Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: How to Recruit All 3 New Officers
When I first heard that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced would introduce fully recruitable officers instead of simply expanding Edward Kenway’s original crew, I honestly thought it would be another feature that looked great in trailers but wouldn’t matter much once the campaign got going. Thankfully, I was wrong.
After spending time exploring the Caribbean, completing side missions, and experimenting with naval battles, I realized these three officers completely change how the Jackdaw performs. They’re much more than collectible NPCs. Each one adds a meaningful gameplay bonus, and unlike many modern RPG companions, they actually feel connected to the world instead of existing purely as stat boosts.
If you’re planning to tackle every naval challenge or simply want your ship to become the most feared vessel sailing the Caribbean, recruiting these officers should become one of your biggest priorities.
Why Officers Matter More Than You Think
The original Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag already had one of the best naval systems Ubisoft has ever created. Ship upgrades were satisfying, boarding enemy vessels never got old, and every improvement made the Jackdaw noticeably stronger.
Resynced builds on that foundation.
Instead of relying only on hull upgrades and stronger cannons, your crew now becomes another progression system. Officers permanently improve different aspects of combat, giving you reasons to complete optional storylines that feel rewarding rather than repetitive.
What I like most is that every officer specializes in a completely different role.
| Officer | Unlock Timing | Primary Bonus | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Baldwin | Early Game | Navigation & Tactical Utility | Exploration |
| Abel “The Padre” Galvão | Early Game | Ram-Dash Ability | Aggressive Combat |
| Tobias “Deadman” Smith | Mid Game | Double Shot Cannons | Maximum Damage |
None of them replace traditional ship upgrades—they enhance them.
Lucy Baldwin Should Probably Be Your First Recruitment
Fortunately, Ubisoft doesn’t hide Lucy behind dozens of campaign missions.
Once Great Inagua becomes your primary base of operations, her questline appears almost immediately.
Finding her is straightforward, but earning her trust takes more effort.
Her missions are a nice showcase for many of the remake’s updated mechanics. You’ll spend time sneaking through guarded areas, following targets, and using the improved stealth system that feels much smoother than the original game’s occasionally awkward movement.
Unlike some side quests that drag on for too long, Lucy’s storyline moves quickly while still giving enough background to make her feel like an actual member of Edward’s growing crew.
Recruitment Checklist
- Reach Great Inagua.
- Accept Lucy’s personal mission.
- Complete the stealth investigation.
- Resolve the colonial conflict.
- Finish the introductory questline.
Once she’s aboard, the Jackdaw gains several navigation-focused advantages that become surprisingly useful during exploration.
I especially appreciated how much easier it became to approach enemy fleets through narrow waterways and difficult coastal passages.
While her abilities don’t dramatically increase raw damage, they make sailing feel smoother and more tactical.
Abel “The Padre” Galvão Is Perfect for Aggressive Players
Some players enjoy keeping their distance during naval battles.
I definitely don’t.
I’ve always preferred charging directly into enemy ships before finishing them with a devastating broadside, and that’s exactly why Abel quickly became my favorite officer.
His recruitment also begins around Great Inagua, although his missions lean heavily toward combat instead of stealth.
You’ll fight through multiple encounters that showcase the improved melee system, with larger enemy groups and more opportunities to use counters, dodges, and environmental attacks.
The missions themselves aren’t particularly difficult, but they do a great job introducing the more action-heavy direction of the remake.
Steps to Recruit The Padre
- Visit the designated location in Great Inagua.
- Speak with Abel to begin his story.
- Defeat colonial forces during several encounters.
- Protect his companions.
- Complete the final objective to recruit him.
His reward is absolutely worth the effort.
Ram-Dash Changes Naval Battles
The Padre grants access to Ram-Dash, one of the most entertaining new abilities in the game.
Instead of slowly positioning your ship before firing, you can build momentum and slam directly into enemy vessels with far greater impact than standard collisions.
What surprised me most is how well this works against larger ships.
Normally, attacking brigs or man-of-wars early can be risky.
With Ram-Dash active, you can heavily damage their hull before the real cannon duel even begins.
It’s incredibly satisfying, especially when combined with upgraded armor that minimizes the damage your own ship receives.
If your playstyle revolves around constant movement instead of circling enemies from long range, this perk becomes invaluable.
Tobias “Deadman” Smith Is the Ultimate Late-Game Upgrade
Unlike the first two officers, Tobias isn’t immediately available.
His recruitment naturally fits into the campaign during the mission “A World Without Gold.”
Personally, I liked this pacing.
By the time Tobias appears, you’ve already invested plenty of resources into upgrading the Jackdaw, making his ability feel like the final piece of the puzzle rather than another early-game bonus.
His storyline also stands out emotionally.
Without spoiling major plot details, it explores survival, freedom, and loyalty in ways that fit surprisingly well with Edward Kenway’s overall journey.
How to Recruit Tobias
The process is fairly straightforward once his mission unlocks.
You’ll need to:
- Progress the main story.
- Begin A World Without Gold.
- Help Tobias escape his pursuers.
- Defeat multiple enemy waves.
- Complete the chapter.
Once finished, Tobias permanently joins your officer roster.
Double Shot Is Ridiculously Powerful
If I had to choose only one officer based purely on gameplay value, Tobias would probably win.
His Double Shot ability dramatically increases offensive power.
Instead of firing a single broadside, your cannons unleash two consecutive volleys, allowing you to strip massive chunks from enemy health bars before they have time to react.
The difference becomes especially noticeable during tougher naval encounters.
Elite pirate hunters, military convoys, and fortress defenses suddenly become much less intimidating.
Pair Double Shot with upgraded heavy shot or explosive ammunition, and some battles end almost before they’ve properly started.
It’s one of those upgrades that immediately makes you wonder how you ever played without it.
Building the Strongest Jackdaw
Recruiting all three officers isn’t the finish line.
The real fun comes from combining their strengths.
My favorite strategy eventually became:
- Use Lucy’s navigation advantages to approach from favorable angles.
- Open combat with Abel’s Ram-Dash.
- Immediately unleash Tobias’ Double Shot broadside.
- Finish survivors using upgraded mortars or swivel guns.
Against standard enemy ships, this combination often ends encounters in under a minute.
Even legendary naval battles become noticeably easier once every officer is working together.
Extra Tips for Faster Progress
While recruiting the officers, I found several habits that saved a lot of time.
- Upgrade your hull early. Even with officer bonuses, survivability remains important.
- Capture forts whenever possible. They reveal new activities while making surrounding waters less dangerous.
- Don’t ignore side contracts. Many provide resources you’ll eventually need for advanced Jackdaw upgrades.
- Experiment with weapon combinations. Double Shot becomes even stronger depending on your chosen ammunition upgrades.
These small improvements add up throughout the campaign.
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Final Thoughts
One of my biggest concerns before playing Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced was whether the remake would simply modernize the graphics while leaving everything else mostly untouched.
Fortunately, that’s not the case.
The officer system genuinely adds another layer of progression that fits naturally into the pirate fantasy. Instead of collecting companions for the sake of completion percentages, you’re constantly rewarded with practical improvements that make exploration and naval combat more exciting.
Lucy encourages smarter navigation.
The Padre rewards fearless aggression.
Tobias transforms the Jackdaw into an absolute floating cannon platform.
Together, they make naval encounters more dynamic than ever before.
For anyone planning to spend dozens of hours sailing across the Caribbean, recruiting every officer isn’t just optional side content—it’s one of the most enjoyable progression systems introduced in the remake. By the time your roster is complete, every battle feels faster, every voyage feels more rewarding, and the Jackdaw truly lives up to its legendary reputation as the most dangerous pirate ship on the sea.
