Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Pet Guide: How to Unlock Ship Companions (Cat & Monkey Location)
When I first launched Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, I expected exactly what Ubisoft had been teasing for months: sharper visuals, smoother sailing, better combat, and another excuse to lose dozens of hours exploring the Caribbean. As someone who streams new releases almost every week, I’ve learned to keep my expectations realistic. Plenty of remasters promise “new experiences” but end up feeling like prettier versions of games I’ve already completed.
This one surprised me.
Sure, the upgraded lighting and modernized mechanics are immediately noticeable, but the feature that kept my chat talking for hours wasn’t a graphical effect or a combat overhaul. It was something much smaller.
Pets.
It sounds almost ridiculous at first. A pirate captain worrying about cats and monkeys? Yet after spending several evenings sailing across the islands, I genuinely think these companions make the Jackdaw feel more alive than ever. They don’t change gameplay balance, they won’t help you win naval battles, but they add personality to every voyage.
If you’ve been wondering how to unlock every ship companion currently available, here’s everything I discovered while exploring the game myself.
The Jackdaw Finally Feels Like Home
One thing always felt slightly missing from the original Black Flag.
The Jackdaw was your home, your weapon, your greatest achievement… yet it sometimes felt strangely empty once the excitement of naval battles faded.
In Resynced, that’s no longer the case.
Watching a cat lazily wander around the deck while you’re approaching another island or seeing a monkey climbing through the rigging during long journeys gives the ship far more character than I expected. They’re cosmetic companions, but they’re animated well enough that they quickly become part of your adventure.
After several streaming sessions, I honestly stopped thinking about them as unlockables and started thinking of them as crew members.
How the Ship Companion System Works
Ubisoft kept the system refreshingly simple.
Once you’ve rescued or unlocked a companion, it becomes permanently available through your customization menu.
A few important things are worth knowing before you start searching:
- Only one companion can be active at a time.
- Your selected pet freely walks around the Jackdaw while sailing.
- Inside Edward’s cabin you can interact with your companion directly.
- Most companions are earned through small world events rather than lengthy questlines.
I actually like this approach because it encourages exploration without turning pets into another exhausting collectible grind.
My First Companion: Soot the Cat
Out of every companion currently available, this was the first one I unlocked naturally.
If you’re progressing through the campaign normally, you’ll eventually reach Sequence 4, where Great Inagua becomes your primary base of operations.
That’s when the fun begins.
While wandering around the settlement I noticed a brand-new local activity focused entirely on rescuing a stray cat. It wasn’t marked as some epic side mission—it was just a charming little encounter that immediately stood out from the usual pirate objectives.
Finding Soot requires climbing onto the rooftops around Great Inagua.
Instead of rushing across the buildings, take your time.
I almost missed him because I sprinted straight past one rooftop where he was peacefully relaxing near a chimney.
Once you interact with him, the adoption animation plays, and Soot becomes a permanent member of your collection.
The next time you board the Jackdaw, he’ll already be wandering around as if he’d always belonged there.
Honestly?
Watching him casually stroll across the deck during a sunset voyage might be one of my favorite moments in the game so far.
Albert the Monkey Is Even Better Than I Expected
If Soot adds calm energy to the ship, Albert brings complete chaos.
Unlocking him isn’t quite as peaceful.
His event appears near the southeastern docks of Havana, where you’ll eventually discover a mission involving a Spanish vessel.
Unlike the cat event, this one requires clearing hostile guards before you can safely approach the frightened monkey.
Depending on your playstyle, you can either eliminate enemies quietly or simply fight everyone head-on.
I tested both approaches during different playthroughs, and neither seemed to affect the outcome.
Once the ship is secure, Albert can be rescued and permanently added to your collection.
The best part?
He doesn’t just sit around doing nothing.
During longer voyages you’ll frequently notice him swinging through the ropes or moving around the ship while the crew works. They’re small animations, but they’re surprisingly entertaining during quieter moments between missions.
Companion Unlock Overview
| Companion | Location | Requirement | Why I Like It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soot | Great Inagua | Reach Sequence 4 and complete the local event | Makes the Jackdaw feel cozy and lived in |
| Albert | Havana Harbor | Defeat guards during the rescue event | Fantastic animations during sailing and boarding |
| Gold Tom | Deluxe Edition | Automatically unlocked | Exclusive cosmetic for collectors |
| Shipmate Monkey | Promotional Reward | Redeem launch code | Nice alternative monkey appearance |
Exploring Feels More Rewarding
One thing I genuinely appreciate is that these companions aren’t handed to you immediately.
You actually have to explore.
Modern open-world games often overwhelm players with hundreds of icons before they’ve even finished the tutorial. Resynced goes in the opposite direction with these events.
You’ll be wandering through towns, climbing rooftops, or investigating docks when suddenly you discover a small activity that has nothing to do with assassinations or treasure hunting.
Those moments make the Caribbean feel handcrafted again.
As someone who spends hours exploring every corner before progressing the main story, I found these encounters much more memorable than another generic collectible chest.
Don’t Forget to Visit the Captain’s Cabin
Something many players overlook is that your companions aren’t only visible while steering the ship.
After selecting a pet from your inventory, leave the wheel and head into Edward’s private cabin.
Your active companion will usually be relaxing somewhere inside.
Walk over and interact with them.
Edward actually acknowledges the animal instead of treating it like simple background decoration.
It’s a tiny feature, but it gives the relationship between captain and companion much more personality.
Working Toward the “Friend to All” Achievement
Completionists will definitely want to spend time interacting with every available companion.
The game rewards players who build relationships with multiple animals by tracking various interactions throughout the adventure.
Fortunately, the process isn’t complicated.
- Equip a companion.
- Enter the Captain’s Cabin.
- Interact with the animal.
- Repeat with additional companions as you unlock them.
Since new pets are expected to arrive through future updates, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ubisoft expands these achievement requirements later.
Deluxe Bonuses and Promotional Rewards
Collectors receive one additional companion immediately after unlocking the Jackdaw.
Gold Tom is available without completing any exploration activities, making it a nice little bonus for players who purchased premium editions.
There’s also a promotional monkey variant available through Ubisoft’s launch campaign.
Personally, I still prefer earning companions through gameplay.
Unlocking Soot after actually searching rooftops felt far more satisfying than simply claiming a reward from a menu.
Hopefully Ubisoft continues adding more discoverable companions instead of relying entirely on promotional bonuses.
My Thoughts After Several Hours of Sailing
I’ll admit it.
When I first heard “ship pets,” I assumed it was another marketing bullet point designed to generate social media clips.
Instead, it became one of my favorite additions.
No, pets don’t improve combat.
They won’t increase your ship’s damage.
They don’t uncover hidden treasure.
But they accomplish something arguably more important.
They make the world feel warmer.
After dozens of hours at sea, it’s surprisingly comforting to return to the Jackdaw and see a familiar companion waiting onboard. Little touches like this remind me why Black Flag has remained one of the most beloved Assassin’s Creed games for so many years.
Resynced doesn’t try to reinvent everything.
Instead, it improves the experience in dozens of smaller ways that slowly add up.
For me, the companion system is one of those improvements.
If you’re already exploring every island, climbing every tower, and chasing every synchronization point, there’s absolutely no reason to ignore these side activities. They’re quick, memorable, and they give your legendary pirate ship far more personality than it ever had before.
As a streamer who’s constantly jumping from one major release to another, it’s rare that a cosmetic feature sticks with me after the credits roll.
This one probably will.
And if Ubisoft keeps expanding the companion roster through future updates, I’ll happily keep hunting for every last furry crewmate hidden somewhere across the Caribbean.
