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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutlass | S | Boarder | The melee sword with a 3-hit combo and a lunge attack. |
| Blunderbuss | A | Boarder | A shotgun-like firearm devastating at point-blank range. |
| Eye of Reach | A | Lookout | A sniper rifle with a scope for long-range precision shots. |
| Flintlock | B | Navigator | A versatile pistol effective at medium range. |
| Cannon | B | Cannoneer | Ship-mounted cannons are the primary damage dealers. |
S-Tier: Cutlass
The melee sword with a 3-hit combo and a lunge attack. The cutlass blocks all frontal melee damage when held. Sword-hopping (sword lunge into water for speed boost) is the fastest swimming technique. Close-range PvP often comes down to cutlass duels on ship decks.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Boarder |
| Key Mechanic | sailing |
| Recommended Build | Helmsman |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Cutlass: Pairs naturally with Helmsman thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Blunderbuss
A shotgun-like firearm devastating at point-blank range. One-shots at close range if all pellets connect. The Blunderbuss is the best boarding weapon because ship interiors force close-range engagements. Useless beyond 5 meters.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Boarder |
| Key Mechanic | treasure hunting |
| Recommended Build | Cannoneer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Blunderbuss: Pairs naturally with Cannoneer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Eye of Reach
A sniper rifle with a scope for long-range precision shots. Used to pick off enemy crew members from your ship before they can repair. The Eye of Reach is best combined with cannons — snipe the repairers while your cannon team floods the ship.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Lookout |
| Key Mechanic | ship combat |
| Recommended Build | Boarder |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Eye of Reach: Pairs naturally with Boarder thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Flintlock
A versatile pistol effective at medium range. The Flintlock's consistent damage at range makes it the most popular weapon alongside the Cutlass. The 'double-gun' combo (Flintlock + Eye of Reach quick-swap) deals burst damage in PvP.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Navigator |
| Key Mechanic | world events |
| Recommended Build | Lookout |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Flintlock: Pairs naturally with Lookout thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Cannon
Ship-mounted cannons are the primary damage dealers. Standard cannonballs punch holes in hulls. Chainshot (linked balls) dismasts ships. Cursed cannonballs apply debuffs (drunk, sleep, anchor raise). Mastering cannon leading (aiming ahead of moving targets) is the most important PvP skill.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Cannoneer |
| Key Mechanic | reputation grinding |
| Recommended Build | Navigator |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Cannon: Pairs naturally with Navigator thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Ancient Isles
- Blunderbuss → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Eye of Reach → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Cutlass → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
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 Combat Guide
- Sea of Thieves Boss Guide
- Sea of Thieves Maps & Locations
- Sea of Thieves Crafting Guide
- Sea of Thieves Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Sea of Thieves, check out these related guides:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Weapons Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
- Dredge Weapons Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
- Dave the Diver Weapons Guide — adventure game with similar mechanics
