11 July 2025

DevBlog: Large Ships

"For King and for country, we strike at the foe,
The sun shall not set where the lilies still grow!
To war! To war! With banners unfurled,
For Le Firmanent shall rule the seas of the world!"

~ Battle Hymn of Le Firmanent, Royal Frigate of the Compagnie Royale

Greetings, Captains! We’re here with our first deep dive into new content coming with Year 2 Season 2. We couldn’t think of a better topic to start off with than Large Ships! The first, long-awaited large ship coming to Skull and Bones is the Frigate.

The frigate was an icon of the Golden Age of Sail. First developed by France and later adopted by other naval powers, it was defined by its single continuous gundeck---fast, heavily armed, and built for long-range missions. It was the perfect balance of speed, firepower, and independence.

Large Ships have been one of the most requested features since launch, however we wanted to take the time needed to introduce them at the right moment - ensuring they could truly shine and fit meaningfully into the game experience. Our vision for Large Ships is for them to play a complementary role - one where they don't replace the other medium or small ships. With the introduction of Mythic difficulty, World Tier 2, a new Megafort, Faction War, and the many challenges ahead in Year 2, the time finally feels right. These massive encounters demand massive vessels --- and the Frigate is ready to meet the challenge.

While working on the design, we wanted our frigate to represent freedom, exploration, and power --- a fitting flagship for the captains in our game. To sail a frigate is to command a moving fortress, carving your legend across the Indian Ocean. Visually, the frigate needed to feel HUGE, COMMANDING, and ELEGANT --- a vessel worthy of awe, both in silhouette and presence.

[SnB] Large Ships DevBlog FRIGATE ART CONCEPT ASSET

The Frigate: Our First Large Ship Sets Sail!

Under the shadow of the DMC-Compagnie war, the Compagnie Royale unleashes its state-of-the-line Frigate, a massive vessel brimming with advanced firepower, aiming to strike back at the Dutch and regain their Megafort in the Red Isle. Rumors, however, swirl of a shadowy arms dealer arming both sides of this faction war, which has allowed the vessel to be augmented with haste.

As the Faction War is truly unleashed across the Indian Ocean, captains will need all the firepower they can get. In response to the DMC's advance and takeover of their Megafort in the Red Isle, the Compagnie developed the powerful Frigate. Whether by hook or by crook, pirates have unlocked the secrets of this new ship. Keep an eye out for an opportunity from Blackwood to unlock and master the Frigate.

[SnB] Large Ships DevBlog BLACKWOOD QUEST CUT SCENE SCREENSHOT ASSET

Built to withstand the fiercest encounters, the Frigate is a ship that excels with its robust defenses and radiates a powerful aura that fortifies allies, embodying its Tank role with unmatched resilience. With a higher number of gunports compared to small and medium ships, the Frigate can play a role of higher sustained fire when engaged in fights. Since the launch of Skull and Bones, we've been keeping an eye on the discussions you, our players, have had for the Frigate and other Large Ships.

The Frigate will be available in both World Tier 1 and World Tier 2. Its size, bulk, and power come at a cost --- and learning how to position and play around those limitations will be key to mastering its role. Let's look at what makes the Frigate shine --- and what you'll need to keep in mind before setting sail.

Where It Shines

Dual Auxiliary Weapon

We wanted the Frigate to stand out not just because of its size and number of gunports, but also through deeper build-crafting options. With its dual auxiliary system, you'll need to consider how it fits into your overall build. Choosing the right weapon types for your playstyle and the battles you face will be key to mastering it.

Equipping one Auxiliary weapon on the Frigate spawns two mirrored Weapon Stations, one on each side --- but only one can be fired at a time. It follows the same logic as broadside weapons: while you see multiple barrels, they're all part of a single weapon system. We believe this gives a stronger presence to the Frigate and brings tactical benefits in siege or zone-control scenarios without overpowering it.

[SnB] Large Ships DevBlog DUAL AUX CLOSE UP ASSET

Grit Perk

Grit is the backbone of the Frigate's tank design. To reinforce the Frigate's role as a durable flagship and frontline tank, we equipped the Frigate with a unique perk - Grit, which rewards you for staying in the thick of battle, by increasing its own armor - and reducing the incoming damage for nearby smaller ships - as it absorbs damage.

Frigate - Base - Grit        

Gain a stack of Grit when you take damage. Each stack of Grit increases Armor by 40, up to maximum of 10 stacks. Each stack of Grit lasts 15 secs. Allied XSML, SML and MED ships within 200m take 10% reduced damage. When you have 10 stacks of Grit, reduce 20% damage instead.

Frigate - Upgraded - Resolve  

At 10 stacks of Grit, taking damage grants you Resolve. Resolve restores 10% Brace Strength on activate, decreases status effect damage by 20% and increases threat generation by 100% for 10 seconds.

The upgraded perk doubles down on the Frigate's tank role by boosting damage reduction for nearby allies --- with no penalty to you --- letting you draw enemy fire and survive it. Whether you're tanking hits or dishing them out, Grit turns you into a moving fortress --- and nearby allies will feel the difference.

[SnB] Large Ships DevBlog FRIGATE UI ASSET SCREENSHOT

Gunports

With up to 34 gunports in total, depending on the weapon used on the broadsides (for example, if you are using Culverins), the Frigate is equipped with 13 gunports per side --- giving it a strong offensive presence without tipping into overpowered territory.

Some of you may have noticed that number is slightly different from what was shown in the Year 2 Showcase. That's because, during development, we made the decision to shift the Frigate's role --- from a DPS-focused ship to a frontline tank. While we still do have plans for a future DPS-dedicated large ship, we wanted the Frigate --- as our first large ship --- to truly feel like a hulking flagship: one that could stand up to massive threats like the Megafort, while also supporting smaller allies in both PvE and PvP with its protective aura.

Improved Stability in Open Seas

One of the benefits of the Frigate's size is how stable it feels in rough waters --- especially during long-distance voyages or fights on the open sea. Smaller ships can get tossed around more, but thanks to its larger frame and design, and being less affected by waves, the Frigate offers greater stability, especially in rough waters.

Whilst the Frigate is an imposing and powerful vessel, it is not free from weaknesses.

Strategy Plays a Key Role

Weak Points

To make the most of the Frigate's power, you'll need to play smart as with great power comes... more weak points.  With the increased firepower offered by the Frigate's gunport numbers, especially in Death Tides and PvP scenarios where drawbacks like slower river speed have minimal impact, we needed something to offset its strength.

In PvP battles, the Frigate takes 30% more damage when hit in its weak points. But as with all ships, it does not receive weak point damage from AI enemies. Although these weak points are more numerous and take more damage than other ships, the Frigate also has massively more Hull Health than other ships to make up for it. We wanted the Frigate to feel powerful but not untouchable --- rewarding captains who can position well and hold the line.

[SnB] Large Ships DevBlog WEAK POINTS ASSET

Acceleration

One of the natural drawbacks of sailing a ship this size is its slower maneuverability --- especially when it comes to acceleration and turn acceleration. While the Frigate's top turning speed is comparable to other ships, it takes longer to ramp up to that speed. Timing and positioning become key.

River Navigation

The Frigate can sail into rivers, but its large frame and slower turning acceleration make it harder to maneuver through tight curves and narrow channels. You can bring it into the rivers --- but you'll feel the difference, as the Frigate isn't designed for narrow escapes --- it's built to dominate the open seas. While in rivers and shallows, the Frigate's sailing speed is reduced by 30%; in deeper waters, where there's room to maneuver, the Frigate can truly shine to its full potential.

Weapon Firing Dead Angles

The Frigate's sheer size brings serious firepower --- but not without trade-offs to keep it balanced. One of them is a dead angle in the rear quadrants, which weapons can't cover. This means enemies approaching from behind may find an opening if you're not positioned well --- which also encourages Captains to master their positioning tactics.

Dead zone in rear quadrants is set for Y2S2, but we'll be keeping a close eye on how this experience plays out for you - our community. As always, your feedback will be key in shaping what's next.

CRAFTING THE FRIGATE

Large Ships require more resources to craft and upgrade. You'll also find that when it comes to repairing your Frigate, you may need to use currencies other than silver. To cement the role of the Frigate as a tank with a superior hull, you'll also need to acquire Deep Iron to upgrade your Frigate to level IV, and Deep Iron Plates to upgrade your Frigate to level VII. Deep Iron can be acquired from Blackwood with Gildmarks, and Megaforts. You'll need to refine Deep Iron to acquire Deep Iron Plates, and once Faction Wars launches, you'll also be able obtain it from the Pirate Ledger.

Throughout Season 2 you'll be able to acquire the Frigate Blueprint through the seasonal Season Pass. As with previous new ship blueprints, you'll need to spend 45 Smuggler Marks on the Season Pass.

Once you've acquired the Frigate Blueprint, you will automatically unlock and can start the Frigate Infamy quest. This quest is certainly one you'll want to pay attention to as it will reward you with some of the materials needed to craft the Frigate.

[SnB] Large Ships DevBlog SHIPS SIZE DIFFERENCE ASSET

LARGE SHIPS AND THE FUTURE

Coming as part of the balance changes with the launch of Year 2 Season 2, a debuff applying only to Death Tides will affect the Frigate's damage and healing outputs.

During the development of Large Ships, we paid close attention to conversations happening across the community. Our goal has always been to build Skull and Bones with you and for you. Some of the features coming with the Frigate in Year 2 Season 2 --- like its ability to support allies as a true flagship --- echo ideas shared by players in the past. We're excited to see those ideas reflected in features like the Grit perk, which sits at the heart of the Frigate's design. Another idea mentioned by the community was that Large Ships shouldn't be able to navigate most rivers. While you can bring the Frigate into rivers, it comes with clear drawbacks --- reflecting the natural limitations of larger ships.

We've listened to your feedback about its implementation, especially when it comes to maneuverability and impact on current game dynamics and these were taken into consideration during development. Following the launch of the Frigate, we'll continue to closely monitor its performance and make additional adjustments if needed. Please share your thoughts and feedback on the Frigate, doing so helps us understand your experience and helps shape improvements and changes.

The Frigate is just the start of more Large Ships coming to Skull and Bones. While the Frigate fills the role of a tank, future Large Ships may lean into different roles. And trust us you'll want one ready when what's hiding deep in the Indian Ocean finally surfaces...

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