Want to unlock some of Sea of Thieves’ most lucrative loot and truly live the pirate life? Sea of Thieves throws you headfirst into a vast, open-world adventure filled with treasure, danger, and endless possibilities. At the heart of this experience lies the allure of hidden riches, and one of the most rewarding paths to those riches involves the mysterious Ashen Keys. These coveted keys unlock Ashen Chests, containers brimming with valuable loot that can significantly boost your reputation and your pirate hoard. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about finding Ashen Keys, mastering their use, and employing strategic tips to maximize your earnings from these fiery prizes.
Understanding Ashen Chests: Fiery Vessels of Fortune
Ashen Chests are distinctive containers found scattered throughout the Sea of Thieves. They are easily recognizable by their dark, charred appearance, adorned with glowing embers and a foreboding aura. Unlike regular treasure chests that can be simply dug up or discovered, Ashen Chests are locked, requiring a specific Ashen Key to unlock their secrets. They serve as a challenge to pirates, testing their resolve and rewarding their efforts with a bounty of valuables.
But what makes Ashen Chests so desirable? The loot contained within these chests is considerably more valuable than what you might find in common treasure chests. Inside, you can discover a variety of precious items, including Gold Hoarder artifacts, skulls coveted by the Order of Souls, and crates sought after by the Merchant Alliance. The specific items you find will vary, adding an element of surprise to each opening. You might uncover a trinket worth a hefty sum of gold, or a rare skull that fetches a considerable price at the Order of Souls outpost.
However, the real treasure lies within the potential to find Ashen Tomes. These rare books unlock commendations and cosmetic rewards. They can be sold at the Black Market Archive, for Doubloons, which can be used to purchase special items and customizations not found anywhere else. Collecting all the tomes is a worthwhile goal for any pirate seeking to truly master the game.
Why should you invest your time and effort into seeking out Ashen Chests and Keys? The answer is simple: profit. The contents of Ashen Chests can provide a significant boost to your gold and reputation, allowing you to quickly progress through the game and unlock new items and adventures. Doubloons also represent a valuable currency, enabling you to acquire exclusive cosmetics, limited-time items, and even purchase reputation levels with various trading companies. Furthermore, the sheer thrill of unlocking a chest and discovering its hidden riches is a rewarding experience in itself.
The Hunt Begins: Ways to Obtain Ashen Keys
Acquiring Ashen Keys is not as simple as stumbling upon them on a deserted island. You must actively seek them out through various means, each presenting its own challenges and rewards. Several key methods exist:
Confronting the Ashen Key Master
One of the most reliable ways to obtain an Ashen Key is by defeating the Ashen Key Master. This fearsome skeleton captain appears as part of a world event that can occur on any island across the Sea of Thieves. The Ashen Key Master is a formidable foe, often accompanied by a group of skeletons that will relentlessly attack you. It is recommended to approach this encounter with a well-prepared crew and a solid strategy.
Defeating the Ashen Key Master guarantees that he will drop an Ashen Key upon his defeat. The difficulty of this encounter depends on the number of players. Smaller crews might find this battle challenging, while larger crews can overcome this event with relative ease. Focusing your fire on the Ashen Key Master is crucial, and utilizing gunpowder barrels to quickly dispatch the surrounding skeletons can significantly improve your chances of success. Once the captain falls, quickly claim your prize before other pirates arrive to contest your claim.
Facing the Ashen Guardian
Another reliable way to obtain an Ashen Key is by defeating the Ashen Guardian. Similar to the Key Master, this captain also appears as part of a world event. This particular type of captain protects a map that leads to buried treasure on an island, and the treasure is an Ashen Key. This can be a more challenging event than the key master since you need to defend yourself against the Captain and the skeletons guarding the map to the treasure.
This makes a perfect opportunity to set up traps and use strategy in order to defeat the Ashen Guardian. A great tactic is to make sure the skeletons follow you to a spot where you set up gunpowder barrels to easily deal with the skeletons.
Battling Skeleton Ships: A Risky Endeavor
Skeleton Ships are another potential source of Ashen Keys. These spectral vessels roam the seas, engaging unsuspecting pirates in naval combat. While defeating a Skeleton Ship can be a rewarding experience in itself, the drop rate for Ashen Keys is not guaranteed, making this a less reliable method compared to tackling the Ashen Key Master.
The difficulty of fighting Skeleton Ships varies depending on the type of ship you encounter and the skill of your crew. Some Skeleton Ships are heavily armored and armed, requiring strategic maneuvering and precise cannon fire to defeat. Others are faster and more agile, demanding quick reflexes and skillful sailing. Even if you manage to sink a Skeleton Ship, there’s no guarantee that it will drop an Ashen Key, making this a gamble with a potentially high reward.
The Black Market Archive: A Convenient Alternative
For those who prefer a more direct approach, the Black Market Archive offers a convenient alternative for acquiring Ashen Keys. Here, you can purchase Ashen Keys using Doubloons, a special currency earned through completing various in-game activities.
The cost of an Ashen Key at the Black Market Archive varies, and the availability of keys may be limited, so it’s essential to check the Black Market Archive regularly. While purchasing keys may seem expensive, it can be a worthwhile investment for pirates who value their time and prefer a guaranteed source of keys. It is also a good method to obtain them if you are unable to defeat either of the Ashen Captains.
Strategies and Tips for Efficient Ashen Key Hunting
To become a truly successful Ashen Key hunter, it’s essential to employ strategic approaches and leverage effective tips:
Prioritize Ashen Key Masters/Guardians: Focus your efforts on tackling the Ashen Key Master world event whenever possible. This is the most reliable way to guarantee an Ashen Key, making it the most efficient use of your time.
World Event Awareness: Stay vigilant and keep an eye on the horizon for the telltale signs of world events. Use the map on your ship to look for the correct event symbols. These events are your best bet for finding Ashen Keys.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Sailing with a well-coordinated crew significantly increases your chances of success. A larger crew can tackle challenging encounters more easily, distribute tasks effectively, and provide mutual support in combat.
Supply Management: Ensure that you are well-stocked with essential supplies, such as cannonballs, planks, and bananas. These resources are crucial for surviving encounters with Skeleton Ships and other threats.
Safety First: Be mindful of your surroundings and watch out for other players who might be lurking nearby. Sea of Thieves is a PvPvE game, so you never know when you might encounter hostile pirates seeking to steal your loot.
Black Market Checks: Keep an eye on the Black Market Archive as it often has deals on Ashen Keys
Opening Ashen Chests and Claiming Your Riches
Once you have obtained an Ashen Key, the next step is to locate an Ashen Chest and unlock its hidden treasures.
Locating Ashen Chests
Ashen Chests can be found in a variety of locations throughout the Sea of Thieves. They often spawn on beaches, buried beneath the sand, or hidden within caves. They can also be found at active forts, adding an element of danger to your search.
The Unlocking Process
Once you have located an Ashen Chest, simply approach it with an Ashen Key in your inventory and interact with the chest. The chest will unlock, revealing its contents. Be cautious when opening chests, as other players may be nearby, waiting to steal your loot.
Selling Your Loot
After unlocking the chest, carefully gather the items and transport them to the appropriate outposts. Gold Hoarder artifacts should be sold to the Gold Hoarders, Order of Souls skulls to the Order of Souls, and Merchant Alliance crates to the Merchant Alliance.
Ashen Tomes
If you are lucky, you will come across Ashen Tomes. You will need to bring these to the Black Market Archive for Doubloons! These Doubloons can be used to purchase even more riches.
Embrace the Pirate Life: Final Thoughts
Hunting for Ashen Keys and unlocking Ashen Chests is a thrilling and rewarding experience in Sea of Thieves. By understanding the methods for obtaining keys, employing strategic tips, and maximizing your efficiency, you can significantly boost your gold and reputation, unlock exclusive items, and truly embrace the pirate life. So, gather your crew, stock up on supplies, and set sail in search of Ashen Keys and the riches that await. Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, set sail and claim your fortune! Let us know in the comments how your Ashen Key hunts go! Remember this is a game of skill and luck. Don’t give up!
