Skeleton Fleet is a World Event in Sea of Thieves indicated by a pirate ship thunder cloud. Read on to find out how to find and start the Skeleton Fleet event, how to beat Skeleton Ships, the commendations, and the rewards you get for completing them!

How to Start a Skeleton Fleet Event

Starts When a Skeleton Ship Cloud Appears

The Skeleton Fleet is an event that takes place on the open seas of Sea of Thieves and is visibly indicated by a pirate ship thunder cloud hovering above the sea.

In this world event, you will be participating against 3 waves of Skeleton Ships with each wave spawning 1 to 2 ships. The third and final wave will consist of you facing against a Skeleton Captain aboard a Skeleton Ship.

It is considered one of the hardest world events due to the fact that you'll be facing multiple Skeleton Ships if you're playing solo so it is recommended if you bring a crew before tackling this challenge to have an easier time.

How to Find and Beat the Skeleton Ship

Skeleton Fleet Events are Available in Safer Seas and High Seas

Skeleton Fleet World Events can appear even if the player opts to play in Safer Seas. Howver, in Safer Seas, you will get less gold for turning in treasure than when playing in High Seas.

In exchange for the lower rewards, you'll be safer while transporting your loot compared to High Seas where other players can fight you for your Skeleton Fleet loot.

High Seas vs. Safer Seas

How to Beat Skeleton Fleet

Tips for Beating the Skeleton Fleet
Have More than Enough Resources Use Nearby Landmasses to Isolate Fights Deal with the Sloops First Maneuver Your Ship Behind a Galleon Throw Water into Skeleton Ships to Sink Them Don't Collect Treasure Until After the Event

Prepare Resources Before Tackling a Skeleton Fleet

The Skeleton Fleet is one of the hardest events in the game as you'll be fighting off multiple Skeleton Ships at once. Since this is an open seas event, playing on High Seas will also pose the danger of enemy player crews looking to gank you in order to get the event loot.

With the rather large spike in difficulty, we recommend having more than a hundred planks, a hundred cannonballs, and lots of food before you challenge the Skeleton Fleet. Given that this is a multi-ship event battle, it is better to be overprepared than underprepared.

Use Nearby Landmasses to Isolate Fights

Once you start the world event, there is high chance you'll be fighting two ships at once. You can make the battle easier by sailing your ship to the nearest rock, as it will protect you from cannonball attacks on one side while also forcing the ships to split up and go in different directions.

Deal with the Sloops First

During the event, you'll either fight Skeleton Galleons or Sloops. Prioritize dealing with the Sloops first before taking on the Galleon if they both spawn on the same wave to have an easier time dealing with the Galleon later.

Maneuver Your Ship Behind the Galleon

Once it's time to fight a Galleon, use the harpoon on the Galleon to lock them down. They will still be able to move but will struggle to get away since your harpoon is attached to their ship.

Before they get away, raise your sails up and then maneuver your own ship using the wheel to go to the back of the Galleon. Have the side of your ship(where the cannons are) face the backside of the Galleon to shoot them. Once you're in position, shoot the back of their ship to sink it.

Throw Water into Skeleton Ships to Sink Them

The Skeleton Ships have a tendency to ram your ship so use this to your advantage and fill their ship with water to sink them. While not the most efficient way to sink a Skeleton Ship (since it takes ages when using this method), it is a possible strategy especially if they already have multiple holes along their hull.

To fill up a Skeleton Ship with water, go near them or use the Harpoon to drag the ship near yours and start throwing water onto it. Skeletons don't use water buckets to remove water so this method plus the flooding caused by the holes your cannons made should sink them.

Don't Collect Treasure Until After the Event

Remember, the Skeleton Fleet will consist of waves of Skeleton Ships. While the shiny floating treasures are tempting to loot, the waves spawn immediately (one after the other) so it's best to loot only after you've completed the event.

Skeleton Fleet Rewards

Treasures from Skeleton Ships

Not all rewards above will spawn and you might also get duplicate items.

Just like fighting off normal Skeleton Ship, you will get random treasures and supply crates like treasure chests, bountry skulls and artefacts for defeating them. You can get all of them inside the Skeleton Ship or float around the water if you sink it.

You should be able to see a flock of birds flying around the loot if you sink the ship!

Skeleton Captain Ship Rewards

Besides getting the normal loot from a regular Skeleton Ship, you will also be able to get other loots like Ashen Key, Ashen Chests, Ritual Skull and many more from the Skeleton Captain Ship.

Skeleton Fleet Commendations

Commendation	Requirement
United Scourge of Skeleton Ships	Defeat 25 Skeleton Ships
Scourge of Skeleton Ships	Defeat 50 Skeleton Ships

How to Get All Commendations

Sea of Thieves Related Guides

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World Events and Encounters