The best pistols in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced are the Golden Flintlock Pistols: they have the longest range a pistol can have, a fast draw, and a perk that briefly slows time after you kill an enemy with them. You buy them from the General Store on Great Inagua once it reaches its top upgrade level. Captain Drake’s Flintlocks and the stealthy Peaceful Means are the strongest alternatives.
Below we cover what makes a pistol good in the remake, our ranked picks with where to get each pair, and the paid and Animus options.
What Makes a Pistol Good in Resynced
Pistols matter more in the remake than in the original. Ubisoft’s combat deep dive says a quick shot “instantly breaks the guard of any advanced archetype,” which is how you keep a Chain Takedown going through a Brute or a Captain. Gun Kata, a four-shot combo that kills basic enemies outright, also needs Edward’s pistol holsters upgraded to carry four.
Pistols have two key stats, range and draw speed, and only legendary pistols carry a unique perk. That perk is usually what separates a great pair from an average one.
The Best Pistols Ranked
1. Golden Flintlock Pistols (Legendary)
They have a range of 28, the highest a pistol gets, and a 1.2 draw speed. The perk is the real draw: killing an enemy with them slows time briefly, so with a full set of holsters you can line up several more shots while enemies are nearly frozen.
How to get them: buy them from the Great Inagua General Store at its top upgrade level. They cost 18,000 Reales.
2. Captain Drake’s Flintlocks (Legendary)
Their perk lets pistol shots kill Captains instantly, bosses excepted. Captains block, dodge and parry, and Ubisoft calls them the most dangerous regular enemy, so deleting them with one shot changes fort raids and boardings.
How to get them: buy them from Savi and Co Weapons, a hidden shop on an unmarked island in the Gibara Sea northwest of Great Inagua, around coordinates (550, 638). Look for bonfire smoke and a small dock. They cost 22,000 Reales.
3. Peaceful Means (Legendary)
Average stats, but the only quieter pistols in the game: the perk makes pistol shots quieter. If you prefer to assassinate rather than brawl, these are the pick.
How to get them: from the Treasure Dealer on the Great Inagua docks, after you rebuild his shop. He takes animal materials and trade goods for them; the price is Capuchin Monkey Pelt, Iguana Leather and Rum. Our Bones guide covers the fastest way to get animal materials.
4. Gargoyle’s Breath (Legendary)
Explosive rounds, at a price: each explosive shot costs 100 Reales. Fun for clearing groups, expensive for everyday use.
How to get them: from the Restored Weathered Map treasure on Mystery Island, which also holds the Persian Scimitars. Our treasure digging guide explains how to restore the map at the Treasure Dealer.
5. Rustic Flintlocks (Legendary)
Free, and a solid early pick. Its perk means a quick shot right after a Perfect Dodge costs no ammo.
How to get them: claim them from the Additional Content section of the in-game store, which you open from the map.
Worth Knowing: Dark Animus Corsair Flintlocks
These were a reward from an Animus Hub Project, Eye in the Dark, and we rate them among the strongest pistols in the game because each shot ricochets to a second target. Projects rotate, so check whether one offering them is active. Our Data Fragments guide explains how Projects work.
DLC Pistols
Paid packs add more legendary pistols. Ubisoft says the Master Assassin character pack includes a sword, pistol and trinket “each with a unique perk.” The DLC pairs carry these perks:
- Darkworker’s Pistols (Master Assassin pack): pistols use no ammo while you are anonymous.
- Diabolist’s Pistols (Hellfire pack): shots set enemies near the target on fire.
- Dragon’s Roar Pistols (Dragon Storm pack): pistol range increases after a pistol kill.
- Fury of the Deep Pistols (Sea Serpent pack): a slight heal after a headshot.
None are needed; the Golden Flintlocks hold up through the whole game.
Tips for Pistol Combat
- Upgrade your holsters early. More pistols means more quick shots and unlocks the four-shot Gun Kata.
- Shoot Brutes mid-chain. A quick shot breaks their defense so your Chain Takedown keeps going. Our best swords guide covers the swords that chain the most enemies.
- Hide them if you like. Since update 1.0.7 you can hide Edward’s pistols on outfits, and you can also turn off perk visual effects.
For the rest of our Resynced coverage, see our Assassin’s Creed guides hub or sharpen your scouting with our Eagle Vision guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best pistol in Black Flag Resynced? For most players, the Golden Flintlock Pistols, for their top range and time-slowing perk. Captain Drake’s Flintlocks are the best alternative.
Where do you buy the Golden Flintlock Pistols? At the Great Inagua General Store once it reaches its top upgrade level.
Which pistols are best for stealth? Peaceful Means, the only pistols whose perk makes shots quieter. Get them from the Treasure Dealer on Great Inagua.
Do all pistols have perks? No. Only legendary pistols carry a unique perk. Common and rare pistols differ only in range and draw speed.
How do you carry more pistols? Craft holster upgrades with animal materials. With four pistols you can use Gun Kata, a four-shot combo.