Sea of Thieves' season 2 has arrived, bringing a huge array of changes and new features to Rare's pirate adventure title. The new season kicked off on April 15th with the 2.1.0 update, requiring a 3-6gb download depending on the system. The core of Sea of Thieves' season is, of course, the Seasonal Progression track, which offers players all kinds of different rewards.
Just like season One in Sea of Thieves, season 2 content is expected to last for a few months. This should give players plenty of time to earn the Renown they need to advance along the Seasonal Progression track.
Building Renown
Progressing through season 2 carries some unique rewards, including the Lucky Hand clothing set. Players will unlock pieces of the Lucky Hand one at a time, with the final piece, the hat, being earned at Level 96. Players will also unlock the Ocean Deep titles as they progress through season 2's levels, starting with Castaway and ending with Legend.
These titles aren't the only part of the Ocean Deep Sea of Thieves' collectibles set, players can also earn a flag, tattoo, scars, and sails pattern. One of the most interesting unlockables in the new season is the Barrel Disguise Emote, available at level 13. This emote allows players to hide in plain sight by disguising themselves as a harmless barrel.
In addition to the content that all players can earn by gaining Renown in Sea of Thieves' season 2, there is also some limited content. Players who've purchased the Plunder Pass will earn special rewards every 5 levels, including Witch Markings Make-up, the Popcorn Emote, and the Shrouded Ghost Hunter Blunderbuss. Finally, players who have managed to achieve the status of Pirate Legend will be able to unlock the Athena's Might Cutlass and Shackled Phantom Hull.
Trials and Trade Routes
Players who want to maximize their progress through Sea of Thieves' season 2 should take on the season's 14 Trials. Each Trial is divided into Deeds, special challenges that players must complete to finish the Trial. Completing a Trial will reward players with a Renown boost, accelerating their progress along the track.
Many of the Trials in season 2 are themed around being an Emissary for one of Sea of Thieves' Trading Companies. The Emissary role has seen some changes in season 2, with Merchant Alliance Emissaries now able to purchase Commodity Crates from representatives and sell them at different Outposts for profit. This introduces a new commercial trading mechanic for players to participate in.
Crews that engage in these activities will gain new Commendations, which can be found in the Merchant Alliance Reputation tab. Earning enough of these Commendations will allow players earn the Merchant Alliance Hook and Eyepatch at Outpost clothing shops
New Events and Gameplay Improvements
As well as new content for players to unlock and Trials to complete, there are also some new Events in season 2 for Sea of Thieves' crews to undertake. One of the most exciting is Forts of Fortune, a new kind of elite fortress that is a rare spawn in the game world. Players can recognize a Fort of Fortune by the scarred Skull Cloud that hovers above it. Forts of Fortune feature waves of challenging enemies, with an increased chance of Captains spawning.
In addition to the Forts of Fortune, there is also a new Event which pits Emissaries against piratical Reapers. Every fortnight, a Mysterious Note will inform players of which of Sea of Thieves' Trading Company the event will focus on. This will provide access to Deeds aimed at both helping and hindering the company, which can earn players valuable rewards.
Finally, the Season Two update brings a variety of minor gameplay improvements. The most impactful of these is that players can now purchase crates full of supplies from Outposts, to stock their ship for long voyages. There have also been changes to Skeleton Captains, who will now drop Gold Pouches which can split among the crew. Similarly, the loot from Skeleton Fleets will now be circled by seagulls, making it more easy to spot. Finally, when players lose their ship and a Mermaid grants them a new vessel it will be placed further away from enemy ships on the seas.
Sea of Thieves is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.