What Are Commendations in Sea of Thieves? A Comprehensive Guide
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Commendations in Sea of Thieves are essentially the game’s achievement system. They represent specific feats, challenges, or milestones that players can complete throughout their pirate adventures. Unlike traditional achievements that are often simply points or badges, commendations in Sea of Thieves are tied to in-game rewards, such as cosmetics, titles, and even doubloons, the game’s premium currency. They are a core mechanic that encourages exploration, mastery of different game aspects, and persistent engagement with the world. You can view a list of commendations for each faction within your reputation page. By selecting a faction, you can see the specific list associated with them. This allows you to actively track your progress as you strive to complete each one.
Types of Commendations
Commendations in Sea of Thieves are diverse and span across many areas of gameplay. Here are a few common categories:
Faction-Based Commendations
Each of the trading companies – such as the Gold Hoarders, Order of Souls, Merchant Alliance, Reaper’s Bones, and Athena’s Fortune – has its own unique set of commendations. These often involve selling specific types of treasures to each faction, completing voyages, and achieving milestones while representing them as an emissary. For example, the Legendary Riches commendation requires selling 300 Athena’s Fortune Treasures while flying the Athena’s Fortune Emissary Flag.
Combat-Related Commendations
Many commendations revolve around combat, both with other players and AI enemies. Examples include sinking Skeleton Ships, defeating specific creatures like the Megalodon or Kraken, and eliminating opposing players. The His Favorite Crew commendation, for instance, requires you to sink ships of the opposing Hourglass faction in the PvP mode. This type of commendation often involves skillful combat and strategic decision-making.
Exploration and Discovery Commendations
These commendations are linked to exploring the vast world of Sea of Thieves, discovering hidden islands, solving puzzles, and completing Tall Tales. These often involve tasks such as interacting with specific objects, completing side quests, and finding hidden journals. One example is completing all the journals in each Tall Tale to receive the commendation.
Unique Commendations
Some commendations are not tied to any specific faction, but rather to unique activities or objectives. For example, the Small but Mighty commendation is awarded for successfully shooting another ship 25 times using a cannon rowboat, which can be found on beaches throughout the game. This type of commendation adds variety and encourages players to engage with the game in different ways.
Tracking Your Commendation Progress
Progress towards your commendations can be tracked through the game’s Reputation Menu. Here, each faction has a dedicated tab displaying all their related commendations. The menu allows you to monitor your current progression, which is important for planning your next adventure. In addition to faction-based commendations, the game also tracks the progress of Tall Tale commendations separately, under individual Tall Tale tabs. This allows you to easily see how close you are to completing these extensive story-based quests.
Rewards for Completing Commendations
Successfully completing commendations in Sea of Thieves offers a variety of rewards. These may include:
- Cosmetics: New outfits, ship customizations, weapon skins, and even unique tattoos can be unlocked by completing specific commendations.
- Titles: Commendations often grant titles that appear above your pirate’s name. These titles often signify your achievements in certain areas of the game.
- Doubloons: Completing certain commendations will award you with Doubloons, which can be used to purchase exclusive cosmetics and voyages from the Bilge Rats or to participate in seasonal events.
- Unique Items: Some of the rarer commendations may unlock items that help you in your seafaring adventures, like the Ghost Shovel, which is purchased from the Athena’s Fortune Shop after achieving certain commendations and milestones.
The rewards system adds a layer of progression, making commendations not just about the challenge but also about the tangible benefits for your character.
Why Are Commendations Important?
Commendations are crucial for several reasons:
- Motivation: They give players clear objectives to strive for, driving engagement.
- Progression: They provide a sense of progression and reward, encouraging consistent play.
- Exploration: They encourage players to explore all facets of the game, from combat to exploration.
- Customization: They unlock cosmetics, allowing players to personalize their pirates.
- Prestige: They allow players to show off accomplishments with titles and ship designs.
In short, commendations are a vital system in Sea of Thieves that adds depth and keeps players coming back for more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Commendations
1. How do I get the Small but Mighty commendation?
The Small but Mighty commendation requires players to shoot another ship 25 times using a cannon rowboat. These rowboats can be found on random island beaches throughout Sea of Thieves. You can shoot at player ships or Skeleton Ships to complete this.
2. What is the Legendary Riches commendation and how do I get it?
The Legendary Riches commendation requires you to sell 300 Athena’s Fortune Treasures while flying the Athena’s Fortune Emissary Flag.
3. How can I check my progress on Tall Tale commendations?
You can check your Tall Tale commendation progress in the Reputation Menu under the individual Tall Tales tabs.
4. How do I get the His Favorite Crew commendation?
The His Favorite Crew commendation requires you to sink ships of the opposite Hourglass faction. Since the introduction of same-faction battles, this commendation has become more challenging to complete.
5. What are Generous Gifts and how are they related to commendations?
Generous Gifts are rare and valuable items dropped in Sea of Thieves. They are sought after by the Reaper’s Bones Company, and selling them rewards the player with Doubloons. While they are not directly linked to a single commendation, finding and selling them can contribute to various faction-related commendations.
6. What is the best crew size for achieving commendations?
The maximum size of a Crew is dependent on the ship size: A Sloop Crew can have a maximum of 2 players, a Brigantine Crew 3, and a Galleon Crew 4. The best crew size for achieving commendations depends on the specific task at hand, and the preferences of your crew.
7. How many commendations are there in Sea of Thieves?
The total number of commendations in Sea of Thieves is extensive and constantly growing with new content updates. Some missions or updates like the Monkey Island content, have 16 commendations, but this is just a single update. There are hundreds spread across all the game’s different facets.
8. How do you get the Master Banisher commendation?
To get the Master Banisher commendation, you must dispel 25 Haunted Islands. This commendation has five Grades with the fifth and final Grade requiring 25 Haunted Islands.
9. What kind of rewards can I expect for completing commendations?
Rewards for completing commendations vary, but commonly include cosmetics, titles, and doubloons.
10. How do I get the Who Needs A Bigger Boat? achievement?
The Who Needs A Bigger Boat? achievement requires you to hit a Kraken or Megalodon 25 times with a rowboat cannon.
11. How do I unlock the Ancient Blunderbuss and what commendation is tied to it?
You unlock the Ancient Blunderbuss by completing the Tower Defence commendation. This requires you to defeat 100 Ghost Garrison emplacements.
12. How do I unlock the Gold Curse?
You can obtain the Gold Curse by completing the original nine Tall Tales five times each, and also finding all of the journals within each tale.
13. How do I unlock the Ashen Curse?
The Ashen Curse is awarded for completing The Blackwyche Reborn commendation.
14. Is there a difference in hitboxes based on pirate size?
No, all hitboxes are the same, regardless of the size of your pirate character. This is according to the developers, who stated: “Size matters not.”
15. What is the highest paying loot in Sea of Thieves?
The Reaper’s Bounty Treasure Chest is one of the most valuable items in the game, and can be worth 10,000 gold or more when sold to the Reaper’s Hideout, with sailing as a high-grade Reaper Emissary increasing its value even more.
Commendations in Sea of Thieves are a crucial part of the game experience, driving player engagement and progression. By understanding the different types of commendations, how to track your progress, and the rewards they offer, you can better navigate your pirate journey and become a true legend of the seas.