Skull and Bones is all about eliminating countless hostiles to become a legendary pirate lord. Naturally, you need the proper armaments to have the edge when it comes to naval combat. Here's our Skull and Bones best ship weapons tier list that discusses the ideal loadout for your vessels.

Skull and Bones best weapon types tier list: Top armaments for naval combat

Our Skull and Bones best weapons tier list is primarily based on PvE activities against AI-controlled ships (not forts/settlement plundering). Granted, PvP combat tends to be vastly different due to varying skill levels, too. We also encourage you to mix and match to find a loadout combination that suits your playstyle.

S-tier: Bombards

Among the best weapons in Skull and Bones, the bombard type is a class on its own. This is primarily due to area-of-effect (AoE) splash damage, which can hit multiple parts of a ship, including weak spots. You don't even need perfect accuracy just to deal damage. You can also fire multiple rounds before reloading, which makes it viable for quick bursts.

The key difference compared to other armaments is that bombards require you to aim low (i.e. the horizontal bar at the top of the reticle). This is to ensure that the shot hits close to the target. Note that there's also a red circle that appears on the water, though this is somewhat hard to see.

S-tier: Demi-Cannons

Demi-Cannons are akin to shotguns. They're absolutely useless at long-range engagements, but they pack a punch once you're close enough to a target. Ideally, demi-cannons should be your broadside weapons (if not bombards), especially if you want to get into the thick of the fray.

S-tier: Mortars

Mortars are auxiliary-type weapons, which means only medium-sized ships, such as the Padewakang, can equip them. To use it, hold down the keybind/button to make a circular targeting outline appear on the water, then press the fire button to lob a projectile. The projectile takes a few seconds to travel through the air before landing on its intended target. As such, you have to lob it just before ships enter the outline/reticle.

Given that AI ships tend to move closer to each other when engaging in combat or while patrolling, it's possible to hit multiple vessels with a single mortar round. The explosive damage alone is awesome to behold.

A-tier: Long Guns

Long guns, like the Scurlock's Chasers, are great if you want to initiate combat from a distance. If you aim properly, you should be able to hit an opponent's mast/sails from afar, or even the hull. As the AI enemy moves closer, you may then start shooting weak spots, and the long gun weapon type does have superb accuracy, too.

The biggest downside, however, is that long guns tend to fire only a couple of cannonballs before they're automatically reloaded. As such, you'd have to switch to your broadside weapons before attempting to circle around to fire once more.

A-tier: Ballistae

If you're not keen on using long guns, then ballistae might be better. They're limited to medium-range engagements, as well as being equippable only for the bow slot (i.e. the front of the ship). Still, you only need to hold the fire button for the weapon to be drawn before letting the projectile loose--there's no reloading animation where the armament is unavailable. If an ally already has aggro, then you can just sit back and happily shoot.

A-tier: Torpedoes

Torpedoes are very hard to aim and use, so you might be wondering why we rank them highly in our Skull and Bones best weapons tier list. Well, that's because they tend to be the ideal option for the stern slot (i.e. the back of the ship).

Consider how the AI moves when you attack, and you'll notice that they tend to follow you along a straight line. If your ship is faster, there's a good chance that the AI will just trail behind you. This allows you to arm and fire torpedoes, where direct hits are likely to deal critical damage.

B-Tier: Culverins

Culverins are the default weapons that you acquire and craft when you first gain a proper ship (i.e. the Bedar). They have average range and damage, and not much else. While they function as you might expect, there are better options out there, causing them to get relegated to the B-tier.

B-Tier: Sea Fires

Sea fires, like ballistae, are limited to just the bow slot. These flamethrowers shoot a continuous stream that scorches opponents in front of you. But that, in and of itself, is why we're not too keen on recommending this weapon type.

Since you can only blast enemies in front and up close, the action itself is extremely risky. You're likely to become vulnerable if there are other hostile vessels nearby, and you can't even use it if a target is off to the sides or behind you. Still, it's a viable weapon if you prefer the Sambuk ship (i.e. Pyromaniac with the Scorched perk) or a tanky or ramming playstyle.

B-Tier: Rockets

Rockets are auxiliary-type weapons, just like mortars. If we consider mortars are S-tier, then rockets are well below the mark. Don't get us wrong: rockets still deal a lot of damage... if all the projectiles hit, that is.

Rockets are only viable for close-to-medium-range engagements. Once you fire, multiple projectiles will fly out at an arc toward your target. However, if you or the target somehow move or turn slightly, there's a chance that several projectiles will also miss. The reticle/outline on the water is also somewhat hard to spot, and a wasted volley with 30 ammo lost can be downright frustrating, too.

C-Tier: Hunting Spear

Okay, we get it, the Hunting Spear is only used if you're sailing aboard the Dhow, the smallest and worst ship in the game. Still, it's technically a weapon, so we might as well include it on our list, albeit in the lowest tier.

The Hunting Spear is used primarily to take out sharks and other animals. Cannonfire shreds their carcasses, making them worthless. Conversely, slaying animals with the Hunting Spear allows you to collect and refine looted materials into various types of leather.

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That does it for our Skull and Bones best ship weapons tier list. While our recommendations are based on our experience, you should still mix and match to discover a loadout that suits your playstyle accordingly.

Skull and Bones is an open-world adventure game where you sail the high seas in the hopes of becoming a pirate lord. To learn more about various mechanics and features, you can check our guides hub.