Skull and Bones Guide: How to Manage Manufactories and Maximize Pieces of Eight

This guide will break down everything you need to know about auto-collect zones, manufactory upgrades, ship management, and strategies to maximize your Pieces of Eight income while preparing for higher-tier challenges.

Understanding Auto-Collect Zones

The first thing every Skull and Bones player needs to learn is the importance of territories and auto-collect zones.

Certain territories, like the Northeast Red Isle, allow automatic collection of resources once you fully control all manufactories within that area. These territories are outlined on your map by visible borders.

Why prioritize auto-collect zones?

 They save time and effort by automatically gathering resources like Pieces of Eight without the need for ships to sail back and forth.

 Some territories provide additional benefits, such as reduced funding costs or silver per hour bonuses.

When starting out, make auto-collect territories your first target.

Capturing these early will free up your ships for more valuable tasks like combat missions or resource farming.

Picking Up Pieces of Eight - Ship Requirements

Not all manufactories are created equal, and your ability to collect Pieces of Eight depends on both the manufactory's level and the ship you're using.

Key Points to Remember:

 Level 1 manufactories cannot be collected by ships. You'll need to manually sail there and retrieve the goods.

 Higher-level manufactories require higher-level ships for automated pickups. For example, a Level 4 manufactory might need a Level 8 ship to collect its Pieces of Eight.

Pro Tip:

When assigning ships for collection, always use the ship with the largest capacity. A Level 10 ship can hold up to 510 units, while a Level 9 ship caps at 420 units. Send the highest capacity ship you have available to minimize trips and maximize efficiency.

How to Assign and Unassign Ships

Managing your ships for manufactory collection is straightforward but often overlooked:

 Select the manufactory and assign a ship capable of carrying the full load.

 Once the ship completes its pickup, unassign it immediately. This prevents the ship from continuously returning to the same location, allowing you to reassign it elsewhere without having to track it down.

 This small trick saves time and prevents confusion when juggling multiple manufactories across the map.

Upgrading Manufactories - Why Level 5 Is Worth It

Upgrading your manufactories is one of the most important long-term goals in Skull and Bones.

Upgrade Path:

 Levels 1 through 4 can be achieved via takeover missions. Each successful takeover not only rewards 900 Pieces of Eight but also upgrades the manufactory by one level.

 Level 5, however, requires a hefty 10,000 Pieces of Eight investment.

Is Level 5 worth it?

Absolutely. In the early seasons, production rates were modest, but recent updates have boosted returns significantly. Players now see 62% returns compared to just 42% previously. This means more resources per day, making the upgrade a smart long-term investment.

Tip: Don't rush your upgrades. Progress naturally while focusing on the Helm Empire tree and building up your ship fleet. It's better to grow steadily than to burn through resources too quickly.

Choosing the Best Ship for Collecting Pieces of Eight

A common question among new players is: "What's the best ship for pickups?"

The short answer is: use the ship that's easiest for you to craft and upgrade.

Why Medium Ships Are Ideal:

While smaller ships can be upgraded, medium ships like the Snow offer a better balance between crafting requirements and carrying capacity. The Snow is particularly appealing because it doesn't require rare specialty materials to build-just items like sheet glass, steel ingots, and screw mechanisms, which are relatively easy to find.

By contrast, ships like the Brigantine may require rarer components such as torsion springs, making them less practical for early-to-mid game players.How to Quickly Rank Up Your Ship

Ship rank matters because higher-level manufactories require stronger ships to collect from them. Here's how to boost a ship's rank efficiently:

 Start with a base medium ship (e.g., a Bark).

 Remove all weapons, armor, and furniture to see its base level.

 Equip unused weapons from your warehouse.

 This clears storage space and boosts ship level.

 Add Royal Custodian gear (if you have it) to instantly push the ship toward Level 8.

 Equip spare furniture items you don't plan to use on your main combat ships.

 By following this method, you can get a medium ship up to Level 9 or 10 without wasting high-value gear or materials.

Fleet Management Strategy

Every player should aim to have at least one fully upgraded ship per type. While not all ships need to be maxed to Level 15, getting them to Level 13 is a solid goal that balances cost and performance.

Pro Tip: Even if you don't plan on using certain ship types (like the Battle Junk), upgrading them moderately ensures you'll always have enough ships for collection tasks or emergencies.

Helm Empire Upgrades - Your Key to Success

Your Helm Empire and Helm Office upgrades are crucial for controlling manufactories and territories.

 Focus on completing the northern quadrant first, as it's the easiest to upgrade to 1/3, unlocking key tools for Helm dominance.

 Gradually work toward 3/3 upgrades, which significantly expand your capabilities and resource flow.

Faction Strategy - Start with the Confederation and Guana

When expanding your influence, focus on one faction at a time. The Confederation and Guana faction is an ideal starting point because it provides access to two auto-collect territories, minimizing the need for ship pickups.

Recommended Path:

 Prioritize the outer leg of the faction tree, which grants improved equipment and manufactory expansion options.

 Push all manufactories to Level 4 before committing resources to Level 5 upgrades.

Earning Pieces of Eight - Takeovers and Boss Runs

Pieces of Eight are the lifeblood of Skull and Bones progression. To farm them efficiently:

 Run Takeover Missions.

 Solo takeovers yield around 350 Pieces of Eight.

 Hostile PvP takeovers pay up to 900 Pieces of Eight.

Farm Boss Events.

 Key encounters include Fangs of the Far, Hunter Hunted, Treacherous Turn, and Show of Strength.

 These events reward solid amounts of Pieces of Eight and other valuable loot.

 Grind the Woven Hall Mega Fort (World Tier 2).

 Offers a massive 5,000 Pieces of Eight payout when all stages are cleared.

 A skilled crew can complete it in 6-8 minutes, but less experienced groups may take 15-20 minutes or risk failing the challenge.

Endgame Tips

 Assign and unassign ships smartly. This ensures you're never stuck chasing ships across the map.

 Upgrade in stages. Focus first on auto-collect manufactories, then on your Helm Empire tree, and finally on Level 5 upgrades.

 Join a reliable crew. Many late-game challenges, like Woven Hall, require teamwork and coordinated DPS to succeed.

Final Thoughts

Skull and Bones offers an incredible sandbox for naval strategy, trade, and piracy, but success depends on smart resource management: cheap Skull and Bones Items and efficient fleet deployment.

By prioritizing auto-collect zones, upgrading manufactories strategically, and optimizing your ship builds, you'll maximize your Pieces of Eight income and free up time for the real fun-dominating the seas.

Whether you're a new player just diving in via Game Pass or a veteran captain optimizing for Season 2, the path to success is clear: build your fleet, upgrade your manufactories, and claim the seas as your own.