How To Get The Gold Curse In Sea Of Thieves: The Ultimate Completionist Guide
The Gold Curse is an exclusive cosmetic reward in Sea of Thieves earned by completing all Commendations associated with the Shores of Gold Tall Tale arc. Players must achieve the Legendary Storyteller title by obtaining every individual journal, puzzle completion record, and unique commendation across all nine original Tall Tales, requiring a significant time investment and mastery of complex environmental riddles.
Prerequisites for the Shores of Gold Journey
Acquiring the Gold Curse is not a task for the faint of heart, as it demands comprehensive knowledge of the game's original narrative campaign. Before starting your quest for the curse, ensure you have allocated sufficient time, as completing these nine Tall Tales—some requiring multiple playthroughs—will take approximately 30 to 50 hours of gameplay depending on your proficiency with riddle-solving and naval combat.
- Essential Equipment: A reliable crew of four for speed, though solo play is possible; stock your ship with 100+ cannonballs and sufficient food reserves.
- Mandatory Knowledge: Familiarity with basic map navigation, the ability to decipher island-specific riddles, and competence in defeating bosses like the Gold Hoarder.
- Recommended Toolsets: Utilize an external Tall Tale guide or interactive map for locating buried journals, as these are often hidden in obscure terrain.
- Quest Scope: You must complete the entirety of the Shores of Gold arc, encompassing: The Shroudbreaker, The Cursed Rogue, The Legendary Storyteller, Stars of a Thief, Wild Rose, The Art of the Trickster, The Fate of the Morningstar, Revenge of the Morningstar, and finally, Shores of Gold.
Mastering the Nine Tall Tales for Gold Curse Unlocking
Step 1: Completing the Full Storyline
You must complete each of the nine Shores of Gold Tall Tales at least once. Start at the Mysterious Stranger in any tavern to initiate the voyage. During these missions, focus on understanding the lore and the specific mechanics of each island. You must finish every tale to unlock the final encounter at the Shores of Gold itself.
Step 2: Securing Legendary Commendations
Beyond finishing the stories, you must earn the Legendary Commendation for every single Tall Tale. This entails replaying each tale multiple times—usually five—to unlock the final milestone for that specific adventure. Track your progress in the Reputation tab under the Tall Tales section to ensure you have met the requirements for each individual chapter.
Step 3: Finding All Hidden Journals
In each of the nine Tall Tales, there are five hidden journals that provide deeper lore. You must find all five journals in every single Tale. These are often tucked away in small caves, behind rocks, or inside wreckage. If you do not find these during your initial runs, you will need to replay the Tall Tales specifically to hunt for these books.
Pro-Tip: The journals only spawn if you are actively participating in the specific Tall Tale quest. Do not attempt to find them while free-roaming, as they will not be present.
Step 4: Finalizing the Shores of Gold Finale
Once you have cleared all commendations and found all journals for the first eight tales, you must complete the Shores of Gold finale five times. This is the most demanding step, as the final boss fight requires efficient movement and combat strategy to complete within a reasonable timeframe.
Warning: During the Shores of Gold finale, ensure you have the compass given to you by the Mysterious Stranger. Without it, the final island's traps will be nearly impossible to navigate, leading to unnecessary deaths and wasted progress.
How to Get the New Sea of Thieves Curse
Technical Requirements and Completion Metrics
The following table outlines the breakdown of what is required to earn the Gold Curse through the Tall Tale progression system.
| Tall Tale Name | Required Completion Runs | Total Journals to Locate | Primary Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Shroudbreaker | 5 | 5 | Retrieve the Shroudbreaker artifact |
| The Cursed Rogue | 5 | 5 | Defeat Briggsy |
| The Legendary Storyteller | 5 | 5 | Help Tasha find the treasure |
| Stars of a Thief | 5 | 5 | Retrieve Sudds' lens |
| Wild Rose | 5 | 5 | Reconstruct Rose's locket |
| The Art of the Trickster | 5 | 5 | Defeat the trap-maker |
| The Fate of the Morningstar | 5 | 5 | Restore the ghost crew |
| Revenge of the Morningstar | 5 | 5 | Defeat Graymarrow |
| Shores of Gold | 5 | 5 | Defeat the Gold Hoarder |
Overcoming Common Progression Obstacles
Even seasoned pirates encounter setbacks when grinding for the Gold Curse. Below are the most common failures and how to mitigate them during your campaign.
- Failure to Save Progress: If you disconnect during a quest, your progress for that session is lost. Root Cause: The game does not save Tale checkpoints if the session ends prematurely. Actionable Fix: Only engage in long Tall Tales when you have a stable network connection and at least two hours of uninterrupted time.
- Missing Journals Despite Following Guides: Sometimes the journal simply isn't there. Root Cause: You may be in the wrong stage of the quest, or the journal failed to render. Actionable Fix: Verify your active quest stage in the Quest Radial. If the journal is still absent, cancel the quest, restart from the checkpoint, and ensure you are in the correct physical location.
- Gold Hoarder Combat Fatigue: The final boss has an immense health pool. Root Cause: Relying solely on sword attacks. Actionable Fix: Utilize the island's environmental traps to deal massive damage to the Gold Hoarder, reducing the time spent in melee combat by up to 60 percent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the Gold Curse by playing with friends who have already completed the tales?
No, you must personally complete the requirements. While you can join a crew to assist with the process, you will only receive credit for the commendations and journals if you are actively tracking the journey on your own reputation progress.
Do I need to find the journals during the same playthrough as my five completions?
Not necessarily. You can complete the five required playthroughs separately from your journal hunting missions. However, it is generally more efficient to find the journals while you are completing your mandatory replay runs to save time.
Are there any combat requirements for the Gold Curse?
Yes, you must defeat specific bosses such as Graymarrow and the Gold Hoarder multiple times. These fights are designed to test your coordination, so bringing a full crew is highly recommended to manage the boss mechanics and player revives.
Is the Gold Curse a permanent reward?
Yes, once you unlock the Gold Curse via the Shores of Gold Commendation, it is permanently added to your vanity chest under the Curses category. It is a non-expiring cosmetic that stays with your account indefinitely.
Master the Seas and Claim Your Legacy
Securing the Gold Curse is the ultimate testament to your dedication to the Sea of Thieves lore and gameplay mechanics. Start your voyage today, follow these milestones systematically, and display your hard-earned gold with pride on the high seas.
