In Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, players engage in a rich system for acquiring weapons and pistols that enhances the gameplay experience. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how you can expand your arsenal:

Pistols
1. Basic Pistols:
– You can purchase Common Flintlock Pistols and other basic pistols from general stores using the in-game currency, Reales, which can be earned through various activities such as completing missions and looting.

2. Advanced Pistols:
– As you progress, you’ll have the opportunity to acquire more powerful pistols. For instance, the Standard Wheellock Pistols can be purchased for 2,500 Reales, the Pirate Blunderbuss for 800 Reales, and the Spanish Officer Pistols for 7,000 Reales.

3. Special Pistols:
– To obtain unique weapons like the Golden Flintlock Pistols, you must complete all naval contracts within the game. This adds an incentive to explore naval gameplay and complete specific objectives.

4. Community Challenges:
– Rare pistols, such as the Captain’s Wheellock Pistols, can be unlocked through participation in community challenges, fostering a sense of community and player engagement.

Swords and Sword Sets
1. Purchasing and Treasure Hunts:
– A variety of sword sets can also be acquired by purchasing them from general stores or discovering them in treasure chests scattered throughout the world. For instance, you can find Scottish Broadswords from specific social treasure chests.

2. Challenges:
– Unique sword sets, like the Pistol Swords, require completion of challenges such as all Assassin contracts. This encourages players to dive deeper into the game’s lore and partake in the various side activities.

3. Community and Uplay Rewards:
– Certain sword sets are unlocked via community challenges or Uplay challenges, allowing players to unlock special gear by engaging with the game’s community features.

Summary
To sum up, acquiring new weapons and pistols in “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag” involves a combination of:
– Purchasing items from general stores using Reales.
– Completing naval and community challenges for advanced and special weapons.
– Collecting treasures from the world.
– Finishing all Assassin contracts to unlock unique weapons.

This multifaceted approach not only encourages players to explore diverse gameplay aspects, from exploration to completing missions, but also adds depth to weapon customization and strategy in gameplay. By mixing currency maintenance with challenge completion and exploration, players can equip Edward Kenway with an impressive array of deadly tools, enhancing both gameplay variety and engagement.