One of the most enjoyed and loved multiplayer adventures on the pirate theme is Sea of Thieves, which lets players indulge in the pirate epic period in history. Out of the many achievements the game has, becoming a pirate legend is considered the greatest. This status unlocks different content, locations, and gifts, earning it the title of most distinguished reward for tireless players. However, to attain the status of Pirate Legend, one must be willing to put in smart circulation ‘grinding’ alongside mastering the trading companies.
Some players attempt to take shortcuts and utilize a Sea of Thieves boost. However, for those who want to earn the title, there are methods that are structured and systematic to follow. Everyone who aims to achieve the esteemed title of Pirate Legend must follow the leveling methods, faction techniques, and gold and reputation strategies detailed in this guide to maximize efficiency.
What Does Pirate Legend Mean?
In the world of Sea of Thieves, the master title of ‘Pirate Legend’ is considered the peak of the game, which comprises ‘endgame content’ and signifies mastery of all three companies. A player who claims to be the Pirate Legend is granted access to the Tavern of Legends, some cosmetic items, and special voyages from the Mysterious Stranger. This is only possible after achieving level 50 reputation for three companies.
Being a ‘Pirate Legend’ isn’t merely a ‘badge of honor’ specialization, as it adds a new tier of content to explore and rewards to earn, making the game much more intriguing to seasoned players.
1: Understand the Trading Companies
To reach Pirate Legend, you’ll need to work with multiple trading companies. Here are the key ones you’ll focus on:
Gold Hoarders
- Focus: Treasure chests, maps, and riddles.
- Best For: Players who enjoy exploring and solving clues.
Order of Souls
- Focus: Combat missions where you defeat skeleton captains and collect their skulls.
- Best For: Players who enjoy combat-heavy tasks.
Merchant Alliance
- Focus: Deliveries such as animals, plants, and trade goods.
- Best For: Players who like timed missions and resource management.
Reaper’s Bones
- Focus: PvP activities and stealing loot from other players.
- Best For: Aggressive players who thrive on risk and combat.
Athena’s Fortune (Unlocked after becoming Pirate Legend)
- Focus: Endgame voyages and exclusive rewards.
Your first major milestone will be reaching level 50 in at least three of the first four trading companies.
2: Choosing Efficient Companies to Level
Not all trading companies progress at the same speed. While you technically can choose any three, the most efficient path is usually:
- Gold Hoarders
- Order of Souls
- Merchant Alliance
These companies are consistently available, and their voyages can often be completed alongside one another, allowing you to double or triple up on progress during a single session. Reaper’s Bones can be efficient too, but the PvP risks can slow you down.
3: Play Events and Seasonal Content
Rare frequently releases seasonal events and community days that provide massive boosts to gold and reputation. Taking part in these events is one of the fastest ways to push your levels higher. For example:
- Gold & Glory Weekends: Double rewards for all loot.
- Community Days: Server-wide multipliers that boost reputation gains.
- Limited-Time Voyages: Special missions that give higher-than-average rewards.
By planning your grinding sessions around these events, you can shave dozens of hours off your journey.
4: Maximize Gold Hoarders’ Reputation
The Gold Hoarders are a staple company, and their voyages are straightforward: find treasure chests and turn them in.
Tips to level quickly:
- Always carry a quest bundle to stack multiple treasure maps at once.
- Focus on X Marks the Spot maps for guaranteed rewards.
- Use rowboats to transport loot back to your ship more quickly.
- If you encounter riddles, solve them, but prioritize straightforward digs for efficiency.
The more treasure you bring back in one run, the faster you’ll rank up.
5: Grind Order of Souls Voyages
Order of Souls missions involve taking down skeleton captains and collecting their skulls.
Tips to level quickly:
- Bring lots of supplies (food, cannonballs, ammo).
- Fight skeletons near your ship to quickly restock if needed.
- Target voyages that stack multiple captains on the same island.
- Don’t ignore random skeleton captains you find on islands, they drop skulls even outside of voyages.
These missions give steady reputation and gold, especially if you enjoy combat.
6: Merchant Alliance the Smart Way
The Merchant Alliance can be tedious for new players, but with practice, it becomes one of the fastest ways to earn reputation.
Tips to level quickly:
- Always carry a voyage from the Merchant Alliance while doing other company missions.
- Prioritize cargo delivery quests, they’re usually more efficient than animal capture missions.
- Learn spawn points for chickens, pigs, and snakes to save time.
- Deliver goods early to avoid losing cargo value.
Time management is the key here. Combine Merchant missions with Gold Hoarders or Order of Souls runs to save hours.
7: Join Reaper’s Bones
If you’re confident in your PvP skills, leveling Reaper’s Bones can be a shortcut. Their voyages encourage stealing loot and turning in stolen treasure at The Reaper’s Hideout.
Tips for success:
- Hunt emissary ships; they drop valuable flags and loot.
- Work with a crew comfortable with PvP.
- Avoid getting greedy; cash in your loot regularly.
- While riskier, Reaper’s Bones can skyrocket your reputation if you dominate other players.
8: Use Emissary Flags
Flying an emissary flag for a company is one of the best ways to multiply your rewards. As you complete voyages, your emissary level rises, increasing the value of your loot.
- Higher emissary levels = more reputation and gold.
- Always vote to raise your emissary flag before starting voyages.
- Be cautious: emissary ships are prime targets for PvP.
Emissary systems are essential for efficient leveling and should never be overlooked.
9: Sail With a Crew
Sea of Thieves rewards teamwork. Sailing solo can be fun, but grinding for Pirate Legend is significantly faster with a reliable crew.
- A crew can split tasks (fighting skeletons, navigating, carrying loot).
- Ships like the Brigantine or Galleon carry more loot than a solo sloop.
- A team also gives you better odds against enemy players.
If you don’t have friends playing, communities on Reddit, Discord, or Xbox Live make it easy to find like-minded pirates.
10: Plan Efficient Routes
Efficiency is everything in Sea of Thieves. Before setting sail:
- Stack multiple voyages to minimize downtime.
- Plan island routes that allow you to complete multiple objectives in one trip.
- Always keep an eye on the wind and ship direction to optimize travel time.
By reducing wasted travel, you’ll complete voyages faster and hit level 50 much sooner.
11: Don’t Forget Tall Tales
While not the fastest method, Tall Tales (story-driven quests) also provide reputation and unique rewards. They’re a great way to break up the grind while still making progress toward Pirate Legend.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many players waste time or lose progress because of small mistakes. Avoid these pitfalls:
- Not banking loot regularly: Don’t hoard too much; turn in before risking PvP losses.
- Ignoring emissary flags: They double your efficiency.
- Sailing solo too often: Team play is faster and safer.
- Not checking events: Grinding outside of double-reward events is inefficient.
Final Thoughts
Within the Sea of Thieves, claiming the title of ‘Pirate Legend’ is the ultimate trophy to be earned by a pirate. The achievement is earned by conquering the game, as opposed to tedious grinding for levels. This is achieved by utilizing trading companies and collaborating with the crew.
The grinding process can be sped up by focusing on voyages, utilizing emissary flags, and adapting to the events of the game. Regardless of the choice to earn the title yourself or choose to purchase a ‘Sea of Thieves’ boost, the outcome is the same: the player earns the ability to call oneself a ‘Pirate Legend.’
