What was the first step in blackbeards piracy?

There's no definitive answer to what Blackbeard's *first* step in piracy was. We don't know his exact timeline of becoming a pirate.

Here's what we do know:

* He was a privateer: He likely started his life at sea as a privateer, a legally sanctioned pirate who attacked enemy ships during wartime.

* Transition to piracy: At some point, Blackbeard likely turned to full-fledged piracy, either by choice or necessity (e.g., the end of the war).

* Joining Benjamin Hornigold: There's evidence he sailed with the pirate Benjamin Hornigold, possibly learning the ropes under his mentorship.

So, while we can't pinpoint a specific "first step," it's likely his path involved a transition from sanctioned privateering to illegal piracy.

It's fascinating to think about the choices and circumstances that led him down this path!