How to Cultivate the Best Merchant Ship in the Age of Great Voyages: A Guide to Nurturing Top-tier Merchant Ships in the Age of Great Voyages

In the world of the Age of Great Voyages, a high-performance merchant ship is key for players to dominate trade routes. To build a truly top-tier merchant ship, one must start with basic enhancements and progress step by step. Today, I will share some tips on cultivating a top-tier merchant ship head in the Age of Great Voyages. Top-tier merchant ship head (i.e., S-class merchant ship) can significantly increase cargo capacity, sailing speed, and defensive capabilities, which are crucial for becoming a major maritime merchant.

The initial enhancement of a merchant ship should focus on four core components: sail, hull, ropes, space . These components determine the ship's basic attributes, such as the sail affecting sailing speed and the hull determining wave resistance. Initial materials (such as common wood and coarse hemp rope) can be purchased through short-distance trade or at port stores. After completing the first enhancement, the ship's level will be upgraded to C-class, with noticeable improvements in defense and load capacity, making it suitable for dealing with early pirates.

Aiming for an S-class merchant ship is the ultimate goal of every maritime merchant. This requires that the ship's square sail, fore-and-aft sail, wave resistance, and steering four key values all reach full-level standards. Upgrading the performance of square sails and fore-and-aft sails requires replacing advanced sailcloth, such as linen sails; enhancing wave resistance involves reinforcing the hull armor, with iron plates being an option; optimizing the steering system requires professional modifications to the rudder and ropes. If a certain value consistently fails to meet the standard, you can go to a specialized workshop in a large port to customize exclusive parts to make up for the shortcomings.

There are many ways to obtain these top-tier enhancement materials, but due to space constraints, it's not possible to introduce them all. Large commercial ports like Lisbon and Amsterdam have stores selling S-class materials, but they come at a high price; engaging in battles with elite pirate fleets also offers a chance to acquire rare components as spoils of war; the most reliable way, however, is still through profitable trade routes to accumulate funds, such as the classic triangular trade route, which is an excellent choice for quick wealth. Once the merchant ship finally ascends to S-class, its cargo capacity, sailing speed, and defensive capabilities will all reach their peak.

An S-class merchant ship is best paired with two high-speed escort ships to form a convoy, ensuring both trade safety and maintaining high transport efficiency. With outstanding wave resistance, such a fleet can even challenge the open sea storm areas, obtaining scarce goods that ordinary merchants dare not venture for. The cultivation of a top-tier merchant ship is a process that requires patience and strategy, and only by steadily completing each stage of enhancement can one truly build a commercial fleet that dominates the seven seas.