Start with the Maiden Voyage and Pirate Academy, then practise the basic ship jobs before taking on bigger goals. Choose a ship that fits your crew, and use Safer Seas to learn without other player crews; switch to High Seas when you want the full shared-world experience and its additional features.
Start with the Maiden Voyage and Pirate Academy
The Maiden Voyage introduces navigation, combat and ship repair in a guided setting. It is a useful first stop even if you have played before: Microsoft’s accessibility guidance notes that the tutorial can be revisited and that descriptive prompts explain individual mechanics.
| # | 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 |
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Sea of Thieves Xbox One | $76.41 | Buy on Amazon |
Afterward, open the in-game Pirate Academy lessons for focused introductions to the systems you want to learn. The official New Players hub also gathers guidance on Voyages, Tall Tales, Seasons, Emissaries and Safer Seas.
Learn the ship jobs that keep a crew moving
Before worrying about advanced strategies, get comfortable with the practical tasks that keep a voyage on course and a ship afloat:
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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
- Steer and navigate: guide the ship and use the map to work out where you are going.
- Manage the sails: raise, lower and angle them as needed to control your movement.
- Stay battle-ready: keep an eye on your surroundings and be prepared to respond if trouble finds you.
- Repair and bail: patch holes when the ship takes damage and remove water before it floods.
On a crew, jobs can be shared rather than assigned permanently. Practising each one helps you understand what the ship needs when the situation changes.
Choose a ship for your crew size
Sea of Thieves offers three ship sizes suited to different crew counts. The Galleon works best when its four-person crew communicates; extra sailors do not remove the need to coordinate.
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.
| Ship | Recommended crew | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Sloop | One or two sailors | A practical fit for solo play or a two-person crew. |
| Brigantine | Three sailors | Choose it when three players are sailing together. |
| Galleon | Four sailors | Best suited to a communicative four-person crew. |
Decide between Safer Seas and High Seas
Safer Seas removes other player crews from your session, making it a useful place to practise or explore at your own pace. High Seas is the shared-world option if you want the full experience, including features that Safer Seas does not support.
| What matters | Safer Seas | High Seas |
|---|---|---|
| Other player crews | Other crews are absent. | Shared world with other player crews. |
| Emissaries and Captained Ships | Unavailable. | Available; these features are restricted in Safer Seas. |
| Gold and reputation rates | Since the December 2024 content update, earns 100% of the gold and reputation available in High Seas. | Reference rate for the Safer Seas comparison. |
| Trading Company progression | The official update announcement describes a rank-25 progression cap. The FAQ specifies that Gold Hoarders, Order of Souls, Merchant Alliance and Hunter’s Call reputation stops at rank 40. | No corresponding High Seas cap is specified in the cited Safer Seas sources. |
| Athena’s Fortune and Reaper’s Bones reputation | Cannot be earned. | Not restricted by the Safer Seas rule described in the FAQ. |
The rank limits refer to different wording in Rare’s materials: its 7 December 2023 Safer Seas announcement, updated in November 2024, states a rank-25 Trading Company progression cap, while the Safer Seas FAQ names four companies whose reputation stops at rank 40. Do not treat those figures as a single cap that applies identically to every progression system.
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?
For a first session, choose Safer Seas if learning without other crews is your priority. Move to High Seas when you are ready for player encounters or want to use features and progression options that Safer Seas excludes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep learning after your first session
Use the official New Players hub and Pirate Academy to pick up the next system when you are ready. Their material covers Voyages and Tall Tales as well as Seasons, Emissaries and Safer Seas, so you can learn those at your own pace instead of trying to master everything before you set sail.
Quick Recap
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.
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.
