If you’re setting sail for the first time, you best be ready!
Sea of Thieves is Rare’s latest game, an innovative and unique game that lets your pirate fantasies come to life. With this game’s growing popularity and recently announced new content, I’m sure a lot of new players are going to want to try their hand at sailing these treacherous seas. In this article, I seek to help these new sailors to become the best pirates there ever was by giving them a list of mistakes players should avoid when playing the game.
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1. Sailing without a plan
The mistake: New pirates often jump aboard, raise anchor, and sail in a random direction, hoping to stumble onto adventure.
Why it’s a problem: Without a goal, you’ll waste time, supplies, and increase your chances of running into PvP-focused crews or getting caught unprepared.
How to avoid it: Before setting sail, choose a voyage or goal—whether it’s doing a Merchant Alliance run, completing Tall Tales, or hunting for world events like Forts and Flameheart. Having a plan helps you stay efficient and avoid unnecessary risk.
2. Neglecting to stock up at outposts
The mistake: Launching a voyage without enough supplies like cannonballs, planks, and food.
Why it’s a problem: You’ll find yourself vulnerable during combat or storms, and unable to defend your ship effectively if attacked.
How to avoid it: Always loot barrels at outposts and seaposts before leaving. Prioritize 50+ cannonballs, 30+ wooden planks, and a variety of food (especially cooked meat and fruit). If possible, split looting duties among your crew to speed things up.
3. Underestimating other players
The mistake: Assuming other ships are friendly — or worse, ignoring them entirely.
Why it’s a problem: Sea of Thieves is a shared world. Other crews may ambush, deceive, or sink you on sight for your loot. Complacency is dangerous.
How to avoid it: Always keep watch on the horizon. Use the top of the mast for a better view, and identify ship types from a distance (sloops, brigantines, and galleons). Most of the time, you can tell right away when a ship is making suspicious turns towards you. A lot of them try to play it cool, so be vigilant of any last minute turns!
4. Leaving loot on the deck
The mistake: Stacking treasure on the deck or near the wheel for convenience.
Why it’s a problem: It’s easier for enemies to see and steal it, and if your ship sinks, your loot will be lost or scattered.
How to avoid it: Store your loot below deck, preferably in the captain’s quarters or tucked in hard-to-spot corners. If you’re near an outpost or in a high-traffic area, consider selling often rather than stockpiling.
5. Sailing with full sails into battle or docks
The mistake: Charging in with full sails raised, slamming into islands, docks, or enemy ships.
Why it’s a problem: You lose control of your ship, making it easy to get boarded or crash. It also makes you look like an easy target to veteran players.
How to avoid it: Raise your sails halfway as you approach islands or combat zones. This gives you more control and allows for smoother maneuvers. Learn to drop anchor only when absolutely necessary — a well-handled sail is usually more effective.
6. Ignoring the map and compass
The mistake: Relying only on visuals or random sailing.
Why it’s a problem: You can get lost, miss your destination, or sail into dangerous territory.
How to avoid it: Use your map table frequently. Check your compass when navigating and mark your destinations. Communicate with your crew — having a dedicated navigator helps a lot. Learn to recognize key islands and landmarks as visual cues.
7. Not learning how to bucket water and repair fast
The mistake: When hit, new pirates often panic or don’t prioritize repairs quickly.
Why it’s a problem: A few seconds can make the difference between sinking and surviving.
How to avoid it: Practice the bucket-plank rhythm: plug the holes with planks, then immediately bucket out water. If you’re under heavy fire, one player should repair while another focuses on defense or maneuvering. Keep your wood planks in a hotbar slot for quick access.
8. Forgetting to cook and eat
The mistake: Running around with low health or ignoring food altogether.
Why it’s a problem: You’ll die faster in combat, fall from heights, or burn from fire without recovery options.
How to avoid it: Always carry food—cooked meat heals the most and can give you a temporary health buff. Fish and hunt animals for premium food, and cook it at your ship’s stove. Learn to cook without burning by listening for the sizzle cue.
9. Ignoring tall tales and lore
The mistake: Only grinding for gold and missing out on the story content.
Why it’s a problem: You miss one of Sea of Thieves’ strongest features: its rich lore and adventurous narrative.
How to avoid it: Try the Tall Tales missions at outposts—they offer unique puzzles, lore, and rewards. They’re a great way to learn the game’s mechanics and world while feeling like you’re part of a real pirate saga.
10. Quitting after one bad experience
The mistake: Rage-quitting after getting sunk, losing loot, or having a rough encounter with a toxic crew.
Why it’s a problem: Sea of Thieves is a high-risk, high-reward sandbox. Loss is part of the experience, and it’s how you learn.
How to avoid it: Shift your mindset — every loss is a lesson. Learn how you were boarded, where you were weak, and improve. Solo sloops are great for practice. Find friendly Discords or alliances to play with like-minded crews if toxic encounters ruin your fun.
In conclusion
No pirate sails flawlessly, and even experienced captains have sunk their fair share of ships. Sea of Thieves encourages improvisation, teamwork, and quick decision-making. The open sea rewards those who learn from their losses and come back smarter the next time. By avoiding these 10 beginner pitfalls, you’ll set yourself up for success, treasure, and the occasional legendary sea shanty-worthy tale.
So raise anchor, load your cannons, and sail smart. Rare isn’t done with this game by a long shot. With the announcement of the new season during the summer game’s fest called “Smuggler’s Tide” they promise to bring new kinds of guns and action-based content to the game. Exciting times to be a pirate!