February 11, 2025
7 Tips to Master Hourglass Battles in Sea of Thieves
Want to dominate Hourglass battles and win more often? These expert tips will give you the upper hand in both PvP and Adventure mode.
Sea of Thieves continues to evolve, offering players intense naval combat, treasure hunts, and high-seas adventures. One of the most engaging aspects of PvP gameplay is the Hourglass mode, where players pledge allegiance to either the Guardians of Fortune or the _Servants of the Flam_e and engage in faction-based naval warfare. This mode rewards skill, strategy, and persistence, making it a battleground for the best pirates. To succeed in Hourglass battles, players must optimize their tactics and learn every possible advantage to outmaneuver their foes. We've gathered these tips to help you get the upper hand:
How Can You Load a Cannon Without Getting Knocked Off?
Being knocked off while loading a cannon can be frustrating. Instead of interacting with the cannon directly, retrieve a cannonball from the radial menu and load it while standing beside the cannon. This keeps you mobile and lets you dodge incoming fire while preparing an attack. Hotkeying your cannonballs can speed up the process even more.
How Can You Trick Enemies Into Thinking You’re Boarding?
A well-timed board attempt can cause panic among your enemies. If you don’t have time to board, use a pet monkey to mimic the sound of a cannon launch, making opponents think a boarder is incoming. This forces them to waste time checking ladders, giving you an advantage.
How Can Worms Help in Combat?
Eating worms refills a small amount of health but also makes you vomit. While this might seem like a disadvantage, your throw-up can blind enemies during close combat, making it easier to defeat them. Keep worms in your inventory when preparing to board an enemy ship.
How Can a Bucket of Water Sink an Enemy Ship Faster?
If an enemy ship is already filling with water and is close to sinking, one extra bucket of water can push them over the edge. Throwing a bucket into their hull can eliminate them without needing prolonged combat.
How Can You Avoid Being Harpooned Off Your Ship?
Getting harpooned off your ship can ruin your chances of escape. To avoid this, hold onto the ship’s wheel while steering. This prevents enemies from pulling you overboard, keeping you in control of your vessel.
How Can You Disrupt Enemy Bucket Throws?
When enemies are trying to remove water, target their disposal points. Shooting at areas like the stairs on a Sloop or the brig on larger ships can knock them back, cause them to miss their bucket throws, and even result in backsplash, making their flooding problem worse.
How Can You Get the Best Food from Storage Crates?
When looting storage crates on sunken ships, bananas and coconuts often get picked up instead of high-value food like mangoes or pineapples. To fix this, manually transfer the best food into the crate first. Then, when withdrawing food in bulk, you’ll get the higher-tier items instead.
Use these strategies to increase your success in Hourglass battles and Adventure mode. Master them, and victory will become a regular achievement.
