Melee Weapons

Swords

Every sword set is rated in three categories: Damage, Speed and Combo. These stats define their overall effectiveness in combat.

Damage: This attribute is used to determine the strength of each successful attack. With most combat deaths achieved through counterattacks and Kill Streaks, this stat is the least important of the three.

Speed: Weapons with a high Speed rating enable Kenway to attack faster and more frequently.

Combo: Swords differ in the number of hits required before Kenway can deliver a finishing blow. A high Combo stat will enable you to take down targets with fewer hits.

You can switch between weapons in your existing collection by interacting with the mannequin in the Jackdaw’s cabin, via the “Buy” option at any general store, or by collecting them from the display racks inside the Great Inagua hideout.

Melee Weapon Attributes

Unarmed Combat & Enemy Weapons

The principal reasons for employing unarmed combat techniques are to disable targets without killing them, or to exploit the Disarm move, which enables you to turn weapons against their former owners. If stealth and mercy are deemed appropriate in equal measure, you can sneak up behind an opponent and tap to incapacitate them with a non-lethal finishing move.

Whenever you use the Disarm ability ( to counter, then ) on a soldier, Scout or Gunner while unarmed), Kenway will take immediate possession of their weapon and use it as his own. Tap immediately after the Disarm animation is complete to kill the vulnerable enemy. You can also pick weapons up from the floor after a battle ends. While appropriated swords offer little of value (save, perhaps, the novelty of using a single sword; Kenway has two perfectly serviceable blades of his own), axes, daggers and muskets all have unique characteristics that make them fun to experiment with.

During active combat, there is a knack to picking weapons off the ground. Wait for a quiet moment with Kenway standing above the weapon you would like to collect, then briefly hold the High Profile Button and tap .

ENEMY Weapon Attributes

Axes

Though you cannot use the Disarm ability on Brutes, you can collect their axes after they have been neutralized. With this weapon in hand, press to kill any enemy instantly. There is a slight but significant “power up” delay to this assault, so time your attack carefully. They’re also good fun to use in general combat, where the sheer weight of the blows and Kenway’s distinct movement style makes for a decidedly satisfying change of pace.

Daggers

If you disarm a Scout or collect one of their daggers from the floor, you can use the short blade as a one-time projectile. Daggers are classified as a tool, and appear in Kenway’s inventory while carried. When selected, tap to hurl it, killing any opponent instantly.

Muskets

While you cannot purchase or permanently equip muskets, these weapons are easily acquired: either from weapons racks or from the Gunners who always carry them. With their excellent range and a cartridge always loaded for a “free” shot, they can be collected, used and then discarded without hesitation. However, they have some unique attributes that make them interesting enough to warrant relatively frequent use.

When you assassinate a target with a loaded musket or see Kenway perform a Counter Kill finish where he plunges the bayonet into the torso of his victim, you can press during the animation to shoot through the body and kill a second target if there is an enemy within range.

Any shot fired with the musket is instantly lethal: even Captains will fall to a casual snap shot. However, this considerable power is balanced by a torturously slow reload time.

In melee combat, the musket leads Kenway to adopt a dramatic fighting style. Its sheer range is its primary benefit, enabling you to maintain Kill Streaks with enemies spread over a fairly large area. With practice, it also makes it much easier to immediately slay Brutes by rolling behind when they swing their axes.