Curses in Sea of Thieves are the ultimate flex. They’re pure vanity – no stat boosts or hidden perks – just a raw visual overhaul you slap on at the Vanity Chest. But don’t let the “cosmetic” tag fool you; some of these represent the most brutal grinds Rare has ever put in the game. Right now, there are 14 curses total, and the gap in effort is wild. You can buy a few with a handful of coins in the Emporium, while others demand you run the same questline five times, hunt rare sea monsters, or live in the sweat-fest that is PvP Hourglass until your Allegiance hits triple digits. One thing to keep in mind: curses usually wipe out your makeup and scars. They basically take over the surface layer of your pirate. The only real exception is the Gold Curse, which actually turns your scars into gold rather than hiding them. It’s a small detail, but it looks incredible.
The Full Curse List
| Curse Name | What it looks like | How to get it | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blessing of Athena’s Fortune | Ghostly green glow and sparkles | Pirate Legend + Guardians Allegiance 100 | Free |
| Legendary Blessing of Athena’s Fortune | Golden ghost glow and sparkles | Get the base Blessing + buy from Athena Shop | 1,000,000 Gold |
| Legendary Curse | Glowing blue eyes + chest emblem | Guardians Allegiance 105 | 500,000 Gold |
| Shores of Gold Curse | Patches of gold (turns scars gold too) | 100% all 9 Shores of Gold Tall Tales (5x each) | Free |
| Curse of Sunken Sorrow | Purple/blue bioluminescence + barnacles | Find all 30 Sunken Kingdom journals + secret voyage | Free |
| Curse of the Order | Black ink stains around the eyes | 100% The Cursed Rogue Tall Tale (5x) | Free |
| The Ashen Curse | Glowing orange cracks + soot skin | 100% Heart of Fire Tall Tale (3x) | Free |
| Skeleton Curse | You become a literal skeleton | Reaper’s level 75 + Servants Allegiance 100 | Free |
| Curse of Ill Omen | Red glowing veins + eclipse symbol | Buy from Smugglers’ Market (Limited) | 1,500 Doubloons |
| Gift of the Widow Curse | Purple eyes and subtle face markings | Complete Smuggler’s League + Secrets of the Banished | Free |
| Creeping Stone Curse | Partial stone skin texture | Pirate Emporium | 499 Ancient Coins |
| Solid Stone Curse | Full stone transformation | Pirate Emporium | 499 Ancient Coins |
| Storm Strike Curse | Crackling lightning across the skin | Pirate Emporium | 499 Ancient Coins |
| Wild Seas Curse | Primal, oceanic hunter vibes | Complete Hungering Deep Megalodon tasks | Free |
If you’re wondering what’s the rarest, it’s a toss-up between the Skeleton Curse and the Ghost Curse. Only about 0.15% of players actually have them. The Gold Curse follows at 0.4%. These aren’t just “hard” to get – they represent hundreds of hours of your life. On the flip side, the Ashen Curse is everywhere because it only takes three quick runs of one Tall Tale.
How to Unlock Every Curse
Blessing of Athena’s Fortune (Ghost Curse)
First, you have to be a Pirate Legend (Level 50 in three main companies). That’s just the entry fee.
- Dive into Hourglass PvP for the Guardians of Fortune.
- Hit Allegiance level 100. You’ll need to win a lot of fights.
- Go to the Athena’s Hideout (the secret tavern).
- Step into the light for the ceremony.
Legendary Blessing of Athena’s Fortune
This is the “prestige” version of the Ghost Curse.
- Get the standard Blessing first.
- Go to the Athena’s Fortune Shop in the hideout.
- Drop 1,000,000 gold. It’s pricey, but if you’re level 100 in Hourglass, you’ve probably got the cash.
Legendary Curse
This one is for the blue-eyed look and the glowing chest emblem.
- Hit Allegiance level 105 with Guardians of Fortune.
- Buy it at the Athena Shop for 500,000 gold.
Shores of Gold Curse (The Gold Curse)
This is arguably the most mind-numbing grind in the game.
- Complete all 9 Shores of Gold Tall Tales.
- Do them all five times each.
- Find every single journal in those tales.
- Finish every commendation to unlock “Seeker of Grand Adventure.”
It’s tedious, but it’s the only curse that makes your scars look like gold.
Curse of Sunken Sorrow
This is all about exploring the underwater Shrines.
- Find all 30 journals hidden in the six Siren Shrines and Treasuries.
- Unlock the Legend of the Sunken Kingdom voyage and finish it.
The ultraviolet glow looks amazing in the dark.
Curse of the Order
The “ink-eye” look.
- Run The Cursed Rogue Tall Tale five times.
- Find all the journals and finish the commendations.
It’s a bit of a slog, but way faster than the Gold Curse.
The Ashen Curse
The starter curse for most people.
- Finish the Heart of Fire Tall Tale three times.
- Get all the journals/commendations.
It’s the best “bang for your buck” curse in terms of effort vs. look.
Skeleton Curse
The ultimate Reaper reward.
- Hit Level 75 with Reaper’s Bones.
- Hit Allegiance level 100 with Servants of the Flame in Hourglass.
- Do the Ritual of the Flame in the Reaper’s Lair.
You lose your skin, but you gain the ability to customize your bones with specific gear.
Curse of Ill Omen
- Check the Smugglers’ Market (it’s often time-limited).
- Pay 1,500 Doubloons.
No skill required, just a fat stack of blue coins.
Gift of the Widow Curse
This one is more of a scavenger hunt.
- Finish the Smuggler’s League and Secrets of the Banished commendations.
- Go to Crescent Isle, find Low-Tide Lottie in her cave, and get the password.
- Sail to Sea Dogs Tavern (K12), climb to the top, and knock on the door with the purple candles.
- Give the password and finish the dialogue.
Emporium Curses (Stone & Storm)
These are the “wallet” curses.
- Creeping/Solid Stone: 499 Ancient Coins each (or 999 for the bundle).
- Storm Strike: 499 Ancient Coins.
The Storm Strike one is actually pretty cool because the lightning moves across your skin while you play.
Wild Seas Curse
For the Megalodon hunters.
- Finish the Hungering Deep commendations.
- You’ll need to hunt down the different Megalodon variants.
It’s a badge of honor for anyone who spends their time fishing and hunting monsters.
Pro Tips for the Grind
- Journal Hunting: Don’t do the Tall Tales and then go back for journals. Keep a guide open and grab them on your first or second run to save hours of sailing.
- Hourglass Efficiency: Solo Hourglass is a nightmare. Find a consistent crew. It makes the level 100 climb much faster and way less tilting.
- The Gold Curse Strategy: Don’t try to do all 45 Tall Tale runs in a week. You will burn out. Do one or two a night while doing other stuff.
- Bundle Up: If you’re buying the stone curses, get the bundle. It’s basically a “buy one get one” deal compared to buying them separately.
At the end of the day, these curses are the game’s way of showing who’s actually put in the work. Whether you’re glowing green or walking around as a pile of bones, everyone on the seas will know exactly what you had to go through to get it.
