Navigating the Sea of Thieves Economy: A Pirate’s Guide to Acquiring Currencies
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Ahoy, mateys! The Sea of Thieves is a vast and vibrant world, teeming with adventure, danger, and, of course, treasure. But treasure isn’t just about gold gleaming in the sunlight; it’s also about the different currencies that drive the game’s economy and allow you to customize your pirate life.
So, how do you amass this pirate plunder? The answer is multifaceted, encompassing a range of activities, from perilous voyages to cunning encounters. Let’s break down the primary currencies and how to obtain them.
The primary currencies in Sea of Thieves are Gold, Doubloons, and Ancient Coins. Each has unique uses and acquisition methods.
- Gold: The bread and butter of the Sea of Thieves economy. Earned by selling treasure to various Trading Companies. Almost everything you do in the game can lead to earning Gold.
- Doubloons: A secondary currency, more valuable than Gold, primarily earned through time-limited events, commendations, and selling specific valuable items. These are used to purchase exclusive items and Voyages from the Black Market Archive or Trading Company Emissary Flags.
- Ancient Coins: The premium currency, primarily purchased with real money. They can also be earned rarely by defeating Ancient Skeletons in the game world. Used to buy items from the Pirate Emporium, including pets, ship cosmetics, and emotes.
Gold: The Pirate’s Daily Grind
Earning Gold is fundamental to progressing in Sea of Thieves. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective methods:
- Completing Voyages: Trading Companies offer voyages that task you with finding treasure, defeating skeleton captains, or delivering goods. Successfully completing these voyages rewards you with Gold and Reputation with the issuing Trading Company. Higher-level voyages generally offer greater rewards.
- Selling Treasure: Found a chest buried on a deserted island? Defeated a powerful skeleton lord? Haul your treasure to the appropriate Trading Company representative at an outpost and sell it for Gold. The value of treasure varies, so prioritize high-value items like Captain’s Chests or Villainous Skulls.
- World Events: Keep an eye out for world events marked on the horizon. These events, such as Skeleton Forts, Ashen Lords, and Fleet Battles, offer significant challenges and even greater rewards in the form of valuable loot.
- Defeating Enemies: Skeletons, Phantoms, Ocean Crawlers, and other enemies often drop treasure or valuable items upon defeat. Be sure to loot their remains to maximize your Gold earnings.
- Emissary System: Registering as an Emissary for a Trading Company grants you a bonus multiplier on the Gold and Reputation you earn when selling treasure to that company. The higher your Emissary Grade, the greater the bonus. Be aware, however, that being an Emissary makes you a target for other players.
- Fishing: Fishing is a surprisingly lucrative activity in Sea of Thieves. Different types of fish can be caught in different locations and sold to the Hunter’s Call at Seaposts. Some fish are rarer and more valuable than others.
- Delivering Cargo Runs: The Merchant Alliance offers cargo run voyages, which require players to transport various goods from one outpost to another within a set time limit.
Doubloons: The Mark of the Dedicated Pirate
Doubloons are a more specialized currency, representing dedication and participation in the Sea of Thieves community.
- Commendations: Many in-game actions, from defeating specific types of enemies to exploring hidden locations, unlock Commendations. Earning Commendations often rewards you with Doubloons. Check your Pirate Log to see which Commendations you’re close to completing.
- Time-Limited Events: Rare Ltd offers regular time-limited events that often reward Doubloons for participation. These events can range from special voyages to community challenges. Keep an eye on the Sea of Thieves website and social media channels for announcements.
- Selling Reaper’s Chests and Reaper’s Bounties: These special chests appear on the map with a beacon reaching towards the sky. They can be sold at The Reaper’s Hideout for a good amount of doubloons.
- Selling Siren Gems: Siren Gems are found inside treasuries and shrines, and are aquamarine, emerald, and ruby in color.
- Selling Ritual Skulls: These skulls are required to start the Fort of the Damned world event.
Ancient Coins: The Key to the Pirate Emporium
Ancient Coins are the premium currency of Sea of Thieves, primarily used to purchase cosmetic items from the Pirate Emporium.
- Purchasing with Real Money: The most common way to acquire Ancient Coins is by purchasing them with real money through the Microsoft Store, Steam, or the in-game Pirate Emporium.
- Ancient Skeletons: Rarely, an Ancient Skeleton will spawn in the game world. These skeletons are distinguishable by their bags of Ancient Coins. Defeating an Ancient Skeleton grants you a varying amount of Ancient Coins, usually between 100 and 800. They only appear for a brief period and despawn if you don’t kill them quickly.
FAQs: Your Sea of Thieves Currency Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of acquiring and using currencies in Sea of Thieves:
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What’s the best way to earn Gold quickly? Focused world events, especially when running as an Emissary, are the most efficient way to earn Gold quickly. Prioritize high-value loot and sell it at an outpost with a high Emissary Grade bonus.
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How do I become an Emissary? Purchase an Emissary Flag from the Trading Company you wish to represent at their outpost. Vote on the Emissary Table to raise the flag on your ship.
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What are the risks of being an Emissary? Being an Emissary makes you a target for other players, particularly those aligned with the Reaper’s Bones Trading Company. They will hunt you down to steal your loot and lower your Emissary Grade.
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Are there any benefits to losing a battle as an Emissary? While losing loot is never ideal, the experience gained from naval combat and strategic decision-making is invaluable in Sea of Thieves.
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How do I find Ancient Skeletons? Ancient Skeletons spawn randomly throughout the game world. There is no guaranteed method to find them, but some players believe they spawn more frequently in areas with fewer players.
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What should I spend my Doubloons on? Doubloons are best spent on time-limited items from the Black Market Archive or on Voyages that offer unique rewards.
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Can I convert Gold into Doubloons or Ancient Coins? No, there is no way to directly convert Gold into Doubloons or Ancient Coins.
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Can I earn Ancient Coins without spending real money? Yes, by defeating Ancient Skeletons. However, this is a rare occurrence and shouldn’t be relied upon as a consistent source of Ancient Coins.
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What can I buy with Ancient Coins? Ancient Coins are used to purchase cosmetic items from the Pirate Emporium, including pets, ship cosmetics, emotes, and character outfits.
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Are Ancient Coin items purely cosmetic? Yes, items purchased with Ancient Coins are purely cosmetic and do not provide any gameplay advantages.
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What are the best voyages to do to get more gold? The best voyages for gold will vary based on your rank with each trading company, and what world events are currently active. Generally speaking, Gold Hoarder vaults are a great way to start, and Merchant Alliance commodity runs are generally the least profitable.
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Are there other types of currencies in Sea of Thieves? While Gold, Doubloons, and Ancient Coins are the main currencies, there are also other types of rewards, such as Reputation with Trading Companies, that unlock access to new voyages and items.
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How do I level up in different trading companies? You can level up in each of the trading companies by selling them the treasure that is most valuable to them. For example, selling chests to the Gold Hoarders, or skulls to the Order of Souls.
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Where can I get a ritual skull to activate the Fort of the Damned? You can get ritual skulls as random loot from defeating skeleton ships, skeleton forts, or from purchasing voyages from Duke in the tavern.
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What should I do with gems? Siren Gems can be found in the Shrine of the Coral Tomb, Shrine of Flooded Embrace, Shrine of Hungering, Shrine of Ancient Tears, Shrine of Tribute, and Treasuries, which are special underwater locations that hold treasure and can be accessed from various locations on the map. All three Trading Companies will accept these as a form of treasure to be turned in for experience, however, they are most valuable when turned into the Sovereigns.
Mastering the art of acquiring currencies in Sea of Thieves is essential for becoming a legendary pirate. Whether you’re meticulously charting voyages, battling fearsome foes, or simply casting a line and hoping for a rare catch, every action contributes to your growing wealth. So, hoist the sails, weigh anchor, and set forth on your quest for fortune!
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