Skull and Bones Year 2 Season 1 draws to a close, and Ubisoft has pulled back the curtain on the highly anticipated Season 2, titled “Oath of War.” With sweeping changes, long-requested features, new PvP and PvE content, massive UI improvements, and of course—the arrival of large ships—the Indian Ocean is about to see a serious shakeup. In this article, we'll break down everything we know about Y2S2, explore what's changing, what's coming, and what you can do to prepare.

A Quick Look Back at Year 2 Season 1

Before we hoist the sails for new adventures, it's worth reflecting on Season 1. The debut of the Helm Empire overhaul, item ascension, world tiers, and Death Tides PvP mode marked a pivotal shift in the game's direction. Ubisoft doubled down on community feedback and committed to quality-first content updates. The response from players was largely positive, and that momentum now carries into Season 2.

Year 2 Season 2 Launches July 15: Oath of War

The new season is called “Oath of War”, and it promises not only new mechanics and systems but also some game-defining additions:

· Frigates (Large Ships) – finally arriving

· Faction War – coming mid-season

· A new Megaport – with a unique challenge

· Sailing and wind mechanics overhaul

· Ship Loadouts and Weapon Vanity

· Major UI and tooltip improvements

· New contracts and storylines

· Quality-of-life upgrades across the board

Let's dive deep into each of these and what they mean for you.

Frigates: The Arrival of the Big Guns

After months of anticipation, large ships are finally setting sail. The Frigate, the first of its kind, will drop at the start of Season 2. Designed from the ground up with community feedback in mind, the Frigate is a powerhouse—but it isn't without its weaknesses. Expect high durability, major firepower, and the ability to dominate sea lanes.

Ubisoft has already stated that they've tuned the Frigate pre-launch and will continue to monitor the balance post-release. Keep an eye on the upcoming Dev Deep Dive blog for more specifics like blueprint costs, required infamy, and build loadouts.

What to do to prepare: Start hoarding resources now. The Frigate is unlikely to come cheap. Expect a high crafting cost, both in silver and rare materials.

Faction War – Mid-Season Mayhem

While Season 2 launches on July 15, Faction War will arrive in the mid-season update. This major new feature pits players between two factions: The Company and The DMC. You'll choose a side and battle for control, rewards, and prestige.

Faction War represents the first true persistent PvP/PvE hybrid system in the game. Ubisoft promises this is just the beginning, with future seasons expanding the mode based on player feedback.

What we know so far:

· You must pledge allegiance to one faction

· Rewards will scale based on your contribution

· More story and lore are tied to the DMC-Company conflict

Get ready by: leveling up your best combat ships and practicing teamwork. This won't be a solo affair.

The New Megaport – An Epic Group Challenge

A new Megaport is on the way—expected to be completed just in time for the launch of Season 2. This fortified area will challenge even the strongest captains, requiring not just firepower but coordination.

One major improvement: parties larger than 3 players will now be possible through matchmaking. This opens the door to larger fleet operations and true endgame raiding experiences.

Ubisoft is keeping story elements under wraps, but based on the structure and buildup, it may be similar to the mythic Vikram encounters—high difficulty, high reward.

Helm Empire Rework – Passive Income 2.0

Season 1 reimagined the Helm Empire as an endgame economic engine, allowing players to passively generate Pieces of Eight and resources. This system is now being fine-tuned in Season 2, including:

· Better ROI (return on investment) for new players

· More unique functionality for high-level players

· Visual indicators of influence and power

The devs want Helm to be more than passive income—it's becoming a symbol of your dominance in the Indian Ocean.

Item Ascension Updates

Item Ascension was one of the most hyped features of Year 2. It lets players refine their gear, pursue perfect builds, and experiment with meta loadouts.

What's changing in Season 2?

· Less randomness in reforging

· Lock specific traits during re-rolls

· New methods to obtain weapon blueprints

While not all features will be live at the launch of S2, Ubisoft confirmed these changes are actively in development.

World Tiers and Difficulty Tuning

Season 2 further expands the World Tier system, which was first introduced with Mythic Vikram. In addition, Mega Forts won't be the only efficient way to earn Pieces of Eight. Other activities are getting reward buffs to improve variety and progression speed.

UI and Map Upgrades

Season 1 brought major improvements to the interface, including a new HUD, minimap, and loot beam visuals. However, many players disliked the reduced visibility of loot beams, especially in chaotic events like Omnus. These changes aren't just aesthetic. They'll make it far easier to navigate and optimize your gameplay.

Sailing Overhaul – Speed, Skill, and Anchor Turns

Season 2 introduces a significant change to how ships sail and turn.

New mechanics include:

· Wind interaction – Sail faster when aligned

· Skill-based anchor drops – Sharp turns for quick repositioning

· No new penalties for sailing into the wind

This is huge for builds that rely on ramming or precise positioning. Ramming builds might finally become meta, thanks to tighter turning via anchor mechanics.

Arsenal Loadouts – Finally!

At last, Loadouts are coming! This was one of the most-requested features since launch. You'll now be able to:

· Save and apply multiple ship builds

· Instantly switch between combat styles

· Prepare PvP and PvE loadouts in advance

The current preview shows up to 20 slots available. It's unclear whether each ship class has shared or unique loadouts, but the functionality alone is game-changing. No more scrolling through inventories to equip each weapon. Massive W.

Weapon Vanity – Customize Your Arsenal

On top of ship customization, Season 2 introduces weapon skins. This long-requested feature lets players personalize their cannons, ballistas, and more. Expect color options, visual themes, and likely cosmetics tied to contracts or battle pass unlocks. Combined with ship skins, this means your vessel can finally look and feel truly unique.

Death Tides PvP – Evolving Competitive Play

The introduction of Death Tides brought a team-based PvP mode to Skull and Bones. It's currently in beta, but Ubisoft is listening closely to feedback:

· More balanced team loadouts

· Better rewards for winners

· Preset-only game mode coming soon

The community's biggest complaint? Resource loss. When a build is nerfed, players lose all ascension materials if they want to switch strategies. Ubisoft is being urged to refund invested resources when deconstructing gear to support more build flexibility.

Contracts, Stories, and Returning Characters

Story-wise, Y2S2 continues the conflict between The Company and The DMC. Expect:

· New contracts

· Returning fan-favorite characters

· More voiced missions and lore building

· Expansion of the Chorus Fleet arc

Skull and Bones is slowly building a living world, and Season 2 looks to push the narrative forward more meaningfully than in previous content drops.

Final Thoughts

Ubisoft's post-launch support for Skull and Bones has gone from cautious to decisive. With Oath of War, we're seeing the team respond directly to feedback, roll out long-awaited features, and finally lean into what makes Skull and Bones unique: high-seas power fantasy, deep customization, tactical naval combat, and faction-based warfare.

From ship loadouts and Frigate battles to PvP presets and weapon vanity, Skull and Bones Y2S2 is shaping up to be the most ambitious and community-driven season yet.