All Vault Keys in Sea of Thieves: The Complete Treasure Hunter's Guide

🌊 Introduction: The Allure of the Vaults

Ahoy, pirates! If you're reading this, you've likely felt the thrill of unearthing a Gold Hoarder's Treasure Vault or the frustration of watching another crew sail away with your hard-earned key. Vaults in Sea of Thieves represent some of the most lucrative – and perilous – opportunities on the high seas. This guide is your ultimate companion, distilling hundreds of hours of player experience, exclusive data from our community, and deep-dive analysis into one comprehensive resource.

Whether you're a solo sloop enthusiast or part of a seasoned galleon crew, understanding the intricacies of all vault keys is crucial. We'll go beyond the basic descriptions you'll find on the typical Sea of Thieves wiki. Here, you'll find strategic insights, time-saving tips, and hard-earned wisdom from pirates who've braved the Shores of Gold and the Devil's Roar alike.

🗝️ Chapter 1: The Pantheon of Vault Keys

The world of Sea of Thieves features several distinct types of vault keys, each tied to specific Voyages, World Events, or factions. Knowing which key you hold dictates everything from the potential loot to the level of danger you'll face.

1.1 Gold Hoarder Vault Keys

The classic and most sought-after key. Obtained primarily through Gold Hoarder Voyages (specifically the "Vault Voyages"), these keys come in four tiers corresponding to the rank of the voyage purchased: Stone, Silver, Gold, and Ancient Vault Keys. The tier determines not only the difficulty of the puzzles inside but also the quality and quantity of treasure.

• Stone Key: Basic vaults, often on small islands. Contains a mix of Castaway's and Seafarer's chests.
• Silver Key: More complex puzzles. Expect Marauder's chests and the occasional Captain's.
• Gold Key: High-value vaults. Loads of Captain's chests, rare trinkets, and ancient artefacts.
• Ancient Vault Key: The pinnacle. Requires solving multi-stage riddles and often houses Chests of Legend.

1.2 Ashen Vault Keys (Devil's Roar)

Forged in the fiery heart of the Devil's Roar, these keys are acquired through Ashen-themed Gold Hoarder voyages. The loot inside is always "Ashen" variant, worth significantly more gold but guarded by environmental hazards like volcanoes and earthquakes. The keys themselves have a distinct molten appearance.

1.3 Skeleton Lord Vault Keys

Dropped by defeated Skeleton Lords during certain World Events or tall tales. These are single-use keys that unlock special vaults containing a curated hoard, often including unique cosmetic items and high-tier loot. Unlike voyage keys, these are not tied to a specific map and the vault location is revealed upon the key's acquisition.

1.4 Fortress Vault Keys

Every Sea Fort and Skull Fort culminates in a vault key drop from the final Captain. These are the most straightforward: defeat the waves, defeat the boss, get the key, open the nearby vault. The loot is standardized but plentiful, making forts a classic PvE farming route. For the latest on active fort locations, our daily news page has you covered.

A visual guide to identifying every type of vault key you might encounter on your voyages.

🗺️ Chapter 2: Charting the Keys - Location Mastery

Finding the key is half the battle. They can be buried, held by skeletons, hidden in shipwrecks, or even held by other players. This chapter breaks down the most effective methods for each key type.

2.1 Voyage-Specific Key Locations

When on a Gold Hoarder Vault Voyage, you'll receive a map leading to the key. It's rarely straightforward. The key might be:
1. Buried on an island: Use your shovel at the marked X. Beware of ambushes.
2. Held by a skeleton captain: Defeat the captain and his crew to claim it.
3. In a shipwreck: Search the captain's quarters thoroughly.

For Ashen Keys in the Devil's Roar, the process is similar but compounded by geysers and falling rocks. Always park your ship in a safe, deep-water position with a clear escape route.

2.2 World Event & Fort Keys

The key is a guaranteed drop from the final boss. The real challenge is holding the fort against other player crews. Monitor the community sentiment on Reddit to understand server activity trends. Some servers are more PvP-heavy than others.

2.3 The "Smugglers' League" Connection

Recent updates have tied certain vault keys to the Smugglers' League activities. Investigating Smugglers' League locations, particularly in areas like Plunder Valley, can yield unique keys not found elsewhere. These often lead to vaults containing rare, non-standard loot.

⚔️ Chapter 3: Advanced Strategies & Crew Play

Possessing a key is one thing. Successfully opening its vault and selling the loot is another.

3.1 The Solo Sloop Approach

Solo players must prioritise stealth and speed. Consider these tactics:
- Key Stashing: Don't carry the key to the vault immediately. Hide it on a remote island (not the vault island) and scout the vault location first.
- Athena's Run: For Ancient Vaults, use a Rowboat to approach silently from the opposite side of the island.
- Escape Plan: Always park your ship facing open sea, sails raised to mid-mast for a quick departure.

3.2 Galleon & Brigantine Crew Tactics

Larger crews can afford to be more assertive but also become bigger targets.
- Role Assignment: Designate a Key Holder (stays safe), Puzzle Solvers (enter vault), Lookouts (high ground/crows nest), and Ship Guard.
- Decoy Operations: Send a rowboat to a nearby island as a false flag while the main ship approaches the vault.
- Alliance Betrayal Awareness: Alliances are fragile. Be prepared for "friendly" crews to turn at the moment of loot division.

3.3 Vault Puzzle Solutions (Spoiler Summary)

Most vaults contain a puzzle involving rotating statues or symbols to match a clue. The clue is always found on the voyage map or key itself. Time is limited once the door opens, so communicate efficiently. One player should focus on moving loot to the entrance while others solve.

🤝 Chapter 4: The Community & Economy of Keys

An underground economy exists around vault keys. Some players sell Steam codes or even full accounts with rare keys, though we strongly advise against this as it violates the game's Terms of Service. The legitimate community thrives on sharing knowledge. The official Sea of Thieves website and fan sites are treasure troves of info.

The shared experience of a tense vault run, the triumph of a successful heist, or the communal sigh after a loss to a kraken is what fuels the game. It's more than loot; it's the stories created, many of which are immortalised in sea shanties and player-created songs.