Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSea of Thieves Season 18 brought new encounters, loot destinations, Smugglers’ League activities and, in its delayed final act, two fortified Ashen Garrisons to the Devil’s Roar. It was a substantial multi-act update to what crews could do in the volcanic region, not a confirmed permanent redesign of its geography or volcano mechanics. Season 18 has ended; Season 21 was listed by Rare in September 2026.
What Season 18 added to the Devil’s Roar
Season 18 launched on 11 December 2025 with new Ancient-themed encounters and places to explore. Smugglers’ League activities followed, while the final act added a pair of fortified strongholds. Rare’s Season 18 launch announcement and Release Notes 3.6.2 describe the additions.
| # | 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 |
| Activity | What crews do | Reward or purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Sanctuaries of the Banished | Find and open ancient stone doors using a Sanctuary key. | Explore newly uncovered structures and pursue valuable loot, including the Trident of the Banished and Banished Ancient Rune Tablets. |
| Eternal Guard | Fight Ancient warriors appearing from sarcophagi on islands across the seas. | Defeating the Guard yields a Sanctuary key. |
| Smugglers’ League | Visit two new regional hideouts and undertake a Smugglers’ Route Run Voyage. | A new route-based activity in the Devil’s Roar. |
| Ashen Garrisons | Assault fortified Sea Forts through exterior defenses, ramparts, the Guardhouse and the Treasury. | Defeat the Treasury’s Custodian to gain access to the treasure. |
Sanctuaries of the Banished and the Eternal Guard
How to get a Sanctuary key
Defeat an Eternal Guard. The warriors emerge from sarcophagi on islands and use hunting spears and blowpipes; they can disappear in poisonous fog and may unleash a dangerous final attack. The launch announcement says a defeated Guard yields a key that opens a Sanctuary’s stone doors.
What to find inside
The Sanctuaries are newly exposed Ancient structures associated with the Dark Brethren activity. Their loot includes the Trident of the Banished and Banished Ancient Rune Tablets. The key-and-Sanctuary loop gives crews a reason to take on the Guard before exploring the structures.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
Smugglers’ League activities
Season 18 added two Smugglers’ League hideouts and representatives in the Devil’s Roar, plus a Smugglers’ Route Run Voyage. This extended the region’s activities beyond combat and exploration with a dedicated voyage route.
How an Ashen Garrison raid works
Act 3 introduced two heavily fortified Ashen Garrisons. These are Sea Forts built around a staged assault rather than a single fight.
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.
- Breach the exterior defenses. Crews first have to get through the stronghold’s outer defenses.
- Fight across the ramparts. Push through the fortified upper approaches.
- Clear the Guardhouse. Continue the assault into the interior.
- Defeat the Treasury’s Custodian. The Custodian guards access to the treasure; defeating it lets the crew reach the haul.
The official 3.6.2 release notes detail the Garrisons and their layered defenses.
Seasonal rewards and progression
During Season 18, Company representatives in the Devil’s Roar offered increased gold and reputation for loot turn-ins. Rare described this as a seasonal benefit; it should not be treated as a permanent regional bonus. The Season 18 overview lists a 100-level Renown progression track.
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?
Why the final act was delayed
Rare initially targeted Act 3 for February 2026, then delayed it after internal playtesting found that the Ashen Garrisons did not yet feel distinct or meaningful enough. Drew ‘Sonicbob’ Stevens wrote that Act 3 would launch on 5 March 2026, “giving us sufficient time to land this experience at quality.” Rare’s Act 3 State of Play explains the delay and gives the revised date.
The Garrisons arrived on 5 March. Season 19 Act 1 began on 19 March 2026, two weeks later, according to Rare’s March 2026 update.
Did Season 18 change the volcanoes?
The documented overhaul added encounters, structures, voyages and rewards in the Devil’s Roar. Rare’s cited announcements and notes do not establish a lasting change to the region’s geography or volcano behavior. The update expanded what crews could do there; it is not evidence that the volcanic hazards themselves were redesigned.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Sea of Thieves Season 18 still live?
No. Season 18 is historical, not the current season. Rare’s What’s New listing showed Season 21 on 17 September 2026. The increased regional turn-in rewards were specifically a Season 18 benefit, and the sources do not establish that every seasonal reward remains available now.
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.
