new PLAYER

GUIDE
Version 1.0 15/06/2020

contents
Welcome Aboard!

3

The Bare Bones

4

The Pirate Code5

Adventure or Arena

6

Keyboard and Controller Defaults

7

Game Goals and Objectives

9

Life at Sea

12Life on Land

15

Life in The Arena

18

A World of Real Players

19

Finding a Crew to Sail With

20

Updates, Events and Awards

21

Streams of Thieves

22

Frequently Asked Questions

23

Creating a Safe Space for Play24

Sea of Thieves ®

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New Player Guidewelcome

aboardThanks for joining the pirate paradise thatis Sea of Thieves! It’s great to welcome you
to the community, and we look forward toseeing you on the seas for many hours ofplundering and adventure.

Sea of Thieves gives you the freedom toexpress yourself and determine how yourstory unfolds, how you are perceived in-gameand how your legend will be remembered. It’sa rich world full of beauty, mystery and lore
which acts as a canvas for you to create yourown personal adventures.

That said, this isn’t a strategy guide or auser manual. Discovery, experimentationand learning through interactions with otherplayers are important aspects of Sea ofThieves and we don’t want to spoil all thesurprises that lie ahead. The more you cut
loose and cast off your inhibitions, the more
fun you’ll have.
We also know how eager you’ll be to divein and get started on that journey, so if you
simply can’t wait to raise anchor and plunge
into the unknown, we’ll start with a quick
checklist of the bare-bones essentials. Of
course, if something in particular piques yourinterest before you start playing, you’ll beable to learn more about it in the rest of theguide.
Thanks again for playing, and we’ll see youon the seas!

Over the past two years, Sea of Thieves
has expanded massively through a seriesof feature updates and welcomed many
new players to the waves. That’s why we’vecreated this comprehensive guide – one that
explains all the opportunities and dangers
that await you as you set out on your journey
to Be More Pirate.

Sea of Thieves ®

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New Player Guide

The BARE

BONES
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Generally, when you begin a new
Sea of Thieves session, you’ll appear
in the tavern of an Outpost island
somewhere in the world. Your ship
will be docked at the same Outpost,
waiting for you to set sail once you’reready.

6.

You’re free to approach life on the
Sea of Thieves as you please, but if
you’d like some gold to get started,
the Trading Company representatives
found at each Outpost will offer
you work in exchange for gold andreputation.

7.

There are three different sizes of
ship: Sloops intended for one or two
players, Brigantines for crews of twoor three and Galleons meant for a fullcomplement of four pirates.

Sea of Thieves is a vast pirate paradisefilled with real players – some sailingsolo, others as a crew. When you spota sail on the horizon, you never knowwhat to expect.

Sea of Thieves is governed by a Pirate
Code that the community has helped
to shape since the game first launched.
We encourage players to stay within
the spirit of the game, abide by the
Code and do their part to keep the seas
free of grievances.

Firstly, you’ll pick the physicalappearance of your pirate, with outfits
and accessories coming later. You cancall up another batch of buccaneers
until you find the look that best
embodies the pirate you’ve always
wanted to be.

Sea of Thieves ®

Before reaching the Sea of Thieves,
you’ll undertake your Maiden Voyage– an introductory adventure away fromother crews that covers the basics ofcombat, sailing and using tools. You
can replay this Voyage from the main
menu whenever you like.

48.

Death is not the end in Sea of Thieves !
If you die, you’ll appear on the Ferry of
the Damned. Keep an eye on the door
to the Captain’s cabin, as stepping
through it once it opens will return you
to the world of the living.

9.

If you get separated from your ship,or it sinks after taking on too muchwater, all is not lost. Look for a helpful
member of the merfolk in the waterand interact with them to return to yourtrusty vessel. Ships recovered by the
merfolk will be docked somewhere outof harm’s way.

10.

There are many ways you can find acrew to sail with. Opting for an Open
Crew when you play the game will
matchmake you with other pirates, orfriends can join you on a Closed Crew.
If you’re looking for new shipmates,
try our Forums or the official Sea ofThieves Discord server!

New Player Guide

The Pirate

Code
From the very beginning, we’ve been
determined to make Sea of Thieves atruly welcoming world in which playersof any creed, culture, age, skill level andcircumstance can voyage without fear offriction or frustration. With that in mind, we
worked with the community to lay out a setof guidelines that we hope will help to keep
the seas free of strife (beyond that stirred
up in the course of a pirate’s everyday
activities).
The sacred bond between crewmatesshould never be broken, but even whenwaging war across the decks of rival raiders,
all crews should ultimately hold one anotherin respect. So read, reflect upon andremember the Sea of Thieves Pirate Code!

Sea of Thieves ®

ARTICLE 1:
THE SEA CALLS TO US ALL

Article 5:
THE CREW BOND IS SACRED

Everyone is welcome on the Sea ofThieves regardless of age, gender, race,
sexuality, nationality or creed.

Those who betray their crew and ship
through griefing or trolling shall be sent tothe brig.

ARTICLE 2:
THE SEA UNITES US
AS ONE COMMUNITY

Article 6:
RESPECT NEW PIRATESAND THEIR VOYAGE AHEAD

Outside the heat of battle or piracy on thehigh seas, all crews shall bond together as
a community of like-minded souls.

May the old legends help to forge newones: treat new pirates with respect andshare your knowledge.

ARTICLE 3:
DISPUTES ARE SETTLEDUPON THE WAVES

Article 7:
THOSE WHO CHEATSHALL BE PUNISHED

None shall quarrel or overly dissent
against another crew, but let every
engagement be settled by sword, pistol
and good seamanship.

Pirates who show bad form and cheat
their crew or others shall surely face bitter
hardships and punishments.

ARTICLE 4:
ALL CREWMATES ARE EQUAL
Let each crewmate be respected as equaland free to follow their own bearing,
speak openly and vote in affairs of thevoyage.

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New Player Guideadventure

or arena

There are two distinct game modes within Sea of Thieves. Both take place in a shared world full of other players, but offer very different experiences.

Arenaadventure
Adventure opens up the full Sea of Thieves world for players to live out the pirate life however
they see fit, whether that means exploring, setting out on Voyages, preying on the loot of otherpirates or kicking back in the tavern with a grog to swap stories. You can choose to sail solo or
form a crew of up to four players. Adventure mode is also where you’ll find Tall Tales, a series ofstory-focused adventures that play out across the same shared world.

Sea of Thieves ®

The Arena is a fast-paced competitive game mode which pits five crews against each other in
15-minute battles on custom maps. Silver is earned here by finding, claiming and successfully
handing in the Sea Dog Chest, but crews can also earn points by landing hits on other ships
or taking out rival pirates. The winning crew is the one with the most silver at the end of eachcontest!

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New Player Guidekeyboard defaults
INVENTORY AND QUEST RADIALPIRATE CHAT
secondary Interact
Text CHATSETTINGSDRAW WEAPONSREPUTATION / VOYAGESmOVESPRINTWALKPIRATE WHEEL OF EMOTIONS
stow / drop

jump
Interact / stop interaction
push to talkSea of Thieves ®

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PRIMARY USE ITEMSECONDARY USE ITEM
SWITCH WEAPONSNew Player Guidecontroller defaults
PIRATE CHATINVENTORY AND QUEST RADIALSECONDARY USE ITEM (LEFT TRIGGER)PRIMARY USE ITEM (RIGHT TRIGGER)CYCLE WEAPONS / SECONDARY INTERACTSPRINT (PRESS)INTERACTmOVE

STOP INTERACTION / STOW / DROPJUMPINVENTORY / REPUTATION / VOYAGES
AIM / LOOKSETTINGSPIRATE WHEEL OF EMOTIONS

Sea of Thieves ®

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New Player Guide

GAME
GOALS
AND OBJECTIVESVOYAGES

Everyday supplies like wooden planks andcannonballs can be found here in crates
and supply barrels, while the grog flows
freely in taverns. You can also speak withshopkeepers to purchase new weapons,
tools, clothing, cosmetics and ship parts,
making use of their Chests to change theappearance of your pirate and your ship.

Each of the Trading Companies has specificneeds, but generally speaking these involve
sending a crew out on a Voyage to complete
a task – retrieving buried treasure, forexample, or delivering undamaged cargo
before time runs out. In exchange, crews
will receive gold and reputation with thatparticular Company, which in turn allows
them to climb the ranks and earn exclusive
Titles and cosmetics.

While they’re fun to explore, it’s worth
remembering that Outposts are not safe
zones. Other pirates who arrive looking toturn in treasures of their own are still able toattack you at an Outpost if they choose – so
don’t get too distracted shopping while yourhold is still full of valuable plunder.

Voyages can be collected from Trading
Company representatives around the Seaof Thieves. They’re free to begin with andoffer modest rewards until you start to proveyourself, but the more valuable Voyages,
available once you’ve risen up through theranks, will need to be purchased. From time
to time, you may also find a Voyage stashedin a barrel or a Message in a Bottle. Most
chests aren’t there to be opened, just handed
in for rewards – find a Company rep andinteract with them while holding eligible lootto cash it in.

As we’ve mentioned, the Sea of Thieves iswide open for you to enjoy however you
please – but that’s not to say there aren’t
a number of goals and objectives to tackle
and rewards to earn to prove you’re theboldest brigand on the seas. Some of thesegoals and rewards are always available whileothers change over time, ensuring that there
are always new reasons to take to the seas!

Emissaries
Some Companies – including the Gold
Hoarders, Merchant Alliance, Order of Souls
and Athena’s Fortune – offer the option ofletting you sail as one of their Emissaries.
Purchase their Emissary Flag and you can
fly the Company colours as you set sail on
Voyages, increasing your Emissary Grade bycompleting tasks that benefit the Company.
A higher Grade yields even more gold andreputation from treasure handed in, andthe most productive Emissaries will receive
additional rewards at the end of the monthwhen Emissary Ledgers are tallied up. There’s
a risk involved, though: being an Emissary
makes you a target for other pirates who’dlike nothing more than to take your Emissary
Flag by force.

OUTPOSTS
Outposts are usually the start and end
point for your Voyages, and are also wheremost shipwrights, shopkeepers and Trading
Company representatives are located.

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GAME
GOALS
AND OBJECTIVES

Crews sailing as Emissaries for The Reaper’s
Bones will be marked on other ships’ maps,
giving fair warning or the opportunity totackle them head-on. Working with The
Reaper’s Bones is a great way for pirates toshow off their prowess in battle, so anyone
looking for a peaceful Voyage should
probably steer clear of those distinctive
flags...

THE hUNTER’S CALLThe Sea of Thieves is home to many
exotic and delicious types of fish and othercreatures, and The Hunter’s Call Trading
Company have made it their mission to packtheir bellies with as many as possible. Whilethey don’t provide Voyages directly, The
Hunter’s Call offer gold and reputation for fish
and other meats delivered to them at one of
the Seaposts. There are many species of fish
to be found in the depths, each with its own
rare and valuable variants. Once caught you
can sell them raw, or cook them to perfection
to increase their value. Cooked meat can also
be used to restore health!

PIRATE LEGENDS
The Pirate Lord, the first adventurer todiscover the Sea of Thieves, is always on thelookout for truly legendary pirates to join him
for a drink. If you can achieve Pirate Legend
status by reaching rank 50 with three different
Trading Companies, he’ll grant you accessto Athena’s Fortune – a secret ship hideout
where Pirate Legends can socialise andpurchase exclusive goods. Make no mistake,becoming a Pirate Legend is far from the endof your journey, as Athena’s Fortune also acts
as a Trading Company with ranks of its own,
and the Pirate Lord offers Athena Voyages
that are the ultimate tests of bravery and skill.

THE REAPER’S BONESThe Reaper’s Bones are a newly established
Trading Company who exist only to prove
themselves as superior to all others. They
don’t offer Voyages of their own – rather,
they will reward pirates handsomely forbringing certain loot like the Emissary Flagsof sunken rivals back to their lair. Unlike
the other Companies, loot intended for
The Reaper’s Bones – such as Reaper’s
Chests and Reaper’s Bounties – can only
be delivered to the island known as The
Reaper’s Hideout, which adds to the danger
involved.

Sea of Thieves ®

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GAME
GOALS
AND OBJECTIVES

with the Bilge Rats to see what they’ve gotten
themselves mixed up in this time.

Some unmistakable clouds act as indicatorsthat a Skeleton Fort has sprung to life, withits defenders standing between you and thevast plunder in its vault – or perhaps a fleet ofsupernatural ships has risen from the depths
to prey on the living. There are also plentyof dangerous sea creatures around whose
arrival won’t be foreshadowed, so it’s wise tonever let your guard down when you’re out at
sea.

The Bilge Rats also run the Black Market,
adding new stock every month. The
Doubloons offered as reward for completing
their Voyages (and certain challenges
elsewhere) can be spent here, as can yourgold reserves. The Black Market offers pirates
a chance to complete existing cosmetic
sets for themselves or their ships, or obtainwondrous new variants on previous timelimited sets.

duke and THE BILGE RATS
Hanging around in the tavern you’ll find yourfriendly local representative of the Bilge
Rats. This bunch of rogues was first set up
to celebrate the wild, adventurous side of
the pirate life, but in recent times they’ve
found themselves drawn into more dramaticdevelopments on the Sea of Thieves.
Sturdy, bearded Duke is the original Bilge Rat
rep, handing out Voyages that allow players
to take part in whatever’s unfolding aroundthe Sea of Thieves’ skeletal hordes and those
who pull their strings. Things move fast on
the seas, so whenever a new content update
drops, be sure to hit the tavern and check in

Sea of Thieves ®

tall tales
If you’ve ever wanted to play your part ina true pirate epic of hidden lands, ancient
temples, cursed rogues and Skeleton Lords,
these story-focused adventures won’t let
you down. Tall Tales take place in the same
shared world as your other adventures
but delve deep into the secret histories of
the Sea of Thieves, requiring you to solve
puzzles, tackle traps and struggle against
some of the strongest foes the game has tooffer. Newly added map markers, tooltips andmid-Tale checkpoints make these narrative
expeditions more accessible and exciting
than ever. Additional rewards await those
who uncover journals and trinkets left behindby the stories’ characters, offering insights
into those who would seek to control theseas…

WORLD EVENTS
If you find yourself sailing towards anominous-looking cloud, it’s best to be on yourtoes. Apart from everyday hazards like fog
banks and thunderstorms, certain signs on
the horizon indicate that some threat within
the world has awoken.

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New Player Guide

LIFE ATSEAYOUR SHIP

capstanSAILSHARPOONS

Used to raise and lower the ship’s anchor.
When your anchor is raised, the ship will
move freely across the waves.

How many sets of sails you have depends on
the ship type. Their length and angle can be
adjusted by working the ropes attached.

These have a limited degree of movement
but can be used to grapple other vessels,
pull things out of the sea and make sharp
turns.

SHIP’S WHEEL

CROW’S NESTCANNONS

Used to steer the ship. You’ll hear a clunkwhen the wheel is returned to its central
position. The ship’s compass is mounted next
to the wheel.

A small platform atop the mast that serves asa lookout point, and also holds the ship’s flagbox.

Your ship’s primary weapons when loadedwith cannonballs, but you can fire otherthings out of cannons too, including pirates
and pets!

Players can choose from three types of shipin Sea of Thieves: a Sloop intended for one
or two-player crews, a two- or-three-player
Brigantine or a full-sized Galleon designed forfour-player crews. When you start a session,
you’ll find your ship down at the docks withsome basic supplies already aboard.
Regardless of its size, each ship has anumber of features in common above deck:Sea of Thieves ®

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LIFE AT

SEA
Below deck (or in the Captain’s quarters,
depending on the ship), you’ll discover thefollowing:

Sea of Thieves ®

CAPTAIN’S TABLEARMOURY

Here’s where you change which weapons
your pirate is carrying.

Used when voting on which Voyage toattempt next.

AMMO CRATE

WATER BARREL

Holds a large supply of water which can be
scooped into a bucket.

Reload your weapons from this unlimited
supply of bullets and buckshot.

SUPPLY BARRELS

Large containers designed to holdcannonballs, food or wooden planks.

CHESTSFor customising the appearance of yourpirate and pets.

MAP TABLE

GROG BARREL

STOVE

Displays a large map of the Sea of Thieves
as well as your position and (sometimes)
the positions of other ships. You can markwaypoints on the map and remove them later.

Filled with fun! If you run out of grog, you canorder a refill from a tavern keeper.

Cooked food is better for you and means you
won’t be sick from eating it, but beware – ifyou leave food on the stove too long, yourlight lunch can set the ship alight…

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LIFE ATSEA
WORKING THE SHIP
The basics of sailing a ship are explained
during your Maiden Voyage, but here’s a brief
guide to staying afloat once you reach the
Sea of Thieves:
Raising the anchor allows your ship toturn freely, but to travel anywhere at
speed you’ll also need to lower at least
one sail. The further a sail is lowered,the more wind it will catch and the faster
you’ll go.
Ships sail faster if they’re travelling inthe same direction as the wind. You can

Sea of Thieves ®

angle the sails to try and catch as muchwind as possible.
If your ship takes damage from collisions,cannon fire or explosions, you’ll likely
find breaches in the hull that are letting
in water. If your ship takes on too muchwater, it’ll sink, so make sure you patch
up the holes with wooden planks andbail out the water with your bucket.
Your ship’s wheel, capstan and mast canalso take damage, and you may need to
repair them with planks before you can
use them properly.

Once the Voyage is active you’ll find any
maps, riddles or other associated resources
on your Map Radial. Figuring out exactly how
to decipher them is down to you! ActivatedVoyages disappear from your inventory
whether you’re able to complete themsuccessfully or not, so don’t vote on any rareor expensive Voyages if you can’t see themthrough to the end.

Sometimes it can be desirable to deliberately
scuttle your ship if it’s beached, damaged or
you’re trapped in a fight you can’t win. You
can scuttle your ship from the Game Options
menu, but only if the majority of the crew votein favour.

Starting a Tall Tale from its beginning works
slightly differently – you’ll need to find oneof the Tall Tale journals out in the world andvote on it there instead. You can find icons on
the ship’s map that point the way to any Tall
Tales you’ve yet to complete.

It might be tempting to try swimming fromplace to place and avoid being spotted, but
be warned: the Sea of Thieves is filled withravenous sharks who will take a bite out ofany pirate they encounter. They’re particularlycommon around sunken ships. Fortunately,
Rowboats can also be found and attached
to a ship, helping you stay nibble-free whencollecting treasure.

Returning to your ship

Be wary of storms. Heavy rain will cause
your hold to fill with water over time,
your ship’s compass will spin wildly andlightning strikes can rupture your hull
while you’re busy wrestling with thewheel.

SHARKS

Should you ever become separated fromyour ship – because it’s been stolen or sunk,you’ve fallen overboard or your crew haveforgotten you – look out for a column ofsmoke rising from the water. This will help
guide you to one of the merfolk, who’ll haveyou back on board in no time at all.

Starting Voyages
Once you’ve collected a Voyage, it’ll be
added to the Quests tab of your inventory
alongside any Tall Tales in progress. You
can propose a Voyage by interacting with
the Captain’s Table aboard your ship, and ifenough of your crew vote on the Voyage, itwill become active.

If your ship did sink, you’ll find it’s been
dredged up from the waves by the merfolk
and left somewhere safe with all damage
repaired. Any treasure and valuables you had
aboard will briefly remain afloat wherever you
went down.

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LIFE ONLAND
You’ll be introduced to some old tools andweaponry during your Maiden Voyage, butthat adventure only scratches the surfaceof all that you can cram into your pirate’s
pockets while you’re travelling. Each item hasa permanent place on your Equipment Radialand can never be lost or damaged. Yourequipment consists of:

TANKARD

Carries grog to your mouth. What moreneeds to be said?

Sea of Thieves ®

SHOVEL

COMPASS

Used to dig up treasure and other buried
objects.

The arrow always points north. Handy when
you’re following a map.

FISHING ROD

Used to pluck fish (and occasionally othertreasures) from the sea.

SPEAKING TRUMPETSPYGLASS

BUCKET

Allows voice projection over long distances sothat other crews can hear you from far away.

Lets you look at distant objects, but gives off
a tell-tale glint when used.

Can carry various liquids, but most commonlyused for bailing water.

LANTERN

POCKET WATCH

INSTRUMENTS

Tells you the day and time. Useful whenferrying cargo on a schedule.

When held aloft, helps illuminate dark areasand caves.

15

From the booming drum to the lively hurdygurdy, use these to play synchronised musicwith other pirates, which is always fun andoccasionally useful…

New Player Guide

LIFE ON

LAND

Food

Wooden Planks

Immediately restores health. Some food willcontinue to heal your pirate over time.

Can be used to repair a ship or light a
cooking fire.

BAIT

CHAINSHOT

Used to attract different types of fish to yourline. Tastes pretty nasty.

Designed to take out a ship’s mast when fired
from a cannon.

Throwables

Cannonballs

When hurled by hand or fired from acannon, these explode violently with various
consequences depending on what you’re
throwing.

Ammunition for your ship’s cannons. Cursed
Cannonballs exist too, inflicting all manner ofchaotic effects.

CONSUMABLE items
These are also kept on your person (so you
won’t lose them even if you die) but you’ll
have to find them during your adventures.
Once they’re gone, they’re gone until you
replenish your supply. Consumables include:

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New Player Guide

LIFE ONLAND
HELD ITEMS
Sometimes you’ll come across something likea treasure chest or a Gunpowder Barrel that’s
too bulky to be stored in your inventory, so
you’ll just have to carry it. You won’t be able
to use weapons or equipment or sprint until
you put down whatever you’re holding, so
make sure the coast is clear or you have acrewmate guarding your back.

WEAPONSNot counting throwable items, pirates canarm themselves with two weapons at once.
Firstly, there are firearms, each of whichholds a maximum of five shots but can bereloaded at ammo crates. The Blunderbuss

Sea of Thieves ®

is a powerful weapon at short distances, theEye of Reach excels at long-distance shooting
and the trusty Flintlock Pistol falls somewhere
in between.
Pirates can also opt to carry a cutlass, which
has a very limited range but can make shortwork of most enemies when you get up
close and personal. For those who wantto fight like a merchant, cutlasses can also
block incoming attacks as well as deliver a
powerful, but tiring, forward lunge.

dying and reviving
Pirates who meet an untimely demise on
the Sea of Thieves will find themselves ona spectral ship known as the Ferry of theDamned, possibly alongside other fallen
friends and foes. After a short time, theFerryman will open a portal back to the worldof the living, allowing pirates to return to theirship.
It takes a few seconds for a pirate’s spirit toleave their body behind, during which timeit’s possible for members of their crew torevive them – though if revived, they’ll be far
from healthy. If you’d sooner serve your timeaboard the Ferry, you can offer your soul to
the Ferryman immediately upon death.

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New Player GuidelIFE IN THE

ARENA
If you choose to play in The Arena, thecompetitive multiplayer mode of Sea ofThieves, you’ll experience a condensed,
highly focused form of the kind of sailing andcombat that Adventure mode has to offer.
The Arena features a battle between yourcrew and four other competing crews, andyou’ll need a crew of at least two (for a duo
Sloop) or three (for a Galleon) to participate.
The winning crew is the one that has themost silver at the end of each contest.

does taking down other pirates and sinking
their ships. Be warned that if you yourselves
sink, some of your silver will be deducted asa penalty.
As you compete in The Arena, you’ll earn
reputation as you would with any otherTrading Company. Between rounds, you’ll
be invited into the Glorious Sea Dog Tavern,
where shopkeepers will make Titles,
cosmetics and other rewards available
to pirates whose reputation has reachedparticular milestones. You can also chillout in the hot tub and get to know youropposition before the next match.
Some other differences between Arena andAdventure modes include:
Pirates who die during an Arena
contest won’t spend time on
the Ferry of the Damned andwill return to the shared world
after a short time.

The most obvious way to earn silver is tofind the single Sea Dog Chest – handily
marked by a large glowing beacon – anddeliver it to the Sea Dogs’ Galleon at thecentre of the map. Of course, that won’t beeasy when there are four other crews trying
to snatch it from under your nose…

Each Arena contest lasts just 15
minutes.

There are other ways to earn silver: landing
hits with your cannonballs also counts, as

Each ship begins the match with a
Rowboat attached.

Sea of Thieves ®

Each Arena map covers a small sectionof the sea, and is surrounded by theDevil’s Shroud, which will harm you andyour ship if you sail into it.

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New Player Guidea worldof real players
Although there are plenty of emergent
threats like Skeleton Ships, Megalodons
and the mighty Kraken inhabiting the Seaof Thieves, it’s often other crews of playercontrolled pirates that pose the mostformidable opposition – but can also offer
huge opportunities for peaceful co-operationand profit.
You’ll learn how to deal with other players’
definitions of what constitutes ‘fair play’ forpirates as you carve your own path acrossthe Sea of Thieves. It may sting to losetreasure to a crew that outguns you, but thesea is vast and there’s plenty more adventure
to be had far away from anyone lying in
wait on an island or picking easy fights.
Alternatively, sharpen your own combat skills
and cunning tactics by turning the tableson them. But if in doubt, abide by the Pirate
Code!

number of actions such as waving, taunting
or pointing to help communicate. You canassign up to 40 of these at any one time, andthey can be assigned from the Vanity Chest
aboard your ship.

COMMUNICATION
By default, players who are part of the samecrew can hear one another speaking throughGame Chat – that’s if they have an available
microphone plugged in. They can also hearand be heard by other crews if they’re close
by. To be sure that distant players can hear
you, it’s best to use your in-game speaking
trumpet.

flags
Your ship’s flag box carries a number ofdifferent designs, some of which are purely
decorative while others can be used to signal
your intent. A white flag traditionally means
peace, for example, while the Reaper’s Markflag not only signals you’re out for blood, it
displays your position on the maps of otherships. Of course, you can’t always trust
pirates to be honest about their intentions…

Remember that not everyone on the seas
speaks the same language, and some privacy
settings may mean that others can’t hear
your voice at all. Just because you don’t get
a response doesn’t mean you’re about to be
attacked. Also remember that if you choose
to mute chat from other crews, they canstill hear you speaking to your crewmates ifthey’re close enough.

alliances
Along with the other flags in the flag box
you’ll find one that declares you’d like to offer
an Alliance with another ship. When you’reoffering an Alliance, other nearby ships canjoin by raising the appropriate flag in return.
Once they’ve joined, you’ll remain in an
Alliance until the flag is lowered or your crew
leaves the game.

A more accessible method of communicating
is to use the Pirate Chat system. This offers aseries of short sentences that will appear toyour crew and anyone else nearby. They’recontext-sensitive, so whether you’re digging
up treasure or fending off a Kraken, you’ll
be able to communicate your intent, andwhat you ‘say’ will automatically translate
into different languages. You can also use akeyboard to communicate via text chat.

Ships in Alliances don’t need to sail together,but if a crew in your Alliance hands intreasure to one of the Trading Companies,
the other allied crews will receive some

Lastly, you can access your Emote Radial,
which allows your pirate to perform a

Sea of Thieves ®

19bonus gold and reputation without anyone
being short-changed on their own deliveries.
A sizeable Alliance can amass a huge amountof treasure and sail secure in the knowledge
that other pirates have their backs.

the brig
If a member of your own crew is trolling,griefing or being otherwise disruptive, players
on a Brigantine or Galleon can vote to send
them to the ship’s brig, where they’ll remain
until the crew vote to release them or until
they leave the game.

personalisation
As you complete adventures across the Seaof Thieves, you’ll unlock the right to spend
your gold on all kinds of Titles, clothing,tattoos, hairstyles and other cosmetics thattell your story at a glance.
If you’d like to further expand your options,the Pirate Emporium offers exclusive ship
liveries, pets to take on your Voyages(including an assortment of parrots, monkeys
and cats with outfit selections for each) andnew emotes, all in exchange for Ancient
Coins. You can buy Ancient Coins using realworld currency, or occasionally find themin-game by taking down cowardly Ancient
Skeletons.

New Player Guide

fINDING A

CREW TOSAIL WITH
If you’re looking for new crewmates, youhave a number of options:

OPEN CREW
Choose to play on a Sloop, Brigantine
or Galleon with other players, and amatchmaking system will automaticallyfind you people to play with. It’ll search bycommunication method (mic/no mic) and bycountry to minimise language barriers. You
can also invite friends to join an Open Crew.
The number of people you’re crewed up
with will depend upon the size of ship you
choose to sail.

Sea of Thieves ®

DISCORD

CLOSED CREW

The verified Sea of Thieves Discord serveris a great place to chat about the game,not to mention find new folks to join youradventures. Find it here.

If you’d prefer to assemble your crew
manually, you can choose to only invite
players from your Friends list. By default,
your friends can join without an invite evenwhen it’s Closed if there’s room for them inyour crew (although you can change this in
the Game Options menu). You can also voteto switch to an Open Crew setting if you
find you need new shipmates once you’re
underway.

OFFICIAL FORUM
The Sea of Thieves community is oneof the most friendly and helpful around.
Check out the official Forums here andyou’ll be sure to meet people who’ll makethe best crewmates.

clubs and hubs
There are numerous Sea of Thieves-related
Clubs on Xbox Live, including the Official
Sea of Thieves Club. Each has its own‘Looking For Group’ tool, making it quick
and easy to find crewmates whether you’re
playing on Xbox or PC.

redditNot an official channel, but the largest Seaof Thieves community outside the official
Forums. Home to lots of good advice andcontent. And memes – lots of memes.
Find it here.

AFFILIATE ALLIANCE
A collection of regional communities andresources created by groups of players
around the world, from wikis to Facebook
groups. Perfect if you’re seeking a crew fromyour own home shores! Find out more here.

20

New Player GuideUPDATES,EVENTS and

AWARDSUPDATES AND EVENTS
Sea of Thieves is constantly evolving, with
new Voyages, enemies and challenges
appearing regularly, as well as new itemsin the Black Market and Pirate Emporium.
Sometimes we’ll also hold special events
like Daily Bounties, charity fundraisers,
Free Play Days and Gold & Glory Weekends
where you’ll earn bonus gold andreputation for treasures you cash in.
The best way to keep up with everythingthat’s coming to the game is to subscribe to
our social media channels:

Sea of Thieves ®

When events go live, you can learn about
them via the What’s New tab in-game, or at
the dedicated Sea of Thieves Events Hub.

COMMENDATIONS
Commendations within Sea of Thieves
can be awarded for just about anything,whether it’s fishing up rare specimens,
battling Skeleton Captains or uncovering
hidden tributes to legendary pirates.
While they’re a great source of things todo, unlocking Commendations also brings
rewards. Some Commendations provide
additional reputation that counts towards
your rank with a Trading Company, someaward Bilge Rat Doubloons and others
unlock new Titles which can be equipped
through the Vanity Chest on your ship.

ACHIEVEMENTS
Sea of Thieves also allows players to unlock
more than 100 achievements, earning Xbox
Gamerscore and Steam Trading Cards
along the way. Go get ’em!

21

New Player GuidestrEamsof thieves
Whether you’re uncertain how to tackle
a fresh challenge in the latest content
update or you’d like the inside scoop on
tactics used by some of the most notorious
pirates, the easiest way to learn is towatch them in action! Sea of Thieves has
a huge number of popular streamers on
Twitch, Mixer and YouTube, all bringing
their own unique style to the seas.

Sea of Thieves streamers and video
creators of all sizes are encouraged tojoin our Creator Crew offering advice,asset packs and rewards! Find out morehere.
Beyond the Creator Crew we havea Partner Programme of approved
streamers who receive regular accessto events, giveaways and loot drops
to share with their viewers. Whether
they’re sailing for charity, taking partin epic all-day ship battles or racing
one another across the Sea of Thieves,
our streaming partners provide afantastic gateway to a lively, welcoming
community.

We also like to get in on the fun withweekly Sea of Thieves streams of ourown, inviting members of the game teamand guest streamers to join us as we
set sail and try not to accidentally leakanything. You can find us on your favourite
streaming service at:

Sea of Thieves ®

22

New Player Guidefrequently
asked questionsQ) Can I play Sea ofThieves offline?
A) Sea of Thieves is set in a multiplayer
shared world and requires an internet
connection to play. Even if you’re sailingsolo, you’ll still find a world inhabited byother crews of real players, adding new lifeand unpredictability to your adventures!
You can enjoy traditional story-focusedexperiences by taking part in the game’sTall Tales whenever you please, but otherplayers’ journeys may still intersect withyour own.

Q) Can I play Sea ofThieves by myself?
A) Yes! You’ll begin the game learning theropes on a solo Maiden Voyage, and all
the challenges within the world can beaccomplished as a lone wolf pirate if you’repatient and skilled. That said, there’s tonsof fun to be had by crewing up with others

Sea of Thieves ®

Q) What’s the Seaof Thieves Insider
Programme?

and discovering all the game has to offer
together, especially when you’re still getting
the hang of solving riddles, sailing throughstorms and repelling unfriendly ships. If
you’re struggling to overcome a particularchallenge by yourself, finding somecrewmates is a great strategy for success.
You won’t even have to split the rewards!

A) The Insider Programme allows players
who want to give their thoughts andfeedback on upcoming features a chance
to try out early, work-in-progress versionsof forthcoming Sea of Thieves game
updates and additions. On platforms
where the Insider Programme isavailable, anyone taking part
must first agree to abide by
the terms of a Non-Disclosure
Agreement before playing andrefrain from publicly sharing any
information or media from the Insider
Programme. Find out more here.

Q) I’ve just started
playing Sea of Thieves.
What should I do now?
A) After picking your pirate, you’ll take partin a Maiden Voyage that teaches you about
using tools to dig up treasure, keeping
your ship seaworthy and much more. Onceyou arrive on the Sea of Thieves, explore
the Outpost for supplies and speak to the
Trading Company representatives. They’ll
offer some short, simple Voyages to nearby
islands and if you complete one, you’llearn gold and reputation. Of course, that’s
just a suggestion – there’s nothing to stop
you picking a point on the horizon (or yourship’s map) and setting sail to see what you
can find!

23

New Player Guide

CREATING A
SAFE SPACE

FOR PLAY
Sea of Thieves is a shared world game where
you’ll meet and play with lots of other realplayers from all over the world. While weurge everyone to remember the Pirate Code,it’s important to remember that not all crews
are friendly. Sinking other ships (even smallerones), stealing treasure and setting traps ispart of the pirate life that other crews should
be ready to face.

For more information on adjusting your Xbox
Live privacy settings, click here.
For more information on Steam’s Profile
Privacy settings, click here.
More generally, we operate a zero tolerance
policy for players who violate the Xbox
Live Code of Conduct and Steam Online
Conduct rules. If you encounter any formof threatening behaviour, harassment,
hate speech or cheating, please report
it immediately. For more information onreporting players, see our own Support site
article here.

That said, there are certain experiences andtypes of behaviour that some pirates might
not want to be exposed to, like unfilteredchatter from other crews. To begin with, we
recommend using privacy settings to keep
control of your experience, whether that’s
making sure your microphone is muted orhiding other players’ gamertags if you’restreaming.

Sea of Thieves ®

24

New Player Guide© 2020 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Microsoft, Sea of Thieves, Rare, and the Rare logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.