Ashen Chests in Sea of Thieves hold powerful items and loot that could prove beneficial to any swashbuckler sailing the high seas. But before anyone can be made privy to the contents of these special chests, they have to locate the Ashen Keys necessary to unlock them.

Fortunately, there's a multitude of ways to attain Sea of Thievesmost sought-after key, though it will require some effort and patience.

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Where to Find Ashen Keys

Even though more and more players have been streaming in via Steam, increasing the competition on any popular hunt, there are plenty of ways to procure an Ashen Key.

Though it may be the most time-consuming and, as a result, frustrating, fishing is the easiest way to come across an Ashen Key, as it is part of the Treacherous Plunder loot pool, with the lowest catch-rate of the five items. All a player has to do is cast the Fishing Rod without any bait attached, and there's a chance that the effort will return an Ashen Key. The same process also applies to Harpoons.

There are a few guaranteed methods, though a bit more effort is required.

  • Ashen Key Masters, which can spawn during Skeleton Fort Events or on Islands, will drop an Ashen Key Master's Notes Quest. Players will be rewarded one Ashen Key upon completion of the quest.
  • If players can sink the Captain's Skeleton Ship at the end of a Skeleton Fleet, then they will be rewarded with two Ashen Keys.
  • An Ashen Key Stash Voyage can be bought on the Black Market for 99 Bilge Rat Dubloons. Turning in these quests will reward one Ashen Key.

What Ashen Keys Can Be Used For

Sea Of Thieves Chests

The main use for an Ashen Key is to open an Ashen Chest, but they can also be valuable items to sell if a player doesn't have any further use.

Larinna, who can be located at any Tavern, will buy Ashen Keys at a base value of five Bilge Rat Doubloons. The Servant of the Flame, found at The Reaper's Hideout, will buy the keys in exchange for Doubloons and Reputation.

Doubloons can then be used to purchase cosmetics in Sea of Thieves, which can be applied to both players and ships.

Contents of An Ashen Chest

Once a player has a good stock of Ashen Keys and Ashen Chests, which can be bought from the Black Market for 50 Bilge Rat Dubloons or 65,000 Gold, then they will have access to a strong pool of items. Each chest contains one guaranteed random Ashen Tome, in addition to two other random treasure items.

  • Five Bilge Rat Doubloons
  • 1,000 Gold
  • Ritual Skull- Necessary for performing any rituals
  • Roaring Goblet
  • Brimstone Casket
  • Devil's Remnant
  • Magma's Grail
  • An additional Ashen Tome

Sea of Thieves is out now on PC, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox One.

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