Before your first real fight, know your own ship's guns and ammo (see cannons and ammo) and the flag rules from the beginner guide. The World of Sea Battle hub covers the boarding basics in short.
Where and how PvP happens
- Open world. Any player not protected by a peace flag in waters where it works can be attacked. Black flags, faction flags and the central PvP circle are where most fights start.
- Hunt mode. A queued mode for ships of ranks III to V since B21, with rewards based more on damage dealt and taken.
- Arena. Team fights with no cargo at risk. Since B20, allies in Arena and Hunt no longer give each other combat status.
- Port battles. Guild fights for cities in 10 vs 10 up to 40 vs 40 formats; see the guilds and port battles guide.
Attacking a player gives you aggressor status for five minutes, and since B20 docking does not clear it. Since B21 the game also warns you about PvP danger when you lower your peace flag.
Wind: the B21 wind rose
Unique Wind Rose B21 (official channel)Every ship has a wind rose showing speed at each angle to the wind. B21 changed the unique wind rose to make sailing more predictable:
| Sector | B21 change | What it means in a fight |
|---|---|---|
| Broad reach (wind on the rear quarter) | Zone 33 percent wider, plus 0.5 speed | Your fastest and most forgiving heading. Plan chases and escapes here. |
| Running (wind straight behind) | Zone 33 percent smaller | Straight downwind is no longer the best line; angle off it. |
| In irons (head to wind) | Zone 22 percent smaller | Less dead zone, but turning through the wind is still slow. |
The unfavourable sector also no longer depends on the size of the ship. Since B19 a wind strength indicator shows strong wind far from shore and in storms, and strong wind gives a speed bonus. The upwind ship decides when to engage, so take the weather gauge before the fight and you control the range.
Gunnery: aiming time, penetration and angles
B21 added an aiming time parameter that differs between guns: your broadside needs time to converge before it is accurate. Firing the instant the target enters your arc throws shot away; hold the turn, let the guns settle, then fire.
Damage depends on how your shot's penetration compares with the target's armor, and angle matters, so a broadside into a ship that shows you its bow does far less. Two corrections to older guides:
- The stern is no longer special. B20 removed stern protection and the 20 percent bonus for stern hits.
- Aimed shots now add penetration rather than damage (B20), so they matter most against armored targets.
Show your bow or stern while reloading, turn to fire, then turn back. Keep a side that has already fired away from the enemy until it is loaded. Which ammo to load when is in the cannons and ammo guide.
Boarding
- Get the target below 50 percent health. You cannot board a healthy ship.
- Inspect the crew. More boarding crew wins the automatic fight. Losing a boarding means losing the ship.
- Thin their crew with grapeshot on the approach, and kill musketeers first if you can.
- Come alongside slowly. If you are too fast the grapples miss, and you wait for a cooldown under fire.
- Start the boarding and let the fight resolve.
Specialists change the numbers: the Fisherman specialist bonus per boarding crew member was cut from 0.5 to 0.4 percent in B21. Español hulls with more crew are natural boarders.
Consumables worth carrying
| Consumable | Effect (B20 and B21 values) | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Privateer powder | Damage plus 10 percent | Before the broadside that decides the fight |
| Rum ration | Reload plus 24 percent, costs 30 rum to craft | Long gun duels |
| Hearty ration | Maneuver plus 8 percent | Turning fights and escapes |
| Berserk patch | Cooldown cut from 75 to 65 seconds | More uses per long brawl than before |
| Smoke screen | Your own gun aiming speed minus 16 percent | Breaking contact, not attacking |
| Emergency powder charge | Bonus 10 percent, up to 25 percent at 33 percent durability | Last stand when low |
Squadron and group tactics
- Focus fire. Two ships on one target sink it before it can board; split fire sinks nothing.
- Screen the slow ship. Heavies keep the line, fast ships chase and block.
- Mind class passives (B19): warships get plus 5 gun range, fast ships plus 10 percent falconet range, heavy ships take 10 percent less mortar damage.
- Know when to leave. If you lose the wind and half your health, run on a broad reach. A retreat costs nothing; a sinking costs cargo, integrity and repair time (now 2 minutes 30 seconds per integrity point).
Upgrades and specialists that support each style are in the upgrades and skills guide, and the hulls players rate for PvP are in best ships.
Flags, marks and reputation in PvP
Your flag is a combat stat. The numbers from the official notes:
| Flag or status | Effect |
|---|---|
| Combat faction flag | Plus 30 percent experience and loot (B19), open to PvP |
| Legendary flag | Plus 35 percent bonus (B19) |
| False flag | Plus 20 percent, only outside port waters since B19 |
| Black Mark | Lasts up to 60 minutes (B19) |
| Aggressor status | Five minutes, not removed by entering port (B20) |
| No flag | Guild tag hidden; enemy towers fire after about 40 seconds |
Reputation penalties for attacking were reworked in B20, so check your standing before you go hunting near your own faction's ports. And if you lose, remember that a ship respawning at a lighthouse gets brief immunity (B20), which gives you a moment to reposition rather than die twice.
Picking fights you can win
Don't be scared of PvP (LifeofKino)- Inspect first. Check the target's ship, crew and cargo before you commit. A trader with a full hold is worth the risk; a warship with an empty one usually is not.
- Look behind the target. Lone ships near busy routes often have friends a minute away.
- Take the wind before you take the shot. The upwind ship decides the range.
- Decide your exit before you engage. Know which heading puts you on a broad reach away from the fight.
- Count your consumables. A fight you start without powder and rations is a fight you finish without them.
FAQ
How do I board a ship in World of Sea Battle?
Bring the target below 50 percent health, make sure you have more boarding crew, thin its crew with grapeshot, come alongside slowly so the grapples do not miss, then start the boarding.
What is the fastest wind angle?
After update B21 the broad reach, with the wind on your rear quarter, is the fastest and widest favourable sector. Running straight downwind is now a smaller zone.
Is the stern still a weak spot?
No. Update B20 removed stern protection and the 20 percent bonus for stern hits.
Can I escape aggressor status by docking?
No. Since update B20 aggressor status lasts five minutes and entering a port does not remove it.
Which ships are allowed in Hunt mode?
Since update B21 Hunt mode is only for ships of ranks III to V, and one battle can mix ships up to two ranks apart.