Sea of Thieves may not have had the best start, but it's since grown into an addictive pirate pastime for many a player. A big part of that success comes from the developer's plethora of patches and updates. With these additions, they actually populated this vast world with stuff to do and treasures to find. Fancy that.
RELATED: Sea Of Thieves: Beginner Tips For Players
Come to think of it, Sea of Thieves now has so much to discover that it's overwhelming. Even after nearly three years, the high seas still house mysteries that players would be hard-pressed to find. These could be secret locations, hidden enemies, unlockable items, or silly little gameplay quirks. The sky's the limit. They all have one thing in common, though: they continue to elude countless wannabe pirates, making them look like feckless scallywags.
Updated July 30th, 2021 by Joseph Heindl: Sea of Thieves may not have had the best start, but it's since grown into an addictive pirate pastime for many a player. A big part of that success comes from the developer's plethora of patches and updates. With these additions, they actually populated this vast world with stuff to do and treasures to find. Fancy that.
Come to think of it, Sea of Thieves now has so much to discover that it's overwhelming. Even after nearly three years, the high seas still house mysteries that players would be hard-pressed to find. They could be secret locales, hidden enemies, unlockable items, or silly little gameplay quirks. The sky's the limit. They all have one thing in common, though: they continue to elude countless wannabe pirates, making them look like feckless scallywags. Not just that, but Sea of Thieves' recent Pirates of the Caribbean expansion has opened new waters to explore. Cursed treasures and haunting accounts await from off the edge of the map, giving players both new and old something to strive for.
12 The Underwater Cave Of Atlantis?
An uncharted island at the southern border of The Wilds may not look like much, but it actually holds a slew of secret rooms beneath the surface. First, a stone arch leads to a cave with a few wooden structures and statues. It looks vaguely ritualistic, especially amidst the torchlight, but that's only the beginning.
If players swim down to the ocean floor, they'll discover a small hole. Through there is a vast cavern littered with imposing stone columns, tables, and archways. It's unclear what this place was used for, but the tribal civilization that once populated it is long dead. The stalactites and shadows only add to the ominous atmosphere. It's surprising that such a creepy location is so easily missed, and it's not the only cave with such ruins. This only fuels the question of who lived here before the pirates came.
11 Bones Of The Kraken, Sea Serpent, Or Giant Bird
Like the best fantastical pirate adventures, Sea of Thieves lets players fight the Kraken on the open sea. It's one of the creatures that potential plunderers may encounter on their voyages.
However, certain islands and seabeds house the skeletal remains of enormous animals that could gobble up the roughest and toughest pirates in one bite. Some of these are clearly Kraken bones, but others come in different shapes that suggest other species. Couple this with the game's plethora of paintings, which seem to depict large birds and other monsters terrorizing locals, and you've got strong speculation surrounding what undiscovered titans still lurk beneath the depths.
10 Lighting Campfires With A Swing Of The Sword
Since cooking is one of the core mechanics, campfires are obviously a big part of Sea of Thieves. Most games involving these campfires handle them in a few specific ways. Players may simply press a button to light the fire and establish it as a waypoint, or they might have to manually ignite the flame with a torch, lantern, or fire arrow.
RELATED: Best Fishing Games Of All Time, Ranked
Sea of Thieves mostly follows the latter method. However, it also sports an extra way of starting a fire: striking the wood with a sword. While this makes some sense due to the sparks it generates, it's such a random little shortcut that most likely don't know about or don't use.
9 They Needed A Bigger Boat
Some players probably discovered the ruins of Merrick's ship near one of the uncharted islands. The vessel is underwater, requiring a short swim for a closer look. What they may not have noticed is the nameplate, which reads, "The Killer Whale."
This is a reference to Jaws. In this film, a trio of humans hunt down the titular shark in a fishing boat called "The Orca." Considering shark attacks are already a recurring danger on the high seas (preceded by ominous music, no less), such an Easter Egg couldn't be more appropriate.
8 All Easter Eggs Commemorating Players
Throughout the world of Sea of Thieves, players can find small items, letters, or even corpses noting the achievements of certain pirates. These are appropriately referred to as "Legends of the Sea."
What these actually signify are those select few people who accomplished various feats. Many of these came from players in the game's early months. Maybe they overcame a tough task; alternatively, they could have been a valuable member of the online community, helping it measure up in a competitive market of open-world PC titles. They could have even distinguished themselves by doing something silly, such as firing themselves out of a cannon the most times. Whatever the case, it's a pleasant commemorative gesture that players may or may not encounter during their exploits.
7 The Shrouded Ghost
The Megalodon, a colossal prehistoric shark, still roams the waters in Sea of Thieves. Players must be on the lookout for these oceanic monsters, as a single one can reduce a pirate ship to splinters.
The rarest breed of Megalodon is the Shrouded Ghost. Although it spawns in the same places as the other giant sharks, the chances of encountering it are slim to none. The Ghost is extremely hard to spot. This is especially the case at night when its coloring changes to a dark purple. However, this means that the rewards for hunting the elusive behemoth are enough to make even the greediest pirate drool.
6 Captain Bones' Original Pirate Cutlass
It goes without saying that not everyone attained this weapon. That's by design. This particular cutlass was gifted to those who played the game before March 20, 2019.
Players who dove into the game after this period obviously missed their chance. Considering Sea of Thieves wasn't exactly popular at launch, a large portion of its current base probably signed in later on...once the developers actually gave them stuff to do. By default, that makes the original cutlass one of the most unattainable weapons.
5 The Launch Crew Eye Of Reach
This is another timed exclusive for early players, but it's even rarer than the original pirate cutlass. First, the window for obtaining the Launch Crew Eye of Reach was far smaller. Instead of a full year, this sniper rifle was only available between May 1 and May 22 of 2018.
RELATED: Tips For Conquering The Seas Solo In Sea Of Thieves
This was close enough to the game's launch window that many recent players probably missed it. At the same time, it's far enough away from the release date that those who bought the game early likely signed off out of boredom. The Launch Crew Eye of Reach is only owned by devotees who stuck around and snatched it up during this short period.
4 The Legendary Weapons
Among the best items in the game, these mythical tools are reserved for only the most driven. Players must attain a Legendary reputation in at least three of the Gold Hoarders, Merchant Alliance, Order of Souls, Hunter's Call, Sea Dogs, and Reaper's Bones factions. That means grinding 50 reputation levels in each one.
On top of that, they must earn the title of "Legendary Sea Dog." This requires first place in the arena at least 240 times after already attaining the "Pirate Legend" title. Sometimes, the booty is worth the grind. Only players who've gained the cutlass in question can decide if this is one of those times.
3 Scurvy Bilge Rat Set
Obtaining these items is a piece of cake, right? After all, they're not tied to any reputation level, so that automatically cuts out hours of potential grinding for the different factions. All that's left is to buy them.
Well, the game compensates for the lack of grinding with a jump in price. Pieces of the Scurvy Bilge Rat set are much more expensive than other products. In fact, they're three times pricier than regular items. The Scurvy Bilge Rat Wheel, for instance, will set buyers back 140,000 gold pieces. It's hard to justify the countless hours of plundering needed for those items. That's why most players probably haven't even bothered with this equipment. Sea of Thieves has plenty of other secrets worth seeking.
2 The Pirates Of The Caribbean Ride
To go along with the Pirates of the Caribbean expansion, why not revisit the ride that inspired it all? On Isla Tesoro, players can take a rowboat through a narrow channel surrounded by drunken buccaneers and salty wenches. The filtered sound effects and classic music quickly indicate that this is a recreation of the Disneyland ride.
Granted, this moment comes as part of the "Captains of the Damned" Tall Tale. Specifically, players access it via the "Treasure for Eternity" quest. However, not everyone will recognize the theme park iconography. Those details may fly over the head of someone who's never experienced the ride. Not to mention, the area is rife with hidden items that even eagled-eyed pirates are bound to miss.
1 The Secret Of Monkey Island
Amidst all of the Jack Sparrow love going around, it's easy to overlook a less notorious pirate. Players read tidings of this forgotten icon during the first Tall Tale. Seek out the shipwreck of a vessel called The Headless Monkey. Inside are the journals of Captain Kate Capsize, who mentions the exploits of a certain Guybrush Threepwood.
The Monkey Island series technically falls under the Disney banner, but few fans expected this dormant franchise to return in any capacity. This means that everyone's favorite big-headed buccaneer is somewhere in the Sea of Thieves, pointing and clicking his way to some bountiful booty.