In the vast and perilous seas of Skull and Bones, ship choice and upgrades are critical to dominating both PvE and PvP encounters. Among the standout vessels of Season 3, Year 2, is the Sleep of War, a medium-class ship designed for poison damage and high DPS. Nalan, a prominent Skull and Bones guide creator, recently shared his insights on this ship, offering a thorough breakdown of its strengths, weaknesses, Skull and Bones Items and strategies for upgrading it to level 15 as efficiently as possible. In this article, we'll walk through everything you need to know about the Sleep of War, from crafting requirements to optimal weapons, armor, and farming strategies.

 

Overview of the Sleep of War

 

The Sleep of War is a poison-centric medium ship. Unlike other vessels that focus primarily on raw durability or speed, this ship specializes in toxic damage. Its core mechanic revolves around enhancing poison effects: each consecutive hit on an enemy ship under poison status increases both poison damage and duration, up to 30% damage and 100% duration.

 

Additionally, the Sleep of War features a 300-meter explosion radius triggered by weapon hits on poisoned enemies, dealing 1,000 toxic damage. Its toxic weapons also receive a 20% damage boost and a 150% increase in poison charge rate, making it exceptionally potent in fleets designed for status effects.

 

While the ship is visually striking and carries impressive DPS potential, its hit points are lower than some other ships, such as the frigate. This makes careful loadout planning and tactical play essential. Players seeking to maximize its damage output while maintaining survivability will benefit from strategic weapon and armor configurations.

 

Crafting and Materials Required

 

Before diving into gameplay, it's essential to understand the materials needed to craft and upgrade the Sleep of War. Access to these items ensures that you can get the ship to level 15 without unnecessary delays.

 

To craft the Sleep of War, players need the following materials:

 

 Green Heart Planks-Commonly available from ship merchants.

 

 Plague Dust-The rarest and most sought-after material for this ship.

 

 Deep Iron-Obtainable from various ports or merchants.

 

 Senu String-Often purchased from the account ledger or found during raids.

 

 Blighted Fuel-Found at main ports or from mission rewards.

 

 Eel's Twine-Standard crafting material from coastal merchants.

 

 Orca's Mechanisms-Special components for advanced ship builds.

 

Among these, plague dust is the primary bottleneck. Efficiently farming plague dust is critical to upgrading the Sleep of War quickly, as it is required in significant quantities to reach level 15. Players should aim to stockpile other materials ahead of time, allowing them to focus solely on plague dust farming once crafting begins.

 

Recommended Loadout

 

The Sleep of War benefits greatly from a customized loadout, tailored to maximize its toxic potential and offset its lower hit points. Nalan shares a detailed configuration that balances damage output with survivability:

 

Bow Weapons:

 

 Blightbringer Torpedoes-These are central to the Sleep of War's toxic build. Each torpedo delivers significant damage while spreading poison clouds, synergizing with the ship's poison mechanics.

 

Port and Starboard Weapons:

 

 Repair Weapons-Using repair-oriented weapons on these slots allows the ship to regain health as it deals damage. This mitigates the vulnerability caused by the Sleep of War's lower hit points.

 

Auxiliary Weapons:

 

 Large Explosive Rockets (Warhammers)-High-damage rockets increase burst potential, allowing players to punish clustered enemies or high-value targets effectively.

 

Armor Configuration:

 

 The Sleep of War's armor setup should focus on piercing resilience and toxic damage mitigation. Its hull bonus activates below 25% health, increasing weapon damage and providing a five-second invulnerability window, giving players time to stabilize or retreat for repairs.

 

With this loadout, the Sleep of War can maintain consistent DPS while surviving encounters that would otherwise overwhelm other medium-class ships.

 

Leveling and Upgrading the Sleep of War

 

Reaching level 15 is the key to unlocking the full potential of the Sleep of War. Nalan emphasizes that players should not take the ship into high-level engagements below level 15, as the ship's low health could lead to frequent losses. The upgrade process involves strategic farming and resource management.

 

Primary Strategies for Upgrading:

 

Merchant Purchases:

 

 Visit merchants like Yanita and Blackwood to buy materials such as plague dust, deep iron, and eel's twine. These purchases are often weekly-limited, so planning your collection around reset cycles is crucial.

 

 Some merchants also sell blighted fuel, another key component for upgrades.Account Ledger:

 

 Players can acquire materials like senu string, deep iron, and sturdy ropes through the account ledger. While slightly less direct than merchants, this method provides a reliable source of materials, especially if you're grinding multiple ships simultaneously.

 

Combat Farming:

 

 Engaging Philip Leest and his strongboxes offers a high chance to obtain plague dust. These encounters can be repeated multiple times to accelerate your farming efficiency.

 

 Leest minions also drop plague dust and can be found in areas such as Pembi, Pilot Bay, and the Grand Fort area.

 

Weapon Salvaging:

 

 Salvaging plague-type weapons at the blacksmith provides a chance to obtain additional plague dust. Focus on high-rarity weapons to increase the likelihood of valuable drops.

 

By combining merchant purchases, ledger acquisitions, combat farming, and salvage mechanics, players can efficiently accumulate the necessary resources to take the Sleep of War from base level to level 15, unlocking its full capabilities.

 

Gameplay Tips for Maximizing the Sleep of War

While the ship's stats and upgrades are important, proper gameplay strategy is critical to success:

 

Focus on Poison Mechanics:

 

 Use toxic weapons exclusively when possible. Each consecutive hit on a poisoned enemy increases both damage and duration, making continuous engagement highly rewarding.

 

Prioritize Repairs in Combat:

 

 With lower hit points, the Sleep of War relies on repair weapons to stay afloat during extended battles. Activate repair mechanics early and often, especially during PvP encounters.

 

Leverage Explosive Weapons:

 

 Combine auxiliary explosive weapons with toxic attacks to maximize damage output in both single-target and crowd situations.

 

Map Awareness and Positioning:

 

 Medium ships like the Sleep of War are vulnerable in direct confrontations with large battleships or fast frigates. Maintain awareness of enemy movement and control choke points to exploit the ship's strengths.

 

Upgrade Before Major Engagements:

 

 Avoid taking the ship into high-tier missions or PvP skirmishes before achieving level 15. The incremental bonuses from upgrades make a significant difference in survivability and damage potential.

 

Comparisons and Personal Preferences

 

Nalan notes that while the Sleep of War is a formidable toxic ship, it doesn't quite replace the frigate in personal preference. The frigate offers higher hit points and more flexibility in weapon loadouts, making it more forgiving for casual or aggressive play.

 

However, for players who enjoy high DPS builds and leveraging status effects, the Sleep of War provides a unique niche. With the right setup, including the Blightbringer torpedoes, Warhammers, and repair mechanisms, this ship can punish fleets that underestimate its capabilities.

 

Looking ahead, upcoming ships like the Corvette in the next season promise new large-ship dynamics, but for now, mastering the Sleep of War is a smart investment for players seeking both power and style on the high seas.

 

Final Thoughts

 

The Sleep of War is one of the most interesting medium-class ships in Skull and Bones. Its combination of toxic DPS, repair-based survivability, and explosive auxiliary weapons make it a unique and powerful vessel when optimized correctly.

 

Key takeaways for players include:

 

 Focus on acquiring plague dust, the limiting material for upgrades.

 

 Utilize merchants, ledgers, and combat encounters for efficient resource gathering.

 

 Customize loadouts to maximize toxic weapon synergy and maintain survivability.

 

 Avoid high-level missions before level 15, as the ship's low hit points can make early engagement risky.

 

By following these strategies, players can unlock the full potential of the Sleep of War, turning it into a poison-spreading juggernaut capable of dominating both NPC fleets and other players. While personal preference may vary, there's no denying the ship's powerful DPS potential and the satisfaction of watching toxic clouds devastate enemies across the map.

 

Season 3 may be ending, and the next season brings new ships and mechanics, but mastering the Sleep of War remains a valuable skill for any Skull and Bones captain. Whether you're grinding plague dust, make Skull and Bones Silver, fine-tuning your weapon loadouts, or planning PvP tactics, this guide ensures you have the knowledge to take your ship from a promising medium-class vessel to a fully upgraded, level 15 powerhouse.