Capstan
The Capstan is a Ship component and Ship Customization Item in Sea of Thieves. It is a horizontally-mounted wheel used to raise and lower a ship's anchor. Its variants are purchased at a Shipwright and equipped via a Ship Customization Chest.
Mechanics
The capstan is used to either drop or raise a ship's anchor, allowing the vessel to move. The anchor can be dropped instantly, but raising the anchor requires more time and manpower. The anchor will not activate until the crank is complete. It is possible to catch the capstan while it's going down, allowing the player to hold it right before it engages for a quickly timed stop. The capstan can be held in place by a player while it is being raised as well. Holding on to an activated capstan is called "prepping the anchor" to fine-tune when a capstan is fully raised or lowered. A dropped anchor stops a ship from moving, however, it is still possible to move an anchored ship with harpoon pulls or from Gunpowder Barrel explosions. The ship will not immediately halt once the anchor is lowered, if the Wheel is significantly angled, the ship can turn around with its remaining momentum.
Larger ships have heavier anchors that require more manpower to raise. Each peg of the capstan can be grabbed by a player: A Sloop's capstan has two pegs, a Brigantine's capstan has three pegs and a Galleon's capstan has four pegs.
The capstan can be damaged with a Cannonball, making it lose one peg. A Chainshot or Gunpowder Barrel explosion destroys all of its pegs. The pegs can be repaired with Planks.
Trivia
- There is no visible anchor shown below an anchored ship.
- The capstan on the Sloop is not centred.
Variants
The following are all the available Cosmetic Capstan Variants in Sea of Thieves:
Image | Name | Source | Cost | Ltd | Requires | Set | In-game description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Admiral Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | Admiral | "A tidy, sturdy capstan that you'd find on a nice, proper vessel." | |||
Ancestral Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | Ancestral | "A capstan as stout and sturdy as the great Spirit Tree in the ancestral forest of legend." | |||
Aristocrat Capstan | 50 | n/a | n/a | Aristocrat | "Form and function come together in the most unlikely of places." | ||
Azure Ocean Crawler Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Azure Ocean Crawler | "Try not to get seasick while turning this oceanic capstan!" | |||
Barrel Bombardier Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Barrel Bombardier | "Don't panic - the clunks of this volatile capstan are not a countdown to an explosion. At least, we hope they aren't..." | ||
Beachcomber's Bounty Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Beachcomber's Bounty | "This tropical capstan is built from the remains of an older capstan, destroyed during a humongous storm. Is it still the same capstan?" | ||
Bear & Bird Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Bear & Bird | "A capstan so delightful you'll never want to stop and swap it for another one." | ||
Bilge Rat Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | n/a | Bilge Rat | "This capstan is sturdier than it looks, but the splinters are a nightmare." | ||
Bleakheart Banshee Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Bleakheart Banshee | "The chandeliers of tragic Bleakheart Manor have long since fallen, but this one at least still serves a purpose." | ||
Blighted Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Blighted | "Well, they do say that many hands make light work..." | ||
Boarhunter Capstan | 599 | n/a | n/a | Boarhunter | "The trap might not catch anything, but it should dissuade anyone who's thinking of messing with your anchor." | ||
Bone Crusher Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Bone Crusher | "This creepy capstan raises the anchor as fast as your sword drops skeletons!" | |||
Bonechiller Capstan | 349 | n/a | Bonechiller | "Be ready to drop anchor at the sight of ill tidings with a capstan crowned with gnarled horns and branches." | |||
Boreal Aurora Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Boreal Aurora | "Aurora borealis?! At this time of day, in this part of the sea, localised entirely within your capstan?" | ||
Capstan of Candles | 1,500 | n/a | n/a | Standalone Cosmetics | "Is this a macabre tribute to the Ferry of the Damned, or just an ingenious way to find the anchor in the dark?" | ||
Capstan of Sunken Sorrow | 139,100 | n/a | Sunken Sorrow | "Sorrow is inevitable if you fail to drop the anchor as you approach an island." | |||
Capstan of the Ashen Dragon | 69,550 | n/a | Ashen Dragon | "Flaming hot to the touch, this capstan really encourages the crew to wind faster." | |||
Capstan of the Bristling Barnacle | 165,375 | n/a | Bristling Barnacle | "A fine nautical capstan - though its last ship still languishes on the ocean floor." | |||
Capstan of the Silent Barnacle | 165,375 | n/a | Silent Barnacle | "A fine, nautical capstan - though its last ship still languishes on the ocean floor." | |||
Capstan of the Wailing Barnacle | 40 | n/a | Wailing Barnacle | "A fine, nautical capstan - though its last ship still languishes on the ocean floor." | |||
Castaway Bilge Rat Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | n/a | Castaway Bilge Rat | "This capstan is sturdier than it looks, but the splinters are a nightmare." | ||
Ceremonial Admiral Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | Ceremonial Admiral | "A tidy, sturdy capstan that you'd find on a nice, proper vessel." | |||
Crimson Crypt Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Crimson Crypt | "Raising anchor with this gothic capstan ought to be accompanied by a pipe organ and a peal of bells." | ||
Cultured Aristocrat Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | Cultured Aristocrat | "Form and function come together in the most unlikely of places." | |||
Cursed Ferryman Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Cursed Ferryman | "An gloomy capstan topped with a bearded visage - or are those tentacles? Hmm…" | ||
Cutthroat Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Cutthroat | "Drop anchor swiftly to execute sharp turns, perfectly in tune with your instinct for battle." | ||
Dark Adventurers Capstan | 4,134,375 | n/a | Dark Adventurers | "Weigh anchor - carefully - with this intimidating but potentially hazardous capstan." | |||
Dark Warsmith Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Dark Warsmith | "It is said that only the true Dark Warsmith can pull the sword from this capstan..." | ||
Dawn Hunter Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | Dawn Hunter | "When this capstan raises your anchor, you know the hunt has begun." | |||
Deep Ocean Crawler Capstan | 110,250 | n/a | n/a | Deep Ocean Crawler | "Try not to get seasick while turning this oceanic capstan!" | ||
Duke Capstan | Xbox Series X/S promotion |
n/a
|
Duke | "This capstan is always ready to raise anchor and let the games begin." | |||
Eastern Winds Jade Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | n/a | Eastern Winds Jade | "Look lively when manning this jewel-encrusted capstan - unless you like your anchor raising to drag on." | ||
Eastern Winds Sapphire Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | Eastern Winds Sapphire | "Look lively when manning this jewel-encrusted capstan - unless you like your anchor raising to drag on." | |||
Elemental Power Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Elemental Power | "Keep your ship anchored fast and true with a capstan that seems to master the elements." | ||
Eternal Freedom Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Eternal Freedom | "Until you've raised the anchor, true pirate freedom will remain purely hypothetical." | ||
Fates of Fortune Capstan | 400,000 | n/a | Fates of Fortune | "A capstan guarded by a ferocious chimera might be just the thing to keep anchor-droppers at bay." | |||
Fearless Bone Crusher Capstan | 110,250 | n/a | Fearless Bone Crusher | "This creepy capstan raises the anchor as fast as your sword drops skeletons!" | |||
Fightin' Frogs Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Fightin' Frogs | "This capstan's frog ornaments look real enough to give you a nasty rash." | ||
Flourishing Wild Rose Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | Flourishing Wild Rose | "Could this azure capstan result in love at first wind for the pirates who turn it?" | |||
Forsaken Ashes Capstan | 50 | n/a | n/a | Forsaken Ashes | "The most important part of the ship, when you realise you just dropped anchor in superheated water." | ||
Frostbite Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | Frostbite | "Raising the anchor is hard enough without your capstan freezing over. This insulated installation should help." | |||
Frozen Horizon Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Frozen Horizon | "Raise the anchor nice and quickly using this chilly capstan, or your fingers might go numb." | ||
Ghost Capstan | 500,000 | n/a | Ghost | "This spooky capstan looks like it could raise the dead as well as the anchor!" | |||
Gilded Phoenix Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | Gilded Phoenix | "Just as a phoenix rises from the ashes, so too will your anchor rise from the sea bed!" | |||
Glorious Sea Dog Capstan | 69,550 | Glorious Sea Dog | "This smart-looking capstan befits a crew of disciplined, brave fighters... but it's yours now!" | ||||
Gold Hoarders Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Gold Hoarders | "This capstan is plated with a fine gold, so calming to the touch." | |||
Gold Leaf Capstan | 180,000 | n/a | Gold Leaf | "This sturdy capstan is the golden heart of the ship." | |||
Golden Nile Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Golden Nile | "Raise anchor and prepare to glide across the water like the pirate predator you were born to be." | ||
Golden Sailor Capstan | Log-in bonus |
n/a
|
n/a | Golden Sailor | "Spin up birthday celebrations whenever the need arises with this capstan of glittering gold." | ||
Grand Admiral Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | Grand Admiral | "A tidy, sturdy capstan that you'd find on a nice, proper vessel." | |||
Graveyard Gladiator Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Graveyard Gladiator | "The skull belonged to a mortal foe you beheaded in an epic duel centuries ago. Or so you tell people." | ||
Guardian Ghost Capstan | 500,000 | n/a | Guardian Ghost | "This spooky capstan looks like it could raise the dead as well as the anchor!" | |||
Hunter Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | n/a | Hunter | "When this capstan raises your anchor, you know the hunt has begun." | ||
Huntress Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Huntress | "This capstan bears the name of the shipwright; a person or Trading Company called ‘Carrington’." | ||
Imperial Sovereign Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | Imperial Sovereign | "If one absolutely must manually wind one's anchor, let one do it in luxurious style." | |||
Infinite Depths Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Infinite Depths | "When climbing to the crow's nest, take care not to fall on this particular capstan." | ||
Inky Kraken Capstan | 110,250 | n/a | n/a | Inky Kraken | "A capstan as pointy and dangerous as the Kraken itself!" | ||
Islehopper Outlaw Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Islehopper Outlaw | "Those are load-bearing curlasses embedded in this rickety capstan. Pull hard enough, and the whole ship may fall apart." | ||
Jack O' Looter Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Jack O' Looter | "Raising the anchor and setting sail for thievery needn't be restricted to a particular time of year." | ||
King's Ransom Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | King's Ransom | "The artisan behind this prize piece would be horrified to see it hauling up a grimy old anchor." | ||
Kraken Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Kraken | "A capstan as pointy and dangerous as the Kraken itself!" | |||
Labyrinth Looter Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Labyrinth Looter | "Pirates should be careful not to bring an open flame too close to this capstan if they don't want a fiery surprise." | ||
LeChuck's Legacy Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | LeChuck's Legacy | "Better raise the anchor yourself. Some plans are too important to be messed up by amateurs." | ||
Legendary Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Legendary | "When the anchor must be quickly raised, this legendary capstan will be praised." | |||
Lionfish Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Lionfish | "Elbows in when turning this elegant capstan - we can't guarantee those barbs aren't venomous." | ||
Lodestar Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Lodestar | "Look to the stars of this mesmerising capstan - they say: ’watch out for that giant rock up ahead’." | ||
Lunar Festival Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Lunar Festival | "A classy capstan to raise not just your anchor but the standard of your entire deck." | ||
Mad Monkey Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Mad Monkey | "Send your anchor plummeting to the ocean floor, without taking the rest of the ship along for the ride." | ||
Maestro Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | Maestro | "Raising the anchor is always a little easier with a pleasant tune to work to." | |||
Magpie's Glory Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | 4x | Magpie's Glory | "The capstan of a ludicrously opulent ship, once commissioned by the Pirate Lord." | ||
Magpie's Wing Capstan | 500,000 | n/a | Magpie's Wing | "When the original was damaged by a Kraken, the Pirate Lord ordered this identical replacement." | |||
Mandrake Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Mandrake | "It's said that this flower takes 20 years to bloom, and the aroma could fell in elephant. Let's hope it doesn't happen during an anchor turn." | ||
Masked Renegade Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | 4x | Masked Renegade | "Reapers often prefer to keep their anchor raised, leaving the capstan disused and dusty." | ||
Mayhem Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | Mayhem | "You'd swear that the clunks of this capstan sound like 'wub-wub-wub'." | |||
Mercenary Capstan | 50 | Mercenary | "A steel anchor weighs heavy on this capstan, yet nothing weighs on your conscience." | ||||
Merchant Alliance Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Merchant Alliance | "Daily capstan oiling will ensure that our clients are served without delays." | |||
Merchant Ambassador Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | 4x | Merchant Ambassador | "The spinning pegs of a capstan are like a ticking clock counting against your cargo." | ||
Mutinous Fist Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | Mutinous Fist | "The rebels who made this capstan have a rule: everybody pushes, or nobody pushes." | |||
Night Wulf Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Night Wulf | "You'll need to raise anchor rapidly should the Wulf come calling. Flight is your only option!" | ||
Nightshine Parrot Capstan | 110,250 | n/a | n/a | Nightshine Parrot | "You'll soon be dancing the conga as you wind in your anchor." | ||
Obsidian Capstan | Giveaways |
n/a
|
n/a | Black Dog | "Proud, ornate and somewhat threatening, this capstan belongs on a vessel of ill repute." | ||
Ocean Crawler Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Ocean Crawler | "Try not to get seasick while turning this oceanic capstan!" | |||
Omen Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | Omen | "Turn the cogs of this stout machine to raise anchor and fly like a phoenix into battle!" | |||
Order of Souls Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Order of Souls | "This capstan creaks like the bones of the dead returning to life..." | |||
Paradise Garden Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Paradise Garden | "May your ship be blessed by the aura of this legendary, cute and slightly scary bush beastie." | ||
Parrot Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | n/a | Parrot | "You'll soon be dancing the conga as you wind in your anchor." | ||
Party Boat Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Party Boat | "Never mind weighing anchor - you'll need to weigh yourself after so much delicious food!" | |||
Prehistoric Plunderer Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Prehistoric Plunderer | "The bones embedded in this ossified capstan make it look like a drill. Let's hope it doesn't bore a hole in the deck." | ||
Ravenwood Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Ravenwood | "That very first Wanted note is a proud moment in a Ravenwood assassin's career." | ||
Reaper's Bones Capstan | 69,550 | n/a | Reaper's Bones | "A heavy capstan, but the labour will make you stronger." | |||
Relic of Darkness Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | 4x | Relic of Darkness | "Mystical foresight won't help you raise the anchor, only old-fashioned brute force." | ||
Revenge of the Silver Blade Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | Revenge of the Silver Blade | "The Silver Blade has dropped her anchor for the last time. Make use of this aboard your own ship instead." | |||
Rogue Sea Dog Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | Rogue Sea Dog | "More travelled than your usual capstan, built to withstand the trials of the Sea of Thieves!" | |||
Rogue Tinkerer Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Rogue Tinkerer | "Working the capstan should be child's play for any pirate with a mind full of cogs and levers." | ||
Royal Revenge Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Royal Revenge | "The crew for another pair of hands to help with the capstan. This probably wasn’t what they had in mind." | ||
Royal Sea Squirrel Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Royal Sea Squirrel | "Spins around as easily as a leaping squirrel's tail, according to dubious drunken sightings." | ||
Royal Sovereign Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | Royal Sovereign | "If one absolutely must manually wind one's anchor, let one do it in luxurious style." | |||
Ruby Splashtail Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Ruby Splashtail | "Pirates push their capstans harder when forced to look at yet another Splashtail." | ||
Ruffian Sea Dog Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | Ruffian Sea Dog | "More travelled than your usual capstan, built to withstand the trials of the Sea of Thieves!" | |||
Sailor Capstan | Default item |
n/a
|
n/a | n/a | Sailor | "Your basic capstan, three previous owners, 2,000 nautical miles travelled." | |
Sapphire Blade Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | n/a | Sapphire Blade | "A reliable anchor is vital when sailing into unknown waters, in case you need to change your mind!" | ||
Sawbones Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Sawbones | "Even thinking of the squeal of rusted metal this makes is enough to set your teeth on edge." | ||
Scorched Forsaken Ashes Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | Scorched Forsaken Ashes | "The most important part of the ship, when you realise you just dropped anchor in superheated water." | |||
Scurvy Bilge Rat Capstan | 140,000 | n/a | n/a | Scurvy Bilge Rat | "This capstan is sturdier than it looks, but the splinters are a nightmare." | ||
Sea Dog Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | Sea Dog | "More travelled than your usual capstan, built to withstand the trials of the Sea of Thieves!" | |||
Sea of Sands Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Sea of Sands | "The sands of time slip by with each clunk of this capstan, so make haste to your next adventure!" | ||
Sea Serpent Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Sea Serpent | "Long weeks under the sun may have bleached the skull white, but its teeth are as sharp as ever." | ||
Shark Hunter Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | n/a | Shark Hunter | "Unwind this when the hunt is over and you have a Megalodon meat feast to cook!" | ||
Shining Pegasus Capstan | 199 | n/a | n/a | Shining Pegasus | "Pushing this weighty capstan of marble and gold feels like undergoing 12 labours..." | ||
Shrouded Ghost Hunter Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Shrouded Ghost Hunter | "A vicious capstan that is best used on a ship with a very tidy, dry, slip-free deck." | ||
Silver Blade Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | n/a | Silver Blade | "A reliable anchor is vital when sailing into unknown water, in case you need to change your mind!" | ||
Silver Sepulchre Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Silver Sepulchre | "In a world where monsters lurk in the shadows, you can never have too many stakes." | ||
Soaring Oracle Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Soaring Oracle | "No crewmate of yours will shirk their anchor duty under the close scrutiny of this capstan carving." | ||
Soulflame Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Soulflame | "This capstan is topped with ethereal fire. Try not to singe yourself when raising the anchor." | ||
Sovereign Capstan | 49,000 | n/a | Sovereign | "If one absolutely must manually wind one's anchor, let one do it in luxurious style." | |||
Spartan Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Spartan | "A well-oiled machine, not unlike the crew of fearless fighters that use it." | ||
Spring Blossom Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Spring Blossom | "Even in rough weather and choppy seas, the pond atop this sacred capstan remains tranquil." | ||
Sting Tide Capstan | n/a
|
Sting Tide | "The crystalline patina of this capstan seems almost too fragile for the role it must fulfil." | ||||
Stone Islehopper Outlaw Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Stone Islehopper Outlaw | "Those are load-bearing cutlasses embedded in this rickety capstan. Don't pull too hard, the whole ship may fall apart." | ||
Stormfish Chaser Capstan | n/a
|
Stormfish Chaser | "Maybe relying on a weathervane for directions in a hurricane wasn't your brightest idea." | ||||
Sunshine Parrot Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | Sunshine Parrot | "You'll soon be dancing the conga as you wind in your anchor." | |||
Sweet Treat Capstan | n/a
|
Sweet Treat | "If rich, creamy cocoa really did pour forth from this capstan, you might find more people willing to help with the anchor." | ||||
The Killer Whale Capstan | 2,800 | n/a | The Killer Whale | "Based on the capstan that went down with The Killer Whale, let's hope this one is luckier." | |||
Thriving Wild Rose Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | Thriving Wild Rose | "Could this violet capstan result in love at first wind for the pirates who turn it?" | |||
Trapmaker's Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | Standalone Cosmetics | "This capstan was crafted by a notorious trapmaker. Do you really want to keep winding this thing?!" | |||
Tribute Peak Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | 4x | Tribute Peak | "Get the anchor raised and don't dawdle - time, as they say, is money..." | ||
Triumphant Sea Dog Capstan | 69,550 | Triumphant Sea Dog | "This smart-looking capstan befits a crew of disciplined, brave fighters... but it's yours now!" | ||||
Twilight Hunter Capstan | n/a
|
n/a | Twilight Hunter | "When this capstan raises your anchor, you know the hunt has begun." | |||
Unbroken Bonds Capstan | 200,000 | n/a | Unbroken Bonds | "Fashioned in teal with copper and white trimmings, this will have you raising anchor as a team!" | |||
Veil of the Ancients Capstan | 500,000 | n/a | Veil of the Ancients | "A sturdy capstan topped off by an eternally burning flame. Don't scorch your fingers!" | |||
Venomous Kraken Capstan | 165,375 | n/a | Venomous Kraken | "A capstan as pointy and dangerous as the Kraken itself!" | |||
Well-Travelled Trader Capstan | n/a
|
Well-Travelled Trader | "A little something you found on a far-flung adventure, adapted for the ceaseless travel of a trader." | ||||
Wild Rose Capstan | 50 | n/a | n/a | Wild Rose | "Could this ruby-red capstan result in love at first wind for the pirates who turn it?" | ||
Wrecker Wrangler Capstan | 349 | n/a | n/a | Wrecker Wrangler | "If the anchor hits a Wrecker on the way down, great misfortune will befall you. If it's a Splashtail, don't worry." |
Patch history
- 2.6.0 (August 4, 2022)
- A range of capstans have been updated to fix incorrectly rotated pegs when equipped on a Sloop.
- 2.0.4 (June 19, 2019)
- Damaging the Capstan – Direct hits to a ship’s capstan will no longer cause the capstan to drop, although it will continue to take damage.
- 2.2.1 (August 17, 2021)
- During the Trading Company onboarding, the Capstan prompt should reappear upon reaching the Island even after a player’s ship has sunk.
- 2.0 (April 30, 2019)
- Drop the Anchor – Targeting the capstan will drop the anchor and damage the capstan pegs. The pegs will need to be repaired before the anchor can be raised at the original speed.
- 1.4.4 (March 6, 2019)
- Resolved an issue where dropping your capstan did not function as expected and ships continued to move.
- Players Left hand should no longer detach from the capstan.
- 1.4.1 (December 12, 2018)
- Resolved erroneous SFX on capstan.
- 1.1.2 (June 13, 2018)
- Players will no longer continue to endlessly hear the capstan audio upon visiting the Ferry.
- First Release (March 20, 2018)
- Introduced.