Today, we're setting sail in Skull and Bones with what might look like a joke-but performs like a menace: the Barge Build, affectionately known as the "Bathtub of Fire."

You're probably asking yourself: why would anyone willingly choose the tiniest, most unassuming ship in the game? Why pick the Barge when there are mighty frigates, nimble cutters, and tanky brigs? The answer is simple: wildfire synergy. With the right setup, this little tub becomes a floating inferno capable of wiping out clusters of enemy ships while soaking up more damage than you'd think possible.

Let's break down what makes this build so devastating-and why you might need Skull and Bones Items and want to give it a shot yourself.

Why the Barge?

At a glance, the Barge seems like a meme ship. Small, slow, and lightly armed. But looks can be deceiving. With the Wildfire Perk, this ship applies the Ablaze status to any ship it hits-and that effect spreads in a 125-meter radius. Combine that with weapons and furniture that scale with burn damage, and you've got an AoE nuke machine. The ablaze status also boosts weapon damage by 20% and speeds up blaze charge by a whopping 150%.

In a properly tuned build, this effect turns the battlefield into a domino of burning ships, chain-reacting with every hit. Think of it like setting off a powder keg in the middle of a convoy-except you're doing it with a ship the size of a lifeboat.

Weapons Loadout

Main Cannon-Electto

Your primary weapon is the Electto, a triple-shot bolt launcher. If all three bolts hit a target, they ignite it in flames. This is your main enabler of the burn synergy, and it fires fast enough to keep that ablaze effect going consistently.

 Burning II and Piercing are naturally built into the Electto.

 Effective at close to medium range (~600m).

 Works particularly well in PvP if you can aim it accurately.

 Weakness: The bolts fan out over distance, so full effect requires proximity.

Port Weapon-Phoenix Talons

Initially underwhelming, the Phoenix Talons have been quietly buffed into monsters. With 18 fiery strikes, they're excellent for stacking burning damage quickly.

 Rolls: Combustion + Amplified Burning ×2

 Ideal for applying consistent DPS and status effects.

 Starboard Weapon-Helport (or Darts)

The Helport is a flexible tool. While not required, it offers decent sustainability. Alternatively, Darts can work well if you add burning effects to them.

 Current roll: Firepower, Soul Mending, Amplified Burning

 Not optimal rolls but still effective

 Rear Weapon-NASCAR

Not an ideal match for the build, but it's what was available. Better results can come from future upgrades to rear weapon rolls.

 Rolls: Combustion, Soul Mending, Explosive

 Ideally, you'd want Burning here instead of Explosive.

The Ace: Infernal Maul

This is where things get wild. The Infernal Maul minefield buoy has the following key traits:

 Burning III

 Triggers a Fire Explosion upon buoy destruction

 Deals 300% damage

 Instantly sets targets ablaze

This weapon is the crown jewel of the build. Drop it in a fleet, pop the buoy, and watch everything in the radius go up in flames. It synergizes perfectly with your ablaze-triggering weapons and amplifies your wildfire strategy.

Rolls:

 Incendiary, Soul Mending, Durable Buoys

 Still a work in progress, but highly effective even now

Armor and Furniture Setup

Armor is situational:

 PvE/Fort Raids: Oraorus for higher defense and survivability

 PvP: Black Prince, the go-to standard for most one-on-one duels

 Furniture on this build focuses heavily on sustainability, burn amplification, and buoy utility.

Ascensions and Passive Buffs

To push this build over the edge, here are the Ascensions used:

 Combustion: Enhances explosive and fire-based damage

 Amplified Explosive

 Amplified Burning ×2

This increases how quickly you trigger ablaze and how hard it hits once it does. These ascensions are essential to keep the firestorm rolling.FieldTest-Performance and Impressions

Testing this build in both PvE and PvP, it exceeded expectations. Despite being tiny and seemingly fragile, the Barge held up well even under pressure.

 PvP: Surprising results. The Electto hits hard, and ablaze stacks add up quickly. The Phoenix Talons help you hold your own in brawls.

 PvE: Extremely effective at breaking apart convoys and outposts. A few Infernal Maul mines and one good round of Electto fire can thin a group instantly.

 Sustain: Thanks to smart furniture and crew stamina management, healing is constant. Rarely had to brace or use ego kits.

Even in choppy waves and heavy enemy presence, the Barge never sank. With multiple ships ablaze, their targeting becomes chaotic, and the consistent hull regen keeps you afloat.

Extra Tips and Closing Thoughts

 Torpedo Defense: Your minefields also act as a shield. If you're up against enemies spamming torpedoes, drop a buoy field-it'll absorb the damage.

 Cosmetics: Purely up to you. For the full theme, pick a flaming skin to match the infernal vibe.

 Upgrade Path: This build isn't fully optimized yet due to lack of ascended parts. Once those are acquired, expect an even deadlier setup.

Final Verdict

Don't let the size fool you. The Wildfire Barge Build is one of the most fun and effective ways to play Skull and Bones right now. It's not just a troll setup-it actually shreds in the right hands. If you're bored of the meta and want to try something fresh, more cheap Skull and Bones Items, fiery, and full of chaotic potential, give this flaming bathtub a spin.