Sea of Thieves beginner's guide - tips and tricks

Starting your pirate journey can be a daunting task which is where our Sea of Thieves beginner's guide comes in handy. Whether you're setting sail for the first time or looking to sharpen your skills on the high seas, this guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you thrive in your adventure.

Rare's pirate sandbox title contains a wealth of features and for Sea of Thieves newcomers, all of the information surrounding Tall Tales and Ancient Coins can overwhelm those looking to climb aboard a ship and start exploring. Thankfully, our guide has some useful tips and tricks on where to get started.

Before we share more, be sure to check out our other guides revealing how to fast travel and how to get your hands on Doubloons.

Sea of Thieves tips and tricks

Having spent some time out at sea, these tips and tricks are extremely useful when starting out as a fledgling pirate. Exploring is a huge part of Sea of Thieves so these tips will point you in the right direction without spoiling what the game has to offer.

Finish the Maiden Voyage

The Maiden Voyage tutorial is worth completing to familiarise yourself with the various Sea of Thieves mechanics that are important to master when fending off foes or sailing into the eye of a storm. It's an introductory tutorial that has some secrets waiting to be uncovered, providing thrilling adventurers with a slight advantage as players embark on their pirate journey.

Some hidden Commendations will provide some early Gold and Doubloons. The walkthrough from ConCon shows all the Maiden Voyage secrets and all of the rewards guaranteed to start your pirating adventure on the right foot (or wooden leg).

Make the most of Safer Seas

The Safer Seas mode is a private Sea of Thieves match which is the perfect setting to learn how the game works without your ship being obliterated by a full crew of expert pirates. It's ideal for beginner players to grasp the game mechanics at a comfortable pace, even though it lacks extensive progression and features.

Here, you can learn how to sail, use all the tools available on board a ship, the cannonballs, and harpoon items for quicker looting, and complete numerous voyages to get used to the main gameplay loop. When you're ready to join your fellow pirates, join a High Seas lobby.

Credit: Rare

Always stock up

There's nothing worse than running out of wood on board a sinking ship which is why making sure you always have enough supplies for every eventuality is essential in Sea of Thieves. Ensure you stock up your ship barrels with food for healing, cannonballs, and wood for ship repairs.

The best way to keep supplies replenished is by purchasing a Storage Crate from the Merchant Alliance. To do this, you must approach the barrels on the island to gather loot from them. You can spend an additional day at the outpost to gather extra supplies, as the barrels reset daily if you're preparing for something bigger such as a world event. By doing this, it allows you to store everything from food to cannonballs keeping your health levels high and your ship ready for battle.

Sell, sell, sell

Each Sea of Thieves session starts with a brand-new ship so make sure to sell all of your treasure at an Outpost before logging off. The last thing you want to do is spend hours working on a quest for you to forget grabbing the Gold.

Utilize your compass to count your steps

In Sea of Thieves, there's a riddles and frequent tasks. These riddles provide clues about where to go and what to do to uncover treasures. Each riddle will give hints at a precise location and indicate the number of steps to reach the treasure.

While estimating steps might suffice, it's not always accurate. To ensure precision, hold down the attack button while holding your compass to your face. This allows you to count each step precisely as you walk making it a handy trick helping you to save time.

Credit: Rare

Harness the wind to your benefit

Make the wind work in your favor when sailing the seas. Adjusting your sail angle to catch the wind is a crucial skill for every sailor. However, there are times when sailing with full wind might not be your best option, especially when being chased by another ship.

Each type of ship in Sea of Thieves has its advantages depending on the wind direction. Galleons are fastest with a full wind, Brigantines excel with a side wind, and Sloops outrun others against the wind. So, if you find yourself being chased by a larger ship while sailing a Sloop, sailing against the wind will give you the upper hand and keep you out of harm's way.

Engage in combat with other players

Engaging in combat with other players is a core aspect of Sea of Thieves. While it can be tempting to flee from encounters to protect your loot, learning to fight back effectively is essential. Here are some quick PvP tips for new players:

• Use the Blunderbuss for close-range fights.
• Cursed Cannonballs can be highly disruptive and shift the battle in your favor.
• Chainshots can disable enemy ships by hitting the mast, helm, or anchor.

Don't prioritize becoming a Pirate Legend

Don't make becoming a Pirate Legend your main focus in Sea of Thieves. While it's a significant achievement, prioritizing it can take away from the enjoyment of the game.

Instead, focus on enjoying the journey and exploring all the adventures the game has to offer. Pirate Legend status may come naturally over time, but there are many other rewarding experiences to pursue along the way.

Finding friends

The last tip we recommend is to join forces with some of your fellow pirates. Finding a crew and fighting monsters is incredibly fun and one of the most satisfying co-op experiences out there. While playing solo is fun for some aspects of the game, the true experience involves partying up with others.