To recruit high-tier (legendary) Lieutenants for your ship, the Adrestia, in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, you need to follow a set of strategic steps that ensure you effectively acquire these powerful allies. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to accomplish this:

How to Recruit High-Tier Lieutenants

1. Knock Out Enemy NPCs Instead of Killing:
The first crucial step in recruiting a potential Lieutenant is to ensure that you knock them out rather than kill them. Use non-lethal methods such as:
– Unequipping your weapons and engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
– Utilizing the Sparta Kick ability to send them flying but leave them unconscious.
– Employing paralyzing arrows to incapacitate them without causing lethal damage.
Remember, the final hit must be non-lethal for the NPC to remain available for recruitment.

2. Clear the Area of Other Enemies:
Before you attempt to recruit a knocked-out enemy, it’s imperative to clear the vicinity of any nearby hostile NPCs. This ensures that there are no interruptions during the recruitment process. Take out or neutralize all enemies in the area before proceeding.

3. Approach and Hold the Recruitment Button:
After you have successfully knocked out the NPC and cleared the area, walk up to their unconscious body. Depending on your control scheme, press and hold the appropriate button (L3 or Left Stick) to initiate the recruitment process.

4. Upgrade Your Ship to Level 3:
To maximize the potential of your Adrestia, and to utilize all four special Lieutenant slots, you must upgrade your ship to at least level 3. This upgrade demands collecting resources, notably wood, which is essential for enhancing your ship’s capabilities.

5. Hire the Recruited Lieutenants in the Ship Menu:
Once you have successfully knocked out and recruited NPCs, head to the ship menu. Navigate to the Special Lieutenants section and pay the associated fee to officially add them to your crew. From here, you can strategically equip them into your four Lieutenant slots for enhanced ship combat attributes and abilities.

6. Use Legendary Lieutenants for Best Perks:
Legendary Lieutenants are imbued with unique perks that can significantly enhance your ship’s combat efficacy, notably in naval engagements. Seek out these high-tier Lieutenants by recruiting mercenaries or special NPCs you encounter throughout quests and exploration within the game.

Summary

– Knock out high-level enemies using non-lethal methods (bare fists, Sparta Kick, paralyzing arrows).
– Clear the area of hostile enemies before attempting to recruit.
– Hold L3 over unconscious enemies to initiate the recruitment.
– Upgrade the Adrestia to level 3 to unlock all Lieutenant slots for maximum efficiency.
– Pay to hire recruited Lieutenants in the ship menu and assign them to your crew.
– Utilize Legendary Lieutenants for excellent ship combat perks during naval battles.

By adhering to these detailed steps, you will build a formidable crew of high-tier Lieutenants that will bolster the strength of the Adrestia, empowering you to dominate the seas in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.