Ahoy, pirates! I’mLibrarian Husky, and with the launch of Season 8 in Sea of Thieves, it’s time to sharpen your PVP skills. The Sloop may be a smaller ship, often underestimated, but with the right tactics, you can turn it into a deadly weapon. Follow these tips, and you’ll be ruling the seas in no time!

Chemistry and Communication

The way you communicate with your crew is crucial. Many Sloop crews end up sinking because they panic in stressful situations. The key is staying cool, calm, and focused on priorities like repairs. Avoid panicking, as it can cause your crewmates to panic too. During tough fights, limit communication to essential information, such as the position of borders or damage control, and assign roles effectively.

Effective Communication Examples

Good communication would sound like this: “Border on the left side, they’re on board, hit once, coming down to you.” Bad communication would sound more chaotic, like this: “Oh my God, there’s a border! Did you see him? Have you killed him yet?” Keeping things clear and direct makes a huge difference in intense moments.

Be Interchangeable

This means not sticking to a rigid division of roles. Don’t tell your crewmate, “Oh, you’re just handling the sails,” or limit yourself to one task. Both of you should be ready to switch roles during combat, whether it’s managing repairs, adjusting the ship’s position, or engaging the enemy.

Understanding Your Role on the Sloop

It’s essential not to limit yourself to just one role, like helming or staying on cannons because you’re good at it. A solid crew understands the entire ship, from helming to cannons, boarding, repairing, and PVP. If you start a fight on the helm, and your crewmate is better on cannons, you must be ready to switch roles when needed, especially if they board the enemy ship. Constant pressure on the enemy is key, and being interchangeable helps you maintain that pressure, making your crew deadlier.

Effective Angling During Fights

The way you approach a fight can determine the outcome. Ideally, you want the enemy ship’s bow pointed right at your cannons, limiting their cannon angle on you. Although this isn’t always possible at the start, depending on ship size or angle, aiming to get them into your broadside during the fight will give you the advantage. Anchoring or chain-shotting their ship can help you achieve this, stopping their movement and allowing you to maneuver into a superior position.

Positioning in Combat

It’s crucial never to sail directly into another ship’s broadside unless you’re looking for trouble. Positioning plays a vital role in any battle. You should never let the enemy ship sail in front of you, as it will make it easier for them to target you with their broadside. In a Sloop vs. Sloop fight, it’s often a good strategy to raise the sails to half-mast. This allows better control over cannon aim and pressure, making it harder for the enemy to escape.

Adjusting for Different Ship Types

If you’re fighting a Brig, you’ll need more speed, as Brigs are extremely fast. Keeping your sails fully down until you’re in position to chain shot them is essential. When fighting a Galleon, always keep full sails when approaching their broadside, using blunderbombs to disrupt their cannons. Once you have the advantage, raise your sails halfway, so you have more time to hit them while limiting their ability to strike back.

Cannon Aim and Fire

Proper cannon aim is critical, especially in a Sloop vs. Sloop battle. Initially, aim at their cannon line to attempt to take out enemies firing back at you. If you can take out one of their crew members or at least disrupt them, it will give you an upper hand in the fight.

Maintaining Cannon Pressure

After landing a few hits on the enemy player, you should focus on staying locked in on your cannon angle. Fire two chain shots to bring down their mast. Always aim to drop the mast first, giving you a tactical advantage. Once it’s down, switch your focus to targeting the lower holes of their ship to work towards sinking them.

Handling Mast Angles

A common mistake is panicking when the mast on a Sloop goes down and rushing to raise it. Prioritize keeping your angle on the enemy ship rather than immediately raising your mast. If both crews rush to raise their masts, the enemy could use that moment to hit you with blunderbombs or cannonballs, which could lead to being thrown off your ship or sinking. Instead, keep pressure on the enemy with your cannons. If they pull out of the fight to repair, that’s when you should raise your mast again.

Mast Repairs Strategy

In the past, it only took one chain shot to knock down a Sloop’s mast. Because of this, you could get away with just putting one or two planks on to repair it. Today, though, more shots are needed, and this means a more tactical approach to repairs is necessary for surviving longer engagements.

Chain Shot Impact and Mast Repairs

Nowadays, it takes two chain shots to bring down your mast, and one chain shot will crack it twice. This means that each time you repair the mast, you need to apply three wooden planks to fully restore it. If you don’t, your enemies can bring it down again with just one chain shot, putting you at a significant disadvantage unless it’s fully repaired.

Controlling Speed and Position via Sails

An advanced helming tip is that you can control your speed and rotation around enemy ships not just by using the wheel, but by adjusting your sail length. For example, if an enemy ship is too far to the right and out of your cannon’s angle, instead of turning the wheel, you can raise your sails slightly until you regain the angle, then lower them again to maintain rotation. The longer the sails are down, the wider your rotation, so finding the right balance is key to maintaining the upper hand in battle.

Using Anchor Turns in Emergencies

Anchor turns can serve as a useful last resort in emergency situations. When you need to make a sharp turn quickly or escape a dangerous position, dropping the anchor and then immediately raising it allows for a fast pivot. It’s risky but can save your ship in critical moments if used correctly.

The Risks of Anchor Turns

Anchor turns can be useful if you desperately need to escape a bad situation or want to quickly do a 180 to re-engage after repairs. However, using your anchor comes with significant risks. Dropping anchor makes you vulnerable, as enemies can easily target you with cannons and blunderbombs while you’re raising it. Once the anchor is down, it’s very easy for opponents to keep you immobilized. Always aim to keep your ship moving during fights rather than relying on an anchor turn.

Harpoon Tactics

Harpoons can be game-changing when used correctly. You can harpoon rocks, structures, or even the seabed in shallow waters to quickly change your angle on an enemy. Harpooning an enemy off their cannons and hitting them with a blunderbuss creates chaos and confusion. Additionally, you can harpoon enemy ships as they try to escape, forcing them to stay close while you bombard them with cannon fire. Harpoons provide excellent strategic opportunities in battle.

The Death Spiral Maneuver

A powerful technique during battle is the death spiral, where you use an anchor or chain shots to immobilize the enemy and steadily rotate around them while bombarding them with cannon fire. When helming, you can start with full sail for larger ships or half sail for smaller ones, ensuring you maintain control while inflicting constant damage. The death spiral can overwhelm your opponent, leaving them little room to recover.

Maintaining Position After Immobilizing the Enemy

When facing a Sloop, if you manage to immobilize the enemy ship, immediately raise your sails. This prevents you from flying past them and losing your cannon angle. Once you’ve secured the angle, lower your sails to half-mast and begin a steady rotation around the enemy. You’ll need to adjust your wheel and sails as you rotate to maintain your position, ensuring you can continue firing. While helming, take the opportunity to snipe enemies off their cannons, keeping the pressure on them.

Using Blunderbombs and Boarding Strategies

Blunderbombs are incredibly useful for knocking enemies off their cannons or interrupting their actions. Peaceballs can also stop them from firing. Once you’ve applied enough pressure and the enemy crew is busy bucketing water, send one of your crew to board their ship. Use blunderbombs to disorient them and potentially cause them to backsplash their own water, ensuring their ship sinks.

Effective Use of Throwables and Chain Shots

Make full use of your supplies, including chain shots, blunderbombs, and fire bombs. Each throwable serves a specific purpose in combat. Aim your chain shots towards the crossbar of the mast. Even if you miss the vertical section of the mast, hitting the crossbar can still knock the mast down, giving you a crucial advantage.

Using Blunderbombs and Fire Bombs Effectively

Blunderbombs are excellent for knocking enemies off their cannons, preventing them from repairing, and even causing them to backsplash their buckets. Fire bombs, while less commonly used, are highly effective against galleons. Aim for the cannons or the helm, as fire spreads quickly in those areas, overwhelming the crew. When fire catches on the enemy’s cannons, any players manning them will be set ablaze, slowly losing health, making them easier to kill with cannon fire or sniper shots.

The Risk of Carrying Kegs

Carrying kegs on your ship is incredibly dangerous and generally not worth the risk. I’ve experienced countless deaths caused by kegs, and they can easily destroy your ship. Even if you store them in the crow’s nest to avoid damage, snipers can still target them, causing massive destruction. The minimal gold reward from selling kegs isn’t worth the potential disaster they can cause onboard. It’s best to avoid carrying them altogether unless you’re purely in it for fun and don’t mind sinking.

When to Repair Your Ship

Ships naturally take damage during battle, and I often see crews rushing to repair the moment they get a hole. However, it’s important to prioritize when to repair, especially during intense combat. Immediate repairs might not always be necessary if you can manage the situation and keep pressure on the enemy.

When to Repair Bottom Deck Holes

You don’t need to repair every hole immediately. On a Sloop, bottom deck holes fill up faster than those on the second deck, so if you take a few second deck holes, don’t stress. It’s often more efficient to grab a few buckets of water every minute rather than spending time constantly repairing. While you’re busy repairing, you could be focusing on more critical tasks like maintaining your angle, adjusting sails, or sniping enemy crew. Typically, I start repairing if there are four to five holes, but most of the time, it’s better to prioritize keeping pressure on the enemy.

Organizing Supplies for Efficiency

Organization is key to surviving in battle, and one helpful tip is to keep your supplies neatly arranged. I usually store the best food—like pineapples, mangoes, pomegranates, and cooked food—in the top barrel, while less effective items like bananas and uncooked food go in the bottom barrel. While it might be controversial, I even put coconuts in the bottom barrel. This system ensures that in the heat of battle, you can quickly grab high-quality food without worrying about getting something less helpful, saving valuable time.

Organizing Cannonballs and Resources

I keep cannonballs and blunderbombs in the top barrel, as I use them the most, while firebombs, fireworks, and other items go in the bottom barrel. Additionally, I place a cannonball crate with 50 cannonballs in the middle of the ship between both cannons for quicker reloading. As a helm, I keep a crate of 50 wood near my helm in case my wheel or mast gets damaged. It saves time during a fight, and those few seconds can make or break the outcome of the battle. Avoid storing everything in a single storage crate, as enemies can steal it if they board or sink you. By keeping supplies in barrels, you ensure that no one can access them if you’re unable to.

Using Cannon Rowboats

Cannon rowboats can be game changers. You can find them randomly around the Sea of Thieves on different islands. Once you dock a cannon rowboat to the back of your ship, both you and your teammate can fire at the enemy ship. Just be sure to keep the enemy ship on the side facing your cannon rowboat for maximum effectiveness.

Captain Ships: The Ultimate Advantage

Always try to sail and fight with a captained ship. Once you’ve met the requirements and have enough gold to purchase your own ship, it’s worth investing. Captained ships provide many advantages in battle and enhance your overall gameplay experience.

Unlocking Captain Perks

Unlocking a captained ship comes with many perks, such as the ability to quickly buy supplies like food, planks, and cannonballs from the shipwright. This makes it much faster to prepare for battle, allowing you to spend less time stocking up and more time engaging in combat.

When to Board the Enemy Ship

Knowing when to board an enemy ship is crucial. If the enemy begins to peel out of a fight, it’s often a sign that they are close to sinking. This is the perfect time to attempt boarding. Even if you don’t make it, you can still disrupt their efforts by throwing blunderbombs or sniping from the water. However, only board when necessary. Avoid boarding if your own ship has holes or is not in rotation, as it can lead to your ship sinking or sailing out of range.

Choosing Effective Cosmetics

While many cosmetics in Sea of Thieves look great, not all of them are practical for battle. Some sails, like the Dark Adventure or Kraken sails, offer better visibility, which is crucial during combat. Cannon skins can also impact your visibility; chunky skins take up too much screen space, making it harder to aim. Stick to default cannons or golden sailor cannons for better performance. When it comes to the wheel, choose one that doesn’t obstruct your view with large designs or distinct spokes, helping you maintain focus during intense moments.

Efficient Use of Bucket and Cannons

It’s important to use a bucket that allows you to easily see the water level, helping you avoid accidental backsplashes. Additionally, avoid using overly flashy cannon flares, as they can make aiming more difficult. If you must use a flare, opt for the Cutthroat ones, as they have shorter visible effects and less impact on gameplay. The same goes for weapon skins—choose basic designs rather than large, chunky ones that take up more screen space, allowing for better focus during combat.

It’s Okay to Sink

Everyone sinks in Sea of Thieves, and it’s not always a bad thing. Even the best PVP players didn’t reach their level of skill without sinking multiple times and learning valuable lessons from their mistakes. Use sinking as an opportunity to reflect on what went wrong in battle and improve for the next encounter. Remember, loot isn’t yours until it’s sold, so try not to get too attached to it. Shifting your mindset will help you remain positive even after sinking, focusing on growth rather than loss.

Final Thoughts and Positive Mindset

Understand that Sea of Thieves is a game of both risk and reward. Don’t worry about losing hours of progress if you sink; instead, focus on learning and improving for the future. This game is about practice, adaptation, and becoming a better pirate. Keep a positive mindset, and remember that sinking is part of the process of mastering the seas!

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