buildings near ports added in B21 give extra tavern quests.
- Free Voyage, a B21 guild privilege, gives each member one free game mode per day.
Stack missions that point to the same region and you will spend more time fighting than sailing.
Imperial forts
Forts are group content. B19 made them much harder for solo players and B20 made fort damage account for your ship's protection. B21 tuned them again:
| B21 change | Value |
|---|---|
| Resources when a fort spawns | Plus 60 percent |
| Maximum stockpile | Minus 11 percent |
| Rewards | Fewer heavy resources, more fragments |
| Loot lifetime after destruction | 15 minutes (was 10) |
| Time before the fort starts repairing | Plus 20 percent |
| Minimum fort durability | 16,000 (was 20,000) |
| Fort guns and mortars | More penetration on medium and high durability forts, faster mortar reload on low and medium ones |
Bring heavy hulls (they take 10 percent less mortar damage as a class passive) and mortars, and do not stop shooting when the fort looks dead: the repair timer is longer now, but it still runs.
Whaling
Whales are a shared hunt, and B21 changed who gets the reward. The player who dealt the most damage now has the first right to the loot. Experience still goes to everyone who fought. If nobody picks the loot up within five minutes, it "revives" and anyone can attack it again. In practice: commit your full broadside early, and do not sail off before collecting. Captain's Seal holders also get extra whaling experience since B20.
Events
Thera Interactive runs regular events, and with updates now every 1.5 months, expect one around each patch. B21 came with a holiday event of 14 quests and an Overseas Merchant who sold the new Al-Fatih and Elite status patents (24 October to 7 November 2026). Event currencies and rewards change each time, so read the event window in game rather than old guides.
Safe farming rules
- Know the zone level. Regions are rated by danger from 1 to 7; higher zones pay more and hit harder. Our map and ports guide explains the layout.
- Pick the flag on purpose. The combat faction flag gives 30 percent bonus XP and loot (B19) but opens you to PvP. The peace flag costs 20 percent but protects you where it works.
- Bank loot often. A full hold is what attracts players.
- Watch the horizon while looting. Wrecks attract pirate NPCs and players alike.
- Keep integrity topped up. Since B21 repairs are 25 percent more expensive and take 2 minutes 30 seconds per point plus 30 seconds.
- Use your Elite ship. Elite level 6 gives plus 20 percent experience and loot, so farm in the ship you are levelling.
Best ships for PvE
Heavy class ships soak fort fire and NPC broadsides, and siege ships deal 25 percent more falconet damage. Confirmed heavy hulls after B21 include Rota (Antilia, V), Tie Long (Kai and Severia, V) and Georgy Pobedonosec (Kai and Severia, III). Hunt mode only allows ranks III to V, so a well levelled ship in that range is worth more than one rank I hull. More in the best ships guide, and for turning your PvE loot into gold, see how to make money.
What to farm at each stage
| Stage | Best PvE | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Before rank 9 | Tavern quests, NPC merchants in low danger regions | Gold, experience and your first materials with little risk |
| Rank 9 to level 15 | Boarding NPCs for beams and captives, Gold quests, academy missions | Feeds your new island and its workshop |
| Level 15 and up | Central zone enhanced NPCs, forts and whales with a group | The best rewards, shared with players who may be hunting you |
| Ships of rank III to V | Hunt mode | Rating, Battle Marks and experience, raised in B21 |
Move up a stage when your current content stops paying, not as soon as you are allowed. A level 15 captain in a ship that cannot escape the central circle is a gift to other players.
Boarding NPCs for profit
Combat, boarding, captured ships, ammo and consumables (LifeofKino)Sinking an NPC gives you whatever floats up. Boarding it gives you a choice. Invite the ship into your squadron, dock and dismantle it for beams, wood and fabric (empty its hold first), or, with the Slave Holding skill from level 15, take captives and turn them into island manpower. Thin the crew with grapeshot, approach slowly so the hooks hold, and only board when you have more boarding crew. Losing a boarding fight loses your ship, so the safest PvE boarding targets are merchants and small patrols. The steps are in the PvP guide and the dismantling procedure in the ship crafting guide.
FAQ
What is the best PvE activity in World of Sea Battle?
Solo, take the Gold tavern quests and hunt or board NPC merchants. In a group, Imperial forts and whales pay best, and B21 raised fort resources by 60 percent.
Who gets the loot from a whale?
Since update B21 the player who dealt the most damage gets first right to the loot. Everyone who fought gets experience, and unclaimed loot can be attacked again after five minutes.
Can I take Imperial forts solo?
It is hard. Update B19 made forts much tougher for solo players, so bring a group with heavy ships and mortars.
How long does fort loot stay after it falls?
Since update B21 the loot stays for 15 minutes after the fort is destroyed, up from 10.
Which flag should I use for PvE farming?
The combat faction flag gives 30 percent more experience and loot but allows PvP. Use the peace flag when you cannot defend your cargo, keeping in mind it reduces rewards by 20 percent.