The release of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced brought a massive overhaul to the beloved 2013 classic, modernizing everything from naval combat to stealth mechanics. However, for a vocal segment of the community, one frustrating omission remained: the inability to rescue a lonely, stranded dog found on a deserted sandbar. Thanks to Title Update 1.0.7, Ubisoft Singapore has finally addressed this oversight. Widely celebrated across the community as fixing the “greatest crime” in the entire game, the new patch allows Edward Kenway to become a true hero of the Caribbean by saving this animal companion.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the newly added rescue mechanics, the history behind this community request, and other undocumented changes in the 1.0.7 patch—including the surprise addition of Blackbeard’s Crimson Outfit to the standard shop and a persistent progression bug you need to watch out for.

The Legacy of the Stranded Dog

To understand why the community is throwing a massive celebration over a virtual canine, we need to look back at the game’s launch state. While exploring the vast, seamless Caribbean Sea in the remake, players quickly noticed tiny, uncharted islands scattered between major landmasses. On one specific unnamed sandbar, a lone dog could be seen wandering aimlessly, trapped by the surrounding ocean.

Initially, players tried everything to save it. They attempted to push the dog onto a rowboat, coax it toward the Jackdaw, and even tried utilizing the newly implemented dive-anywhere mechanic to carry it across the waves. Unfortunately, nothing worked. The dog lacked an interaction prompt, leaving passing captains with a lingering sense of guilt. The outcry was swift and passionate, spawning countless Reddit threads and bug reports pleading with the developers to add a rescue option. With the September update, the developers listened, adding a dedicated rescue sequence that transforms a depressing easter egg into a genuinely heartwarming moment.

How to Find and Rescue the Stranded Dog

Locating the stranded dog requires a keen eye and a bit of patience, as the exact sandbar is not explicitly marked on your main map with a traditional quest icon. Here are the steps to bring this loyal companion home.

1. Scouring the Disparate Islands
The dog spawns on one of the small, disparate islands or sandbars located in the open waters of the Caribbean. These are the tiny patches of land that do not function as full settlements or fortresses. While players are still charting the exact coordinate pool, many report finding the dog in the central and southern regions of the map, often near shipwreck sites or shallow reefs. Keep your spyglass handy and scan any small sandbars you pass during your voyages.

2. Approaching the Island
Once you spot the dog, drop the Jackdaw’s anchor a safe distance away. Because the water around these sandbars is incredibly shallow, bringing your massive warship too close can risk running aground or causing texture glitches. Jump off the deck and swim smoothly to the shore. Alternatively, you can drop a rowboat and row directly to the beach.

3. The Rescue Interaction
Approach the dog slowly. You will now see a dedicated interaction prompt labeled “Rescue.” Pressing the interaction button triggers a short, custom animation where Edward kneels, pets the frightened animal, and secures it for transport back to the ship.

4. Welcoming Your New Crewmate
Once rescued, the dog officially becomes a permanent resident of the Jackdaw. You will frequently find your new furry companion wandering the main deck, sleeping near the captain’s cabin, or happily interacting with your crewmen while you are sailing between missions. It adds a wonderful layer of life and warmth to your vessel, making the vast ocean feel just a little less lonely.

Undocumented Update 1.0.7 Change: Blackbeard’s Crimson Outfit

While the dog rescue and the previously announced hidden pistols perk took center stage in the official patch notes, players quickly discovered another massive addition that Ubisoft kept quiet. Blackbeard’s Crimson Outfit, a highly sought-after cosmetic previously locked behind specific collector’s edition pre-orders, is now reportedly available for purchase in the standard in-game economy.

This vibrant, heavily detailed coat perfectly captures the terrifying yet regal aesthetic of the Caribbean’s most infamous pirate. To acquire it, simply visit any general store or tailor located in major hubs like Havana, Kingston, or Nassau. Be warned: the outfit comes with a hefty price tag, costing a significant amount of Reales. If your coffers are running low, you might want to spend some time plundering enemy frigates or discovering ways to make money quickly to fund your new wardrobe. This addition is a huge win for fashion-conscious captains who missed out on the initial pre-order window.

Community Warning: The “Vainglorious Bastards” Bug

Despite the joyous additions in Update 1.0.7, the patch did not fix every lingering issue in the game. A significant progression blocker is currently plaguing players attempting to start the main story mission titled “Vainglorious Bastards.”

According to widespread community reports, the NPC Charles Vane is spawning incorrectly. Instead of waiting at the designated quest marker on land, Vane’s character model is spawning directly underwater beneath the island’s geometry. Because the mission requires you to speak with him to trigger the opening cutscene, his underwater placement makes it completely impossible to interact with him, effectively soft-locking the story.

Currently, community-tested workarounds such as reloading previous saves, fully restarting the game, or fast-traveling across the map and returning are yielding zero results. The issue appears baked into the current patch for affected save files. If you are approaching this section of the campaign, maintain multiple manual backup saves. If you encounter the glitch, you may need to wait for a hotfix from the development team before continuing Edward’s journey.

Missing Feature: The Continued Absence of New Game Plus

While the 1.0.7 update has been overwhelmingly well-received thanks to bug fixes, presentation options, and the dog rescue, one highly requested feature remains conspicuously absent: New Game Plus (NG+). Following the patch’s deployment, numerous players took to social media and forums to express their disappointment that they still cannot replay the campaign with their fully upgraded Jackdaw and endgame loadouts.

For a game that emphasizes long-term progression—where unlocking the best hull armor, elite broadside cannons, and legendary outfits takes dozens of hours—the lack of an NG+ mode feels like a missed opportunity. The French community, in particular, highlighted this in recent discussions, noting that while the 1.53 GB patch stabilizes the game and refines the overall presentation, it fails to offer veterans a compelling reason to restart the narrative. Until Ubisoft officially announces a New Game Plus mode, players looking to re-experience the story will have to start entirely from scratch on a standard save file, losing all their hard-earned upgrades.

Platinum Trophy Tip: The Dilettante Achievement

For players returning to the game post-patch with the goal of securing the Platinum trophy, the “Dilettante” achievement continues to be a major roadblock. This trophy asks players to collect a massive number of art pieces, historical artifacts, and miscellaneous trinkets scattered across the sprawling map. In the original 2013 release, finding these items was a tedious process of checking off map markers one by one, and that core requirement remains unchanged in Resynced.

However, veteran players have recently highlighted a highly efficient method for bypassing the worst of the grind. Instead of hunting down every single artifact manually by physically sailing to every tiny island and colonial settlement, you should heavily invest in Kenway’s Fleet. By deploying your captured ships on specific, high-level trade routes, your fleet will passively bring back rare artifacts and significant sums of Reales while you focus on other activities or general gameplay.

Managing your fleet efficiently not only secures the necessary items for the Dilettante trophy in a fraction of the time but also funds expensive purchases like the newly added Blackbeard outfit. Always ensure your fleet is actively running missions before you log off or dive into a long story sequence. Utilizing this system early in your playthrough will easily shave 10 to 15 hours off your Platinum trophy run, allowing you to focus on the stellar naval combat instead of endless map clearing.

How to Rescue the Stranded Dog in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced