The Law of the Ocean is Naval Contract #7 in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. It unlocks at Havana and sends you into an ambush scenario where you board a brig called the Hercules. This guide covers how to unlock it, where to go, how to handle the gunships, and how to earn the 900 Reales fire barrel bonus.
- TL;DR
- The Law of the Ocean is Naval Contract #7, unlocked at Havana.
- You set up an ambush and must board the Hercules, a brig, and kill 10 crew members.
- Four gunships accompany the Hercules — deal with them first or focus straight on the brig.
- Bonus: sink one of the ships using fire barrels to earn an extra 900 Reales.
- A well-upgraded Jackdaw makes this contract very manageable.
How to Unlock The Law of the Ocean in AC Black Flag Resynced
The Law of the Ocean is accepted from the man at the docks in Havana. It is Naval Contract #7 in the game, so you need to have completed the contracts that came before it in the chain. Naval Contracts unlock in sequence — start with A Spanish Plague at Great Inagua and work through each one in order.
You also need to have synchronised the Havana viewpoints so the contract icon appears on your map. Nothing in this contract is missable — you can do it at any point, including after finishing the main story.
The Law of the Ocean Objectives
- Main Objective: Sail to the ambush location, defeat the enemy ships, board the Hercules, and kill 10 of its crew members.
- Bonus Objective: Sink one of the ships using fire barrels to earn an extra 900 Reales.
How to Complete The Law of the Ocean
Step 1 – Sail to the Ambush Location
Once you accept the contract, open your map and head to the green objective marker. Sail the Jackdaw to that location. When you arrive, a short cutscene will play showing the enemy convoy coming into view.
After the cutscene ends and you regain control, you will see a brig — the Hercules — flanked by four gunships sailing through a narrow channel. This is your cue to act fast.
Step 2 – Hit the Gunships with Mortars Immediately
The moment you regain control, open fire with your mortars before the gunships close the distance. The channel is narrow, which actually works in your favour. A well-aimed broadside can catch two or three gunships at the same time due to how tightly packed they are.
Use mortars early, then follow up with broadsides as they get within range. If your Jackdaw’s hull is well upgraded, the gunships deal very little damage so you can soak their hits while focusing your fire.
Need help with your ship? See our ship upgrade and customisation guide and our final ship upgrade locations guide for the best upgrades to have before this fight.
Step 3 – Sink the Gunships or Skip to the Hercules
You have two approaches here.
- Clear the gunships first: This is the safer option. Sink all four gunships before turning your attention to the Hercules. With them gone, you can focus on the brig without taking chip damage from multiple directions.
- Go straight for the Hercules: If your Jackdaw has strong round shot and heavily upgraded cannons, you can simply ignore the gunships and pour everything into the Hercules. With a powerful loadout the gunships barely scratch you.
Either approach works. Choose based on how upgraded your Jackdaw is at this point in the game.
Step 4 – Earn the Fire Barrel Bonus
To earn the extra 900 Reales bonus, you need to sink one of the ships using fire barrels. This is easiest to do against one of the gunships rather than the Hercules itself, since you need the Hercules intact for boarding.
Manoeuvre the Jackdaw close to a gunship, drop a fire barrel in its path, and let it sail into it. If the explosion sinks the gunship, the bonus is yours. Do this early in the fight before the gunships scatter or get destroyed by your cannons.
Step 5 – Incapacitate and Board the Hercules
Once the gunships are dealt with (or you have your fire barrel kill), focus all fire on the Hercules. Use heavy shot and broadsides to wear down its hull. The Hercules is a brig, so it has moderate armour — not as tough as a frigate but capable of dealing real damage if you let it hit you freely.
When the Hercules is incapacitated, pull alongside it and board. During the boarding sequence, you must kill 10 crew members on the Hercules to complete the contract. Clear the deck and the mission is done.
The Law of the Ocean Rewards
- Contract Reward: Reales (standard contract payout)
- Fire Barrel Bonus: 900 extra Reales for sinking one ship with a fire barrel
The fire barrel bonus is worth going for. Set it up early in the fight before the gunships are all destroyed by your cannons.
Tips for The Law of the Ocean
- Use mortars the moment the cutscene ends. The gunships close fast. Getting two or three mortar hits in early changes the fight completely.
- Drop the fire barrel early. Once the fight starts getting chaotic it’s easy to forget the bonus. Line up a barrel kill on a gunship before you start broadsiding everything.
- The channel works in your favour. A single broadside can hit multiple gunships at once because they sail in a tight formation. Do not waste that opportunity.
- Do not sink the Hercules. You must board it to complete the contract. Stop firing once the brig is incapacitated.
- Upgrade your hull if you are struggling. With strong hull armour, the gunships become almost irrelevant and you can ignore them to focus on the Hercules. See our Great Inagua upgrades guide for priority upgrades.
- Keep your resources topped up. Check our guide to farming metal and wood so repairs never hold you back.
Other Naval Contracts Near The Law of the Ocean
If you are working through all 15 Naval Contracts in order, here is where The Law of the Ocean fits in the chain:
- A Personal Matter – Naval Contract #6, unlocked at Crooked Island. Sink or board the HMS Defiance.
- Blind Justice – Naval Contract #3, unlocked at Great Inagua. Board a British Man O’ War.
- Papers, Please – Naval Contract #4, unlocked at Great Inagua. Sink or board the HMS Courage.
- Eye For An Eye – Naval Contract #2, unlocked at Great Inagua. Board the San Lorenzo frigate.
- The Final Contract – The last Naval Contract, unlocked only after completing all others.
For the complete list of all 15 Naval Contracts, see our Naval Contracts locations guide.
More AC Black Flag Resynced Guides
Looking for more help in the Caribbean? Here are some of our most useful guides:
- How to Beat All 6 Legendary Ships
- All Assassin Contracts Locations Guide
- Kenway’s Fleet Guide
- Legendary Ships Mortar Trick
- All Treasure Map Locations
- All Mayan Stelae Locations
- Crafting Guide
- All Animus Rifts Locations
- All Underwater Shipwrecks Locations
- Beginner’s Tips
- What to Do After the Main Story
AC Black Flag Resynced is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Law of the Ocean in AC Black Flag Resynced?
The Law of the Ocean is Naval Contract #7, accepted from the man at the docks in Havana. It appears on your map once you have synced the Havana viewpoints and progressed through the earlier contracts in the chain starting at Great Inagua.
How do I earn the fire barrel bonus in The Law of the Ocean?
To earn the 900 Reales bonus, you need to sink one of the enemy ships using fire barrels. The easiest way is to target one of the four gunships early in the fight. Drop a fire barrel ahead of a gunship’s path and let it sail into the explosion. Do this before your cannons destroy all the gunships.
How many crew do I need to kill when boarding the Hercules?
You need to kill 10 crew members on the Hercules during the boarding sequence. Once you have done that, the contract completes and you collect your reward.
Do I need to sink all the gunships in The Law of the Ocean?
No. You can ignore the gunships entirely if your Jackdaw has strong enough cannons and hull armour to withstand their fire. Just focus all your weapons on the Hercules and board it once it is incapacitated. Clearing the gunships first is the safer approach, but it is not required to complete the mission.
Can I complete The Law of the Ocean after the main story?
Yes. Like all Naval Contracts in AC Black Flag Resynced, The Law of the Ocean is available both during and after the main story. Nothing is missable, so you can return to it at any time.
