Guide to The Dark Relics
Sinister new voyages on the Seas
August 14th through September 11, 2019
Duke, the Bilge Rat that hangs out in all the in-game taverns, has gotten word that skeletons have stolen evil Dark Relics from the Order of Souls. They’ve asked him to help get them back before the Skellies do any nefarious rituals with them, and Duke is asking us for help. He’s got a handful of bounty voyages to sell that will send us to retrieve the relics, and he’ll reward us for completing voyages, finding the relics, finding any of the Skellies’ “Ritual Skulls”, and even for finding a mysterious new cursed chest out on the horizon… read on to find out about this exciting addition to the game.
Read my full break down of the latest patch notes here
How does this work?
Dark Relics is a limited time event where you can buy special types of voyages from Duke in any tavern using Doubloons. Completing these voyages and completing other tasks will earn Doubloons and the ability to purchase some special new cosmetics from Duke. These new voyages and the new cosmetics are only available for the duration of the event, which ends on September 11, 2019.
What are Doubloons?
Doubloons are a special currency in Sea of Thieves that are limited in quantity. You can only get them from completing tasks assigned by Duke for current or past Bilge Rat Events. You can only spend them by talking to Duke, who will sell you bags of gold, reputation levels in the game’s trading companies, and limited time event-specific cosmetics.
To purchase the new limited time voyages, and to see the new cosmetics that are available, talk to Duke in the Tavern.
To view the event’s “commendations” or challenges, open the game’s menu, navigate to “Reputation”, and click Bilge Rats. From there you can view every present and past event page with all of their challenges- the current Dark Relics challenges are listed under the “Mercenary Voyages” tab.
Limited Time Cosmetics
Throughout the duration of this event, there are three limited time cosmetic items available in Duke’s shop before they disappear, locked behind completing the Seeking Stolen Relics commendation. They are the:
Mercenary Cannons, Mercenary Wheel, Mercenary Capstan
Dark Relic Voyages
There is a Dark Relic Voyage for each region. The main three regional voyages are very similar, while the Athena’s Dark Relic Voyage to the Devil’s Roar can only be purchased by Pirate Legends and returns greater rewards. Completing the three main regional voyages just once will unlock Duke’s new cosmetics for purchase. The main three voyages cost 5 Doubloons each, and the Devil’s Roar voyage costs 10.
All of these Voyages and their associated Commendations, Titles, and Doubloons are Time Limited and end on September 11th.
Voyage Structure
Each Dark Relic Voyage in the three main regions consists of four consecutive chapters taking place in that region:
Chapter 1: an Order of Souls bounty quest with 2 Captains
Chapter 2: an X-marks the Spot Map with 3 X’s
Chapter 3: an Order of Souls bounty quest with 4 Captains
Chapter 4: an X-marks the Spot Map (to a Skull Fort) with 3 X’s
- Every Captain drops Villainous Bounty Skulls (794g–1402g).
Each X-Marks Map yields: 1 Dark Relic (~3500g, see below for more) and a chance between Ritual Skulls (~2000g), Ashen Goldhoarder Trinkets (140g-1600g), and even a Crate of Ancient Bone Dust (2500–6500g) - Chapter 3 Skellies will be a certain type guaranteed by region:
Gold Skeletons in the Ancient Isles
Plant Skeletons in the Shores of Plenty
Shadow Skeletons in The Wilds
Athena’s Dark Relic Voyage of the Devil’s Roar
Their are a few differences in the Devil’s Roar voyage, which can only be purchased by Pirate Legends:
- The Skeletons in Chapters 1 and 3 can be any variety
- The Skeleton Captains drop Ashen Villainous Skulls, which are twice as valuable.
- Chapters 2 and 4 have FOUR X’s instead of three, and two of them are guaranteed to be Dark Relics
Doubloons are awarded for completing the voyages the first time
- Dark Relic Voyage of the Ancient Isles (+5 Doubloons)
- Dark Relic Voyage of the Shores of Plenty (+5 Doubloons)
- Dark Relic Voyage of The Wilds (+5 Doubloons)
- Seeking Stolen Relics: Complete all of the above^ (+50 Doubloons + Title: “Relic Hunter”)
(This unlocks the ability to purchase Duke’s new cosmetics) - Athena’s Dark Relic Voyage to the Devil’s Roar (+10)
The Dark Relics…
The Dark Relics have an unknown purpose, and aren’t that useful for pirates like us. But the Order of Souls will pay a pretty penny for them (~3500g), and Duke’ll give us a bunch of Doubloons to track them all down.
Dark Relics are a time limited feature of the new voyages and all their associated Commendations, Titles, and Doubloons end on September 11th.
There are Five unique Relics, and you earn a couple of them at random through each voyage. In order to track down all five unique ones to get all the commendations, you may need to repeat the voyages numerous times until the RNG works in your favor- or find another way to get them, pirate style.
They are:
The Evil Eye (+5 Doubloons for selling it to the Order of Souls)
The Mutinous Effigy (+5 Doubloons ^)
The Black Coffer (+5 Doubloons ^)
The Hexing Skull (+5 Doubloons ^)
The Bewitching Doll (+5 Doubloons ^)
You’ll also be rewarded for managing to find ALL 5 different Relics…
(+50 Doubloons, + Title “Relic Collector”)
AND for selling ANY 10 Dark Relics to the Order of Souls, including duplicates.
(+15 Doubloons)
Ritual Skulls
Ritual Skulls are blood-painted artifacts that you have a chance of digging up on Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 of each of the Dark Relic voyages. They sell to the Order of Souls like any other skull (~1400g), but also will earn some sweet sweet doubloons during this month long event.
Ritual Skulls are a time limited feature of the new voyages, and the associated Commendations and Doubloons will end on September 11th.
Sell 5 Ritual Skulls to the Order of Souls (+5 Doubloons)
Sell 10 Ritual Skulls to the Order of Souls (+10 Doubloons)
And if you’re a Pirate Legend, or playing with one, there’s opportunity for some bonus doubloons as well:
Sell 5 Ritual Skulls to the Mysterious Stranger (+5 Doubloons)
Again, because of RNG, selling all the Ritual Skulls you need might take repetition of the new voyages… or good old fashioned pirating.
Finally… THE REAPER’S CHEST
A mysterious new cursed chest has begun showing up around the seas, and Duke will reward you for returning it…
The Reaper’s Chest is NOT a Time Limited feature, it will persist in the world and all of its associated Commendations, Titles, and Doubloons will remain in the game permanently after the event ends.
Spawn Rate
The Reaper’s Chest appears to spawn a maximum of three chests at a time on a server, with each refreshing roughly every hour after they’re sold. This rate is just an estimate however.
Finding the Reaper’s Chest
The Reaper’s Chest communicates its position to all players in two ways. First, you will find a small Reaper Skull icon on the map table where this chest is located. Second, it shines a beacon of red and green light into the sky, an ominous calling card to draw all players in. This beacon will bring you to a sunken shipwreck, where the chest can be found.
The Curse…
Once you pick up the Reaper’s Chest, the beam of light will disappear, but you’re not in the clear! That map table icon will make your ship behave as if you’re flying the Reaper’s Mark flag, making your position visible to all players’ map tables on the server, with a special icon so they know you have this valuable chest. Better sell it or prepare to fight!
The Rewards
Reaper’s Chests must be sold to Duke in the Tavern, and each time you do so you’ll earn 15 Doubloons. That’s right, they reward Doubloons.
In addition to this, there are some commendation rewards for collecting them during this month long event:
Sell 1 Reaper’s Chest to Duke (+10 Doubloons)
Sell 3 Reaper’s Chests to Duke (+25 Doubloons)
Sell 5 Reaper’s Chests to Duke (+50 Doubloons + Title “Death Defier”)
Keep in mind, Duke himself has dropped a hint that Doubloons may become more valuable soon… we’ll have to wait and see what he has in mind.
General Event Tips
- Be on your guard:
Any pirate doing these voyages will likely be loaded down with Villainous Skulls, Ritual Skulls, and Dark Relics. This makes you a valuable target for thieves, so keep a lookout and sell your loot often! - The Devil’s Roar yields more Relics:
Only Pirate Legends can purchase voyages in the Devil’s Roar, which could make it a less populated part of the server. Each voyage yields greater rewards and more Relics, which increases your chance of getting the unique Relic you’re looking for - Expect to grind for Relics:
The odds suggest that completing each regional voyage once will not be enough to get all 5 unique relics. You will likely have to repeat voyages numerous times, or organize swaps with friends to get the ones you need - Check the map table!
The Reaper’s Chest is indicated by a beacon of light, but this can be hard to see through a storm or even hidden behind a rock or island. Plus, the beacon disappears when another crew picks up the chest. Checking the map table guarantees you don’t miss a Reaper’s Chest
Screenshots provided with help by Dray
