Skull and Bones Year 2: Everything You Need to Know

Skull and Bones Year 2 is here, bringing a fleet of changes to the Indian Ocean. Throughout Year 1, each season in Skull and Bones introduced a terrifying new threat to pirates and merchant corporations alike. In Year 2, while each season will still deliver a narrative to shake up the Indian Ocean, they will also focus on introducing new features that players have been asking for, including large-sized ships, a massive Kraken, more PvP options, and more. To celebrate the launch of Year 2, Skull and Bones is hosting a free weekend from April 17-21 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Ubisoft Connect, giving you a chance to check out the game if you haven't yet. Let's dive into what you can expect from Skull and Bones Year 2:

Season 1: Ascent Into Chaos

Year 2 kicks off with an arms race between the Compagnie Royale and the Dutch Merchant Company (DMC) amidst rumors of an imminent war - and gives you a chance to harness their new Item Ascension technology. The Item Ascension feature allows you to enhance your loot and gear in new ways, giving them randomized buffs and modifiable slots, allowing you to further customize them to your playstyle. You can even spend materials and silver at local vendors to further adjust Ascended Item stats to perfect each weapon and loadout for specific scenarios at sea.

Ascent Into Chaos also introduces World Tiers to Skull and Bones, which are optional levels of difficulty for different challenges in the world. Higher tiers drop better rewards, including the chance of ascended items, but in order to reach those tiers, you'll need to pass World Tier Trials.

The Helm experience is getting new features in Year 2 Season 1. This will be the last season that manufactory levels and Pieces of Eight will be reset, and you'll be able to produce non-contraband items at your manufactories. You can also use the new Empire Upgrade Tree to unlock new buffs and make strategic decisions about your Helm operations.

PS5 Pro players can also expect a patch in Ascent into Chaos that will enhance their experience on the platform.

The mid-season update will introduce a new PvP feature, Death Tides, a team-based mode where you fight other players to capture and control different points on the map. In Death Tides, you can use your own customized loadout, or choose from one of preset ships, each with their own strengths in battle, including the Pyroclast, the Stormwall, and the Paladin. You can also use unique abilities like firing off devastating La Peste Mortars or summoning a Tylosaurus to help you to victory. Death Tides matches take place in one of four bespoke maps, Brimstone, Sanctuary, Sunken Ruins, and Mukiti Falls, and all rewards and XP earned in the PvP mode will carry over to the main game and Smuggler's Pass.

That's quite a bit of action planned in Ascent Into Chaos, so be on the lookout for the Schooner, a new explosively powered medium ship to help you become, or remain, a master of the seas.

Season 2: Oaths of War

You're going to need a bigger boat to handle everything that's in store in Season 2. Oaths of War will introduce the Frigate, Skull and Bones' first ever playable large ship. It will offer additional weapon ports, allowing you to deal even more devastating firepower on your enemies.

Following the arms race in Season 1, DMC will have successfully taken over a Compagnie Royale Megafort, igniting all-out war in the Indian Ocean. You can choose which faction you support, and each offer unique benefits for your allyship, but beware - the other will be openly hostile towards you at all times. Collectively, player actions and alliances will determine which faction emerges victorious, determining the power balance on the seas for seasons to come.

Season 3: Guts and Glory

Season 3 introduces a new threat as the war rages on. The Rogue Warlord will traffic weapons and hold Officers for ransom. To bring him down, you'll need some backup of your own. You can assign any Officer you rescue to your ship, and each brings unique buffs like repair perks, increased damage, and faster sailing.

This season will also introduce another long-awaited feature to Skull and Bones: land combat. More about this will be revealed as the new season approaches.

Season 4: Eye of the Beast

Skull and Bones Year 2 will close out with a legendary beast rising from the depths. Frustrated by the effects of the war and constant piratical pillaging, the Sea People will abandon neutrality and summon the ferocious Kraken to purge the waters.

Eye of the Beast brings two major features to Skull and Bones. First is the Hunters Guild, which will allow you to become a master hunter of sea creatures. With the Hunter's Guild, you can purchase the new Hunter Dhow, a small ship that specializes in hunting, as well as collect rare meats for recipes that give your crew powerful buffs. Second is the Corvette, a new large ship that deploys your Hunter Dhow without needing to dock and change ships.

Skull and Bones is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, and PC via Ubisoft Connect, Steam, and the Epic Games Store, as well as with a Ubisoft+ Premium subscription. Final content for Skull and Bones Year 2 is still in development, and subject to change. Be sure to follow Skull and Bones on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and join the Skull and Bones Discord to stay tuned for more information.  If you want to try before you buy, be sure to check out the Skull and Bones free weekend, running from April 17-21 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Ubisoft Connect.