Resource Management & Stockpiling — Sea of Thieves Guide

Learn how to effectively manage and stockpile resources in Sea of Thieves. Discover treasure types, mechanics, and strategies to maximize your gains and progress with Trading Companies.

Treasures are transportable items in Sea of Thieves that can be found, carried, and sold to Trading Companies for currencies, reputation, and Emissary Value. They are the primary source of Gold, Doubloons, Reputation, and Emissary Value in the game.

Mechanics:

Each Trading Company values specific types of Treasure Items and has representatives at every Outpost. These representatives accept all treasures related to their company for Gold/Doubloons, Reputation, and Emissary Value. They also offer Voyages, which are quests that lead players to treasure items. Random treasures can be found scattered across the Sea of Thieves, including on islands, in barrels, shipwrecks, fort vaults, or taken by enemies like Skeleton Ships, Megalodons, or the Kraken. All treasure items emit a colored glint or glow for easy spotting from afar.

Treasure must be carried by hand to the respective Company Representative for a payout. A pirate can only carry one treasure item at a time and cannot use equipment or resources while doing so. Dropping the treasure allows for full control. Treasures can be retrieved from a distance with a Harpoon. Smaller treasures can be placed in Container Chests, which can hold up to 3 items, making transportation easier and hiding their emitted glow. Treasure left on land remains until interacted with, but treasure dropped in water sinks after approximately 5 minutes (except for Trade Good Crates). Picking up relevant treasure as a Trading Company Emissary grants Emissary Grade Reputation, with additional gains for placing items on the ship. These reputation increases are only given the first time a treasure item is claimed.

Types of Treasure Items:

Treasure items are categorized by the Trading Company that purchases them. The three main companies are the Gold Hoarders, the Order of Souls, and the Merchant Alliance. Within these, treasure items are further classified into Regular, Ashen, Stronghold, Skeletal, and Ghostly variants depending on their source.

Gold Hoarders Treasure:

These items are sold to the Gold Hoarders for Gold and Reputation. Sailing as a Gold Hoarder Emissary yields increased rewards and Emissary Value.

• Treasure Chests: Unbreakable and locked chests sold to the Gold Hoarders. They are found via Treasure Maps, Riddle Maps, Ancient Vaults, or randomly. They emit a White Glint. Types include Regular, Shipwrecked, Coral, Ashen, Valuable, and Cursed Treasure Chests. Ashen chests, found in The Devil's Roar, sell for double the price of regular chests.
• Artefacts: Smaller items found on their own, within Treasure Chests, or in Fortress Vaults. They emit a Golden Glint. There are four types, including Regular Artefacts, which are trinkets and ornaments made of valuable metals and gems.