Sea of Thieves: 5 Best Tips for Beginners

When you're presented with an oceans' worth of water to share with upwards of a million swashbuckling pirates, it's understandable that you'd feel a little intimidated. That said, leaving the dock with the right tips under your sails can send you a long way in a game like Sea of Thieves, and can even put you on par with the likes of Davey Jones himself. But coming to terms with how you'll spend your time wading through the rough tides can, like we said, be a rather hefty pill to swallow.

Fortunately, Sea of Thieves' community is rich and wholesome, and it doesn't waste time in rolling out the coral carpet for budding pirates and treasure seekers, either. So, with that, if you're looking to join the crew and aren't entirely sure where to begin, then be sure to onboard these quick beginner tips. Here's is everything you need to know about becoming the next legend of the seven seas.

5. The Lone Voyager

Let us get it out of the way and say this: you do not need to have a four-player crew to enjoy Sea of Thieves. That said, adopting a one-track mind that doesn't involve playing with additional teammates can lead to a rather shallow grave, and therefore one can only describe soloing Sea of Thieves as being the unofficial “hard mode” that, quite frankly, no newcomer really wants to sink into right off the paddle.

Of course, it's easy to feel intimidated when loading into the wide open world for the first time. And honestly, you're more than likely going to ask yourself one thing: where in the high heavens are your crew, anyway? Well, the good news is, Rare hosts a community forum that lets other players reach out to one another for said purposes. And the best part is, a great deal of fresh players look to these forums before stepping foot into Sea of Thieves, meaning you can join an honest crew that, like you, hasn't even dipped their toes into the shoreline yet.

Playing alone in Sea of Thieves is a perfectly valid option, that much is true. That said, every lone voyager eventually crosses a threshold that, in all honesty, flicks the switch and turns the tide without warning. PvP is unavoidable, and therefore you're bound to get into some rough waters when out traversing the open seas. With that, you should seriously consider onboarding a team that matches your skill level before diving headfirst into deep end.

4. Patience, Sailor!

Of course, every journey begins with a small step. And if there's one thing Sea of Thieves fosters an abundance of — it's small steps. Thankfully, though, this adds a lot more meat to the bones, and gives you the chance to enjoy a feast of content right off the bat. And while you'll more than likely find yourself itching for the water from the moment you graze the sand, the fact is, there is so much more to see and do before you even spot the shoreline — let alone board a ship.

Bear in mind that the open waters can get pretty hazy, and therefore you should never throw yourself into it without onboarding some level of knowledge beforehand. So, be sure to take in the sights, and don't stress about missing out on anything that may or may not be happening out in the ocean. Take on quests alone or with your crew, and build yourself up slowly, making sure to enjoy all the game has to offer by spooling through additional side activities and challenges along the way. Sea of Thieves is a stupidly big game, and by no means should you gloss over any of it — especially if you're planning on staying afloat once the tide rolls out.

3. Bananas Will Save You…Fact

While you're bound to think that treasure is the most important thing in the game, the truth is, it isn't. It's a bonus, sure, but in reality, you're going to need a lot more than gold and skeleton keys to keep your cogs turning. In fact, you'll need three things to keep your ship from capsizing: bananas, planks, and cannonballs. Having an abundance of all three items will, if you can believe, keep you sailing forever and ever. That is, until a rival crew sinks you and loots your stash, of course.

So, why keep such items in your inventory? Well, bananas replenish your health, planks fix holes in your ship, and cannonballs help identify potential digging spots for you and your crew to plunder. In all seriousness, though, it is worth keeping a stock of all three items, as they will save your skin for whenever you find yourself in a sticky situation. You can store all of these items in the barrels below your ship's deck. Do yourself a favor and utilize them the same way you would a Christmas stocking.

2. The Art of Conversation

They say talk is cheap, but “they” haven't played Sea of Thieves, a game that, quite frankly, revolves around the art of conversation. And on that note, talk is everything, and in all honesty the key to surviving Sea of Thieves' occasionally brutal open world playground. Therefore, if you've got a headset to spare, then make sure to use it when embarking on voyages with your crew, because silence, to be brutally honest, will course you towards an early grave if you're not careful.

Let it be said that communicating in Sea of Thieves is something of a double-edged sword. And while it can be a fantastic way to help you keep your fellow pirates in form, it can also open the gateway for potential eavesdroppers, too. By this, we mean enemy ships can make sense of your schemes if they sail a little too close for comfort. Needless to say, you should always keep your mic enabled. Just be sure to make use of that spyglass and keep a lid on any potential nosy Nellies that roam the local tides.

1. Now, Bring Me That Horizon

Okay, so you're just about ready to sail a ship. The good news is, you've got yourself a trusty crew that'll probably bend over backwards to see you clamber your way to the apex of piracy. The bad news is, well, sailing a ship is hard work, and quite possibly the toughest part in the game. And as easy as it is to assume that you know the ins and outs of a galleon, it's safe to say that you're probably miles away from knowing the first thing about weighing anchor.

As this is the most mechanically taxing thing in Sea of Thieves, you'll definitely want to spend some time patrolling the shoreline, at least until you've established a link with your crew and can fully comprehend what needs to be done to keep a ship afloat. And as appealing as the open waters may look at a first glance, you should definitely save yourself a quick trip to the Ferry of the Damned by learning the basics before sailing for the horizon. Jack Sparrow you most definitely are not. With a little patience, however, you could certainly pass for a fine impersonator.

So, what's your take? Do you have any tips for freshwater Sea of Thieves players? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.