Sea of Thieves Guide | PVP Tips & Tricks

This guide reveals how to navigate the treacherous waters of PvP and live to tell the tale. You will discover the absolute best tips and tricks to stay afloat and prevail in every high-stakes encounter on the high seas.

Boarder Defense Mastery

Never let a scurvy dog set foot on your ship. Once an enemy boards, you are at a disadvantage, so you must guard your vessel like your life depends on it. The most feared weapon by any boarder is the Blunderbuss.

Equip the Blunderbuss and guard the Ladder; the best time to fire is during the climbing animation, which almost guarantees a one-shot send-off to Davy Jones’s Locker.

Alternatively, Blunderbombs can work even better. The moment you hear a boarder grab the Ladder, hurl a Blunderbomb onto that side of the ship, and watch them tumble overboard.

For the most stylish defense, master the jumping lunge: leap forward with your cutlass drawn to strike a boarding pirate before they even reach the deck.

Strategic Return Fire

When under heavy pressure, resist the urge to repair holes immediately. Instead, target the enemy’s Cannon line to disrupt their plans.

A well-placed Cannonball to the face can send an opponent spiraling into a death spiral, allowing you to follow up with Chain Shot to knock down their sails and seize control of the engagement.

If both crews are close enough, consider using the Harpoon to tow their Cannon over to your ship, leaving them defenseless as you claim the upper hand.

Always remain nimble—swiftly dodge incoming Cannonballs by strafing or taking cover behind the Mast, especially on a Sloop, where stepping back behind cover can save your life.

Triage and Repair

Ship maintenance requires prioritization. Not every hole spells doom, so focus on plugging the most significant breaches first—Tier Three holes can down your ship faster than the rest.

When enemy fire rakes one side of your vessel, repair holes on the opposite side to avoid being knocked off your task by incoming shots. 

Equip your pirate with ample supplies—Cannonballs, Chain Shot, Blunderbombs, food, wood, and bait. Maintain full health by munching on food during the heat of battle; a well-fed pirate is a resilient one.

Keep Your Wits

There are two types of formidable pirates: those with mechanical prowess and those who use cunning. Embrace creativity—set traps, use the environment to your advantage, and always think outside the box. 

Hearing the call of Mermaids is a sure sign to guard your Ladder, and lunging by blocking first grants extra movement speed for surprise attacks.

Master techniques such as canceling a lunge by grabbing the Helm, Cannon, or Anchor to avoid missing your target and finding yourself vulnerable.

Risk Management

Every pirate you meet may lie, cheat, or do whatever it takes to win. When proposing peace, always have an escape plan. Do not risk all your loot in one voyage—sell your treasure often to avoid a devastating setback. 

Project confidence: avoid cosmetic giveaways like the night-shine parrot or crab cosmetics, and always anchor and dock with your sails up to appear ready for departure.

If the wind turns foul and a fight is unwinnable, cut your losses, sell valuables at an outpost, and make strategic decisions to keep the winds in your sails. Live to fight another day, then turn and face your pursuers to grow stronger with every encounter.

Bonus PvP Tips

Each Armory offers a simple way to refill ammo for any weapon—select a different skin to restock your supplies. Organize your barrels and crates (for Cannonballs, wood, and storage) so you can find resources without fumbling. 

Firebombs may not deal massive damage, but they distract enemies and force mistakes. Keeping a thin layer of water below deck prevents fire from catching, providing a haven during intense fights.

Practice boarding by lunging from the bow of your ship to catch the Ladder, then try block-jumping and bunny-hopping with the cutlass to stay elusive.

Test your aim by shooting the bell on your boat to warm up for double-gun engagements. Finally, always check for Tuckers whenever you return to your vessel to avoid surprise attacks from hidden pirates.

Also, check our Sea of Thieves Review and other guides below:

• Sea of Thieves Beginner's Guide | Gameplay Tips & Tricks
• Sea of Thieves Guide | Solo Player Tips & Tricks
• Sea of Thieves Guide | Best Weapons in the Game
• Sea of Thieves Guide | How to Level Up Golden Hoarders
• Sea of Thieves Guide | How to Use the Sloop
• Sea of Thieves Guide | How to Level Up Merchant Alliance
• Sea of Thieves Guide | How to Level Up Order of Souls
• Sea of Thieves Guide | How to Level Up Reaper
• Sea of Thieves Guide | How to Level Up Hunter's Call