This time, we're looking at an absolute beast: the Basilis Freeze Culverin build. If you've seen the chatter about Brick Breaker setups, you're not alone. But after running the numbers, doing field testing, and sailing into countless engagements, it's clear: the Basilis Freeze is not just competitive-it's lethal.
This article breaks down the full math, gameplay testing, and optimal loadout for this culverin-based monster of a ship. Whether you're farming smuggler points, chasing Moonshiner events Skull and Bones Items, or just want to vaporize enemy ships with precision, this is a build worth considering.
Brick Breaker Freeze vs. Basilis Freeze: The Numbers Game
Let's start with some raw calculations. In a previous Brick Breaker Freeze build, you might've used parts like:
Rim's Breath Churner
Ammo Priming Station
Copper Fastening Station
Ramrod Workshop
Culverin Works
With perks like Explosive II, Siege, Electric Severe, and Long Arm, this setup resulted in:
Base Damage: 1,866
Secondary Damage: 882
Total per shot (including ascensions): 2,748
Volley (13 shots): 35,724
With Severity Proc (1.56x average): +4,616
Total Damage: 40,340
Now that's solid, especially if you're using Long Arm to increase range damage. But once we pivot to the Basilis Freeze, the story changes-and in a big way.
Why the Basilis Freeze is a Monster
The Basilis Freeze comes with baked-in piercing and weak point bonuses, making it deadly right out of the gate. Let's break down the same damage logic:
Main Damage Buff: +15%
Secondary Damage Buff: +58%
Base Total Damage: 4,639
Weak Point Damage Buffs: +125% (75% from Basilis + 50% from weak points)
Volley (13 shots): ~150,000 damage to weak points
That's nearly 4x the output of the Brick Breaker Freeze in a perfect scenario.
And that's before layering in severity or fire synergies.
Variant: Burning Basilis Freeze
Want to specialize even more? Consider converting to a Burning Basilis Freeze setup. Swap out some components to focus on DoT and ignition uptime:
Replace Rim's Breath with Build Fire Barrels
Add Gunpowder Kegs
Equip Devil's Concoction
Though you'll lose about 10% secondary from Rim's Breath, Devil's Concoction gives you back 12%, and Build Fire Barrels can reignite targets every 30 seconds-giving you constant ablaze uptime and greater burst window synergy.
You'll trade a small amount of secondary output for better event utility, especially in Moonshiner missions.
Long Arm vs. Deadly Strike: Which Is Better?
Let's talk perks: both Long Arm and Deadly Strike are valuable, but Deadly Strike wins on consistency.
Long Arm boosts damage from afar but is hard to line up due to culverin travel arcs and ship movement.
Deadly Strike gives a flat 45% bonus to all hits-including weak points up close.
After several engagements, including battles against tougher enemies like Zang, the Deadly Strike side consistently outperformed the Long Arm side, especially at close range where weak points are easier to hit.
Full Basilis Freeze Build Loadout
Front Weapons
Basilis Freeze
Perks: Combustion, Grace of the Winds (30% turning speed for target tracking)
Side Weapons
Port Side: Basilis Freeze (Combustion, Severity, Deadly Strike)
Starboard Side: Basilis Freeze (Combustion, Severity, Long Arm-for testing comparison)
Torpedoes
Dhakkars-Reduce armor by 200, penetrate targets, synergize with culverin burst
Auxiliary Modules
Little Grace Free: Small repairs over time
Fix, Restorative, Empower (grants +3% weapon damage to target)
Furniture Setup:
Rim's Breath Churner (or Build Fire Barrels)
Powder Kegs (Port/Starboard) for +10% weapon damage
Culverin Works (+19% secondary damage)
Ramrod Workshop (+7% broadside secondary damage, -7% reload)
High Velocity Kegs (+12% secondary for piercing weapons)
For fire builds, rotate in Devil's Concoction and Gunpowder Kegs.
Armor Choices
Buccaneer's Oath:
Blood and Gold buff gives +25% weapon damage and armor for 30s after a kill. Great for chain fights.
Black Prince:
Reduces incoming damage by 40% below 33% HP. Ideal for tanky builds or clutch moments.
Cosmetics and Custom Flair
Because you can't dominate the seas without style:
Sails: Deep Black with a red glow
Emblem: Whispers of Death
Figurehead: "In Death"-a skeletal captain
Color Scheme: Vengeful Dead (blood red/black)
Crew: Drowned Sea Dogs
Aura: Apocalyptic Deathwish Red Glow
And yes-you can run a parrot with a hat if you want. No judgments.Field Test Results: Basilis Freeze in Action
In test battles, including skirmishes against Fangs of Far, Captain Taga, and Zang, the Basilis Freeze absolutely shredded ships:
Close-range volleys regularly hit 4,000 to 5,000+ damage per shot on weak points.
Deadly Strike perk proved far more consistent than Long Arm.
Grace of the Winds ensured fast turning, letting you pivot from one side to the other and volley again.
Battles were completed without using repair kits, highlighting both the damage output and survivability.
Advanced Tips
Dual-Side Build Variant: Equip Deadly Strike on one side, Healing (Little Grace) on the other. Rotate as needed-one side does massive damage, the other keeps you alive.
Weak Point Tracking: Practice aim with culverins. Weak points are often tough to hit, but when you land them, the numbers explode.
Upgrade Route: Rotate smuggler events (Fangs of Far, Show of Strength, Hunter Hunted) for 105 points each. Do 9-10 runs, and you get a smuggler token.
Masterwork Kits: Farm Arpak for quick kit drops and ascension modules Buy Skull and Bones Silver.
Final Thoughts
The Basilis Freeze Culverin Build is hands down one of the most devastating setups currently in Skull and Bones. With massive weak point multipliers, consistent secondary scaling, and flexible variants (burning vs. precision), it's a build that adapts to content-and destroys it.
Whether you're PvE farming, clearing smuggler pass objectives, or challenging tougher world events, this build has it all: raw power, tactical depth, and visual flair.