Lore Deep Dives

Dive deep into the lore of Sea of Thieves' treasure system. Learn about its mechanics, types of treasure, and how they fuel your pirate adventures and trading company progression.

Treasure items are the lifeblood of any pirate's journey in Sea of Thieves, serving as the primary means to acquire Gold, Doubloons, Reputation, and Emissary Value. These valuable commodities are sought after by various Trading Companies, each with representatives stationed at every Outpost, ready to exchange them for coveted rewards. The pursuit of treasure is often initiated through Voyages, which guide crews on quests to unearth these riches.

Beyond planned expeditions, treasure can be discovered serendipitously across the vast expanse of The Sea of Thieves. It might be found hidden on islands, floating amongst Barrels of Plenty or within shipwrecks. Furthermore, treasure lies protected within the vaults of Forts, or it may be claimed from formidable foes like Skeleton Ships, Megalodons, or the Kraken. To aid in spotting these riches, every treasure item emits a distinct colored glint or glow, allowing players to identify them from a distance.

The act of delivering treasure involves carrying items by hand to the appropriate Company Representative. A pirate can only carry one treasure item at a time, which restricts their ability to fight or use equipment. To regain full control, the treasure must be dropped. However, the trusty Harpoon can retrieve items from afar. Smaller treasures can be concealed within Container Chests, which can hold up to three items, simplifying transport and delivery by masking their emitted glow, glint, or sound. Treasure left on land remains until interacted with, but items dropped in water will sink after approximately five minutes, with the exception of Trade Good Crates.

When sailing as a Trading Company Emissary, collecting relevant treasure grants Emissary Grade Reputation, with additional gains awarded for placing these items on a ship. These reputation boosts are applied only upon the initial claim of a treasure item. Treasure items are broadly categorized by the Trading Company that desires them, primarily falling under the Gold Hoarders, Order of Souls, and Merchant Alliance. Within these, further distinctions exist, such as Regular, Ashen, Stronghold, Skeletal, and Ghostly variants, depending on their origin.