Many players experience early frustration in Anno 117 when pirate and raider attacks disrupt trade, slow expansion, and force naval investments before a stable economy is formed.
The option to disable raiders is not immediately visible, leading many to search for a way to start the game without pirate pressure. This guide explains what pirate settings do, how to disable pirates, and how to manage raiders in existing saves.
Quick Answer: How to Disable Pirates in Anno 117
Pirates can only be disabled by opening Advanced / Custom Settings during new sandbox game setup. In the Raider & Pirate Options menu, every raider faction must be set to Dormant, preventing raids, pirate ships, and hostile island control for the entire session.
How Pirate and Raider Settings Work
Pirate and raider factions use behavior modes that determine their activity and impact on the world.
Raider Behavior Modes
• Active: full aggression, frequent naval attacks
• Passive: reduced activity with occasional raids
• Dormant: disabled; no presence or influence
Setting factions to Dormant provides a true peaceful mode where city-building proceeds without naval threats.
How to Turn Off Pirates in Anno 117 (Step-by-Step)
Start a New Sandbox Game
Pirate settings are only available in sandbox mode.
Select Region and Difficulty
Choose Albion or Latium and any difficulty preset.
Open Advanced / Custom Settings
Select Customize, Advanced Settings, or Edit Settings to access detailed configuration panels.
Open the Raider & Pirate Options Tab
This tab lists all raider factions and their behavior modes.
Set All Raider Factions to Dormant
Dormant removes all pirate activity.
Effects include:
• no pirate ships
• no raids
• no hostile naval presence
• no raider island bases
Confirm and Start the Game
The session begins without pirate or raider interference.
How to Disable Pirates on PS5 / Xbox
Console versions include identical raider settings.
Steps:
- New Game → Sandbox
- Select region and difficulty
- Open Advanced Settings
- Navigate to Raider & Pirate Options
- Set all factions to Dormant
- Start the game
Can Pirates Be Disabled Mid-Game?
Pirate behavior cannot be changed after the game begins. The Dormant setting must be applied during session creation. However, several gameplay methods can neutralize raider threats inside an existing save.
How to Handle Pirates in an Existing Save
Destroy the Pirate Base
Certain raider factions remain permanently removed after their base is defeated.
Shift Raider Alignment
Some factions can become neutral through diplomacy, narrative progression, or cultural respect.
Reduce the Impact of Raids
• use escorts on trade ships
• strengthen harbor defenses
• shorten risky trade routes
• deploy military ships on critical paths
These approaches minimize pirate disruption even when raiders remain active.
Why Many Players Disable Pirates in Anno 117
Players often disable raiders because:
• early ships are weak
• trade routes are vulnerable
• raider aggression is higher than in earlier titles
• pirate islands block key routes
• builders want uninterrupted expansion
Dormant raiders support a calmer playstyle focused on production, trade, and city design.
Tips for Peaceful-Mode Players
• choose large maps for unrestricted layouts
• reduce wildlife aggression
• lower AI hostility
• reduce or disable disasters
• prioritize efficient production chains
These settings complement a no-pirates session for uninterrupted city-building.
Raider Behavior Comparison Table
| Behavior Mode | Presence | Naval Attacks | Map Influence | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Full | Frequent | Strong | Combat-focused players |
| Passive | Limited | Occasional | Moderate | Balanced gameplay |
| Dormant | None | None | None | Peaceful builders |
FAQ: Turning Off Pirates and Raiders in Anno 117
1. Why can’t I find the pirate settings in Anno 117?
Pirate and raider settings appear only during new sandbox game creation.
They do not appear in story mode or after a session has already started.
Many players overlook the Advanced / Custom Settings button and assume the option doesn’t exist.
Once that menu is opened, a dedicated Raider & Pirate Options tab becomes visible.
This tab contains behavior settings for every raider faction in the game.
2. What happens if only one raider faction is set to Dormant?
Setting only one faction to Dormant disables that specific group, but all other raiders remain active.
Pirate ships, raids, and hostile islands will still occur if at least one faction is still active.
To create a true no-pirates mode, every raider faction must be individually set to Dormant.
This ensures the entire session remains free from naval threats.
3. Does disabling pirates affect gameplay progression or missions?
Disabling pirates does not block progression, region expansion, trade, or production chains.
Raider factions provide optional naval combat challenges, but no core mechanics depend on them.
City-building, economy, diplomacy, and storyline missions continue normally.
The only difference is the absence of naval pressure during gameplay.
4. Why do pirates feel stronger in Anno 117 compared to Anno 1800?
Raider aggression in Anno 117 is tuned higher, especially in the early game.
Naval units start weaker, and raider ships often occupy key river paths and coastal trade routes.
This results in more frequent interceptions and harder recovery when ships are lost.
The higher difficulty makes disabling pirates a popular choice among builder-focused players.
5. Is there a way to reduce pirate aggression without turning them off completely?
Yes. Players can reduce pirate pressure without fully disabling raiders by adjusting settings and strategy.
Setting raiders to Passive lowers attack frequency.
Additionally, players can use escorts, coastal defenses, and shorter trade routes to limit exposure.
Diplomatic interactions and regional narrative choices can also shift some raider leaders toward neutrality.