I have noticed that a big part of the community is comprised of people who are either lacking in pvp skill or don't have the confidence to engage in pvp. So I thought I would try my hand at making a simple guide for those people to try. This guide is intended for new and less experienced players but some experienced players may find some of the tips useful.
I'll have the guide be in a check list format where I list each tip in numerical order and then give a brief explanation. (the numbers are purely for organizational purposes and do not represent the order of importance for the tips.)
1: awareness.
The reason why I'm sure many pirates get sunk is because they weren't paying attention. Either allowing an enemy ship to get to close or allowing a tucker to sneak on board. Awareness is your best friend in sea of thieves. Just knowing where your enemies are and what they are doing can save you from a lot of bad situations.
2: risk vs reward.
I see a lot of people in my adventures that will just stack loot for hours on end while flying a reaper emmisary to boot. Only for them to either get sunk or run away for hours with the entire server chasing them. These players then complain about being attacked. Assessing the risk vs reward of your adventure is crucial. Don't bite off more than you can chew. It's better to make some money by cashing in early vs getting nothing by being greedy. Remember: you can be attacked at any point for any reason so plan accordingly.
3: food management
When you are inevitably attacked, the food you eat matters. Always keep good food on you for healing and remember to heal often. Losing just 30% of your health puts you into 1 shot range from an eye of reach so keep those health bars full! Having health regeneration from eatting cooked meat can also be helpful as it can allow you to do other things such as return fire on your cannons while still regaining health. Just make sure you stay alive long enough for the regen to kick in.
( I recommend for anyone who is expecting pvp to have a minimum of mangos on them, they heal for 50% hp and so will keep you alive against double gunners. Pineapples are also a good choice but can be overkill most of the time.
4: practice your combat.
The best way to improve at anything is to practice. And sea of thieves is no different. Even if you are a pve player, it doesn't hurt to be prepared for pvp. Try practicing your double gun skills against ghost and skeletons. It may may end up helping you in a pvp encounter. Work on your aim as well as positioning, practice jumping around your target while still being able to hit your shots. This applies for naval combat as well. Try engaging skeleton and ghost ships from different distances and at different speeds to get a feel for how you need to compensate for your cannon shots.
5: retreat when needed.
As the old saying goes, a good defense is a good offense. There is no shame in retreating from a losing situation to attack from a different angle. If you see your enemies have you outmatched in naval then try retreating and staying out of thier cannon range. Try using kegs to sink them or using fort towers to attack from unexpected angles. Use any advantage you can to secure your victory. Your enemies will do the same.
6: make use of all of your resources.
You can fire more things out of cannons than just cannon balls. You can fire chainshot, fire and blunder bombs, cursed cannon balls, flares and fireworks, and pirates out of your cannons. Each of these has a use. For example if you are in a bad situation and are losing a naval exchange fire blunderbombs out your cannons to throw off the enemies aim and turn thier ship. Hitting the front turns them away from you, while hitting the back turns them towards you. Use this to turn the tide of any battle.
7: keep calm.
It's easy to get titled in the heat of the moment. But try your best to stay calm and collected. Analyze the situation and evaluate your options. Remember, it's just a game and there is always a tomarrow. Always be a good sport in victory and defeat. Every death and sink has a lesson to teach. So learn from your mistakes and surpass your limitations. Remember, the master has failed more times than the novice has tried. So don't give up!
8: play to your ships advantage.
There are 3 ship types in sea of thieves as of writing this post, each with thier strengths and weaknesses. The sloop is the smallest and most maneuverable ship but comes at the cost of both fire and manpower. When fighting bigger ships remember that you only have 1 or 2 people to defend your vessel and attack thiers compared to thier 3 or even 4. Keep this in mind when attacking and defending.
9: be mindful of what you are wearing.
Some clothing and vanity items can make you more or less visible than others. Things such as bright colored clothing and curses can make you easier to spot and thus easier to kill. If you plan on sneaking up on an unsuspecting crew then make sure you take these things off. Remember that the conditions of the water have a factor in this as well. The water around the fort of the damned for example is much darker than other areas. Making it easier for a swimmer to get to you unnoticed.
10: use your ears.
Your ears can tell you so much more than your eyes in this game. From what weapons the enemies are using to what condition your ship is in. Make sure you play with a headset if possible to get the most information out of the game.
11: have fun.
Sea of thieves is a cartoon style pirate game and as such isn't meant to be taken as seriously as some people do. Try to have fun and see the good in the bad.
Feel free to leave any more tips in the replies, but I think this list covers the basics.
