Originally published July 25, 2024; Season 13 is no longer the current Sea of Thieves season. Season 13 added the Burning Blade, Captain Flameheart’s ten-cannon flagship, as a World Event. Crews that defeat its Obsidian Skeleton crew can take command in Flameheart’s name or keep fighting to sink it. The update also introduced Skeleton Camps, where crews can raise the ship’s value through Rituals—or disrupt those Rituals and take the Orb of Secrets.
When Sea of Thieves Season 13 launched
Rare released Season 13 as a free update on July 25, 2024. Players needed the latest game version to encounter the Burning Blade. The update refreshed the Renown track with 100 levels of rewards earned through play. Rare’s Season 13 launch announcement described the Burning Blade and Skeleton Camps as the update’s two major additions to the sandbox.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One | $38.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sea of Thieves Xbox One (Renewed) | $30.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41RiuntPiNL._SL160_.jpg)
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Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code] | $35.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Sea of Thieves - Xbox One/PC - Full Game - Key Card | $57.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Sea of Thieves Xbox One | $76.41 | Buy on Amazon |
What is the Burning Blade?
The Burning Blade is Captain Flameheart’s flagship, crewed by Obsidian Skeletons, and appears as a World Event. It is an event vessel crews can take over during play, not a ship purchased for a player’s ordinary fleet. Rare describes it as carrying at least ten cannons. Its skeletons help sail, fight and repair the ship, while Obsidian Ashen Winds Skulls aboard can be used to repel boarders. Rare’s Season 13 release notes describe the ship’s combat features.
The Ashen Roar fireball launcher
The Ashen Roar is a bow-mounted launcher that fires a fireball. To use it, pull the lever near the wheel after the weapon recharges. Rare says it has unlimited uses and that the Burning Blade resists fire, so its own weapon does not set the ship alight. The ship’s fire resistance is a property of the Burning Blade; it does not make other ships or crews immune to fire.
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- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare’s irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot. Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Xbox One Console exclusive
- Battery: no battery used;Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Crude humor, use of alcohol, violence
What happens after you defeat the Burning Blade?
Once the Obsidian Skeleton crew is defeated, the crew that overcame it faces a strategic choice: pledge to Flameheart and command the flagship, or continue attacking and sink it. The paths serve different aims and expose crews to different risks; Rare’s descriptions do not rank them by difficulty.
| Choice | Objective | What follows | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pledge to Flameheart | Take command of the event ship and build its value. | Visit Skeleton Camps and complete Rituals before returning the ship to Flameheart. | You retain a conspicuous flagship while other crews can challenge you or interfere with your progress. |
| Keep attacking and sink it | Deny Flameheart the ship and claim its spoils. | Sink the Burning Blade and collect its loot, including the Blade of Souls. | You continue the fight rather than taking the ship into a Ritual run. |
How Skeleton Camps and Rituals work
Skeleton Camps are built on islands across the Sea of Thieves, above Ancient Temples. Smoke marks an active camp. Inside the temple, crews encounter constellation puzzles and a Ritual. The Ritual creates an objective for both sides of the Burning Blade conflict:
Rank #2
- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare's irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends!
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot
- Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Available on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs. Supports Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-platform play** (**Play on one device at a time. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10).The Hungering Deep, the first major Sea of Thieves content update landing May 2018, brings with it an exciting new threat to the Sea of Thieves world. Work together with other crews on a completely new adventure with gameplay enhancements and unique rewards.The May kick-off of the Sea of Thieves weekly events programme also introduces fun new ways to play with weekly events and rewards.
- Flameheart-aligned crews: Complete the Ritual to increase the Burning Blade’s value, then return the ship to Flameheart.
- Opposing crews: Enter the temple to interfere with the Ritual and take the Orb of Secrets.
This makes a Skeleton Camp more than a stop for the crew holding the ship: it also gives opponents a way to contest that crew’s progress on land.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Season 13 still live?
No. Season 13 launched in 2024 and is a historical update, not the current season. As of October 8, 2026, Sea of Thieves’ official news listing identifies Season 21, launched September 17, 2026, as current. Season 13’s Burning Blade and Skeleton Camps are therefore best understood as features introduced in that earlier update, not a newly released event.
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Best Value
- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare's irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends!
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot
- Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Available on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs. Supports Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-platform play** (**Play on one device at a time. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10).The Hungering Deep, the first major Sea of Thieves content update landing May 2018, brings with it an exciting new threat to the Sea of Thieves world. Work together with other crews on a completely new adventure with gameplay enhancements and unique rewards.The May kick-off of the Sea of Thieves weekly events programme also introduces fun new ways to play with weekly events and rewards.
Rank #3
- Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right.
- Whether you’re voyaging as a group or sailing solo, you’re bound to encounter other crews in this shared-world adventure – but will they be friends or foes, and how will you respond?
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
