If you're new to the "Assassin's Creed" series, after you've completed the main story line, you will want to explore the 80 hours remaining of open world gameplay.
And in your high seas pirating adventures, you will soon find yourself wanting to retrieve every last collectable you can find in "Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag." From Sea Shanties to Animus Fragments, there are plenty collectables available for you to hunt down.
Don't leave the game unfinished "Assassin's Creed" newbies! Check out the list of the collectables waiting for you below, courtesy of the Ubisoft's official blog.
Animus Fragment: You can use these to repair the ships in Edward Kenway's Fleet
"Mostly for the most hardcore completists among you, the Animus Fragments are just a fun bonus to track down. All 200 must be obtained in order to complete all of the Abstergo Challenges, which allows you to unlock the Deceased Crew Cheat. (We'll be digging into the Cheats soon.)"
Letter in a Bottle: Exactly what they sound like
Found on beaches and shores, so be on the lookout for something shiny. These bottles contain messages from past travelers.
Manuscript: Want a little history lesson?
"Always located in a restricted zone and guarded by several people, the Manuscripts offer insight on historical events and people - the cornerstone of the Assassin's Creed franchise."
Mayan Stone: Collectables needed to access a special outfit
"Across the map there are 16 Mayan Stelae; climb to the very top and interact with it in order to switch over to Eagle Vision. While using your Eagle Vision, manipulate a pattern on the ground so it matches up with three specific objects in the environment. Once you've solved the puzzle you'll be shown the location of the Mayan Stone. Gather all the stones and you'll gain access to the Mayan Outfit, which deflects metal projectiles."
Present Day Collectibles: The reason why exploring Abstergo is fun!
Since you are an Abstergo employee, you will eventually gain access to locked rooms as the game progresses (all I can say without spoiling the game's plot.) Take the time to look around the office. There are sticky notes all around the offices with QR cods containing cryptic notes. You will also have the ability to hack into computers to find out what happened to Desmond Miles in "Assassin's Creed III". Many Easter Eggs are waiting around the offices, and be sure to eavesdrop in conversations between your co-workers. You will learn many interesting things if you pay attention to your work surroundings.
Shanty: Because you can't have your pirate crew singing the same song all day
The Sea Shanties appear randomly throughout the cities. You'll have to chase them down as they try to fly away.
Templar Key: Collect all 5 and gain access to powerful armor
"Though there are only five of these Templar Keys, they will take you a bit of time to collect as they are all tied to a series of missions. Complete four tasks set by various Assassin Bureau leaders and they will lead you to one of the keys. Remember hunting down all the Assassin Seals in Assassin's Creed II so you could access the Armor of Altair? The Templar Keys offer a similar reward. Once you collect all five, you'll unlock the Templar Armor, which grants you an increased resistance to enemy attacks."
Treasure Map: You're a pirate, go find some buried chests!
"You'll pull these off the corpses of sailors who met their unfortunate demises on beaches throughout the Caribbean. Each map will contain a set of coordinates and a drawing of the treasure's surroundings. Once you are able to track down the coordinates, you'll have to find the exact spot marked by an X on your map. These Treasure Maps lead to money or plans to unlock upgrades for the Jackdaw."
