Identifying Enemies in Combat

How to distinguish different types of enemies at a glance, and the best strategies for defeating them.

Introduction

In Tempest there are 5 basic and 3 special classes of NPCs that you will encounter during boarding and on land. This guide will help you use the ingame character models to recognize what class they are and how to deal with them appropriately.

Note that the Basic 5 make up both your crew as well as the enemy, so to avoid friendly fire look for the red / blue health bars!

Basic - Green Hand

Green Hands have zero fighting skill. They don't carry pistols and can't block enemy attacks.

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS

• If you can't see a Green Hand's long thin mustache, you can still recognize them from their unique striped pants and blue bandana.
  
  
• A good way to the spot lower-tier classes is by the absence of a pistol in their other hand.

COMBAT TIPS

• The most simple untrained crewmen, Green Hands are worthless by themselves but make good support for a larger force.
  
  
• Of the Basic 5 these are by far the easiest to defeat since they cannot block your attacks, so just spam cutlass slashes and they'll go down very quickly.
  
  
• Once the most critical enemies are killed, go for Green Hands next. If you weed them out quickly you'll significantly reduce the amount of swords that are swinging at you and let your crew team up on stronger enemies, which often times could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Basic - Sailor Boy

Sailor Boys don't carry pistols but will attempt to block enemy attacks in melee combat.

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Sailor Boys can be distinguished by their large handlebar mustaches and apron-like garments.
  
  
• A good way to the spot lower-tier classes is by the absence of a pistol in their other hand.

COMBAT TIPS

• Even though they lack long-range capability, Sailor Boys are still a step up from Green Hands.
  
  
• Unlike Green Hands, Sailor Boys can block your attacks. Despite their description they do so with surprising resilience, so just keep attacking until they falter.
  
  
• While Sailor Boys pose a threat, it's better to go for the gunslinging classes first.

Basic - Sailor

Sailors always have a loaded pistol on their person and are prepared to fire once during a battle. They're also more adept at blocking enemy attacks than Sailor Boys.

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Being the only class that somewhat resembles their crew image, Sailors can be instantly spotted by their dark red outfits and sideburns.
  
  
• The second variant's grey clothing can sometimes be hard to tell apart, but the completely bald head fixes that.

COMBAT TIPS

• The mainstay of a crew, Sailors are competent all-round fighters that are capable of both close and long range combat.
  
  
• Once a Sailor fires off his pistol, it's useless. Use this advantage to get into close range, after that they can be dealt with the same way as Sailor Boys.
  
  
• Sailors usually discharge their firearms very early in the battle, and as such can be prioritized at the same level as Sailor Boys.

Basic - Salted Seaman

Salted Seamen's skills allow them to reload their pistols mid-combat, which is why they're able to fire twice per battle. They also have better fencing skills than ordinary sailors.

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS

• The first Salted Seaman type can be recognized by the unique jacket + striped shirt combo, as well as the large bald spot.
  
  
• The other has a very distinct red bandana covering one eye, as well as the colonial-style sleeveless overshirt with tassels.

COMBAT TIPS

• Salted Seamen are upgraded, more skilled Sailors. In a group they pose a serious threat, but are more than capable of handling a fight by themselves.
  
  
• Because a Salted Seaman's pistol contains two rounds, you'll never know when they might decide to pull a gun on you in the middle of a sword fight. If you find yourself suddenly staring down the barrel of a flintlock, quickly slash them to interrupt their shot before they can pull the trigger.
  
  
• Because of their multi-shot capability and high sword skills, keep Salted Seamen high on your target list. Especially if your crew is low level, as they can do some serious damage if left unchecked.

Basic - Pirate / Skilled Shooter

Skilled Shooters can fire three times per battle and are more skillful in melee combat than others.

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS

• A Pirate can be instantly recognized by their multiple belts, neck accessories, and headband.
  
  
• The other variety is fancier, with a wiry mustache, puffy sleeves and a frilly lace.

COMBAT TIPS

• Pirates are by far the most dangerous (human) enemy in the game, and are encountered in just about any battle.
  
  
• Of the Basic 5, Pirates are the most skilled in the art of combat. If you find yourself face to face with one, be prepared to block aggressively, then try to get a quick strike in while they're winding up another swing. If possible, having an ally distract them will make the fight significantly easier. Staying at range and taking pistol shots is a valid strategy, but be prepared for them to return fire!
  
  
• As soon as you start a battle, finding and killing all of the enemy Pirates should be your top priority.

Special - Captain

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Just like the player, NPC Captains are certainly dressed the part: classic tricorne hat, leather baldric, high boots, and a long coat with lace on the sleeves.

COMBAT TIPS

• The captain of the enemy crew! They do not have any extra abilities, and killing them doesn't provide any bonus, it's just a cool detail the developers added.
  
  
• In combat they are exactly the same as Pirates, so treat them with the same level of caution.
  
  
• Only one of them ever spawns in any battle, usually at the ship's wheel when boarding, or at the last line of defense during The Besieged Town mission of the Treasure Lands DLC.

Special - Returner / Revenant

The Returners are damned souls, undead and ghosts. They appeared only a short time ago and the Seekers are trying to find out the reason.

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Spooky Scary Skeletons
  
  
• Some Returners have hats, which will get knocked off as they take damage.

COMBAT TIPS

• You'll find these undead monstrosities defending Returner ships and freely roaming the majority of the maps in the Treasure Lands DLC.
  
  
• The Returners are by the far the weakest, easiest enemy in the entire game. They do not carry pistols, cannot block, and their only attack is a single lunge that you can see coming from a mile away. Even in groups, it's very fun to swing your sword and shatter three of them at once. However, often times they'll shamble at you in VERY large numbers. If you get surrounded you won't have a chance to attack. Keep moving and try to use your pistol to weaken them first.
  
  
• Try to prioritize the ones with hats. If a Returner has a hat, that means it still has full or high health.

Special - Giant Crab

Anyway, the swords will defeat the pincers in a duel, yet you will get much more money for a pincer than you would for any sword. We left the crabs' cocoons alone. One day, they will grow up and bring lots of joy and a great profit to someone. Or they will bring about their death...

VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Freakishly oversized crustaceans.
  
  
• Despite their huge size, they may be hard to spot in between large amounts of trees and shrubs. Be careful to not get ambushed.

COMBAT TIPS

• These things are a LOT scarier when they're up close and personal. Unlike their ocean counterparts, these crabs can move directly at you instead of just sideways.
  
  
• The good news is, they're a lot easier to kill on land than at sea. Even though you can defeat them like any other enemy by swinging your sword and blocking their pincers, it's not recommended. Their pinching is relentless, has a very large range, and does huge damage if you don't block. Keep leading them in circles while taking pistol potshots. As soon as your ship cannons are ready, activate them, wait a split second for the impact circles to appear, then try to push the crab into them. It's a VERY dangerous tactic, but if done right the crab will take multiple cannonballs to the face and die almost instantly.
  
  
• Only encountered in the Swords and Pincers mission of the Treasure Lands DLC.

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[Raffy Kadaffi🎮]

nice guide, thanks