There are 15 commendations for you to unlock during The Quest for Guybrush Tall Tale. While several are straightforward and required for completing the Tall Tale, you can easily overlook others.
To complete them all, you’ll need to complete the Three Trials, find all of Elaine’s journals, get fired from your previous job, drink a Grog Classic, and listen to Guybrush’s memoirs.
You can unlock every commendation in one playthrough at any point during the Tall Tale.
If you need a more detailed walkthrough of completing the commendations, check out our full guide, where we go step by step into every puzzle the Tall Tale offers.
Clearing the Air
Dispel the cursed fog enveloping Mêlée Island
To dispel the cursed fog enveloping Mêlée Island, you must collect three items necessary for the Trials and give them to Corina. She will then create a special potion you can use to clear the fog.
The three items are the Treasure Map, the Mighty Pirate Sword, and the Rubber Chicken.
You must trade with Citizen of Mêlée to acquire the Treasure Map. Citizen of Mêlée wants a sea chart signed by Guybrush. Pull out books from the two bookshelves in the Governor’s Mansion to find a sea chart. When you find a book titled ‘The Time I Blew Up LeChuck,’ tug on the book. It will fall to the ground, revealing Guybrush’s Signed Sea Chart.
To acquire the Mighty Pirate Sword and Rubber Chicken, you’ll need to give a Signed Credit Note to the Storekeeper. Speak with the Storekeeper and ask him about credit. He will then give you a Blank Credit Node that you must forge in the Governor’s Mansion.
Go to the Governor’s Mansion, pickpocket Guybrush, and unlock the footlocker near the door across from Guybrush. Inside, you will find a Captain’s Inkwell. Pick it up and place it on the desk. Then, retrieve the Writing Quill from the table downstairs before the large painting. Place the Writing Quill on the desk.
Now that you have the necessary tools to forge Guybrush’s signature, place the Blank Credit Note on the desk and sign it. Pick it back up and hand it to the Storekeeper. He will then let you purchase the Mighty Pirate Sword and Rubber Chicken.
Return to Corina and give her all three items. She will then brew you a potion to clear the fog. Pick up the potion and bring it to the top of Lookout Point. Pour the potion into the fire to dispel the fog and unlock the commendation.
Mêlée Island Spectacular
Complete a circus performance
To complete a circus performance, you must finish the Fettucini Brother’s routine without touching the ground. After meeting with them in the Circus, talk to Alfredo about the performance and Bill about a costume. Then, pick up the Circus Costume on the nearby wooden platform and equip it with the Customization Chest by the brothers.
Before you start, walk over to the cannon in the tent and angle it so you will fly through the rings and into the hot tub. Once the cannon is in position, you are ready to start!
Ring the Circus Bell by the brothers and go up the ladder. Then, make your way across the rope bridge. Ring the second Circus Bell and hop down the platforms to your right to the third Circus Bell. After you ring the third bell, jump down another platform to the zipline that leads to the cannon. Climb in the cannon and fire yourself through the burning rings into the hot tub!
If you run through the routine without touching the ground, you can speak with the brothers to claim your prize and unlock the commendation.
Trail of the Sword
Complete the Trial of the Sword
To complete the Trial of the Sword, you must learn every Insult and Retort to take on the Sword Master. After you complete your training with Captain Smirk, you can fight pirates around Mêlée Island. During those fights, you will learn Insults and Retrots. Keep fighting until you know all 10 Insults and Retorts.
Once you do, Murray will tell you where to find the Sword Master. Follow the directions to the lowered log bridge in the Forest and press the button on the nearby sign to raise the bridge.
Cross the bridge to Carla’s House, where you will face off against Ribbsy. Defend his Insults with their corresponding Retorts to win the fight.
Once the fight ends, Carla will give you her medallion, and you can complete the Trial.
For a more detailed walkthrough of the Trail of the Sword, check out our dedicated Trial of the Sword guide here,
Trial of Treasure-Huntery
Complete the Trial of Treasure-Huntery
To complete the Trial of Treasure-Huntery, you must solve four treasure maps. Once you find and dig up the last treasure, you will find the Trophy of Legendary Treasure-Huntery. Pick it up and give it to Corina to complete the Trial and commendation.
For a more detailed walkthrough of the Trail of the Treasure-Huntery, check out our dedicated Trial of Treasure-Huntery guide here,
Trial of Thievery
Complete the Trial of Thievery
To complete the Trial of Thievery, you must lock Stan in his cupboard, unlock his office and crack his safe. Once you find the Idol o’ Many Hands inside the safe you can give it to Carla to complete the commendation.
For a more detailed walkthrough of the Trail of Thievery, check out our dedicated Trial of Thievery guide here,
The Quest for Guybrush
Complete The Quest for Guybrush
To complete The Quest for Guybrush, you must finish the Three Trials and speak with Corina.
After speaking with Corina, she will give you a special brew that will wake Guybrush from his trance. Go to Guybrush in the Governor’s Mansion and give him the potion.
The potion will break the spell, and Guybrush will prepare for what lies ahead. Once you are ready to leave, you can get on your ship and sail away from the island.
Spectacular Superstar
Complete a circus performance in under 25 seconds
You must complete a circus performance in under 25 seconds to unlock the Spectacular Superstar commendation. You can earn this commendation at the same time as Mêlée Island Spectacular if you are fast enough.
Don’t worry about failing! You can attempt the routine as many times as you like. Make sure you collect your winnings first if you complete it and still need a better time. You can check your best time on the chalkboard beside the brothers.
Don’t forget to angle your cannon before attempting the routine!
Sword Master
User every insult and retort during Insult Sword Fighting
To unlock the Sword Master commendation, you must use all 10 Insults and Retorts during Insult Sword Fighting fights. After training with Captain Smirk, you can start fights around Mêlée Island.
Insults and Retrots come in pairs. When you use an Insult, your opponent can use the corresponding Retort, allowing you to learn it.
Keep track of which Insults you have learned Retrots for, and keep fighting until you hear them all. You will continue to learn Insults and Retorts naturally as you partake in fights.
You can tell which Insult and Retort are new to you after you learn them because they will have a yellow dot next to them when you choose one.
Yo-ho-ho, and...
Enjoy a delicious Grog Classic
To unlock the Yo-ho-ho, and… commendation, you need to drink a Grog Classic from the vending machine by Stan’s Office. Once you complete a circus performance, you will have 404 Pieces o’ Eight. You can spend one Piece o’ Eight to purchase the Grog Classic. Pick it up and drink it to unlock the commendation.
Gainful Unemployment
Get fired from your new job
To unlock the Gainful Unemployment commendation and get fired from your new job, you need to speak with Scumm Bar Chef. Approach the Chef in the Kitchen of the Scumm Bar during any point of the Tall Tale and interact with him. He will turn around and fire you. As soon as he fires you, you will unlock the commendation.
The Beast Whisperer
Tickle the Beast
To complete the The Beast Whisperer commendation you much tickle The Beast after you tame it with a Shanty during the Trail of Thievery. While holding The Beast, interact with it using your Primary Use button. You will tickle The Beast and unlock the commendation.
Stantastic Voyage
Send Stan on an ocean voyage
To complete the Stantastic Voyage commendation, you must push Stan into the ocean after locking him in the cupboard as part of the Trial of Thievery.
Once you have convinced Stan to step inside the cupboard, lock it and interact with the side of it several times. You will shove it and eventually tip it into the ocean, unlocking the commendation.
Escape from Mêlée Island
Read all of Elaine's journals
To read all of Elaine’s journals, you must find five journals hidden throughout Mêlée Island.
The five journals are located:
- In front of Stan’s Previously Owned Vessels
- In a cart by the Troll Toll Bridge
- On the scaffolding on the side of Lookout Point
- On the narrow path between the Governor’s Mansion and the Forest
- At the end of the Forest next to the sign with a button
For a more detailed breakdown of the locations, check out our dedicated ‘Escape from Mêlée Island’ walkthrough here.
Memoirs of a Legend, Vol. II
Take in the view at all memoir spots
To take in the view at all the memoir spots, you must sit down at ten different spots throughout Mêlée Island and listen to Guybrush’s thoughts.
The ten locations are:
- In front of Stan’s Previously Owned Vessels
- In front of Captain Smirk’s House
- Inside Captain Smirk’s House
- In front of the Hook Island sign
- Inside Meathook’s House
- Near the Troll Toll Bridge
- On the path to the Circus
- In the Circus
- At the end of the Forest
- In front of Carla’s House
For a more detailed breakdown of the spots, check out our dedicated ‘Memoirs of a Legend, Vol. II’ walkthrough here.
Legendary Trial Master
Complete all Commendations for 'The Quest for Guybrush' Tall Tale
As soon as you complete every other commendation you will unlock this commendation.
