Players receive such commendations when they use special skills (Claim Prize Ship for National players, and Scavenge for pirates) while targeting an abandoned enemy ship. The commendation type mostly depends on the level of the opponent(s), though there is some randomness involved (for example, Royal Commendations can be looted from enemies that are around level 45 and higher, though not always).
Commendations can be traded in for various rewards in the Nation's capital city, or sold to other players. They are very valuable, because they can be used to purchase skill re-specialization. Most of the rewards are the same for all careers, but some are exclusive to certain career types
Royal Commendations are required in obtaining writs, and they fetch the highest profit of any commendations when sold in Capital City Auction-houses.
Selling Commendations in your nation's Capital City will yield the greatest profit potential.
Commendations of Honor are best exchanged for Gold Ingots, as the current exchange is in 2020. At a 15 for 15 exchange rate.
Commendations of Skill are best exchanged for Silver Ingots, as the current exchange is in 2020. At a 15 for 15 exchange rate
Naval Officers turn in commendations at their Naval Headquarters. Freetraders turn them in at their Tradehouse.
Privateers can trade them in at their respective Privateer Establishment:
The following options are available to all national careers.
| Level Requirement | Commendations Needed | Reward |
| Level 1 | 5 Commendation for Courage | 1 Swashbuckling Skill Respec |
| Level 1 | 10 Commendation for Courage | 5 Crate of Bar Shot 5 Crate of Grape Shot 15 Crate of Heavy Round Shot 1 Inferior Supply Crate
|
| Level 1 | 15 Commendation for Courage | 1 Career Skill Respec 1 Book: Basic Consumables 15 Blocks, Oak 10 Hemp Canvas10 Hemp Rope 15 Ingot, Iron 5 Livestock 15 Wood Tar |
| Level 1 | 1 Commendation for Justice | 1 Commendation for Courage |
| Level 1 | 5 Commendation for Justice | 1 Swashbuckling Skill Respec |
| Level 15 | 10 Commendation for Justice | 1 Standard Supply Crate |
| Level 15 | 15 Commendation for Justice | 1 Career Skill Respec (Req. Level 1) 1 Book: Advanced Consumables 15 Hardtack 10 Nails15 Rum |
| Level 1 | 1 Commendation for Skill | 1 Commendation for Justice |
| Level 1 | 5 Commendation for Skill | 1 Swashbuckling Skill Respec |
| Level 25 | 10 Commendation for Skill | 1 Book: Advanced Gun Outfitting, Medium 1 Book: Advanced Gun Outfitting, Small 1 Book: Advanced Hull Outfitting, Medium 1 Book: Advanced Hull Outfitting, Small 1 Book: Book: Advanced Sail Outfitting, 1 Medium Book: Advanced Sail Outfitting, Small 1 Improved Supply Crate
|
| Level 25 | 15 Commendation for Skill | 1 Career Skill Respec (Req. Level 1)
10 Leather |
| Level 1 | 1 Commendation for Honor | 1 Commendation for Skill |
| Level 35 | 5 Commendation for Honor | 1 Swashbuckling Skill Respec Agile Cutlass, Outstanding Agile Rapier, OutstandingAgile Small Sword, Outstanding Apolline's Cutlass Diego's RapierRamiro's Small Sword Articulated Steel and Leather Gorget Sharkskin GaitersDancer's Shoes, Outstanding Fencer's Boots, OutstandingHessian Boots, Outstanding Swordsman's Boots, Outstanding Hand Wraps, Leather Heavy Glove, OutstandingMarksman's Gloves, Outstanding Suede Glove, Outstanding Hidden Chestplate, Brass Swashbuckler's Shirt, Outstanding
|
| Level 35 | 10 Commendation for Honor | Book: Advanced Gun Outfitting, Large Book: Advanced Hull Outfitting, Large Book: Advanced Sail Outfitting, Large 1 Quality Supply Crate 1 Superior Supply Crate
|
| Level 35 | 15 Commendation for Honor | 1 Career Skill Respec Book: Advanced General Outfitting, 1 15 Ingot, BrassBook: Advanced General Outfitting, 2 Book: Advanced General Outfitting, 3 15 Ingot, Gold |
| Level 1 | 1 Royal Commendation | 1 Commendation for Honor |
| Level 45 | 5 Royal Commendation | Book: Advanced Gun Outfitting, Huge Book: Advanced Hull Outfitting, Huge Book: Advanced Sail Outfitting, HugeBook: Basic Hull Outfitting, Huge Book: Basic Sail Outfitting, Huge Dancing Small Sword, Outstanding Duelist's Rapier, OutstandingVicious Cutlass, Outstanding Military Pistol, Outstanding |
| Level 45 | 10 Royal Commendation | Book: Gun Outfitting, Colossal Book: Hull Outfitting, Colossal Book: Sail Outfitting, Colossal5 Wine, Fine 3 Expert Captain
3 Expert Carpenter 3 Expert Gunner 3 Expert Mercenary 3 Expert Sailmaster |
| Level 45 | 30 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Couronne' Galleon
Writ: 'Valiant' Third Rate Writ: 'Wenden' Third Rate |
| Level 45 | 40 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Centurion' Third Rate |
| Level 45 | 50 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Hercules' Mastercraft Frigate |
| Level 45 | 60 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Lion' Third Rate |
| Level 45 | 75 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Formidable' Second Rate
Writ: 'Sceptre' Second Rate |
| Level 45 | 100 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Indomitable' First Rate
Writ: 'Victory' First Rate |
Naval Officers may select the following rewards in addition to the regular options.
| Commendations | Reward |
| 10 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Hercules' Sleek Frigate |
| 25 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Hercules' Heavy Frigate |
| 30 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Valiant' Third Rate Writ: 'Wenden' Third Rate |
| 40 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Centurion' Third Rate |
| 50 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Hercules' Mastercraft Frigate |
| 60 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Lion' Third Rate |
| 75 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Formidable' Second Rate Writ: 'Spectre' Second Rate |
| 100 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Indomitable' First Rate Writ: 'Victory' First Rate |
Privateers may select the following rewards in addition to the regular options.
| Commendations | Reward |
| 50 Royal Commendation | Writ: 'Hercules' Mastercraft Frigate |
Freetraders may select the following rewards in addition to the regular options.
The following options are available to all pirate careers.
| Commendations | Reward |
| 5 Captured Pennon | Swashbuckling Skill Respec |
| 10 Captured Pennon | 5 Crate of Bar Shot 5 Crate of Grape Shot 15 Crate of Heavy Round Shot Deed: Careening Camp Inferior Supply Crate
|
| 15 Captured Pennon | Career Skill Respec Book: Basic Consumables 50 Cacao 50 Tobacco |
| 1 Captured Standard | 1 Captured Pennon |
| 5 Captured Standard | Swashbuckling Skill Respec |
| 10 Captured Standard | Deed: Careening Camp Standard Supply Crate |
| 15 Captured Standard | Career Skill Respec Book: Advanced Consumables 50 Coffee |
| 1 Captured Banner | 1 Captured Standard |
| 5 Captured Banner | Swashbuckling Skill Respec |
| 10 Captured Banner | Book: Advanced Gun Outfitting, Medium Book: Advanced Gun Outfitting, Small Book: Advanced Hull Outfitting, Medium Book: Advanced Hull Outfitting, Small Book: Advanced Sail Outfitting, Medium Book: Advanced Sail Outfitting, Small Deed: Careening Camp Improved Supply Crate
|
| 15 Captured Banner | Career Skill Respec 25 Cochineal 15 Rum |
| 1 Captured Ensign | 1 Captured Banner |
| 5 Captured Ensign | Swashbuckling Skill Respec Agile Cutlass, Outstanding Agile Rapier, OutstandingAgile Small Sword, Outstanding Apolline's Cutlass Diego's RapierRamiro's Small Sword Articulated Steel and Leather Gorget Sharkskin GaitersDancer's Shoes, Outstanding Fencer's Boots, OutstandingHessian Boots, Outstanding Swordsman's Boots, Outstanding Hand Wraps, Leather Heavy Glove, OutstandingMarksman's Gloves, Outstanding Suede Glove, Outstanding Hidden Chestplate, Brass Swashbuckler's Shirt, Outstanding
|
| 10 Captured Ensign | Book: Advanced Gun Outfitting, Large Book: Advanced Hull Outfitting, Large Book: Advanced Sail Outfitting, Large Deed: Careening Camp Quality Supply CrateSuperior Supply Crate |
| 15 Captured Ensign | Career Skill Respec Book: Advanced General Outfitting, 1 Book: Advanced General Outfitting, 2 Book: Advanced General Outfitting, 3 15 Small Arms |
| 1 Captured Battle Ensign | 1 Captured Ensign |
| 5 Captured Battle Ensign | Book: Advanced Gun Outfitting, Huge Book: Advanced Hull Outfitting, Huge Book: Advanced Sail Outfitting, Huge Book: Basic Gun Outfitting, Huge Book: Basic Hull Outfitting, HugeBook: Basic Sail Outfitting, Huge Dancing Small Sword, Outstanding Duelist's Rapier, OutstandingVicious Cutlass, Outstanding Military Pistol, Outstanding |
| 10 Captured Battle Ensign | Book: Gun Outfitting, Colossal Book: Hull Outfitting, Colossal Book: Sail Outfitting, ColossalPirate Writ: 'Hercules' Sleek Frigate |
| 20 Captured Battle Ensign | Mastercraft Brass Knuckles |
| 25 Captured Battle Ensign | Pirate Writ: 'Hercules' Heavy Frigate |
Cutthroats may select the following rewards in addition to the regular options.
| Commendations | Reward |
| 50 Captured Battle Ensign | Pirate Writ: 'Hercules' Pirate Frigate |
Buccaneers may select the following rewards in addition to the regular options.
| Commendations | Reward |
| 20 Captured Battle Ensign | Pirate Writ: 'San Mateo' Heavy Galleon Pirate Writ: 'San Mateo' Trader's Galleon |
| 30 Captured Battle Ensign | Pirate Writ: 'Couronne' Galleon |