Cannonball Types & Their Effects

Ahoy, pirate! Learn all about Cannonballs in Sea of Thieves. Discover where to find them, how to use them, storage limits, and the effects of special types like Chainshot. Get ready to sink those ships!

Alright, matey! So you're wondering about cannonballs, huh? They're pretty much the bread and butter of ship-to-ship combat in Sea of Thieves. Let's break down what you need to know. ## Where to Find Cannonballs Every ship starts with a decent stash, usually around 40 or 45 cannonballs tucked away in the ship's Cannonball Barrels. But you'll need more, right? Keep an eye out for Barrels scattered across the islands and even floating in the sea. Cannonball Barrels are your best friend here, but Storage Crates, Rowboat Chests, and Cannonball Crates can also be packed with them. Don't forget, you can also unload any cannonballs already loaded in cannons you find on islands or at places like Fortresses, Skeleton Ships, and even some Large Islands. Oh, and you might find some special ones at The Reaper's Hideout. ## How to Use Cannonballs These are what you load into Cannons to fire at your enemies. You'll need to load one into an empty cannon first. Once it's loaded, you can aim using your `Directional` keys and fire with the `Primary Use` key. Hitting moving targets takes practice, as the cannonball's trajectory is affected by your ship's speed and the cannon's angle. You can damage enemy Ships (both player and Skeleton Ships), take down fearsome foes like Krakens and Megalodons, and even deal with pesky Skeletons, Animals, and other Players. ## Storage Limits Here's what you can carry: * Your Inventory: You can hold up to 10 cannonballs at a time. * Barrels: A single storage space in a Barrel can hold up to 99 cannonballs. The main Cannonball Barrel on your ship is huge, holding about 4752 cannonballs across its three pages! * Rowboat Chest: These can hold up to 20 cannonballs per storage space, with a total of 640 across two pages. * Storage Crate: These are great for hauling, with up to 99 cannonballs per space, and a massive 1584 total per crate. ## Chainshot: The Rigging Wrecker Chainshot are a special kind of cannonball, linked by chains. These aren't for blasting holes in hulls. Instead, you'll want to use them to target a ship's Masts, Capstan, and Wheel. They do very little damage to the hull itself, but crippling a ship's steering or sails can be just as effective, if not more so! They have a high arc, so you'll need to aim higher than usual. * Inventory: You can carry 5 Chainshot in your inventory, separate from your regular cannonballs. * Storage: They can be stored in Cannonball Barrels but *not* in Cannonball Crates. ## Important Notes * A direct hit from a cannonball will instantly defeat a player. There's even a Commendation for doing this in the Arena! * If a friendly player gets hit by a cannonball, they'll get knocked back but won't take any damage. Good to know if you're practicing your aim! ## In-Game Description "A big, weighty ball that makes big, leaky holes in ships." ## Patch History Tidbits * Patch 1.4.3: Cannonball impact sounds got an upgrade, making it easier to tell where they hit, even below deck. * Patch 1.1.6: No more accidental damage to your own crew from cannonball knockback. * Patch 1.1.5: Cannonballs now apply a rocking effect to ships upon impact. * First Release (March 20, 2018): Cannonballs were introduced to the game.