Sea of Thieves

Improved Faction Battles

Season 19 kicks off by overhauling the Hourglass of Fate, later promising a festival-themed Event and a new battle mode for Sloop crews! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated Season 19 page.

Shrinking Battle Bounds

During a Faction Battle, the Battle Bounds will now shrink in size at set intervals during the encounter to discourage fleeing, encourage more exciting battles and ensure fights are brought to a climactic end.

The starting battle size remains unchanged, allowing crews the space to test their rivals. The area will then shrink twice during the battle, bringing crews together, before settling on an intense final area – where the only option is to fight to become the victor.

Crews will be notified on-screen and hear clear audio cues when the Battle Bounds are changing. These are also clearly visualised at all times, both on the water’s surface and on the Ship’s Map.

Crews pledging to a Faction and making a defensive stand on the High Seas against rivals will now find that if they are located nearby or purposefully hidden within the bounds of an island, the shrinking Battle Bounds will consistently force them further out into open waters for the final battle area.

Faction Storage Crates

When entering a Faction Battle, ships low on supplies will now find a Faction Storage Crate near the mast to help their crews get straight into the fight with sufficient resources to be competitive.

Upon diving to a battle, the crew’s current supplies spread across any barrels, Storage Crates, player inventories and loaded cannons will be tallied against a minimum threshold. A Faction Storage Crate will then be provided that resupplies resources for any item found under the threshold.

Automatically Raising Emissary Flag

Crews entering a Faction Battle using the Hourglass of Fate will now have an Emissary Flag raised automatically on behalf of their Faction, reducing the time needed to prepare for battle at the start of a session or following a loss, and ensuring crews earn Emissary Grade progression from all Faction Battles.

Crews representing the Guardians of Fortune will have their Emissary Flag raised for Athena’s Fortune, while those representing the Servants of the Flame will raise a flag for The Reaper’s Bones. Crews who do not own an Emissary Flag for their Faction will not have an Emissary Flag raised.

Quick Requeue

Crews losing a Faction Battle will now be offered the ability to dive straight back beneath the waves and search for their next opponent. Using quick requeue also offers the benefit of the provided Faction Storage Crates and automatic raising of the Emissary Flag, ensuring crews are prepared for their next battle.

Faction Battle Entry Requirements

New players are now required to complete a set of High Seas activities before their crew is eligible to participate in Faction Battles with rival crews, establishing a greater time investment before players unlock access to on-demand battles.

All members of the crew are now required to have completed the Maiden Voyage and the Tutorial Voyages for the Gold Hoarders, Order of Souls and Merchant Alliance, and reached rank 25 with The Reaper’s Bones during High Seas play.

Previous techniques used to skip the Maiden Voyage or Trading Company Tutorial Voyages are no longer possible, requiring players to complete these fully before they can become eligible.

Veteran players will find that they have retained their access to Faction Battles following this update, even if they have not completed all the entry requirements. These new requirements have been established for any new players or new accounts starting their journey on the seas.

New Guardians of Fortune Allegiance Rewards

Players earning Allegiance in Faction Battles and progressing through ranks 1-100 with the Guardians of Fortune will now unlock additional rewards on their journey through this Faction.

Guardians can unlock access to the Champion of Fortune Figurehead, Flag, Sails and Hull, Guardian Chief’s Jacket, Gloves and Hat, Guardians of Fortune Warpaint and Pledge of Honour Emote.

New Servants of the Flame Allegiance Rewards

Players earning Allegiance in Faction Battles and progressing through ranks 1-100 with the Servants of the Flame will now unlock additional rewards on their journey through this Faction.