Complete Guide to the New Boss Format
 

OK... As I mentioned in other posts, We have done extensive testing on the new boss battle format. We have verified that the difficulty of the battle is based on the TOTAL notoriety of the crew, not an average of the members therein. Tonight, we have successfully completed the battle with only 3 people. The Quest owner Lucian (Level 30), Basil (Level 34), and Eustace (Level 34). A total Notoriety of 98.

With the lower total Notoriety, the frigates are easier than Light Sloops (not really, but they did almost 0 damage to us). The pattern we used for the frigates was Back right, front right, back left, front left. We sank them sequentially, to take less damage than if we had taken a side each.

Once the frigates were done, sail immediately backwards as far as possible. This creates a greater angle that the drawbridges need to hit. Turn the ship to the right side facing the bridges (you may need the left for the Goliath). Then, the helm sails forward and back while the 2 gunners uses lightning on the bridges. Make sure you drop all 3, as the 3rd will hit your aft when you sail through, if you do not disable it.

The trick now is to get out of being pinned by the next set of gates. The best way to do this is to back the Pearl through and as soon as you see the fire, full sail forward back through the disabled gates until you are back through the disabled bridges. Once back through, turn the ship and use lightning to take out the 2nd set of bridges using the same forward and back technique. They must fire on you once for this to work, or you will be unable to damage them. The right side bridge can be shot through the mountain, even if it is out of visual, but it will not fire at you through the mountain, so take the left one first..

The last 2 sets of bridges, do the same thing. You will be able to take them all out with more than half of your hull remaining. Now comes the best part...

Before sailing through the last set of bridges, notice the Goliath on your compass. That also means it is within cannon range. Stop short of the bridge and fire away at the Goliath. You will not be able to sink it (it regenerates it's hull), but you can take out the sails. Drop all the sails and it will have no chance against you. Once the sails are down, go through the last gate and head hard right, as soon as the animation is finished with full sail. When you get a good distance away, turn back left and fire away. With no sails and out of broadside range, it is a sitting duck.

That is all there is to it. I am not claiming that this is the do all, end all guide, but if you follow this instruction, you will stand a MUCH better chance. Hope this helps you all out, I know it has been frusterating.

Loot Hard!

Great strategy.
I'll keep it in mind for when I do it again with my guild.

Gonna test this tonight!!! Thanks Monk!

Either this strategy doesn't work with very large groups, or I'm doing something wrong, because every time I go in a large group to try this, we always sink right before the 4th bridge. Could be because of the massive difficulty, though.

This sounds like it would work just fine. :) It's better to finish it right than fast anyway. ;)
Great guide Eustace!

Try goin in with fewer people. Sometimes that helps.

Thanks so much for this guide. Before they changed it, I couldn't even count the number of times I'd been on Boss and successfully beaten it. Then suddenly I couldn't beat it to save my life. Several of my guild members were just wrapping up their Story Quest, and I was desperately trying to figure out how to help them with it. I'll pass along this info to them. Thanks again!

Kate O'malley
Guildmaster, Heroes Council
MASTERED

yep yep, just completed the battle with just 3 others, thank you!! :pirate6: