Sea of Thieves is the definitive pirate sandbox where every ship on the horizon is crewed by real players who might trade, ally, or attack on sight. The sailing model is the best in gaming — managing sails, anchor, wheel, and cannons as a coordinated crew creates moments of genuine teamwork unmatched by other multiplayer games. The game has transformed since its sparse 2018 launch into a content-rich experience with 11 Tall Tales (story campaigns), Trading Companies with unique voyage types, world events, Pirate Legend endgame, and seasonal content. The 2024 PS5 launch brought crossplay, doubling the active playerbase.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Ancient Isles
Key resources: Balanced loot, moderate threats, good learning environment Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Blunderbuss upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Wilds
Key resources: Fort of the Damned, atmospheric exploration, Reaper's Hideout (sell stolen loot) Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Blunderbuss upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Shores of Plenty
Key resources: Easy navigation, multiple outposts, clear visibility for threat detection Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Blunderbuss upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Devil's Roar
Key resources: 2x gold/reputation multiplier, Ashen loot (higher value), volcanic challenges Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Cutlass max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Sea of the Damned
Key resources: Tall Tale completion, unique cosmetics, narrative content, Pirate Lord encounters Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Cutlass max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Ancient Isles — The Wilds)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Blunderbuss once accessible
Mid Game (Shores of Plenty)
- Push Blunderbuss to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Cutlass
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Devil's Roar — Sea of the Damned)
- Max out Cutlass — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Shores of Plenty farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Raise an Emissary flag at any Outpost for your active Trading Company. At Grade 5 Emissary, all gold and reputation earned is multiplied by 2.5x. Grade increases from completing voyages and turning in relevant loot.
- Farm Shores of Plenty during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Sea of Thieves Guides
- Sea of Thieves Sea of Thieves Overview
- Sea of Thieves Best Builds
- Sea of Thieves Tier List
- Sea of Thieves Walkthrough
- Sea of Thieves Beginner's Guide
- Sea of Thieves Tips & Tricks
- Sea of Thieves Weapons Guide
- Sea of Thieves Combat Guide
- Sea of Thieves Boss Guide
- Sea of Thieves Maps & Locations
- Sea of Thieves Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Sea of Thieves, check out these related guides:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Crafting Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
- Dredge Crafting Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
- Dave the Diver Crafting Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
