Skeleton Camps
Skeleton Camps are built up Small Islands found throughout the Sea of Thieves, built above the sites of lost Ancient Temples. When active, players can solve Constellation Puzzles in order to stop Dark Rituals from occuring, or complete the rituals as the Burning Blade's Crew.
List of Skeleton Camps
There are six individual Skeleton Camps around the Sea of Thieves, two in each region except The Devil's Roar.
| Skeleton Camp | Grid | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Picaroon Palms | I-4 |  The Shores of Plenty
|
| Lagoon of Whispers | D-12 | The Shores of Plenty
|
| Lookout Point | I-20 |  The Ancient Isles
|
| Barnacle Cay | O-15 | The Ancient Isles
|
| Shiver Retreat | Q-11 |  The Wilds
|
| Blind Man's Lagoon | N-6 | The Wilds
|
The Location
Skeleton Camps each have a tall tower found on the island alongside numerous fortifications that are under construction. Skeleton Camps have various points of interest:
- Skeleton Camp Tower
- Land Cannons
- Fortifications
- Multiple Barrels with varying supplies.
- Ancient Temple
Ancient Temple
Ancient Temples are found beneath each Skeleton Camp in the Sea of Thieves. Here, players must complete a Constellation Puzzle using the Stargazer and Skyturner, by connecting the correct stars above the Temple Crypt. Ancient Temples have various points of interest:
- The Skyturner, allowing players to move the sky found in the Ancient Temples
- The Stargazer, used to find and focus on the stars to form constellations
- Miniature Cannons (Functionally equivalent to the Cannon mounted on Cannon Rowboats)
- A note about the Adventures of Briggsy and Legendary Louise, entitled 'Adventures of the Unicorn'.
- Ancient Stone Coffers
- A Merfolk Statue, allowing players to quickly return to their ship
- A Lever allowing players to use the trapdoor.
- The Temple Crypt, which houses the Orb of Secrets, which is used to stop or complete the ritual.
- Ammo Chests and an Armoury
- Multiple Barrels with varying supplies.
The Raid
Similar to Sea Forts, Skeleton Camps are always active, provided that they have not been recently completed by a crew. An active Skeleton Camp is indicated by a billowing plume of smoke emitted from the tower, indicating that the Temple Ritual has begun.
Upon arriving at the Skeleton Camp, players must light the two lanterns found either side of the Skeleton tower door for it to open, and enter down into the Ancient Temple. Players may either walk down the stairs to the temple or use the lever found at the top to go down using the trapdoor.
After entering the Ancient Temple, players must light the Stargazer with their Lantern. Upon doing so the Stargazer's platform will raise, and the stone blocks found above the Ancient Crypt and the Ancient Stone Coffers will spin until for a couple of seconds and then stop, giving indication of what constellations must be aligned. When the Stargazer is unfocused, it will show the player the constellation and the connecting stars. The Stargazer must be focused to connect the stars found in the sky on the walls of the temple, and used in conjunction with the Skyturner in order to be able to clearly connect these constellations. The constellations found above the Ancient Stone Coffers, when matched, will open the Coffers, allowing players to obtain some Treasure.
Depending on whether or not the player is apart of the Burning Blade's Crew or not, the next stage of completing the Skeleton Camp is different.
Stopping the Ritual
When all three constellations found above the Ancient Crypt are fully aligned, waves of Obsidian Skeletons, as well as Obsidian Gunpowder Skeletons will spawn. Like other skeletons, Obsidian Skeletons may drop Ammo Pouches on defeat.
The final wave consists of Obsidian Skeletons alongside one Raider of Secrets. Unlike a Sea Fort, when the Raider of Secrets is defeated, the remaining Obsidian Skeletons will not retreat and will also need defeating.
Once the final wave is completed, the Ancient Crypt will open, allowing players to stop the ritual by holding the Interact prompt on the Ritual Table.
Completing the Ritual
Unlike stopping the ritual, when apart of the Burning Blade's Crew, when the constellations are succesfully aligned, no waves of Obsidian Skeletons will spawn. Instead, the Ancient Crypt will open. The four torches found in each corner of the Ritual Table must firstly be lit, allowing players to complete the ritual by holding the Interact prompt on the Ritual Table. Upon doing so the Ancient Knowledge will be added to the Burning Blade.
Rewards
There are numerous different Rewards found within the Ancient Vault of the Skeleton Camp, with different ways to obtain them: either as the Burning Blade's Crew, or by stopping the ritual. Regardless of allegiance, various Ancient Stone Coffers may be opened.
Completing the Ritual
Completing the Ritual as the Burning Blade's Crew, the following contents of the Ancient Crypt are guaranteed:
- 1 Tribute (worth 26,000
) - Obsidian Skeletons to replenish the Burning Blade
If the Burning Blade sinks, then the amount of Rituals absorbed by the Blade will be transferred to the Blade of Souls.
Stopping the Ritual
If the Ritual is stopped by a Player not aboard the Burning Blade, the following contents of the Ancient Crypt are guaranteed:
- 1 Orb of Secrets (Replaced with Company Loot during Raid Voyages).
- 4 Gold Piles (Small to Large)
Ancient Stone Coffers
4 Ancient Stone Coffers may be found throughout each Ancient Temple and are opened by completing the constellation that matches to the one shown above the Coffer. Once the Constellation is completed, the Ancient Stone Coffer opens for a small amount of time, giving Players a chance to obtain the following:
- 3 Gold Piles (Small to Large)
- Notably, these gold piles can grant upward to 15,000
- Notably, these gold piles can grant upward to 15,000
Commendations
Skeleton Camp Commendations can be found within the Bilge Rats section of the Reputation tab in the Pirate Log.
| Commendations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Commendation | Requirements | Rewards |
 | Orber of Souls | Sell 30 Orbs of Secrets. |  Unlocks the Cracked Orb Lantern for purchase. |
 | Secretive Stash | Sell the Blade of Souls burning with 3 or more Rituals. High Seas only
| Unlocks the Obsidian Bone Crusher Cutlass for purchase at Grade I, the Obsidian Bone Crusher Pistol for purchase at Grade II, the Obsidian Bone Crusher Blunderbuss for purchase at Grade III, the Obsidian Bone Crusher Eye of Reach for purchase at Grade IV, the Obsidian Bone Crusher Double Barrel Pistol and Obsidian Bone Crusher Throwing Knives for purchase at Grade V. |
 | Feeding the Fire | Reach a streak of 4 Rituals while in command of the Burning Blade. High Seas only
| Unlocks the Burning Blade Reborn Flag for purchase at Grade I, the Burning Blade Reborn Capstan and Burning Blade Reborn Wheel for purchase at Grade II, the Burning Blade Reborn Cannons for purchase at Grade III, the Burning Blade Reborn Hull and Burning Blade Reborn Sails for purchase at Grade IV, the Burning Blade Reborn Figurehead for purchase at Grade V. |
 | Ritual Recovery | Sell 1 stolen Orb of Secrets to The Reaper's Bones as the Burning Blade crew. High Seas only | Unlocks the Reaper's Bones Shattered Mask for purchase. |
 | Playing the Part | Return the Burning Blade with 8 or more Rituals completed while wearing the Skeleton Curse (10 times). High Seas only | Unlocks the Obsidian Bones and Seared Obsidian Bones for purchase upon meeting their Servants of the Flame allegiance requirements. |
 | Temple of the Fatherly Owl | Align the Constellation on Lagoon of Whispers. | n/a |
 | Temple of the Sunstone Fox | Align the Constellation on Picaroon Palms. | n/a |
 | Temple of the Fair Panther | Align the Constellation on Lookout Point. | n/a |
 | Temple of the Carefree Prince | Align the Constellation on Barnacle Cay. | n/a |
 | Temple of the Veiled Bat | Align the Constellation on Blind Man's Lagoon. | n/a |
 | Temple of the Enchanting Widow | Align the Constellation on Shiver Retreat. | n/a |
 | Astral Protection | Align the Constellations beneath each Skeleton Camp (6 Camps). | Unlocks the Ancient Skies Tattoo for purchase. |
 | Starry Secrets | Open Ancient stone coffers below Skeleton Camps.
| +5  |
 | Friendship and Freedom | Find all the notes about the adventures of Briggsy and Legendary Louise (6 notes). | Unlocks the Veiled Bat Tattoo for purchase. |
 | Lost Legend | You paid your final respects at Legendary Louise's final resting place. | Unlocks the 'Family Is the Real Treasure' ornament for purchase. |
Lore
Skeleton Camps have been constructed on islands across the Sea of Thieves above the sites of lost Ancient Temples. These fortified towers are defended by Captain Flameheart's Obsidian Skeletons. Their aim is to complete Dark Rituals using the Orb of Secrets to extract Ancient Knowledge in the name of their King.
List of Constellations
Please note that the constellations found within the Skeleton Camps are under investigation.
Trivia
- Skeleton Camps were first announced during the Sea of Thieves 2024 Preview Event.
Gallery
Promotional image of Skeleton Camps.
Promotional image of Ancient Temples, found below Skeleton Camps.
Promotional image of Ancient Crypts, found inside Ancient Temples.
Concept Art of a Skeleton Camp, from the Sea of Thieves 2024 Preview Event
Patch Notes
- 3.1.0 (July 25, 2024)
- Introduced.