Barrel Foraging

Barrel Foraging

~ Introduction ~


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Barrel Foraging is the act of searching the containers found across the Sea of Thieves to assist with obtaining certain commendations. The title is an overarching summary encompassing all containers and utilities that can be found across the Sea of Thieves. The goal of this guide is to provide a comprehensive reference for the uses of foraging through barrels, crates and other naturally occurring utilities.

Every pirate knows you can get supplies from barrels and crates found during your play session. What most pirates don't know is that you can use the contents of barrels to forward your progress with some more difficult commendations. Depending on the container type, you can find various assortments of fish, meat and tattered parchments which give special voyages. The mechanics, details, and practical applications of foraging will be thoroughly described in the following.

• This reference is intended to assist in the efficient completion of these commendations.

Trade Good Delivery Voyages'Merchant Forager', 'Merchant Shipwright', and 'Case Iron Merchant' are earned by delivering special Trade Good voyages to the Merchant Alliance. These voyages can only be obtained by interacting with special utilities found throughout the Seas.

Legendary Hunter Associated Commendations'Legendary Hunter of the Sea of Thieves' is earned through the completion of 57 commendations for the Hunters Call. Barrel Foraging is notably faster than any other method of obtaining Kraken meat needed for 'Hunter of the Monstrous Beast'.

General Information


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Various details and notes regarding all containers found across the Sea of Thieves.

Tables & WeightsEach type of container has two main variables that contribute to what supplies can be found inside. For the purpose of this guide these two variables will be referenced to as Weights and Tables.

Weights are the variable that determines the possible quantity of each supply that can be found within a specific type of container. For the sake of simplicity, each type of container will be assigned a supply weight of low, moderate or high.Tables are the variable that determines the possible types of supplies that can be found within a specific type of container. Each type of container detailed below includes a corresponding supply table.

Container ResetsThe barrels on player ships, and fruit, cannonball, wood and storage crates which have been picked up by pirates are exempt from the container reset. Every other container in the Sea of Thieves has its contents reset automatically every 30 minutes. When a container resets, all supplies including those placed inside by pirates are replaced. Previous supplies are replaced with new supplies or can just be replaced with nothing.

Beached Loot MechanicsBeached loot can only appear in specified locations on beaches of each island. Rowboats, Message in a Bottle, beached merchant crates and all other loot can only appear beached in these locations. Larger islands have more locations that beached loot can appear and typically have more because of this.

Storage Crate LoadingWhen unloading containers with a storage crate it is important that you ensure there are empty spots inside for unique supplies. If a storage crate with no empty spots is used on a barrel with other unique supplies, they will not be loaded.

(NOTE: Tattered Parchments cannot be picked up using storage crates, these must be picked up by searching the barrel)

List of All Supplies

‣ Types Of Containers

The Sea of Thieves is full of various barrels and crates which can contain a various range of supplies. Each container has slightly different possibilities for what supplies can lie inside, and this is determined by what type of container it is. This section aims to detail the various types of containers found across the Sea of Thieves and provide examples for what supplies can be found inside.

Island Barrels & Crates


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These containers can be found in various locations dotting each island across the Sea of Thieves. Unlike the other types of containers in this guide, islands barrels & crates never change location. Usually barrels are located in small groups, but can also be found singularly.Each container has different weights for supplies depending on the type of island it resides on. Containers found on Skeleton Forts and Ashen Winds islands for example have an increased chance of fruit. Outpost containers usually contain a varied range and supplies than regular island containers.A common strategy for unloading island containers involves quickly emptying them with a storage crate, which can be bought from any Merchant Alliance representative.

• Tattered Parchment

• Cursed Cannonball

• Chainshot

• Cannonball

• Firebomb

• Blunderbomb

• Flare

• Firework

• Wooden Plank

• Fruit

• Fishing Bait

PER CONTAINER SUPPLY WEIGHTS

Outpost - HIGH

Island - MODERATE

Skeleton Fort - HIGH

Barrels Of Plenty


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These barrels randomly float up to the surface near vessels as you sail through the seas. These collections of barrels are indicated by a small flock of seagulls circling above them. Various types of treasure, Gunpowder Barrels, Tridents of Dark Tide, Coral Message in a Bottle and Message in a Bottle can be found floating among the barrels. Barrels of Plenty and all other items will sink after a little while.Barrels of Plenty are just as they sound, stocked with a very high amount of supplies! Foraging these barrels can often yield bounties of fish and meats.A common strategy for unloading these barrels involves harpooning them, to empty into a storage crate or your ships barrels.

• Tattered Parchment

• Cursed Cannonball

• Chainshot

• Cannonball

• Firebomb

• Blunderbomb

• Flare

• Firework

• Wooden Plank

• Fruit

• Fish

• Meat

• Trophy Fish

• Monster Meat

• Fishing Bait

PER CONTAINER SUPPLY WEIGHTS - HIGH

Shipwreck Barrels


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Shipwrecks are randomly occurring points of interest that can be found in specific locations throughout the seas. Shipwrecks are indicated by a large flock of seagulls circling above them, and calm waters. Various types of treasure, Gunpowder Barrels, Tridents of Dark Tide, Coral Message in a Bottle and Message in a Bottle can be found inside Shipwrecks. Reaper's Shipwrecks are exactly the same as others but can found easily as they display beacons on the horizon leading directly to the treasure. All shipwrecks will despawn after a while if no players are present.Shipwrecks Barrels are stocked with a very high amount of supplies! Foraging these barrels can often yield bounties of fish and meats.A common strategy for unloading these barrels involves bringing a storage crate down into the wreck to collect everything quickly.

• Tattered Parchment

• Cursed Cannonball

• Chainshot

• Cannonball

• Firebomb

• Blunderbomb

• Flare

• Firework

• Wooden Plank

• Fruit

• Fish

• Meat

• Trophy Fish

• Monster Meat

• Fishing Bait

PER CONTAINER SUPPLY WEIGHTS - HIGH

Rowboat Chests


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Rowboats are randomly found beached on islands throughout the seas. Rowboats either have a lantern, harpoon, or cannon attached to the front which can be used as a utility in many situations. It is unclear whether the type of rowboat has any effect on the amount of supplies usually found inside.Rowboat Chests are stocked with a very high amount of supplies! Foraging through them can often yield bounties of fish and meats.

• Cursed Cannonball

• Chainshot

• Cannonball

• Firebomb

• Blunderbomb

• Flare

• Firework

• Wooden Plank

• Fruit

• Fish

• Meat

• Trophy Fish

• Monster Meat

• Fishing Bait

PER CONTAINER SUPPLY WEIGHTS - HIGH

Beached Storage Crates


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Storage Crates are randomly found beached on islands throughout the seas. A storage crate is beached if it appears to be naturally & partially buried in the sand.Beached Storage Crates are stocked with a very high amount of supplies!

• Cursed Cannonball

• Chainshot

• Cannonball

• Firebomb

• Blunderbomb

• Flare

• Firework

• Wooden Plank

• Fruit

• Fish

• Meat

• Trophy Fish

• Monster Meat

• Fishing Bait

PER CONTAINER SUPPLY WEIGHTS - HIGH

Lost Shipment Voyage Barrels


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Lost Shipment voyages can be acquired by any pirate with reputation of 25 or more with the Merchant Alliance. During this voyage pirates are led to find various clues leading to a lost shipwreck.

Merchant Floating Barrels

These barrels appear only when starting a Lost Shipment voyage and always have a blue Merchant Alliance barrel containing a clue. These collections of barrels are indicated by a very large flock of seagulls circling above them and bits of wreckage from floating with the barrels. Various Merchant Alliance crates can be found floating among the barrels, and occasionally a Captain's Key.Lost Shipment Voyage Barrels have the lowest supply limits of any containers in the game. Each barrel can only contain three supplies in two slots of the slots. While a wide range of supplies can be found in these barrels, these barrels are still very bad.A common strategy for unloading these barrels involves harpooning them, to empty into a storage crate or your ships barrels.

• Tattered Parchment

• Cursed Cannonball

• Chainshot

• Cannonball

• Firebomb

• Blunderbomb

• Flare

• Firework

• Wooden Plank

• Fruit

• Fish

• Meat

• Trophy Fish

• Monster Meat

• Fishing Bait

PER CONTAINER SUPPLY WEIGHTS - LOW

Merchant Shipwreck Barrels

These shipwrecks appear only when starting a Lost Shipment voyage and always contain a Merchant Manifest. These lost shipwrecks are indicated by a very small flock of seagulls circling above them, and calm waters. Various Merchant Alliance crates and Gunpowder Barrels can be found inside the shipwrecks.Lost Shipwreck Barrels are stocked with a very high amount of supplies! Foraging these barrels can often yield bounties of fish and meats.A common strategy for unloading these barrels involves bringing a storage crate down into the wreck to collect everything quickly.

• Tattered Parchment

• Cursed Cannonball

• Chainshot

• Cannonball

• Firebomb

• Blunderbomb

• Flare

• Firework

• Wooden Plank

• Fruit

• Fish

• Meat

• Trophy Fish

• Monster Meat

• Fishing Bait

PER CONTAINER SUPPLY WEIGHTS - HIGH

‣ Hunters Call Foraging


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Fishing is an activity which is almost entirely centered around RNG. The best thing players can do to increase the efficiency of a fishing session is always playing with a full galleon of crew mates. Each player that is actively fishing increases the amount of fish caught during the session. The most efficient crews ensure that all members are actively fishing for which ever species you seek. Keep this in mind when planning a fishing session, and combined with the following strategies, you can amass huge hauls for the Hunters Call!

Shipwreck Foraging

Go fishing near a shipwreck, checking it every 30 minutes for the container reset. Any various amount of fish, and meat are regularly added to Shipwreck Barrels when the container reset occurs. Barrels of Plenty will also float up around your ship as you fish, check these for even more meat and fish! The most desirable contents of a reset are rare fish and Kraken meat, which can be exorbitantly difficult without the use of Shipwreck Barrels and Barrels of Plenty. Pirates who do not wish to search for a shipwreck can spawn one with the 'Lost Shipment' voyage from the Merchant Alliance. Merchant Shipwreck Barrels found at the end of the voyage follow the global container reset so make sure to keep checking!

Intermediate Foraging

While completing other activities on the Seas you can use downtime while sailing between destinations to forage for fish and meats. Islands can be searched for Beached Storage Crates, Rowboat Crates, and the horizon can be scanned to reveal birds circling above Barrels of Plenty. Using this inactive time while sailing around the map to forage for the Hunters Call can yield some quite impressive hauls. Doing this can also help keep your barrels stocked in case you need to defend your vessel!

‣ Trade Good Voyages


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During Trade Good Voyages a fruit, cannonball, or wood crate must be delivered to the Merchant Alliance by a requested time and date. Empty resource crates can be picked up from any Merchant Alliance representative once the voyage is active, but these have to be filled to a maximum of 50 to be delivered. You can obtain a Trade Good Voyage from either Tattered Parchments, Message in a Bottle, or Mysterious Journal. When interacted with you can receive a special voyage not defined by your reputation with the trading companies. These voyages do not progress the commendations for completing voyages from each trading company. Most of these voyages are worse than ones you can obtain from the trading companies. Trade Good Voyages are the only unique voyage obtainable from 'special voyages'. Gunpowder Barrel deliveries can be obtained in higher quantity by cycling Animal Delivery Voyages.

Special Voyages

Tattered Parchment


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Tattered Parchment can be found in Island Barrels, Barrels of Plenty, and Shipwreck Barrels.

When picked up from a container the player is given a random special voyage. Tattered Parchments cannot be picked up by unloading containers with a storage crate.

Message In A Bottle


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Message in a Bottle can be found washed up on shore and floating with Barrels of Plenty.

When interacted with the player is given a random special voyage. These look similar to Coral Message in a Bottle but do not give quests for Breath of the Sea.

Mysterious Journal


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Mysterious Journals can be found in specific spawn locations on each island across the Sea of Thieves.

After reading through all pages of the journal the option is sometimes given to acquire a special voyage. Mysterious Journals do not always spawn, however sometimes multiple can spawn on the same island.

Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2667441706					

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