The Pirate Emporium within Sea of Thieves serves as a primary destination for players seeking exclusive customisation options. While the Emporium primarily functions as a shop where players purchase items using Ancient Coins—a currency bought with real money—there are specific mechanisms available for acquiring items without direct monetary transaction. According to the provided documentation, players can obtain free emotes and earn currency through gameplay, alongside accessing special offers included with paid passes.
The Emporium is accessible via the game's main menu or by visiting specific representatives located at Outposts in Adventure mode. These representatives act as gateways for purchasing Ancient Coins and exchanging them for goods. Additionally, the documentation notes that Ancient Coins can be acquired directly through the Microsoft Store or by defeating rare Ancient Skeletons found while exploring islands. These skeletons carry bags of Ancient Coins, which players can claim upon defeating them before they escape.
Free Emotes and Monthly Offerings
One of the most consistent ways to acquire free items is through the Emporium's selection of complimentary emotes. The documentation explicitly references a "Free Emote - Lucky Deal" available to players. In another instance, a "Free Emote – Humble Gift" is mentioned in relation to Season 18. These emotes are typically available for claim directly within the Emporium interface.
The Emporium stock is refreshed monthly, encouraging players to check back frequently for new additions. Alongside the permanently free items, the shop features time-limited seasonal items, such as those related to the Festival of Giving or winter themes. While these seasonal items are generally available for purchase, the Emporium occasionally highlights specific bundles, such as the Festival of Giving Weapon Bundle, which is only available until the January update.
Earning Ancient Coins via Gameplay
Players looking to bolster their Ancient Coin balance without purchasing the currency outright can do so by engaging with specific in-game mechanics. The documentation confirms the existence of rare Ancient Skeletons that spawn in the world. Identifiable by the bags of Ancient Coins they carry, these enemies drop the currency when defeated. This allows dedicated players to accumulate Ancient Coins over time to redeem for Emporium items. The frequency of these spawns is not specified in the provided data, but they remain a legitimate method for earning currency.
The Plunder Pass and Included Rewards
The Plunder Pass represents a significant avenue for value, offering items that would otherwise be available for purchase in the Emporium. While purchasing the Plunder Pass requires real money, it is structured to provide a return of Ancient Coins alongside exclusive cosmetics.
For example, the Season 9 Plunder Pass includes "an especially generous 750 Ancient Coins" in addition to the 250 earnable through standard Seasonal progression. Similarly, the Season 18 Plunder Pass contains "750 Ancient Coins earnable in stages." Effectively, purchasing the pass allows players to recoup a substantial portion of the cost in currency that can be spent in the Pirate Emporium, effectively subsidising future free purchases.
Furthermore, the Plunder Pass grants immediate access to items that later appear in the Emporium. This includes complete ship sets, such as the Sting Tide ship set or the Nightshade Sentry ship set, as well as costumes that evolve as the player progresses through the season's levels.
Available Item Categories
The Pirate Emporium offers a wide variety of items, though the availability of specific sets fluctuates with the monthly refresh. The documentation highlights several categories:
- Pets: Animal companions that can be equipped from a Pet Chest. These pets perform actions but offer no gameplay advantages. The documentation mentions a "Time-Limited Dark Constellation Cat" and generally notes that pets are exclusive to the Emporium.
- Ship Customisation: This includes full ship sets, Collector's versions of Figureheads and Sails, and Ship's Crests. Themed sets mentioned include the Bonechiller Set, Tundra Wanderer Set, and franchise collaborations such as "Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life" and "Legend of Monkey Island."
- Costumes: Sets that alter a player's appearance, such as the Stan Costume Set, Kate Capsize Costume Set, and Herman Toothrot attire.
- Emotes: Both free and purchasable emotes, such as the "Pocket Serpent Emote" or the "Sales Pitch Emote."
- Weapons and Equipment: Weapon bundles and tools, often themed around specific events or franchises like the "Festival of Giving Weapon Bundle."
Accessing the Emporium
To claim free items or browse the store, players have two primary methods of access:
- Main Menu: Selecting the Pirate Emporium option directly from the game's main menu.
- Outposts: Visiting an Emporium representative at any Outpost in Adventure mode. Every Outpost has a representative. The specific NPCs listed in the documentation are:
- Emily - Golden Sands Outpost
- Ebenezer - Sanctuary Outpost
- Earl - Ancient Spire Outpost
- Eduardo - Plunder Outpost
- Errol - Dagger Tooth Outpost
- Earnest - Galleon's Grave Outpost
- Elijah - Morrow's Peak Outpost
- Ellis - inside The Glorious Sea Dog (removed)
It is noted in the documentation that cancelling a real money purchase previously caused the game to freeze, though this was addressed in update 2.3.1.
Conclusion
While the Pirate Emporium is primarily a monetised store, the provided documentation outlines clear methods for obtaining items without direct purchase. Players can claim free emotes, such as the Lucky Deal or Humble Gift, and earn Ancient Coins by defeating rare Ancient Skeletons. Additionally, the Plunder Pass offers a method to effectively subsidise Emporium spending by returning a large amount of Ancient Coins alongside exclusive cosmetics. For UK consumers and players interested in maximising value, checking the Emporium monthly for free offerings and utilising the in-game currency earning methods are the primary strategies for acquiring free goods.