Fight for the Future in ‘Return of the Damned’, Sea of Thieves’ Ninth Adventure, Live Until November 17

The Time of Resurrection has arrived, and the infamous Skeleton Lord Captain Flameheart is about to return to the seas – as long as his loyal followers within The Reaper’s Bones are able to complete their long-awaited ritual! Elsewhere, the Pirate Lord’s allies have concocted a rival scheme in an attempt to banish Flameheart for good, placing Captain Pendragon’s life on the line to do so.

Now Sea of Thieves players must decide whether to ally themselves with Belle or the Servant of the Flame, supporting their chosen side in a battle that spans the Sea of Thieves. It will be pirates, not prophecies, that determine whether Flameheart or Pendragon stands triumphant when the dust settles, with the other consigned to exile. Either way, the future of the Sea of Thieves hangs in the balance…

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Fight for the Forts

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Both sides require the energy of Dark Relics to successfully compete their rituals, specifically Bewitching Dolls. These hotly contested items can be found sequestered around six Sea Forts scattered across the Sea of Thieves, and must be delivered directly to either Belle or the Servant of the Flame, depending on your allegiance. But there’s a catch…

The Bewitching Dolls draw their power from the Sea Forts that house them, and their effectiveness is greatly increased when your chosen side is in command of the Fort – something you can establish by flying their banner from its flagpole, fighting your way through Phantoms to get there if necessary.

Handing in a Doll at a time when all six Sea Forts are under your side’s control is the most efficient way of assisting in the ritual, while leaving Forts unclaimed will diminish the relic’s effectiveness. Beacons above each Fort will indicate which side, if any, currently holds them.

Forts actively held by the enemy will limit the Dolls’ power, so crews will need to think carefully about their actions – is It better to attack and claim another Fort, defend those you already control or make a dash to hand in your Bewitching Dolls? The choice is yours.

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All Dolled Up

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Crews will need to undertake the Adventure to receive a fresh flag from their chosen side and claim a Sea Fort, but existing flags can be taken down by any passing pirate, allowing crews to sabotage their opponents’ efforts at any time while the Adventure is live.

Similarly, players can scour the Sea Forts for Bewitching Dolls (or seek to steal them from other unwary players) at any time, whether or not they’re actively pursuing the Adventure, so there’s plenty of space for sailing skulduggery and tricky tactics. And keep an eye out for Soulflame Captains within the Forts: should you find and defeat one, its remains can be used to enchant a Bewitching Doll, greatly increasing its worth to Belle or the Servant of the Flame.

However you decide to approach this fateful fight, everyone will have an opportunity to sway the final outcome. For a primer on the forces at play and the circumstances that led to this tipping point, be sure to read our latest Adventures Ahead article. ‘Return of the Damned’ is now underway, and following its conclusion, the results of this cliffhanger community choice will be revealed in a special livestream event! The Adventure itself concludes on November 17.

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Find Out More

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For more information on the latest Sea of Thieves update, including full release notes, visit the Sea of Thieves website. This update is available for free to all Sea of Thieves players who have bought the game on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11 PC, or via Steam, or players who have access to it with Xbox Game Pass. Simply download and install the latest Sea of Thieves update to get access.

New to Sea of Thieves? Find out about the latest free content updates on our What’s New page, get familiar with Who’s Who or pick up some gameplay tips from our Pirate Academy, which provides invaluable information on topics ranging from sailing to swordplay as you prepare for your maiden voyage. Learn more about Sea of Thieves here, or join the ongoing adventure at www.seaofthieves.com where you can embark on an epic journey with one of gaming’s most welcoming communities!

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