Flying Dutchman

Spectral broadsides over the plunderers tide

When a Pirate Invasion reaches midway progress across your world, dark thunderclouds part to reveal the Flying Dutchman. This spectral three-masted galleon drifts ominously across the sky, bringing heavy artillery to bear against defenders below. While its hull registers a symbolic 50 life in Classic, scaling to 100 in Expert and 150 in Master mode behind 100 defense, the ship cannot be sunk through direct hull bombardment. Its contact damage sits at 0 because the danger stems from its cannons and crew.

Mounted along its wooden bulwarks are four heavy cannon ports, two facing each flank. These turrets maintain continuous fire, discharging arcing cannonballs that bounce along platforms before detonating. Simultaneously, the galleon drops a steady stream of boarding crew members onto the battlefield, including Pirate Corsair, Pirate Deadeye, and Pirate Crossbower.

Dismantling the broadside cannon ports

To defeat the Flying Dutchman, you must systematically destroy all four of its cannon batteries. Targeting individual guns with single-target weapons can be slow and risky while boarding pirates flood the ground beneath you. The most effective approach utilizes high-angle aerial weapons or piercing artillery that strike multiple batteries at the same time.

Deploying a Daedalus Stormbow loaded with Holy Arrows or Holy Darts rains an umbrella of projectiles across the entire deck, damaging all four cannons simultaneously. Mages can cast the Meteor Staff or Clinger Staff to control the space above and below the hull. Maintaining flight slightly above the masts prevents bouncing cannonballs from ricocheting into your character, while keeping you far away from the cutlasses of ground troops. Once all four cannons are shattered, the spectral galleon breaks apart and vanishes.

The pirate treasury and golden furnishings

Sinking the Flying Dutchman awards access to the pirates' most legendary treasures. Its rarest prize is the Coin Gun (2% drop rate), an eccentric firearm that expends copper, silver, gold, or platinum coins as ammunition, dealing astounding single-shot damage when firing precious coinage. Economically minded players pursue the Lucky Coin (6.67%), the Discount Card (6.67%), and the Gold Ring (6.67%), which can be combined into the Greedy Ring at a Tinkerer's Workshop.

Summoners can harvest the Pirate Staff (6.67%), while melee fighters obtain the swift Cutlass (10%). Artillery specialists can also claim the Barrel Launcher (10%). For home decoration, the vessel drops pieces of lavish golden furniture such as the Golden Toilet (5.26%) and Golden Chair (5.26%). In Master mode, captains can claim The Black Spot (25%) mount, the Flying Dutchman Relic (100%), and the Flying Dutchman Trophy (10%).

Trivia

• The Flying Dutchman is based on maritime folklore concerning a ghost ship doomed to roam the oceans forever.
• Destroying the Flying Dutchman contributes a substantial percentage boost toward completing the entire Pirate Invasion.