Yarr, Ahoy and Shiver me timbers! Contrary to popular opinion, the life of a Pirate wasn't one of bountiful treasures, sexy groupies and sweet spokesman deals. Well, maybe the first one is true. At any rate, the pirate life was a difficult one, and Pirates of the Caribbean is a difficult game. Luckily, you've got mateys here at IGN who've sailed the seven (ok, well maybe one) sea before you and are willing to share their treasure of game information. Arrrr! Whether you're wondering what skills to pick, trying to earn a living or just wondering why you can't complete one of the darned trading quests, this is the guide for you. Due to the incredibly open-ended nature of this game, a straight walkthrough would be virtually impossible, and ruin much of the game's charm. Instead, this guide focuses on teaching you the basics that you'll need to survive in the archipelago, many of which are never really explained within the game. You'll find facts, tips, hints, and a general wealth of piratic knowledge. For you complete newbies, we've composed a beginner's walkthrough that should get you through the first few hours of the game and past its steep learning curve. From there, you're on your own. In this guide you'll find:

• Skills/Experience: Stats, Skills and Experience explained!
• Trade: How to earn an honest (or maybe dishonest) living.
• In Town: Shops and how to use them, Where to find Quests
• Hand-to-Hand Combat: Fighting and exploring the islands.
• Sailing/Ship Battles: World map navigation and the fine art of the sea battle.
• Starter Walkthrough: Covering the beginning of the game through the first mission for the English Crown.
• Q&Aye: Answers to some of the more bewildering aspects of life in the archipelago.

Get the guide.

Enter the following codes on land or in ship command mode:

• A, X, Y, B, Y, B, X, B, B, A: Accrue 100,000 gold
• A, Y, X, X, Y, Y, B, Y, X, A: God mode for self and your ship. Sails and ship crew unaffected.
• A, B, Y, X, Y, B, B, Y, B, A: Accrue 50 Skill Points
• A, X, Y, X, Y, B, B, Y, B, A: Set reputation to neutral

If you run into a pack of unsavory characters, and don't think you can best them in battle, flee from them and go past the last point where the game loads. They will not follow.

If you get yourself into a bad position in a sea battle, and know you're going to be blasted with serious cannon fire, there is a way to avoid it. When you see the smoke from the guns, quickly Sail To a different part of the ship and you should completely avoid the blast.

This requires a character with positive reputation and medium to high commerce level.

Go to the first tavern you find and hire an officer. When the dialogue text comes up choose Isn't that to much? Keep selecting this choice until the amount you will spend for the officer is a negative number.

Repeat this process until you have the desired amount. You can lower this amount by a max of 1000 at a time with a commerce of 10. (Each point of commerce equals 100 gold).

Date Added: 1970-01-01

Glitch: Experience From Slaughtering Your Own

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It's hard to say what you can do to incite this glitch since the game is so random; however you can try and allow the English to be your enemies thus letting you attempt to capture Greenford. Once you do, ask your fleet to capture/destroy it. But because you "captured" the town, it won't go away. Yet, your forces will gain experience each time you "sack" your own city.

Date Added: 1970-01-01

Hint: Legendary Sword

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In Oxbay look at the ocean and then look right. Start swimming right to the cave. Inisde is a legendary sword.