Capture points are the primary currency of the piracy leaderboard, but they are also a vulnerable resource.
: If you have multiple fortresses, they share the same mission queue. You can only run one capture mission at a time across your entire empire. Crew Strength: Defense and Offense
: Experienced players often build a level 1 fortress in a colony near a high-value target just to bring them within raiding range. Pirate Fortress - Archive: Community - Ikariam
: Most successful pirates save their biggest "pushes" for the final hours of the cycle to prevent others from having time to retaliate or raid them back.
In Ikariam , the piracy system is a high-stakes competitive cycle where players compete for massive resource rewards. To participate, you must first complete the Piracy research in the Seafaring branch, which unlocks the ability to build a on a dedicated coastal slot. The Pirate Fortress & Capture Runs
: Early in the cycle, avoid hoarding too many points without converting them. Large point totals make you a "juicy" target for raids from nearby neighbors .
The Pirate Fortress is the hub for all piratical activity. It can be leveled up to 30, with each level increasing your raiding range across the map by one island.
: Your total strength includes a base bonus equal to the sum of all your Pirate Fortress levels multiplied by 2.
: You can raid any player within your fortress's range. If your crew strength (plus a random -10% to +10% "destiny" bonus) exceeds theirs, you instantly steal all of their unconverted capture points. The Piracy Cycle and Rewards