Complete List of Oak & Iron Ship Upgrade Cards
Ship Upgrade Cards in Oak & Iron by Firelock Games are a unique feature that allows players to customize and improve their squadron’s ships. These cards provide a wide range of options you may add to a ship, from improving its speed, maneuverability, and firepower to providing bonuses to crew morale and special abilities. These cards allow players to tailor their ships to their play style and to adapt to different scenarios or opponents.
Complete List of Oak & Iron Ship Upgrade Cards
The list below provides comprehensive information on the Ship Upgrade Cards in the Core Rules box set and the Expansion Deck v1 from Firelock Games.
| Upgrade Card | Cost | Faction | Source | Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressive Crew | 1 | Any | Exp | This ship may perform a “Boarding” Crew Action if the target ship has more Fatigue than this ship. |
| Boarding Defenses | 3 | Any | Core | If a Close Combat Attack is made against this ship, reduce the total number of Attack dice by half (round down). Discard this card after its effect has been used. |
| Bold Captain | 1 | Any | Core | After making an Attack or Skill Test, you may re-roll up to 3 dice. If any of the re-rolled dice fail to score a hit during the Attack or if the Skill test is failed, this ship takes 1 Point of Fatigue |
| Boarding Party | 1 | Any | Core | Roll 1 more dice during all Close Combat Attacks. |
| Brilliant Captain | 4 | Any | Core | Increase this ship’s skill rating by 1 (to a maximum of 3) |
| Buccaneers | 2 | English / French / Pirates | Core | When making an Attack at Musket Shot or closer (including Close Combat), re-roll any (Musket) results. If any additional (Musket) results are rolled, the Attacked ship takes 1 Point of Fatigue. May not be taken on Ships of the Line |
| Buccaneers | 2 | English / French / Pirates | Exp | MARKSMAN When making an Attack at Musket Shot or closer (including Close Combat), roll an additional dice for each (Musket) result. If any additional (Musket) results are rolled, the Attacked ship takes 1 Point of Fatigue. May not be taken on Ships of the Line |
| Corsairs | 1 | Pirates / Spanish | Core | After rolling for a Close Combat Attack, this ship may roll 1 more dice for each (Sword) result. May not be taken on Ships of the Line. |
| Dismantling Shot | 1 | Any | When targeting a ship’s rigging within Musket Shot, add an additional dice to the attack. | |
| Dispatch Ship | 2 | Any | Core | If this ship is within Musket Shot of this Squadron’s Flagship, all friendly ships within Musket Shot of this ship are considered to be in formation during the Movement Phase. May not be taken on Ships of the Line or a Flagship |
| Dispatch Ship | 2 | Any | Exp | If this ship is within Musket Shot of this Squadron’s Flagship, all friendly ships within Musket Shot of this ship are considered to be in formation during the Initiative & Movement Phase. May not be taken on Ships of the Line or a Flagship |
| Efficient Loader | 1 | Any | Core | This ship may remove a reload marker at any time. Discard this card after its effect has been used. |
| Expert Gunners | 3 | Any | Core | Each time this ship rolls a Skull result on a Broadside attack, roll an additional Attack dice for each Skull. Apply this effect until there are no Skull results. |
| Expert Gunners | 3 | Any | Exp | If this ship rolls two or more skull results when making a Broadside or Partial Fire attack, the target ship takes a point of damage. |
| Expert Sailing Master | 1 | Any | Core | This ship may add a (sail) result to any Skill test. Remove this card from the game when used. |
| Expert Topmen | 1 | Any | Exp | This ship may take a free “Change Sail Setting” Crew Action at any time. Discard this card after its effect has been used. |
| Fire Ship | 0 | Any | Core | This ship may not make Attacks, may not add other upgrades, and has a Fortitude value of 1. If this ship Collides with another ship, roll a Critical Hit test using twice the number of dice equal to this ship’s broadside value and then resolve the Collision. After the collision, this ship becomes Out of Action. This ship cannot give Strike Points. May not be taken on Ships of the Line. |
| Foul | -1 | Any | Core | This ship may not increase its Speed Rating beyond its printed values for any reason |
| Inspiring Captain | 4 | Any | Core | Remove 2 points of Fatigue when taking a Rally action |
| Kapers | 1 | Dutch / Pirates | Core | If this ship takes a Rally Action within Pistol Shot of an opposing ship, it may remove an additional point of Fatigue. May not be taken on Ships of the Line. |
| Low Morale | -2 | Any | Core | When this ship takes a Rally Crew action, it must take a Skill Test. If the Test is passed, this ship removes a point of Fatigue as usual. If failed, the action is wasted |
| Lucky Captain | 1 | Any | Core | You may spend a Fortune Point to force your opponent to re-roll an Attack made against this ship. |
| Marines | 2 | Any | Exp | When checking for Critical Hits, if one or more Musket results are rolled, the target ship takes 1 point of fatigue. This ship adds +1 dice to all Close Combat actions. |
| Merchants | -1 | Any | Exp | Undermanned: This ship rolls 1 less dice for all Skill Tests and Attacks. Closed Quarters: Close Combat attacks made with and against this ship only hit (skull) results. May not be taken on Ships of the Line. |
| Persistent Captain | 2 | Any | Core | This ship may remove 1 point of Fatigue each time its Squadron earn 1 or more Strike Points |
| Poorly Armed | -2 | Any | Exp | This ship never treats (cannon) results as hits and cannot cause Critical Hits at Cannon Range. |
| Skilled Carpenter | 1 | Any | Core | This ship may remove 1 point of damage at any time. Discard this card after its effect has been used. |
| Skilled Surgeon | 1 | Any | Core | This ship may remove 1 point of Fatigue at any time. Discard this card after its effect has been used. |
| Strict Captain | 1 | Any | Core | This ship may take 2 points of Fatigue instead of spending a Fortune Point. May be used even when the player has no Fortune Points remaining |
| Supply Ship | 0 | Any | Exp | Double Rations: After creating an Initiative hand, add the “Double Rations” Initiative card to your hand. Valuable: If this ship is Captured or Out of Action, the controlling Force gains an additional Strike Point each turn. May not be taken on a Ship of the Line, Frigate or Flagship. 1 ship only, no other upgrades. |
| Support Ship | 1 | Any | Core | Fireships always roll half dice (round down) against this ship. The following may only be used on a friendly Out Of Action ship that is within Pistol Shot of this ship and Outside Pistol Shot of any enemy; At the start of the end phase, remove this card and a target ship. Reduce total Strike Points earned by 3 for the rest of the game. May not be taken on Ships of the Line or a Flagship. |
| Swashbucklers | 1 | Any | Core | After rolling for a Close Combat Attack, this ship may roll 1 more dice for each (Skull) result. |
| Troop Transport | 1 | Any | Exp | Anytime this ship within Pistol Shot of an Island or Landmass and at Minimal Sail or less, It may reduce its sail setting to Anchored and take a free Landing Party Crew Action. Discord this card after its effect has been used. May not be taken on Ships of the Line. |
| Unseasoned Timbers | -3 | Any | Core | If 1 or more (Skull) results are rolled when making an Attack against this ship, this ship takes 1 point of damage in addition to any other damage or effects from the Attack |
| Untested Crew | -1 | Any | Exp | The first time this ship would take a point of Fatigue, roll a dice. If a (Sail) or (Skull) is rolled, it will not take any Fatigue for the rest of the turn. If any other result is rolled, it takes an additional point of Fatigue. |
| Veteran Crew | 2 | Any | Exp | If this ship is not Shaken or Crippled, it treats its Fatigue level as one less when making Attacks or Skill tests. |
| Vice Flag | 2 | Any | Exp | This ship is considered a Flagship for the purpose of determining Formation. May only be taken by a single ship in a Squadron. |
Download the Complete List of Oak & Iron Ship Upgrade Cards
Click below to download a digital copy of the list of Initiative Cards for referencing the abilities and rules of each card. Oak & Iron Ship Upgrade Card List PDF Download –
Updated to v. 1.3 Feb 1, 2024
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Additional Article Suggestions
• Get the Complete List of Oak & Iron Initiative Cards
• Oak & Iron Expansion Deck Vol 1 – What’s in It? Is It Worth Buying?
• Get more info on each of the Faction specific cards under our Oak & Iron Factions – The Complete Guide
• Check out our Strategy & Tactics Guides for Oak & Iron
Product Referral Link
• Oak & Iron Game Products from Firelock Games
• Get the printed card from the Expansion Deck Vol 1. for Oak & Iron which includes:
— 21 Admiral Cards
— 3 Initiative Cards
— 26 Upgrade Cards