Burying treasure in Sea of Thieves is a key mechanic that allows pirates to hide their valuable loot for safekeeping, earn unique commendations, and even create custom treasure maps for other players or their crew.
The Art of Burying Your Booty
To bury treasure in Sea of Thieves, you must first be holding a piece of loot, then equip your shovel and interact with a suitable spot on land. This action creates a distinctive X on the ground, marking your hidden riches.
Why Bury Treasure?
Burying treasure offers several strategic advantages:
- Safeguarding Valuables: Protect your hard-earned loot from rival pirates by stashing it away on an island. If your ship sinks, your buried treasure remains safe.
- Creating Custom Maps: Once you have buried your treasure, a unique Map of Buried Treasure will appear on your ship's map table. This map pinpoints the exact location of your buried items, allowing you or your crew to retrieve them later.
- Earning Renown and Commendations: Burying treasure contributes to various in-game commendations and increases your Renown, unlocking new cosmetic items and titles.
- Sharing and Community: You can share the Map of Buried Treasure with other pirates by posting it on the Quest Board at any outpost. This allows other crews to embark on a treasure hunt, creating unique player-driven interactions and fostering a sense of community within the game.
Step-by-Step Guide to Burying Treasure
Burying treasure is a straightforward process that any pirate can master:
- Acquire Treasure: Gather any valuable loot, such as Chests of Gold, Skulls, or Artifacts.
- Find a Spot: Head to any island. Ensure you are on solid ground and not in water or on your ship.
- Hold the Treasure: Equip the piece of treasure you wish to bury. You can only bury one item at a time.
- Equip Shovel: Switch to your trusty Shovel.
- Initiate Burial: While holding the treasure and having your shovel equipped, look at the ground. You will see a prompt to "Bury Treasure" (usually by pressing the right trigger on a controller or the left mouse button on PC).
- Dig the Hole: Your pirate will dig a small hole and place the treasure inside.
- Cover It Up: After placing the treasure, your pirate will automatically cover it with dirt, leaving a visible "X" mark on the ground.
Once you have buried your treasure, a unique Map of Buried Treasure will automatically be generated and appear on your ship's map table. This map serves as a personal guide to your hidden stash, allowing you to easily locate and dig up your buried items later.
What Can Be Buried?
Almost any piece of loot acquired in Sea of Thieves can be buried. This includes:
- Chests: Various types of gold chests, cursed chests, and unique quest chests.
- Skulls: Bounty Skulls of different values.
- Artifacts: Relics, chalices, and other historical artifacts.
- Mermaid Gems: Sapphires, Emeralds, and Rubies.
- Trade Company Loot: Goods for specific companies like Merchant Alliance Crates (excluding caged animals) and Reapers Bones Banners.
- Resource Crates: Wood, cannonball, and fruit crates can also be buried.
Items that generally cannot be buried include live animals (chickens, pigs, snakes), Cursed Cannonballs, Firebombs, or consumable items like food and planks directly from your inventory.
Retrieving Buried Treasure
To dig up your buried treasure:
- Consult Your Map: Go to your ship's map table and identify the location of your buried treasure using the Map of Buried Treasure.
- Travel to the Island: Sail to the island marked on the map.
- Locate the "X": Once on the island, find the distinctive "X" mark on the ground where you buried your loot.
- Dig it Up: Equip your shovel and dig at the "X." Your treasure will resurface, ready for collection.
| Action | Tool/Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Bury Treasure | Shovel | Treasure hidden, "X" mark, Map of Buried Treasure generated |
| Locate Treasure | Ship's Map Table | Pinpoints location of buried loot |
| Retrieve Treasure | Shovel | Treasure unearths from "X" mark |
Sharing Treasure Maps on the Quest Board
One of the most exciting features related to burying treasure is the Quest Board. Located at every outpost, this board allows players to:
- Post Their Maps: Upload their Maps of Buried Treasure for other crews to find. This contributes to your Emissary Value for the Gold Hoarders and earns you unique commendations.
- Take Other Pirates' Maps: Pick up maps posted by other players. These are often challenging and rewarding quests, offering a unique dynamic to your voyages.
By understanding and utilizing the burying mechanic, pirates can enhance their Sea of Thieves experience, adding layers of strategy, personal achievement, and community interaction. For more in-depth guides and tips on navigating the pirate life, consider checking out official Sea of Thieves resources or fan-made guides like those found on IGN's Sea of Thieves Wiki or Game Rant's Sea of Thieves guides.
