The signal fire mechanics actually work differently than you might think - during missions like dark waves black ships, you'll be lighting fires rather than sabotaging them. When it comes to preventing reinforcements, you'll want to focus on taking out the bell towers and keeping an eye on servants who can raise alarms. The timing is crucial here, especially with the bells - you've got a brief window to shoot them down with ranged weapons before guards can ring them.

Getting your positioning right near patrol routes makes a big difference, and staying in cover until the perfect moment lets you strike before they can call for backup. Most important detail is watching the guard patterns around the bells, since they'll make a move for them as soon as they spot you. If you're trying to maintain stealth, keeping track of servant positions is just as critical as the guards themselves, since they'll run straight for help if they notice anything suspicious.

Getting creative with environmental distractions opens up better opportunities for clean takedowns, but remember the real priority is shutting down those alarm mechanisms before they can be triggered. Your best damage windows come right after neutralizing the bell guards, when the rest of the patrol is still following their normal routes.