BDO Sailors are NPC characters that increase the Sailing stats of your ship (Speed, Acceleration, Turn, Brake, and other helpful Sailing buffs). They also explore and find supplies on Barter islands. Sailors appear in three different cities and randomly respawn every 4 hours. After certain requirements are met, you can attempt to hire Sailors, if you have a Sailor Contract Certificate, purchased for 3,000,000 silver at a Wharf Master.

Top image credit: u/HellfyrAngel

Sailor Highlights

  • Obtain 1 Sailor from the Main Sailor quest line
  • Obtain 5 “Sailor’s Oath” which adds 5 Sailor slots (1 per Oath) via the Main Sailor quest line.
  • Sailors can get sick and need to be cured (Sailors that have low Condition)
  • Sailors need to be fed periodically with unique Sailor only food
  • Sailors gain XP and level like workers (Stat increase amount from leveling is random and depends on a hidden growth range of each Sailor. Usual amount is about 0.1%.)
  • Sailors can refuse your attempt to hire them and you will loose 3 million Silver. They and their Contract will disapear upon rejecting you.
  • Max Sailor amount is currently 20 (increased via quests that give Sailor’s Oath and a Pearl item, Captain’s Medallion).
  • Availability of Sailors differs every 4 hours, randomly. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for all of them to appear so be patient.

Sailors are shared account wide. Hired Sailors and Sailor spawns do not change with character swaps or server swaps.

The number of Sailors you can put on one ship depends upon that ship’s Cabin number. Each Sailor requires a certain amount of Cabin Space.

BDO Sailor Requirements

  • Sailor Quest Requirement: level 50+
  • Sailor Quest Line:
    • In order to obtain Sailors, you must complete the quest line with the heading of  “[The Great Expedition] Oquilla’s Eye” under the Suggested tab of your quest window (O).
    • Sailors Quest Line Start:
       – Vigorous Velia
  •   Sailor Contract Certificate (Cost: 3 mil each. Purchase from Philaberto Falasi in Port Epheria, Islin Bartali or Proix in Velia, or from Wharf Managers in each region.)

Sailor Locations

Sailors are found in three locations:

  • Velia: inside the Inn next to <Innkeeper> Islin Bartali and around the tables
  • Port Epheria: near the beached whale, down the road from the <Storage Keeper>
  • Iliya Island: up the main staircase next to the <General Goods> NPC and along that road, down to the <Stable Keeper>

Look for NPC’s by the name of “Sailor”.

Each one has a description title above their “Sailor” name.

This title will let you know the Sailor’s base stats. See table below.

At the time this screenshot was taken, there were 5 Sailors available for hire at the Port Epheria beach.

Sailor Management

Sailor Management occurs via any <Wharf Manager>.

Click on “Manage Sailors” to assign Sailors to your ship.

Select the Sailor and then “Board” button.

If you have multiple ships, you have to do this for each ship. They don’t automatically board every ship you take out.

Sailors & Barter NPC’s

When you sail up to a Barter NPC, a Sailor/Barter UI will come up. After clicking on “Anchor”, you will have two options for your Sailors. (Ration Cost: 100,000)

  • SUPPLY: Sailors will gather Ship Rations (very small amount. Only use if you are in dire need.)
  • EXPLORE: Sailors may find treasures
    • RNG chance that Sailors will find treasures like Barter Support Box, Seaweed Stalk, Iridescent Coral, etc.
    • Sailors have a chance to repair/damage your ship.
    • Sailors have a chance to find rations.
    • Sailors have a chance to increase/decrease their Condition.
    • Explore may fail, but still consume ship rations.
    • Chance to aquire an Island Exploration Quest to obtain 50 Crow Coins.

Sailor Search & Supply Requirements:

  • 100,001+ of Rations loaded on your ship
  • have at least 1 Sailor on board your ship
  • 20 minute wait between Supply and Explore
  • 20 minute timer is per button press, and NOT per Sailor (Different Barter NPC’s share this timer. Going to another node, will not help you bypass the timer.)

Explore can occur automatically while sailing:

  • Rations, Ship HP, or Sailor Condition Increased / Decreased
  • Item obtained / Quest received (Ship Rations are not consumed)
    • [Level 1] to [Level 5] Sea Trade Good Box
    • Silver Key
    • 300 Contribution quest
    • Junk items

Sailors Find Treasure via Explore

In the image below, we see that Explore costs 100,000 Rations. However, the Sailor didn’t find anything. This has been common for me.

Barter Support Box

Barter Support Box is rarely obtained through Sailor Explore.

 Barter Support Box – right click this box to randomly obtain 1 of Barter Support Box I to IV.

Barter Box Barter Support Box Rewards (You get ALL listed)
 Barter Support Box Barter Support Box I Bag of Muddy Water x600, Red Tree Lump x300, Bloody Tree Knot x200, Rough Mud Crystal x300, Rough Red Crystal x300, Rough Green Crystal x300, Rough Black Crystal x300, Rough Blue Crystal x300, Noc Ore x2000 and Lead Ore x2000.
Barter Support Box II Powder of Darkness x500, Powder of Flame x500, Powder of Crevice x500, Powder of Earth x500, Powder of Time x500, Spirit’s Leaf x400, Monk’s Branch x400, Old Tree Bark x400, Log x800 and Rough Stone x500.
Barter Support Box III Sinner’s Blood x60, Vinegar x3000, Beer x1500, Grilled Bird Meat x1500, White Cedar Sap x1500, Acacia Sap x1500, Elder Tree Sap x900, Cloud Mushroom x2500, Fruit of Abundance x50 and Fruit of Magic Power x50.
Barter Support Box IV Aloe x2500, Pistachio x2500, Star Anise x1500, Essence of Liquor x3000, Knitting Yarn x400, Flax Thread x400, Wool x90, Wolf Hide x1500, Feather Wolf Hide x1500 and Wild Grass x1000.

 

Sailor Stats & Properties

Sailors have stats that increase your ship’s Speed, Acceleration, Turn, and Brake. If your Sailor has high Endurance, then he will increase your ship’s Speed by that amount.

Sailor Stats Increasing Ship Stats:

  • Endurance: Speed
  • Wits: Acceleration
  • Awareness: Turn
  • Strength: Brake

Image credit: u/HellfyrAngel

Sailors also have other stats that you will want to take note of.

  • Weight: Sailor Weight takes away from the cargo your ship can carry. Giants weigh the most at 500 LT. Goblins are usually the lightest Sailors, good for when you want to Barter, Trade, or carry goods. Dwarves are 300 LT and Humans average about 250.
    • Ship cargo load + Sailor Weight cannot exceed 100%, unless Bartering. (Ships with Weight over 100% will become slower and disable sailing skills.)
  • Appetite: Sailor Appetite shows you how often you will need to feed them
  • Condition (Health): Keep an eye on this and feed your Sailor when their Conditon (Health) is low. Sailors with 0 Condition have a chance to get an illness that can only be cured by a rare elixir. Condition is depleted randomly at sea and after Explore, so keep this topped up whenever you are at the <Wharf Manager>.
  • Force, Focus, Vision: improvements in cannon range (Force), accuracy (Focus), and angle (Vision) – a limited amount of Sailors have these stats. More info below.
  • Exp: Sailors gain Exp primarily by Sea Monster kills, and more slowly through regular/special Bartering
    • Sailor Exp is increased, depending on the number of Sailors on your ship. (Example 4 Sailors get 35% each of the Sailor XP)
      • 1 Sailor: 100% EXP
      • 2–3 Sailors: 120% EXP
      • 4–5 Sailors: 140% EXP
      • 6–7 Sailors: 160% EXP
      • 8–10 Sailors: 180% EXP

Sailor Condition from Remote Collect or Ship Destruction

Sailors drop to 0 Condition on Remote Collect and also when your ship is destroyed. This can cause your Sailor to become sick. Barter items are always destroyed. Trade items have a chance to be destroyed.

  • Sailors can’t board a ship with 0 Condition.
  • Sailors that can’t board the ship, no longer have their stats applied to the ship. (All Sailor benefits and actions are removed.)

 

Sailor Stats for Wind, Current, Rations, & Condition

The 4 stats below show in the Sailor Stat window, but I know of no one that has gotten ranks in them. All remain at 0%, for the “white grade” Sailors, even if you level them to 10. There is speculation that they may introduce green, blue, and yellow grade Sailors in the future. Only time will tell!

Sailor Stats for Ocean Wind & Current:

  • Seasoned Sailor: Ocean Current Resistance
  • Son of the Wind: Ocean Wind Resistance

Sailor Stats for Sailor/Ship Health:

  • Abstain: Ship Rations
  • Natural Born Soldier: Sailor Condition/Health

Sailor Food Restores Condition

 Chowder: recovers 10 Condition

Chowder Recipe:

 – Dried Pearl Oyster Flesh Drying: Giant Pearl Oyster x1
2 – Pepper – farming
2 – Pork – butchering pigs
 – Milk – miling cows mini-game or CP turn-ins
 – Teff Bread

Teff Bread Recipe:

  • Teff Flour x5
  • Mineral Water x3
  • Leavening Agent x2
  • Salt x2

 Raisin Bread – recovers 1 Condition

Purchase from a <Wharf Manager> or Islin Bartali at the Lunar Halo Inn in Velia.

Croix <Wharf Manager>
Location: Velia docks

Feeding Sailors: Restoring Condition

Sailor Condition can only be restored at the <Wharf Manager>. Select “Manage Sailors”. Look for a cup icon next to their portrait in the Sailor List. Or use the restore all button.

Note that Sailor Condition does NOT restore, when a Sailor levels up.

Sailor Sickness Requires Elixir of Regeneration

Sailors can get sick, if their Condition falls to zero.

When Sailors get sick, their stats are not applied to the ship.

To cure Sailing Sickness, obtain the following:

 Elixir of Regeneration

You craft it via Simple Alchemy, or there are quests (Ravinia quest guide):

 Mysterious Painting 1: Origin of the Lopters

Ravinia’s Quest Line Guide

Example: Ravinia’s Lovey-Dovey Letter 

 

 Elixir of Regeneration Simple Alchemy Recipe:

 – Essence of Magic Power 

Alchemy:

  • Fruit of Magic Power x2
  • Dry Mane Grass x3
  • Birch Sap x4
  • Powder of Darkness x2
2 – Troll Blood – gather from Troll corpses
 – Mandragora Essence – Purchase with sea coins.

Alchemy:

  • Legendary Beast’s Blood
  • Red Tree Lump
  • Fruit of Crimson Flame
  • Powder of Crevice
4 – Grape – Farming, Olvia Node, Gathering

Sailor Stat Charts

Innocent Goblin Speed
Lv Max
+Lvl		 Min Max Avg
1 1.2 1.2 1.2
2 0.2 1.3 1.4 1.4
3 0.2 1.4 1.6 1.5
4 0.3 1.5 1.9 1.7
5 0.3 1.6 2.2 1.9
6 0.4 1.7 2.6 2.2
7 0.4 1.8 3.0 2.4
8 0.4 1.9 3.4 2.7
9 0.4 2.0 3.8 2.9
10 0.5 2.1 4.3 3.2

Thank you to Rengerel#8843, who posted a nice image in Discord of many of the min and max stats for Sailors. View source image.

 

Notable Sailors:

  • Innocent Sailor: a popular Velia/Epheria Goblin that has a good balance of low Weight and good Speed/Acceleration, although doesn’t start out as fast as Ambitious Sailor. ( Players report that this is the best Sailor to obtain because he has the highest Speed/Endurance growth of all Sailors. See his growth probability chart posted in discord by Geniewiz#0001 )
  • Ambitious Sailor: Goblin that spawns in Velia/Epheria has a good balance of low Weight and high Speed/Acceleration (good for Bartering)
  • Born-in-the-Sea: The Giant Sailor in Iliya Island has the best starting Speed/Acceleration of all of the Sailors. His Weight is also high, however. (Excellent for getting to your destination quickly, though.)

Sailors Sorted By Best in Base Speed:

 

Race Appetite Cabin Cost Weight Base Speed Base Accel Base Turn Base Brake Force (Range) Focus (Accuracy) Vision (Angle) Location
Born-in-the-Sea Giant 150 10 500 2 0.3 0.3 0.3 Iliya
Ambitious Goblin 150 10 200 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.2
Velia,Epheria
Innocent Goblin 150 10 200 1.2 0.3 0.3 0.3
Velia,Epheria
Experienced Human 150 10 250 1 1 0.3 0.3
Velia,Epheria
Powerful Giant 150 8 500 1 1 1 1 Iliya
Dreaming of a Full Haul Giant 150 13 400 0.2 1.4 0.2 0.2 Epheria. Iliya
Honest Human 120 7 200 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Iliya
Strong Human 100 8 250 0.5 0.5 1.5 1.5 Iliya
Smart Giant 100 5 500 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
Velia,Epheria
Diligent Goblin 80 10 100 0.3 0.3 2 2 Iliya
Calculating Dwarf 150 10 300 0.3 1.2 0.3 0.3
Velia,Epheria
Confident Dwarf 100 5 300 0.3 0.3 3 0.6
Velia,Epheria
Tough Human 100 5 300 0.3 0.3 0.6 3
Velia,Epheria
Enamored Goblin 150 10 300 0.2 1.6 0.2 0.2
Velia,Epheria
Treasure-Seeking Dwarf 110 5 300 0.2 0.2 4 0.8
Velia,Epheria
Tenacious Dwarf 100 5 300 0.2 0.2 0.8 4 Velia
Quick-Witted Giant 150 10 500 0.2 0.2 0.2 3 0.2 5 0.2 Velia,Iliya
Quick Goblin 100 10 250 0.2 1.5 0.2 0.2 3.0 0.2 0.2 Velia,Iliya
Realistic Dwarf 100 10 300 0.2 0.2 3 0.2 0.2 0.2 15 Velia,Iliya
Curious Human 100 10 300 0.2 1 0.2 1 1 3 0.2 Velia,Iliya

 

FocusFire Sailors for Cannon Buffs

In patch 4/22/2020, BDO added 4 new sailors that specialize in enhancing your ship’s cannons. These new stats impact the FocusFire skill and improve on cannon range, accuracy, and angle. Read more about FocusFire.

 

Race Appetite Cabin Cost Weight Base Speed Base Accel Base Turn Base Brake Force (Range) Focus (Accuracy) Vision (Angle) Location
Quick-Witted Giant 150 10 500 0.2 0.2 0.2 3 0.2 5 0.2 Velia,Iliya
Quick Goblin 100 10 250 0.2 1.5 0.2 0.2 3.0 0.2 0.2 Velia,Iliya
Realistic Dwarf 100 10 300 0.2 0.2 3 0.2 0.2 0.2 15 Velia,Iliya
Curious Human 100 10 300 0.2 1 0.2 1 1 3 0.2 Velia,Iliya

Thank you to SakushibaYoski for the Sailor stat tables below. They will help you choose the best Sailors.

Sailor Stats (10 Cabin Slots)

 Sailor combinations and stats for ships with 10 Cabins.

10 Cabin Slots: Cabin Cost Weight Base Speed Base Accel Base Turn Base Brake Amount
Born-in-the-Sea 10 500 2 0,3 0,3 0,3
Ambitious 10 200 1,6 0,2 0,2 0,2
Innocent 10 200 1,2 0,3 0,3 0,3
Experienced 10 250 1 1 0,3 0,3
Powerful 8 500 1 1 1 1
Honest 7 200 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5
Strong 8 250 0,5 0,5 1,5 1,5
Smart 10 1000 0,8 0,8 0,8 0,8 2
Diligent 10 100 0,3 0,3 2 2
Calculating 10 300 0,3 1,2 0,3 0,3
Confident 10 600 0,6 0,6 6 1,2 2
Tough 10 600 0,6 0,6 1,2 6 2
Enamored 10 300 0,2 1,6 0,2 0,2
Treasure-Seeking 10 600 0,4 0,4 8 1,6 2
Tenacious 10 600 0,4 0,4 1,6 8 2
Smart+Confident 10 800 0,7 0,7 3,4 1 2
Smart+Tough 10 800 0,7 0,7 1 3,4 2
Smart+Treasure-Seeking
 10 800 0,6 0,6 4,4 1,2 2
Smart+Tenacious 10 800 0,6 0,6 1,2 4,4 2
Confident+Tough 10 600 0,6 0,6 3,6 3,6 2
Confident+Treasure-Seeking
 10 600 0,5 0,5 7 1,4 2
Confident+Tenacious
 10 600 0,5 0,5 3,8 4,6 2
Tough+Treasure-Seeking
 10 600 0,5 0,5 4,6 3,8 2
Tough+Tenacious 10 600 0,5 0,5 1,4 7 2
Treasure-Seeking+Tenacious
 10 600 0,4 0,4 4,8 4,8 2

 

Sailor Stats (30 Cabin Slots)

  Sailor stats for ships with 30 Cabins.

30 Cabin Slots: Cabin Cost Weight Base Speed Base Accel Base Turn Base Brake Amount
Born-in-the-Sea 30 1500 6 0,9 0,9 0,9 3
Ambitious 30 600 4,8 0,6 0,6 0,6 3
Innocent 30 600 3,6 0,9 0,9 0,9 3
Experienced 30 750 3 3 0,9 0,9 3
Powerful 24 1500 3 3 3 3 3
Honest 28 800 2 2 2 2 4
Strong 24 750 1,5 1,5 4,5 4,5 3
Smart 30 3000 2,4 2,4 2,4 2,4 6
Diligent 30 300 0,9 0,9 6 6 3
Calculating 30 900 0,9 3,6 0,9 0,9 3
Confident 30 1800 1,8 1,8 18 3,6 6
Tough 30 1800 1,8 1,8 3,6 18 6
Enamored 30 900 0,6 4,8 0,6 0,6 3
Treasure-Seeking 30 1800 1,2 1,2 24 4,8 6
Tenacious 30 1800 1,2 1,2 4,8 24 6

  Sailor combination options and stats for ships with 30 Cabins.

30 Cabin Slots: Cabin Cost Weight Base Speed Base Accel Base Turn Base Brake Amount
3xPowerful+1xSmart
 29 2000 3,4 3,4 3,4 3,4 4
3xPowerful+1xConfident
 29 1800 3,3 3,3 6 3,6 4
3xPowerful+1xTough
 29 1800 3,3 3,3 3,6 6 4
3xPowerful+1xTreasure-Seeking
 29 1800 3,2 3,2 7 3,8 4
3xPowerful+1xTenacious
 29 1800 3,2 3,2 3,8 7 4
Options
3xHonest+1xPowerful
 29 1100 2,5 2,5 2,5 2,5 4
3xHonest+1xStrong
 29 850 2 2 3 3 4
3xHonest+1xSmart
 26 1100 1,9 1,9 1,9 1,9 4
3xHonest+1xConfident
 26 900 1,8 1,8 4,5 2,1 4
3xHonest+1xTough
 26 900 1,8 1,8 2,1 4,5 4
3xHonest+1xTreasure-Seeking
 26 900 1,7 1,7 5,5 2,3 4
3xHonest+1xTenacious
 26 900 1,7 1,7 2,3 5,5 4
Options
3xStrong+1xSmart
 29 1250 1,9 1,9 4,9 4,9 4
3xStrong+1xConfident
 29 1050 1,8 1,8 7,5 5,1 4
3xStrong+1xTough
 29 1050 1,8 1,8 5,1 7,5 4
3xStrong+1xTreasure-Seeking
 29 1050 1,7 1,7 8,5 5,3 4
3xStrong+1xTenacious
 29 1050 1,7 1,7 5,3 8,5 4
Random choice:
2xBorn-in-the-Sea+1xEnamored
 30 1300 4,3 1,8 0,9 0,9

Pearl Sailor Items

You can have a maximum of 20 Sailor slots. You can buy up to 14 per account with real $$$.

1 Captain’s Medallion = 500 Pearls = 1 Sailor Slot

BDO Pearl Sailor Slots: Captain's Medallion

There is also an item that will instantly cure a sick Sailor and recover his Condition to 100%.

1 Tears of the Star = 50 Pearls = 1 Cured Sailor

Sources & Additional Info