The Sea of Thieves is home to a lively bunch of characters that can be found dotted across the sprawling seas and islands. Some are friends, some are foes, but they all have made their impact on the game's overarching storyline in some way or another.
However, some of these vibrant NPCs have made their mark on the Sea of Thieves more than others - whether that be acting as an important role in the game's story, or just being a friendly face players can rely on. From fearsome captains to lovable vendors, the game has something for everyone, with memorable encounters guaranteed.
10 Ferryman
The Ferryman is probably the NPC that players want to see the least - but also who they see the most. He's the Captain of The Ferry of the Damned, and a trip there means that one thing or another didn't go to plan for the player. Luckily, his presence allows players to return to the land of the living, so despite his intimidating appearance, he's a pretty good guy.
During the 'A Pirate's Life' Tall Tale, players can actually explore his ship a bit more. Here, they can investigate the lower decks of the ship, and find the inhabitants of the brig. Whilst he's not always a welcome face to many players, he's just doing his job, and the game certainly wouldn't be the same without him.
9 Umbra
Umbra can be found in her own little hideaway on the Lagoon on Whispers, where she sells tattoos based on the tales she has chronicled. She is responsible for capturing some of the most amazing stories in the Sea of Thieves - players can even obtain her own tattoo set by hunting for stories in-game, that are all in honor of other players for their notable achievements.
Umbra provides players with a warm and friendly face, with all sorts of tales sprawled over her skin, and is an incredibly welcome figure in the Sea of Thieves.
8 Sir Arthur Pendragon
Sir Arthur Pendragon has been a crucial figure in the Sea of Thieves storyline, and also happens to boast truly impressive mustache. Whilst Pendragon walked through the land of the living, Madame Olivia gave him the Sword of Souls, and he was therefore considered as 'Champion' of the Order of Souls. However, in an unfortunate fight with Graymarrow, he was sealed away in a painting on his ship. Players later get the chance to free him, in The Seabound Soul, and from there, he performs a pivotal role in the game's narrative.
He also makes an appearance in The Shrouded Deep, helping players to battle the Shrouded Ghost, and later helps Belle to summon Flameheart and banish him forever. Unfortunately, this doesn't go to plan, and eventually results in him being, once again, sealed away to the Sea of the Damned. His current fate is unknown, but it would be great to see him get his shot at redemption.
7 Pirate Lord
The Pirate Lord is one of the first friendly faces new players will come across when beginning their journey into the Sea of Thieves. He serves as the player's guide and will watch over them as they grow and become worthy of being a Pirate Legend. His presence is undeniably warm and jolly, and he is an utter delight to be around.
The Pirate Lord embodies the spirit of Sea of Thieves and is everything a pirate should be. The Sea of Thieves couldn't have a better representative. Players can read more about his origins in the book 'Sea of Thieves: Athena's Fortune'.
6 Lord Graymarrow
One of the most intimidating foes will come across, Graymarrow is a Skeleton Lord, who happens to be incredibly knowledgeable in the realm of curses. Players can come across him in two different forms. The first is during the Revenge of the Morningstar Tall Tale. Here, players learn of his relentless pursuit of the Morningstar crew, and how he killed them, then sealed their souls away. The players will then have the opportunity to face him in an incredibly tough boss fight.
The second-way players can meet this brute is during the Fort of the Damned raid. After summoning the Shadows of Fate, and fighting through hoards of them, the Ghost of Graymarrow will appear. In this form, he is significantly more powerful than his earthly self, with a huge health pool. He's certainly a tough enemy to face, but is undeniably badass, and an icon in the Sea of Thieves.
5 Captain Briggsy
During her time among the living on the Sea of Thieves, Briggsy was a legend. She earned her name for her remarkable talent for escaping cages, and would often disappear on her wild adventures for weeks at a time. Unfortunately, on one of her adventures, she found herself stranded on the Shores of Gold. It's here where she found the treasure that would eventually curse her, resulting in poor Briggsy losing her humanity.
Players will first meet her during The Cursed Rogue Tall Tale, where they must hunt her down and battle her. Briggsy then meets a tragic end, but she remains a well-loved and misunderstood character among Sea of Thieves players.
4 Belle
Belle is the mysterious, new face of the Sea of Thieves storyline, carrying the baton from Merrick. She first appeared to assist players during the Shrouded Islands Adventure, and has subsequently played a huge role in the storyline that followed. Not much is known about her, other than her strong ties to the Sea of the Damned.
She travels around the Sea of Thieves with her enchanted buoy, and appears to be quite friendly with The Pirate Lord. Belle has already firmly cemented herself as a fan-favorite, and players are looking forward to finding out where her story goes from here.
3 Wanda - The Masked Stranger
Wanda has a complicated history, appearing in various different forms. Players first met Wanda as a regular vendor at the Weapon shop on Golden Sands Outpost, where they could witness her eventual transformation into a Skeleton, as a result of her own experiments. She later waged war on the various Outposts during the Cursed Sails event. Wanda then returned as the Masked Stranger during the Smuggler's Fortune event. It is here where she begins to scheme Flameheart's return and the creation of The Reaper's Bones faction.
Unfortunately, Wanda later finds out Flameheart was just using her, and she joins the Dark Brethren to seek revenge in him. Since then, she has played a pivotal role in many of Sea of Thieves' Adventures, and players are eager to follow her story and quest for revenge even more.
2 Captain Flameheart
Captain Flameheart himself is the main antagonist in the Sea of Thieves storyline. He made his first in-game appearance in the Tall Tale, The Seabound Soul, and has since provided the Sea of Thieves with his menacing presence.
Following his return, Flameheart unleashed all sorts of chaos into the Sea of Thieves, including an armada of spectral ships, his four Ashen Lords, and haunted sea forts. Fans who are hungry to learn more about his origins can now read the book 'Sea of Thieves: Heart of Fire'. Captain Flameheart is a foreboding presence in the Sea of Thieves, but every story needs its villain, and he certainly makes for a great one.
1 Merrick
Merrick is a jolly chap that older players will remember meeting during his initial introduction in the iconic event, The Hungering Deep. Since then, he has been an utter delight. He moved on to act as a representative for The Hunter's Call faction, until he was called upon by Belle to help track down the Shrouded Ghost. He then paved the way for the rebuilding of the Golden Sands Outpost, which has since been renamed after him, as Port Merrick.
Unfortunately, Merrick met his demise in The Forsaken Hunter, but players can still go visit him as a ghost in the Athena's Fortune Hideout. Merrick has undoubtedly made his mark on the Sea of Thieves, and will remain a beloved figure among fans.
Sea Of Thieves is available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.