Custom Seas
The free customisation toolset introduced in Season 20 expands with new options and additions! For more info on everything else taking place this Season, head over to our dedicated Season 21 page.
Legendary Location – Golden Sands
Custom Seas expands its collection of Legendary Locations with the return of Golden Sands Outpost, restored to its pre-Lost Sands appearance and available as a dedicated location for custom sessions.
The Devil’s Shroud surrounds the island, keeping crews focused on the action. Due to the unique nature of the location, some World Events, creatures and island-specific features will be unavailable.
Crew Banners for Ships
Looking at another crew’s ship through a spyglass in a custom session now displays a crew-specific ship banner and musical effect, helping players to quickly recognise allies and rivals during the session.
New Commands
Activate Fort of the Damned – This command activates the Fort of the Damned during a custom session.
Clear Fixed Storm – Creators using the Move Storm command can now clear a fixed storm location, returning the storm to roaming the seas.
Command Improvements
Spawn Treasures – Players are now able to spawn cooked meats and cooked Merfruit.
Spawn Treasures – Players are now able to spawn Keys found in Sea Forts and Ashen Garrisons.
New Switches
Emergent Sea Forts – Within Emergent World Events, Sea Forts can now be disabled from becoming an emergent encounter during a session. While disabled, all Sea Forts will remain accessible but without posing a threat or offering treasure.
Emergent Ashen Garrisons – Within Emergent World Events, Ashen Garrison encounters can now be disabled during a session. While disabled, Ashen Garrisons will remain locked; however, creators can spawn Keys to allow players access.
Fog – Within Weather, fog can now be enabled or disabled in the world.
Break Disguise Scoring – This new gameplay scoring system allows creators to assign a silver value awarded when players break a pirate’s disguise, either through interaction or dealing damage.
Switch Improvements
New categories have been added to the switch menu: Emergent Attacks and Emergent Activities. Existing switches have been rehomed from the Emergent World Events category into these new locations.
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Gameplay Improvements
Outfit Saving
Players can now save their favourite combinations of clothing and vanity items as outfits from the Clothing Chest. As well as being equipped, outfits can also be named, renamed, overwritten or deleted.
Following the introduction of Outfit Saving, the Vanity Chest has been removed, bringing all clothing and vanity items into the Clothing Chest.
A saved outfit will not include changes to equipped emotes or disguises.
Crouching Audio Improvements
New audio effects can be heard when pirates crouch while in motion. Attempting to crouch while sprinting or while suffering from a limp will now trigger new effects as the pirate’s rickety knees buckle.
Visual Improvements
The braziers at the Fort of the Damned now use an improved visual effect when lit and during corresponding Shadow Skeleton waves.
When a Ghost Fleet Event begins, the tornado cloud effect now has improved visuals.
Events
Season 21 Community Weekend (October 23rd – October 26th)
Tricksters and Treaters returns for Season 21! Post Quest Board maps that either lead to buried treasure worth at least 10,000 gold or hide Gunpowder Barrels to contribute to one of two cumulative Community Spirit Goals: Treat Together and Trick Together. Reaching these Goals will unlock the Treater’s Prize Hat and Trickster’s Prize Hat for all contributing players.
Complete five maps from the Quest Board to earn the Pocket Pumpkin Emote. Players can also set sail each day to claim a Voyage of Wild Luck, alongside the initial gift of a Season 21 Community Weekend Flag and a Community Spirit Firework Crate from the Merchant Alliance.
Tune in to participating Sea of Thieves streamers on Twitch to earn Drops including the Stalwart Sea Dog Bucket, Gilded Phoenix ship parts and Bat Cutout Emote. Watching streams also raises the Community Emissary Grade, unlocking reward boosts of up to 2.5 times the usual amount for all High Seas players.
Follow clues shared on official Sea of Thieves social channels to track down time-limited Pop-Up Plunder. Be quick, as each server holds only one haul – and some clues may lead to returning Pop-Up Blunder instead!
Make memories at Picture Walls across the seas, and use #BeMorePirate to nominate a worthy pirate or share your own accomplishments for a chance to receive the Hat of Unfeasibly Glorious Fame.
Keep an eye on our dedicated Community Weekend page for a complete breakdown of what’s included when this Event goes live!
Festival of the Damned (October 27th – November 3rd)
All players who take part in this Event will be granted the Soulflame Mask. Wearing this mask while taking on the Fort of the Damned will attract Soulflame Skeletons, which will attempt to flee once spotted. More pirates wearing the mask will attract more skeletons, so bring a friend!
Defeating Soulflame Skeletons awards Doubloons and progress to every eligible player present at the Fort of the Damned, encouraging crews to work together rather than compete for the final blow.
During the Event, pirates have a chance of finding a Mega Stash within the Vault at the Fort of the Damned, which awards a Doubloon Crate, Chests of Fortune and other valuable treasures.
All players will also be temporarily granted the Bucket of Confections Emote. Performing this to another player allows them to take a Ghoulish Confection which, when eaten, could cause any number of effects – some treats, some tricks!
While the Festival of the Damned is active, players are tasked with two Goals. The Community Spirit Goal encourages sharing Ghoulish Confections with others to unlock the Spiritfire Makeup, while a personal Goal of taking down Soulflame Skeletons unlocks the Candlelight of the Damned Lantern.
The Outposts and front-end menu have been themed in preparation for the spooky season!
Last Ship Standing (November 3rd – November 10th)
The Seas of Sailor’s Grave reopen for Last Ship Standing, with Solo and Duo Sloops able to dive into battle from the War Map.
Players can claim a rare purse of Doubloons for a strong performance, and progress through the Conqueror of the Damned Commendation by achieving victories. Each new Commendation Grade unlocks access to more Fallen Sea Dog cosmetics, purchasable from The Reaper’s Hideout.
Bilge Rats Weekender (November 13th – November 16th)
New Challenges task crews on High Seas with aggravating sharks, flexing their pirate acrobatics and enjoying various hijinks with other crews.
The Festival of Fishing returns with two time-limited Voyages available in High Seas, Event Goals and Doubloon rewards on offer. The Hunter’s Call will also offer bonuses including free Emissary Flags, boosted Emissary Grade progression and gold and reputation boosts for fishing.
The Black Market will receive new stock during the Weekender for players with Doubloons to spend:
o Warring Seas Jacket and Boots
o Hungering One Hunter’s Shirt
o Upper Mask of Boneward Blade
o Bloodstone Dragon Hook
o Shadow Tide Gloves
o Master of the High Seas Loose Hair
o Famous Pirate Beard
o Wing Flap Emote
o Forge of the Bonesmith Eyepatch (requires Pirate Legend status)
The Smugglers’ Market will also have new items in stock for Doubloons, the contents of which will remain hidden until Duke is discovered in his new location!
Outpost Cosmetics
New Outpost Stock!
The Pirate Legend Hideout has received another batch of Courteous Knave items. The weapon collection is now available, requiring Pirate Legend status to purchase!
The shipwrights have expanded the Cast Iron set and now offer the Hull, Sails, Flag and Figurehead, all available for purchase with gold.
Pirate Emporium
Show off your personal style with purchases from the Pirate Emporium! Pick up exclusive cosmetics such as ship liveries, costumes, weapons, pets and emotes using your Ancient Coins, purchasable with real money. Head to the Pirate Emporium to browse and buy the latest additions!
New Items – Now in Stock!
Omen ship set expands, now including new Omen Collector’s Sails and Omen Collector’s Figurehead
Stately Raven, Beguiling Raven, Curious Raven, Radiant Raven and Undaunted Raven pets
Skeleton Raven pet – available for a limited time!
Dragon’s Breath Emote Bundle, featuring the Theatrical, Ravenous, Dizzying and Victorious Dragon’s Breath Emotes
Skeleton Arm Shush Emote – now returning for free!
Updates
Mouse Smoothing
Players using a mouse can now disable Mouse Smoothing for a more responsive experience. The setting remains enabled by default, but can be turned off in the Input Settings.
Voice and Text Chat Enforcement
Sea of Thieves now supports the ability to enforce communication restrictions on players who use voice or text chat for toxic communication with other players on the seas.
Players reported via the Sea of Thieves support site or in-game reporting system with clear evidence of a communication offence may receive either a temporary or permanent mute status, depending on the severity of the offence.
Players will be notified that they are muted when attempting to communicate in-game, and can find their enforcement status along with their time remaining on their profile at seaofthieves.com.
Fixed Issues
Gameplay
Throwing water from a bucket and immediately sprinting no longer cancels the action and now consistently empties the bucket.
Players are now required to stay nearby while reviving an Order of Bone and Blade Skeleton; moving away will cease the action.
The ‘A Clash of Bones’ Trophy and achievement now require players to defeat a rival player’s allied skeletons as intended.
The Fate’s Light Lantern now remains equipped when performing lantern emotes.
The Shipwreck Graveyard door key can now be collected after migrating across servers.
Maps dropped by Skeleton Captains should now consistently lead to treasure on the island where they were defeated.
An open Treasure Chest now remains open when pulled towards a player using the Grapple Gun.
Players can no longer deploy the Cannon of Rage inside Sanctuaries of the Banished.
Completing the final Trading Company Tutorial Voyage will now consistently summon the Pirate Lord for his final cutscene.
Ashen Lords’ firebomb attacks now target players more accurately when several pirates are nearby.
Players can now sprint at the intended speed immediately after firing a Trident.
Within Siren Shrines and Treasuries, players can now open entrances by shooting their locks with the Trident of Dark Tides or Trident of the Banished.
During Faction Battles, crews attempting to hide their ship within sea rocks to prevent attacks will now find they are pushed back onto the sea.
The Parley Pennant now remains visible after diving with an Alliance Pennant equipped.
Several weapons have been reviewed and their aiming improved to ensure shots now align with the tip of the barrel, or the iron sights for those that have them. Improved weapons include the Meridian Hunter Pistol and the Courteous Knave Blowpipe, Pistol and Double Barrel Pistol.
‘The Seabound Soul’ – Diving to this Tall Tale now takes crews to the correct island, and the Ghost of Pendragon will now consistently appear when the Tale begins.
Custom Seas – Layouts
Maps for treasure buried underground now retain the circled ‘X’ marker when a saved Layout is opened or reset.
A Sanctuary of the Banished Key used to open a Sanctuary will no longer reappear on the ground when a saved Layout is opened or reset.
Food left cooking is now removed when a saved Layout is opened or reset, preventing unusable food from occupying players’ inventory slots.
When a player elects to Choose a Layout in Custom Seas, the selected Layout now appears at the top of the list.
Custom Seas
A range of usability, text and localisation improvements have been made across the Command and Quick Command Menus.
Free Camera movement now respects the sensitivity selected by players.
While using the Free Camera, players can no longer pass outside the intended area while on the Ferry of the Damned, or outside the Sea Dog Taverns.
Pirates going below deck while the Free Camera is locked onto them no longer appear frozen in place.
Pirates arriving in Legendary Locations during a custom session now use the appropriate wake-up animation.
Players can now use Quick Commands while aboard the Ferry of the Damned.
Crews taking control of the Burning Blade will now find its skeleton crew present even when emergent skeletons are disabled.
Selling a raw Sunny Splashtail now awards the intended amount of silver when Custom Scoring is enabled.
Damage from a blowpipe’s Poison Darts now counts towards silver scoring.
Scoreboard scores now update live when another player edits an individual’s silver.
The Expanded and Reduced Ship Supplies switches now affect the quantity of resources aboard the Burning Blade.
Players using invincibility during a custom session will no longer receive damage effects such as screen overlays, a limping effect or burning visuals.
Inviting multiple players to a crew now sends each player to the intended ship.
Creatures summoned while aboard a ship should now consistently appear on the deck.
Using Quick Sail from a detached Rowboat will now control the Rowboat rather than the nearby ship.
Players can no longer use Quick Sail to move a sinking ship.
Siren Leaders and Crab Ocean Crawlers summoned during a custom session will now drop the intended treasure when defeated.
Skeletons at Ashen Garrisons no longer appear through the ceiling below their spawning locations.
Legendary Locations now appear in the correct world positions on the ship’s map.
Ships no longer begin rotating when a player Fast Travels, changes Ship Type and Fast Travels again.
Blowpipe darts and Grapple Gun ammo should no longer be visible while a player is invisible.
Players can now consistently join a Custom Seas lobby while already in another custom session.
Players can no longer join a custom session without an invite using their platform’s Join Game option.
Players should no longer experience endless loading when attempting to start or join a custom session.
Last Ship Standing
Further improvements have been made to matchmaking, addressing issues that were causing crews to become stuck beneath the waves when waiting for rivals or experience a black loading screen at the start of battle.
Improvements have been made to ensure that after losing a battle, crews and their ships are consistently removed from the fight and do not reappear within the battle area.
After besting their rivals, the winning crew are able to remain in the Seas of Sailor’s Grave to collect their spoils for 10 minutes before they are removed.
Victors should no longer find the exit portal can appear on top of their ship if they remain near the centre while collecting spoils. The portal should now only appear after players leave the area.
While waiting below the waves, players no longer briefly see pirates from other crews aboard their ships.
Cancelling matchmaking while sailing beneath the waves should no longer leave messaging permanently displayed on-screen after returning to High Seas.
Battle music can now be heard consistently in the next match when a crew requeues after winning a battle.
Costume emotes now work correctly below deck while sailing beneath the waves.
Visual and Audio
The glint from a fired Lure Dart is now consistently visible at a distance.
Hermit Ocean Crawlers now continue moving correctly after charging a player.
The Pirate Lord should now consistently perform his animations when crews complete the Gold Hoarders Tutorial Voyage for the first time.
The Painted Peacock Shirt no longer exposes missing skin textures on female pirates.
The Captain Barbossa Costume no longer clips through a pirate’s hands when a pistol is equipped.
All pets now remain correctly positioned in a pirate’s hands when being handed to others or viewed by others underwater.
The Bleakheart Groom Capstan now sits correctly in a pirate’s hands.
When attempting to cancel matchmaking to Faction Battles, players will no longer see the voting daggers clip into nearby Trinkets.
The Athena’s Fortune mark on the Legendary Captain’s Table now faces players correctly.
The Stalwart Sea Dog Tankard now visibly contains grog when filled.
Sandra at Dagger Tooth Outpost now appears correctly as players approach.
When performing the Don’t Lose Your Head Emote with the Bleakheart Groom Costume, players can now hear its intended audio effects.
The Fallen Sea Dog Blunderbuss now sits more naturally in a pirate’s hands when viewed by other players.
Pirates with the Gift of the Widow Curse equipped no longer display green glowing eyes on the title screen.
‘The Riches of Friendship’ Ornament no longer clips into certain Trinket positions aboard ships.
‘Dark Brethren’ – An incorrect solution to the statue puzzle no longer plays the sound effects for a correct solution.
Environment
Improvements have been made to areas of the environment at Barnacle Cay, Royal Crest Fortress, Fort of the Damned and Cinder Islet to address visual issues and prevent players from becoming stuck while traversing.
User Interface
Voyages and Tall Tales can once again be started from the Quest Table after cancelling a Tall Tale.
The Bombardier’s Stash Voyage card on the Quest Table now shows the correct artwork.
Items held when previewing emotes from the Clothing Chest should no longer remain attached to the pirate when switching emotes.
Accessibility
Players using game narration will now hear the saved Layout count read correctly.
Text and Localisation
Improvements have been made to Russian translations for different fish types and Japanese translations for Rowboat types.
The notification shown when first picking up meat now correctly states that The Hunter’s Call representatives can be found at Outposts and Seaposts.
When enabling Streamer Mode, all banners now consistently display replaced ship names and gamertags consistently across all supported languages.
Players holding a Cabin Key now show the correct name when using pirate phrases.
Legendary Fortune Throwing Knives now continue to display their full name after being thrown.
Performance and Stability
Improvements have been made to game and server stability to reduce scenarios where players unexpectedly exit the game or become disconnected from their session.
Players attempting to leave the game on PC should no longer experience game instability, and the title should exit gracefully.
Improvements have been made to game performance when visiting Port Merrick.
Known Issues
To learn more about known issues in Sea of Thieves currently being tracked and their status, head over to our Known Issues support site article.
