Season 17 has begun! And some unfamiliar faces have been spied on remote islands as The Smugglers’ League settle in and begin their hunt for high-value, dangerous prizes. They’re open to letting pirate crews help them transport their cargo where it needs to go, and maybe recovering some choice items misplaced along the way. Their true goal, however, remains rather mysterious… but for now, let’s find out what you can expect from this new Season in Sea of Thieves!
Introducing the League
These shadowy newcomers have set up shop in secret hideaways across the seas, and they’ve set their sights on some explosive new treasures. While they show a surprising appreciation of Fine Art and fragile bottles of even finer rum, the League are also on the hunt for Black Powder Barrels. These devastating delights pack more of a punch than any other explosive on the seas, so you’ll want to be careful about bringing them aboard your own ship.
As The Smugglers’ League get accustomed to life on the Sea of Thieves, they’re recruiting pirates to ferry some of their precious cargo safely from pick-up point to destination. That means sending crews out on Smugglers’ Route Runs, perilous delivery Voyages along a highly contested route. If you want to make it through unscathed and with the cargo still in your possession, you’ll need to keep a keen eye on that horizon. Elsewhere, find a Message in a Bottle with the Smugglers’ mark and you can set out on other Smugglers’ Runs too, ranging far and wide with some of the most valuable contraband on the seas.
View game pageMaking Their Mark
You don’t last long in the smuggling trade by doing business out in the open, so The Smugglers’ League have sought secret spots on the Sea of Thieves to conduct their covert operations. Each of them has established a Smugglers’ Hideout, somewhere out of sight and protected by traps. You’ll have to pinpoint these Hideouts yourself if you want to get to know the League and deliver any cargo you discover on your travels.
And there is cargo to be found! A recent run of bad luck has seen several Smugglers’ Shipwrecks left to languish beneath the waves, hiding treasures that can be returned to the League for a comfortable payout. Some of this wayward cargo has also washed up on beaches for passing ships to spot, while opportunistic Skeleton Ships have been seen to scoop up the rest. Hunt them down and sink them if you want to claim those spoils for yourself…
The Season Continues
Surreptitious they may be, but those Smugglers don’t sit still for long. When September and October bring in Act 2 and Act 3 of Season 17, there’ll be plenty more Smuggler activity to join in, including a daring Heist that pits crew against crew to secure some very valuable loot. Those who take part will descend upon Royal Crest Fortress in search of a painting specially requested by an important patron of the League, but remember: you won’t be the only one after the prize! Surviving skirmishes with rival sailors will be crucial to claiming the payout.
In the meantime, Captain Flameheart’s forces are using the distraction offered by the League’s arrival to strengthen their position at the Skeleton Forts. In Act 3 of Season 17, you’ll be able to find the newly fortified Reaper Fortresses under siege from a Phantom fleet. Fight off both sides, and you might just be able to escape with a cache of dangerous loot – provided none of the Fort’s new traps get you first…
Rewarding Work
With so many new additions to the seas, Season 17 wouldn’t be complete without a host of new Commendations to measure your success! Completing Voyages for the Smugglers and handing in their cargo will help you unlock a wealth of cosmetics to update your pirate’s style. For completionists, new achievements (and Trophies) present a tantalising challenge as the potential gamerscore on offer climbs towards a tremendous total…
As always, there are new Pirate Emporium offerings including the dusty outlaw chic of the Riptide Rodeo set, plus of course a new Season means a new Plunder Pass packed with goodies to unlock – this time including the Rare Regalia ship set and clothing, as well as 750 Ancient Coins for spending in the Pirate Emporium.
Whether you pick up the Pass or not, there’s a trove of rewards on offer for climbing 100 more levels of Renown this Season, including items from the Master of the High Seas, Fabled Fins and Faraway Shores sets. To help you earn these time-limited rewards, a new Deed system has been implemented to encourage arrangements with the Smugglers and earn increased Renown by doing so!
View game pagePirate Profiles also arrive this Season, offering a way to access an extra pirate persona without overwriting your existing one. Want to keep your current adventurer firmly on their own path, while embarking on a separate seafaring saga under another pirate identity? Adding a new Pirate Profile will let you do that, splitting your time between two (or three, or more) profiles as you see fit. Swing by the Pirate Emporium and purchase a Pirate Deed if this sounds like something for you!
There are a lot of changes coming to the seas this Season, spaced out to ensure you have something new to discover each month. For a full tour of everything arriving in August, be sure to read through the detailed Season launch release notes, and check out the dedicated Season 17 page – and for more about the features coming in September and October, follow Sea of Thieves on your social media channel of choice to stay in the loop. Until then, we wish you good luck and successful smuggling!