Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is packed with collectibles, hidden caches, and buried treasures scattered across its vast open-world Caribbean archipelago. This comprehensive guide covers all five types of collectible treasures and how to find them.
Buried Chests (140 Total)
These are the most common type of treasure in Black Flag. Buried chests require treasure maps, found on ships you board or purchased from general stores. Each map reveals the location of 1-3 buried chests on a specific island. Contents include Reales (currency), metal, and wood for ship upgrades.
Pro Tip: Focus on hunting larger Ships of the Line first — their captains often carry multiple treasure maps at once.
Animus Fragments (200 Total)
These glowing blue fragments are scattered across every location in the game. Collecting all 200 unlocks special rewards and contributes toward full synchronization of every location.
Shanty Sheets (36 Total)
Sea shanties are a beloved feature of Black Flag. Shanty sheets are collectibles found in specific locations that unlock new songs for your crew to sing while sailing. Some are in plain sight, others require free-running sequences to reach.
Chests by Region
- Havana region — 12 buried chests, 3 elite plans
- Kingston region — 15 buried chests, 4 elite plans
- Nassau region — 10 buried chests, 2 elite plans
- Principe region — 8 buried chests, 1 elite plan
- Cayman Sound — Contains the legendary La Dama Roja
Elite Ship Plans
These rare blueprints allow you to upgrade the Jackdaw to legendary status. They are hidden in fortresses and require defeating the fort's defenses before you can access the interior and claim the plans. These upgrades are essential for taking on legendary ships like El Impoluto and La Dama Roja.
