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As Skull and Bones sails toward Year 2 Season 1, the seas are about to get wilder, the stakes higher, and your preparation more important than ever. If you're looking to hit the ground running in the new season, then you're in the right place. This detailed guide breaks down everything you need to do before Year 2 drops, what changes are coming, what you should spend your resources on, and how to avoid costly mistakes before the reset hits.

Let's hoist the sails and dive into everything you need to know.

Year 2 Season 1 Transition Overview

Ubisoft has given us a clear breakdown of what's being reset, what's being carried over, and what changes are coming to Skull and Bones with the Year 2 Season 1 update. If you want to start strong, you must act now while Year 1 Season 4 is still active.

Here's a quick summary of the key transition points:

• All Manufactories and Their Upgrades Will Be Reset

• All Helm Empire Upgrades Will Be Reset

• Most of Your Pieces of Eight Will Be Reset – Only 50,000 Will Carry Over

• Sovereigns Will Be Obtained Only by Converting Seasonal Currency

• Upgrade Part Cap (200) Will Be Removed

• Pieces of Eight Will No Longer Drop from Raider Caches or Chests

• Raider Caches Can Be Carried Over – But Won't Contain Pieces of Eight Anymore

Let's break each of these down and explain exactly what to do about them.

Pieces of Eight: What to Spend and What to Keep

One of the biggest mistakes you can make right now is misunderstanding how Pieces of Eight will function going forward.

• You will only carry over 50,000 Pieces of Eight into Year 2 Season 1.

• However, you want to have up to 300,000 before the reset to maximize the reward conversion system.

Here's how the reward conversion works:

• 10,000 Pieces of Eight = 10 Upgrade Parts

• 50,000 Pieces of Eight = 30 Upgrade Parts

• 100,000+ = 50 Upgrade Parts

• 300,000+ = 100 Upgrade Parts

DO NOT go below 300,000 Pieces of Eight unless you have already locked in those max rewards. Anything beyond 300k should be spent wisely, and we'll cover how to do that below.

Manufactories and Territories: Secure Them Now

There are currently 76 manufactories in Skull and Bones. All of them will be reset at the end of Season 4, but they do matter for transition rewards.

The more manufactories you own at the end of the season, the more upgrade parts you'll receive at the start of Year 2. Here's the reward breakdown:

• 10 Manufactories = 30 Upgrade Parts

• 20 = 40 Parts

• 30 = 50 Parts

• ... up to:

• 76 Manufactories = 100 Upgrade Parts

In addition, owning territories also plays a part. There are 18 territories total. For each one you own, you'll earn 1 Helm Lease, which gives you a massive advantage in securing manufactories early next season.

Goal: Aim to own all 76 manufactories and as many territories as possible.

Raider Caches: Open or Save?

Let's talk about raider caches – a source of debate in the community.

Yes, they will carry over into the new season.

No, they will no longer contain Pieces of Eight.

So what should you do?

• If you're after maximum Pieces of Eight – open them now.

• If you want a head start on loot and gear for Year 2, save them.

It's a trade-off. Many players are opening them now to spend the Pieces of Eight on materials before the reset.

Upgrade Parts: Get Ahead

The current cap of 200 stored upgrade parts will be removed in Year 2 Season 1.

This opens up a clever strategy: Store extra parts in your ship's inventory now. When the season flips, you'll be able to move them to storage and effectively bypass the old cap.

Also, remember:

• You can earn up to 100 more upgrade parts by hitting the 300,000 Piece of Eight reward tier.

• Additional parts are rewarded based on manufactory ownership and territory control.

Prepare to hoard upgrade parts & Skull and Bones Silver like a pirate dragon hoards gold. You'll likely need a ton for ship upgrades and new systems in Season 1.

Where to Spend Pieces of Eight Before Reset

Now let's talk spending strategy.

Don't just throw Pieces of Eight at random vendors. You want maximum value.

Step 1: Buy Limited-Time Blueprints and Gear

• Head to Yianara's Black Market.

• Buy any limited-time items you don't own.

   o These may not return.

   o Includes cannons, furniture, and ship cosmetics.

• Focus on getting 4 of each weapon type (e.g., 4x White Jads), since most ships have 4 slots.

Step 2: Buy Materials (But Not from Yianara)

Here's the trick: don't buy specialized materials from Yianara's Black Market.

• Yianara charges 500 per unit for specialized materials.

• Telok Penjara's market sells the same materials for significantly cheaper.

Fast travel to Telok Penjara and stock up there to stretch your Pieces of Eight.

Focus on:

• Rim's Breath

• Orca's Mechanism

• Ganet Sula

• El's Twine

• Specialized crafting materials: Casting Sand, Limewood, Tire, Cogwheel

Prepare Refined Materials Now

Refined materials are used to craft high-end upgrades. Many take 30 minutes or longer to process.

If you're trying to beat the rush and avoid the initial grind of Year 2:

• Go to your Refinery

• Start crafting:

   o Torizon Springs

   o Planet Gear Sets

   o Wood Pitch

   o Ganets

   o Volatile Naphtha

   o Dry Sand / Quicksand

Even making a small stockpile now could save you days of effort when the new content hits.

Sovereigns: Hold On to Them

Originally, there was confusion about whether Sovereigns would carry over. The latest information suggests they will remain usable.

Therefore:

• Don't panic spend Sovereigns.

• Hold on to them until you see what the new vendors and gear rotation include in Season 1.

What's Coming in Year 2 Season 1?

The trailer and Ubisoft's sneak peeks have teased massive changes for Year 2, including:

• New large ships (possibly with more than 4 slots?)

• Sword combat

• 5v5 ship combat

• New world events

• More open-world PvP opportunities

• Enhanced Helm Empire mechanics

From everything shown, Year 2 looks like the biggest content expansion yet. That means the more prepared you are now, the more ahead you'll be.

Final Checklist Before Year 2

Here's a condensed to-do list to prep for Year 2 Season 1:

✅ Have 300,000+ Pieces of Eight before reset

✅ Spend any extra beyond 300k on materials and gear

✅ Open raider caches if you want currency – save if you want loot

✅ Own as many manufactories as possible (goal: 76)

✅ Control territories for Helm Lease rewards

✅ Stock up on materials (Telok Penjara > Yianara)

✅ Buy limited-time blueprints and gear

✅ Pre-craft refined materials now

✅ Store extra upgrade parts in ship inventory

✅ Hold on to your Sovereigns

Set Sail into Year 2 Like a Legend

That's everything you need to know and do before Skull and Bones Year 2 Season 1 launches. This isn't just about saving gold or grabbing loot—it's about positioning yourself for dominance in what could be the most thrilling content drop the game has seen so far.

Whether you're a seasoned pirate or a fresh-faced swabbie, make your moves wisely, stock your holds, and get ready to rule the seas once again.