Starting Sea of Thieves can feel like being thrown into a storm with no map. There’s no hand-holding, no gear levels, and no questlines gently guiding you from A to B. Just you, a ship, and a sea full of chaos, mystery, and (very aggressive) other players.
This guide won’t cover every little mechanic — that’s what the wiki’s for. What we’re doing here is giving you a real-world, in-game survival plan: what to focus on first, how to avoid the most common early mistakes, and how to stack your first pile of loot without getting steamrolled by sweaty Reapers.
How Much Gold Do You Need?
Gold matters more than most new players think. Sure, it won’t get you better weapons (everyone has the same sword), but it will unlock the parts of the game that make it your pirate adventure. You’ll need gold for:
- Cosmetics (your outfit, weapons, sails, ship skins)
- Buying Voyages and supplies
- Purchasing Emissary flags to boost loot income
- Buying storage crates and stocking up your ship for longer sessions
Getting all that takes time (or not). Some players skip the grind entirely and go looking for Sea of Thieves gold for sale so they can start fully stocked and fully dripped out from day one. That’s a personal call. If you’ve got the money and don’t feel like catching pigs for 4 hours, who’s judging? But for the rest of us grinding it out, let’s talk ships.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
There are three types of ships in Sea of Thieves — each one better suited for different playstyles. Don’t just pick the biggest boat and assume you’ll dominate.
- Sloop (1–2 players) — Fast, nimble, turns like a dream. Best choice for solo players or duos who like sneaky play and quick getaways. Easier to repair mid-fight.
- Brigantine (2–3 players) — A speed demon in a straight line. Hits hard, but turns slow. Great for chasing, not great for tight fights unless your crew is sharp.
- Galleon (3–4 players) — The Biggest ship with the most firepower. Also, a floating “please sink me” sign. You’ll get targeted constantly, and if your crew’s not coordinated, it’s game over.
If you’re new, start with the Sloop. It’s easier to learn the basics (sailing, repairing, angling sails), without your entire screen being filled with ropes and panic.
Step One: Don’t Just Sail Blind
You’ve got your ship. Now what? Don’t just pick a random direction and hope to find treasure. Here’s what to do in your first few sessions:
- Fly the Gold Hoarders flag — You’ll earn reputation and unlock better Voyages.
- Grab a Storage Crate ASAP — Either buy one or loot barrels at an outpost. Trust us; running out of food and planks mid-fight is a great way to rage-quit.
- Run a Voyage from the Gold Hoarders or the Merchant Alliance — Simple treasure maps or animal deliveries. Easy gold and a good intro to sailing mechanics.
- Avoid the Reaper’s Emissary for now — Flying turns you into a glowing PvP magnet. Save it for later once you can actually fight back.
You can even server hop if things get too sweaty. Just quit the menu and load back in. Sometimes, peace is a better treasure than loot.
Earning Gold Without Losing Your Mind
Alright, let’s say you’re in it for the grind. How do you start stacking gold efficiently without falling asleep?
- Skeleton Forts — When active, they show a giant skull cloud in the sky. Clear waves of skeletons, kill the captain, loot the vault. Best with a duo or full crew.
- Sea Forts — Smaller, faster versions of skeleton forts. Always available. Good loot and manageable solo.
- Merchant Runs — Delivering pigs and chickens doesn’t sound exciting, but it’s a steady income. Use tools like bootytracker.net to find animal spawns fast.
- Emissary Runs — Always raise a faction flag before farming. At rank 5, you get a huge bonus to loot turn-ins.
- Stash Voyages — Use the Merchant’s trade routes and Gold Hoarder stash maps to quickly stack high-value loot with minimal sailing.
Even if you’re not hardcore grinding, these methods make sure your time isn’t wasted sailing empty-handed.
Avoiding PvP (Or At Least Not Dying Instantly)
You can’t turn PvP off in Sea of Thieves. But you can avoid getting dumpstered every five minutes.
- Park your ship smart — Don’t dock like a billboard. Use islands for cover and park with the nose facing the sea so you can escape fast.
- Always check the horizon — If you see sails, assume the worst. Run first, ask questions later.
- Use cannons for recon — Fire yourself from the ship to check islands or forts before you commit.
- Hide loot — Drop it off your ship in the ocean before a fight. Come back later to grab it. Yes, this works.
- Don’t hold grudges — Got sunk? It happens. Respawn, reload, move on. Everyone’s been there.
Eventually, you’ll learn when to fight, when to run, and when to play dead and let the angry brig sail away.
Customization and Drip Check
Cosmetics are everything in Sea of Thieves. They don’t make you stronger, but they do make you look cool. And that matters more, honestly.
What you’ll want gold for later:
- Ship cosmetics: hulls, sails, cannons, capstans
Character outfits and weapons - Pets and instruments
- Titles and cosmetics tied to factions
It’s all optional, but once you’ve got a basic rhythm going, you’ll want to start collecting. There’s nothing like rolling into battle with your custom-painted Galleon and a monkey in a top hat.
Don’t Try to Master It All at Once
Sea of Thieves isn’t about “winning.” It is about chaos, moments, and dumb pirate glory. You will get sunk. You will sink others. You will launch yourself out of a cannon and land in the wrong sea. That is the point. So start small. Pick a ship, pick a goal, and get a few wins under your belt. The rest will come. The sea’s not going anywhere.