Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Guide: Collectables & Buried Treasure

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Collectables & Buried Treasure

WARNING: This guide could contain spoilers! Please keep that in mind as you read.

The Collectables

Chests: Often times contain small amounts of money, they are the stereotypical treasure chests that glow and make a distinct noise when near them.

Animus Fragments: Orange glowing orbs that don't really serve a purpose.

Song Sheets: Little sea shanties that your crew will sing while sailing. They glow and fly away when you get near them. Chase it down to obtain the song.

Cadaver: Loot from a dead body to find a treasure map. These maps lead to plans to upgrade items.

Letter: Found in a glass bottle.

Manuscript: Papers that are usually guarded by enemies.

Mayan Stelae: Pillars to climb up and solve little puzzles that show you where to dig up the stelae. Collecting them will unlock the Mayan outfit.

Taverns: A place to play a game, recruit new crew members, or get information. To unlock it, interact with the bartender to initiate a cut scene. Edward beats up some guys, then it's unlocked.

Assassin Contracts: A birdcage with contracts for assassinating some guys.

Naval Contracts: A man assigns these to you, but they work similarly to the assassination contracts.

The Islands & Shipwrecks

Ambergris Key

Chests     3

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

Andreas Island

Chests     5

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

Letter     1

Manuscript     1

Tavern     1

Assassinations     2

Anotto Bay

Chests     3

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

Antocha Wreck

Chests      7

Fragments      2

Arroyos

Chests     5

Fragments     3

Tavern     1

Assassinations     2

The Black Trench

Chests     7

Fragments     2

The Blue Hole

Chests     7

Fragments     3

Cabo de Cruz

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     1

Cape Bonavista

Chests     16

Fragments     4

Songs     1

So Early in the Morning

Cadaver     1

Letter     1

Mayan stelae     1

Castillo de Jagua

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval    1

Cat Island

Chests     5

Fragments     2

Songs     1

The Rio Grande

Mayan stelae     1

Cayman Sound

Chests     3

Fragments     3

Cadaver    1

Letter     1

Charlotte

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     2

Chinchorro

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     2

Conttoyor

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     2

Corozal

Chests     4

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

Manuscript      1

Letter     1

Tavern     1

Assassinations     2

Crooked Island

Chests     6

Fragments     3

Letter     1

Tavern     1

Assassinations     2

Cumberland Bay

Chests     3

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

Letter    1

Devil's Eye Cavern

Chests     8

Fragments     2

Dry Tortuga

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     1

Eleuthera

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     1

Florida

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Letter     1

Gibara

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     1

Grand Cayman

Chests     6

Fragments     3

Songs     1

Captain Kidd

Tavern     1

Assassinations     2

Great Inagua

Chests     10

Fragments     5

Songs     2

Whiskey Johnny

The Wild Goose

Cadaver     1

Letter     1

Mayan stelae     1

Havana

Chests      20

Fragments      15

Songs     7

The Dead Horse

Billy Riley

Bully in the Alley

Derby Ram

Spanish Ladies

The Coasts of High Barbary

Running Down to Cuba

Cadaver     1

Manuscript     6

Tavern     1

Assassinations     6

Ile a Vache

Chests     4

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

Manuscript     1

Tavern     1

Assassinations     2

Isle Providencia

Chests     9

Fragments     5

Cadaver     1

Letter     1

Mayan stelae     2

Jiguey

Chests     4

Fragments     2

Letter     1

Kabah Ruins

Chests     8

Fragments     3

Kingston

Chests     18

Fragments     13

Songs     6

Handy Me Boys

Good Morning Ladies All

Hi-Ho Come Roll Me Over

Roll and Go

Cheerly Man

Sailboat Malarkey

Manuscript     6

Tavern     1

Assassinations     6

La Concepcion Wreck

Chests     7

Fragments     3

Long Bay

Chests     8

Fragments     5

Letter     1

Mayan stelae     1

Mariguana

Chests     4

Fragments      2

Cadaver      1

Matanzas

Chests     4

Fragments     3

Letter     1

Mayan stelae     1

Misteriosa

Chests     6

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

Letter     1

Mayan stelae     2

Nassau

Chests     22

Fragments     13

Songs     5

Stormalong John

Drunken Sailor

Randy Dandy-O

Paddy Doyle's Boots

Leave Her, Johnny

Manuscript     5

Tavern     1

Assassinations     2

Navassa

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     2

New Bone

Chests     5

Fragments     3

Mayan stelae     1

Assassinations     2

Petite Caverne

Chests     4

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

Pinos Isle

Chests     6

Fragments     3

Cadaver     1

Mayan stelae     1

Principe

Chests    6

Fragments     5

Punta Guarico

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     1

Salt Key Bank

Chests     6

Fragments     3

Songs     1

Fish in the Sea

Letter     1

Salt Lagoon

Chests     3

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

San Ignacio Wreck

Chests     6

Fragments     3

San Juan

Chests     3

Fragments     2

Santanillas

Chests     5

Fragments    3

Cadaver     1

Letter     1

Mayan stelae     2

Serranilla

Chests     2

Fragments     2

Naval     1

Tortuga

Chests     7

Fragments     2

Cadaver     1

Letter     1

Mayan stelae     1

Tulum

Chests     7

Fragments     5

Mayan stelae     1

Buried Treasure

As you go along on your adventure, you'll notice that cadavers are more than just collectables. After searching the corpses, you'll find a treasure map with a picture drawn and some numbers at the bottom right. If you use those numbers in the bottom as coordinates on your map, they should lead to the island with the treasure on it. Follow the clues on the map to find the treasure.

Cadaver location: Havana

Treasure location: Havana

Treasure: Plans for Queen Anne's Figurehead and 3,000R

Cadaver location: Great Inagua

Treasure location: Nassau

Treasure: Plans for Grey Sails and 3,000R

Cadaver location: Isla Providencia

Treasure location: Long Bay

Treasure: 4,000R

Cadaver location: Cape Bonavista

Treasure location: Cape Bonavista

Treasure: 1,500R

Cadaver location: Petite Cavern

Treasure location: Tulum

Treasure: 4,000R

 Cadaver location: Ambergris Key

Treasure location: Misteriosa

Treasure: Plans for Elite Heavy Shot and 3,000R

Cadaver location: Anotto Bay

Treasure location: Principe

Treasure: 3,000R

Cadaver location: Misteriosa

Treasure location: Kingston

Treasure: Plans for Blackwood Wheel and 3,000R

Cadaver location: Pinos Isle

Treasure location: Cayman Sound

Treasure: 4,000R

Cadaver location: Tortuga

Treasure location: Dry Tortuga

Treasure: Plans for Elite Mortar Storage and 3,000R

Cadaver location: Abaco Island

Treasure location: Salt Lagoon

Treasure: Plans for Serpent Figurehead and 3,000R

Cadaver location: Corozal

Treasure location: Ambergris Key

Treasure: 4,000R

Cadaver location: Ile a Vache

Treasure location: Jiguey

Treasure: 4,000R

Cadaver location: Andreas Island

Treasure location: Abaco Island

Treasure: 4,000R

Cadaver location: Salt Lagoon

Treasure location: New Bone

Treasure: 4,000R

Cadaver location: Santanillas

Treasure location: San Juan

Treasure: Plans for Elite Fire Barrel Strength and 3,000R

Cadaver location: Cumberland Bay

Treasure location: Pinos Isle

Treasure: Plans for Aquila's Wheel and 3,000R

Cadaver location: Mariguana Island

Treasure location: Andreas Island

Treasure: Plans for Elite Harpoon and 3,000R

Cadaver location: Cayman Sound

Treasure location: Petite Cavern

Treasure: Plans for Elite Heavy Shot Storage and 3,000R

More Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag!

Sequence 1 & 2

Sequence 3 & 4

Sequence 5 & 6

Sequence 7 & 8

Sequence 9 & 10

Sequence 11 & 12

Templar Keys & Legendary Ships

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Guide: Sequence 11 & 12

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Sequence 11 & 12

WARNING: This guide could contain spoilers! Please keep that in mind as you read.

Note: I played the Xbox 360 version.

Sequence 11

To Suffer Without Dying

100% objectives:

• Sabotage alarm bells (3)
• Visit old friends (2)

You start off this mission in a cage, so shake the cage by pressing any button. Make sure to sabotage 3 alarm bells in the area if you are going for the objective. Before sneaking into the prison, there will be a cage outside to interact with for the other objective. Once inside the prison, take out all the guards you come up upon and check each cell for more of the objective. Keep going until you reach Mary. Pick her up and reach the exit, then run to the objective.

Delirium
No 100% objectives

When you first gain control, just keep crawling forward until you are underwater. Then, swim to the top. Now, you are at some sort of social function. Assassinate Roberts when you locate him. Nope. Find him again and assassinate him again. Keep trying until you are on your ship, sailing.

...Everything is Permitted
100% objectives:

• Use rope dart to hang guards (2)
• Use rope dart to pull guards (3)

Sail to Tulum to begin this mission. Follow Ah Tabai until he gives you the rope dart (Finally, the game's almost over!). Go into the jungle and learn how to use it properly. Once done learning, run to the beach and use the skills you have learned on guards. Once 20 guards have been killed, run towards the captain to assassinate him.

Sequence 12

A Governor No Longer

100% objectives:

• Kill the diplomat from a haystack
• Kill Rogers from a bench

Sail to Kingston and meet up with the assassins. Find the Italian diplomat at the beach and tail him throughout the town, being careful and hiding like before. He will stop next to a haystack, when he's done walking, so kill him from there. Now, head to the party. To your left, there will be a bench under a shaded area. Sit there until Rogers makes his rounds to eventually walk by you. Assassinate him, then run away to end the mission.

Royal Misfortune

100% objectives:

• Use the rope dart to kill Roberts
• Kill guards by destroying powder barrels (8)

Sail to Africa to meet up with Roberts. Get onto shore like before and make your way towards the marker on the map. Keep an eye out for powder barrels along the way, making sure to shoot them when a guard is near. Use Eagle Vision to spot Roberts, then chase after him on the Jackdaw. Incapacitate his ship, then board it. Make sure to climb up the ropes so that you can use the rope dart on him.

Tainted Blood

100% objectives:

• Use guards as a human shield (2)
• Stay out of combat

Sail to Havana to begin this mission. Keep an eye out because Havana is completely covered in a restricted zone. Go towards the church to find the men you need to tail. They will be by an entrance. When I did this, they did not load. If it does that, get desynchronized or restart, and they should be there. Use Eagle Vision to spot them. Follow them through the city, being careful not to be spotted.

Once they reach the fort, go around the left side again. Once you are at the top, locate Torres, then assassinate him. That wasn't him. Fight El Tiburon using your pistols as nothing else works on him. Obviously, the stay out of combat objective does not count for this portion. Be sure to use some guards hanging around as a human shield, then take him out. 

Ever a Splinter

100% objectives:

• Free the guardian hostages (7)
• Use the observatory's defenses to kill guards (4)

When you get to the location, there will be two Man O' Wars. You could either fight them head on, or go harpoon a shark, then come back. They will be occupied with another ship, allowing you to slip by. Jump off the Jackdaw, then run to the jungle. Make sure to take out the guards that are killing guardians as you go. Get to the observatory to see a light that kill people it touches. Avoid that if you can. Climb up pillars, taking out guards as you go until you make it to the main room.

Use the light to take out the guards, but be very careful as it is an instant kill. When finished, climb up like you did last time, getting close to Torres. Keep avoiding the light as you go, too. Once you are on the bean above Torres, assassinate him to finish it all.

Abstergo 5

All there is to do is watch the cut scenes then return to the animus to watch more cut scenes.

More Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag!

Sequence 1 & 2

Sequence 3 & 4

Sequence 5 & 6

Sequence 7 & 8

Sequence 9 & 10

Collectables & Buried Treasure

Templar Keys & Legendary Ships

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Guide: Sequence 9 & 10

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Sequence 9 & 10

WARNING: This guide could contain spoilers! Please keep that in mind as you read.

Note: I played the Xbox 360 version.

Sequence 9

Imagine My Surprise

100% objectives:

• Kill brutes (4)
• Sabotage alarm bells (2)

Enter the restricted area and slowly go through the fields to find Hornigold and Rogers. If you want the objectives completed, try to kill the brutes and sabotaging the alarm bells now to get it over with. There are two brutes on the northern part of the restricted area and one in the southern part. Use Eagle Vision to find the two men, then follow them as they talk.

As with every tailing mission, hide in tall grass, hire dancers, take out guards nearby you, and whatnot. Eventually they will reach a heavily guarded warehouse where you will need to eavesdrop. There will be a brute nearby this area. Go around the left side of the warehouse as they walk through. A cut scene will trigger, then you need to either kill all the guards or run and hide to finish the mission.

Trust is Earned
100% objectives:

• Double assassinate Cockram and Burgess
• Free pirates (2)

Sail to the location on the map to arrive at Principe. There will be five ships in the bay; they're not too difficult especially when you use your mortar. Dock your ship and make it ashore. Make sure to sync the area as you go. Be careful of the guards on the island as you make your way to the Sage. A cut scene will occur with the Sage. Make your way into the camp afterwards.

For the objectives, make sure to go to the areas to free the pirates. There are tons of tall grass to hide in so use it to your advantage. Watch out for the snipers in the small towers. The easier way into the lower portion of the encampment is to sync then jump down with the leap of faith. Eliminate guards and climb up the large tree in the middle then wait for your victims. Then, air assassinate Cockram and Burgess when they are right under you. With this done, the mission is complete.

Sequence 10

Black Bart's Gambit

100% objectives:

• Stay out of combat
• Use a rope swing to kill the captain

Sail with Roberts until he points out a Portuguese ship. Jump off the Jackdaw and swim to the ship, climb to the top, and remove the flag from the ship. Get back onto the Jackdaw and sail down the straight until Roberts points out a ship unloading items.

Jump off the Jackdaw once again and swim over to the right side of the shore. Take out the guards and watch them with Eagle Vision as they move around annoyingly. Watch out for the sniper at the end, also. Make your way to the chest, then make it back to the Jackdaw.

Locate the Man O' War and tail it. When it stops, once again, swim to shore and make your way along the beach towards the watchtower to kill the sniper. Swing onto the Man O' War from the tower and assassinate the captain from the rope. Captain the ship and sail out of there, taking out other ships along the way.

Murder and Mayhem
100% objectives:

• Stay out of combat while finding Hornigold
• Air assassinate Hornigold

Hornigold's ship is on the northern portion of the green circle on the map. Just try to avoid other ships while looking for him. Once you are nearby, use your spyglass to identify the ship. Take down the ship with mortars and heavy fire until they are forced onto an island close by. Don't worry about being sneaky in this area, just run to the objective. The only way to get to him is to first climb up the Mayan structure on the left side, then jumping to the right side using a tree. Climb up until you're over Hornigold so that you can air assassinate him.

The Observatory
100% objectives:

• Incapacitate all guards while unarmed
• Incapacitate guards from stalking zones (5)

If you're going for both objectives, make sure that you unarmed before you start. The guardians can be a little tricky and very annoying. The easiest thing to do is get up high and use Eagle Vision to locate them. They usually hide in bushes. It is very difficult to sneak up on these guys once you are out in the open.

For the second objective, try using the sleep darts then knocking them out when they wake up. Make sure to wait until they wake up otherwise it will not count for the objectives. Edward has to choke them out, not kick them. Try to keep to the stalking zones as much as possible.

It will take a while, but once you have gone through all of the areas, you will reach the observatory with Roberts. Follow Roberts inside and witness the cut scenes.

Once in the water, just climb out and slowly make your way out, looking for the closest ledges and jumping points. Remember, you can jump to a ledge behind you by pointing the left analog stick back and jumping all while holding the free running button. Once you are out, make your way towards Roberts on the beach to finish the mission.

Abstergo 4

Once you have awakened and listened to the cut scenes, follow your map to the control room nearby. Use the same strategy for hacking these computers as you have in the past. This is a fairly short mission, but has some interesting storyline points that occur. When you're finished, head back to your room and log back onto the animus.

More Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag!

Sequence 1 & 2

Sequence 3 & 4

Sequence 5 & 6

Sequence 7 & 8

Sequence 11 & 12

Collectables & Buried Treasure

Templar Keys & Legendary Ships

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Guide: Sequence 7 & 8

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Sequence 7 & 8

WARNING: This guide could contain spoilers! Please keep that in mind as you read.

Note: I played the Xbox 360 version.

Sequence 7

We Demand a Parlay

100% objectives:

• Sabotage the alarm bell
• Kill guards while hanging from a ledge (3)

Tail the group of pirates throughout the town. When they get to the fort, there aren't many places to hide. You could either hide in bushes nearby or in the moat water. Once they go inside, go to the left side of the fort and climb into the fort. As Edward climbs up, make sure to do some assassinations from the ledge.

Make to sync if you haven't already. Once Chamberlaine and Rogers have entered the warehouse, then you can strike. Even if guards ring the bell, you can always sabotage it after killing the guards. Then take the papers on top of a barrel outside of the warehouse.

The Gunpowder Plot

100% objectives:

• Kill four guards in one streak
• Use the blowpipe on guards (10)

There will be four spots on your map, pick one and go to it. You will notice that there are lots of guards in the area, all guarding the gunpowder. In order to do the one streak kill objective, when a guard attacks, counter and kill him, then quickly kill three guards right after. Do not counter, block, or get hit or else the streak will end. Also, don't forget to use the blowpipe on guards. Once all four gunpowder spots are plundered, your mission is complete.

Commodore Eighty-Sixed

100% objectives:

• Kill guards from stalking zones (3)
• Air assassinate Chamberlaine

As you are following the guards, hide in stalking zones and make sure to kill guards that come near the grass. When the guards reach the shore, go to the ship and climb up. Wait for Chamberlaine to get underneath you, then air assassinate.

The Fireship

100% objectives:

• Use the mortar to sink ships (3)
• Use barrels to sink a ship

Follow the fireship in the water. When you start, there will be some gunships nearby. Use the mortar on them to sink them. When the fireship stops, incapacitate the frigates and use the fire barrels on one to sink it. After all this, sail to the checkpoint on the map.

Sequence 8

Do Not Go Gently...

100% objectives:

• Use heavy shot to incapacitate the Man O' War (1)
• Kill guards (4)

Find and follow the snitch throughout the town. Keep eavesdropping while taking out guards as you go. Continue following all the way up to the captain where a rain of cannonballs fall on the town. Now, quickly get to the Jackdaw. There's a pretty clear path and a little extra time to get there.

Make sure to fire heavy shots at the Man O' War to clear an objective. Board the ship and fight the guards. When a cut scene triggers, swim to the Jackdaw and sail away, ignoring all other ships.

Vainglorious Bastards

100% objectives:

• Damage the Royal African Pearl with an upgraded ram
• Use the fort's defenses to sink a ship

If you have not conquered the Cabo de Cruz fort, try to do so. Also, upgrade your ram for the mission. The ship is in the southeastern part of the green circle. Once you have found it, start attacking. Make sure to ram it for the objective. For the other objective, lead the ships towards the fort. With the fort nearby, they will help you out and fire at the ships. Board the Royal African Pearl and plunder it.

Marooned

100% objectives:

• Skin animals (3)
• Air assassinate Vane

Since the Jackdaw was destroyed, the two of you are marooned on an island. While Edward maintains his sanity, Vane is another story. Make sure to sync the area as you go. There are lots of black jaguars that will attack you in the jungle. Keep an eye out with Eagle Vision and make sure to take them down and skin them.

Vane will be on top of a Mayan structure. Climb up there after him, once you get to the top, he will jump into the water. Be sure to sync first then follow after him.

Now, Vane will be on top of a fallen tree branch, shooting at Edward and tossing bombs. Make sure to pay attention to him and run when he's throwing a bomb and hide when he's shooting. The bridge explodes when you get to it.

Finally, there is a temple that Vane is atop. Use the same tactics as the last area, making your way towards him. Sync the viewpoint at the top, then air assassinate him to finish the mission.

More Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag!

Sequence 1 & 2

Sequence 3 & 4

Sequence 5 & 6

Sequence 9 & 10

Sequence 11 & 12

Collectables & Buried Treasure

Templar Keys & Legendary Ships