Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteRecruit Mates at city Inns by spending Blue Gems for direct hiring or negotiating with Ducats; friendship improves negotiation success. After hiring, level and promote them, then assign each to a compatible Cabin so their Skills, Effects, and Expertise can benefit your ship or fleet. The game’s core guides date to 2023, so confirm costs and patch-sensitive limits in the current interface; LINE Games’ September 2026 notice documents newer Mate progression.
Where to hire Mates
Mates are the Admiral’s companions who provide aid while sailing. At a city, visit its Inn to review the available Mates. The guide lists grades from C to S; hiring and growth costs vary by grade, and current costs should be checked in-game.
You can also recruit some Mates through Admiral Chronicles. Certain characters have additional requirements or join after a Chronicle ending, so check the current Mate list and notices. For example, LINE Games’ September 2026 notice says Antonio Malatesta is earned while progressing Helen Raspberry’s Chronicle, while Louise de Beaujoyeulx can be hired at Santo Domingo after completing it. That notice also lists party ports for Melati and James Lancaster; those are dated availability details, not a permanent or exhaustive roster. See the September 2026 update notice.
How to negotiate with a Mate
At an Inn, choose between direct hiring with Blue Gems and negotiation with Ducats. LINE Games’ guide says negotiation success depends on the candidate’s friendship and a negotiated Mate begins with 60 Loyalty. It does not give current prices or guaranteed success rates, so there is no supported basis for calling either route universally cheaper or certain to work. Read the Mate guide.
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Before negotiating, you can try to raise friendship by giving a gift or sponsoring the Mate with Ducats. Both options require a Mate in your fleet who speaks the candidate’s language. Learning additional languages can also open access to other nations’ cities and improve trade and negotiation options.
How to level and promote Mates
Mate development involves three distinct capabilities:
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- Skills are active abilities.
- Effects are passive abilities.
- Expertise is job-related proficiency that supports ship or fleet activities.
Level Mates and promote them when eligible. LINE Games’ guide names Contracts, Astrolabes, and Certificates of Appointment among promotion materials. Promotion raises Expertise, teaches Effects, and increases how many Effects can be activated. The Basic Growth Guide, last updated in May 2023, says Mates can be promoted up to four times and describes up to four activated Effects depending on promotion status; verify the exact current requirements and limits in the game. See the Basic Growth Guide.
Newer progression: Transcendence and the level cap
LINE Games’ September 2026 notice says Stage 3 Transcendence was available only to S Grade Mates at that time. It requires Sacred Stones of Transcendence and grants a new Transcendence Effect; completing it can let a Mate reach Company Level +60. The same notice raised the general Mate maximum level to 175. It described Stage 3 Transcendence for A, B, and C Grade Mates as a possible future addition, not an available feature in that notice. Check later patch notes for changes. Read the September 2026 update notice.
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How to train fully promoted Mates
For Mates at maximum promotion rank, the official guide describes a training system of up to four rounds. Each round lets you allocate points among Combat, Adventure, and Trade Expertise. Training uses promotion materials and training books and takes time; the guide lists tasks and palace or guild contribution stores as sources for books. It also says allocated points can be reset with Blue Gems. Because these limits and sources come from the 2023 guide, check the current training screen before committing materials or currency. See LINE Games’ Mate guide.
Which Cabin should you assign a Mate to?
Open Menu > Ship > Cabins and match the Mate’s Expertise and abilities to a compatible Cabin. Cabin options depend on ship type and grade. Compatible assignments can apply Skills, Effects, and Expertise to the ship or fleet. An incompatible Cabin assignment reduces Expertise by 50%, according to LINE Games’ guide. Repeated Skills or Effects aboard the same ship can strengthen the ability being applied.
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Choose based on what you want the ship or fleet to do:
- Combat: prioritize relevant ship Expertise, such as Artillery, Ramming, Support, or Melee, alongside useful combat Skills and Effects.
- Adventure or trade: prioritize the corresponding Fleet Expertise and abilities that support those activities.
Auto Assign can be a starting point, but the guide says it selects by highest usable Expertise and assigns the Captain’s Cabin by highest Combat Level. Review the placements yourself if you are building for a particular fleet strategy.
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Keep Loyalty high enough to sail
Loyalty falls while sailing, and a Slacking Mate cannot be assigned to a Cabin. The 2023 guide says a conversation can raise one Mate’s Loyalty every four hours and a speech can raise all Mates’ Loyalty every 24 hours. These intervals are patch-sensitive; check the current game for the available options and timing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing a hiring and development approach
Use the route that fits your resources and goal rather than assuming one method is always best:
- Direct hiring: spends Blue Gems and avoids a friendship-dependent negotiation roll.
- Negotiation: spends Ducats; friendship affects success, and the guide says a negotiated hire starts at 60 Loyalty.
- Role selection: compare a candidate’s Expertise, Skills, Effects, language usefulness, and Cabin compatibility. Check whether each benefit applies to a ship or to the fleet.
These systems let you judge a Mate by more than grade alone: the useful choice is one whose abilities fit a compatible Cabin and your current ship or fleet priorities. Current rosters, costs, and progression rules can change, so use the Inn, Mate, and growth interfaces as the final authority.
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