The Stanker's Showdown

Arena Mode

Tournament rules

The Arena is back. Goal: the most points after 30 minutes.

Watch before you start

Rules recap video

The rules recap video (EN) will be embedded here soon.

01

Stashes & caches

Chests are hidden as stashes at fixed points of interest across the islands. The amount depends on island size, and each stash is marked by the Reaper Bounty. A stash spawns every 10 minutes, on the 30 — 20 — 10 rhythm.

02

Loot outposts

Two outposts let you cash in the loot you've collected:

Reaper Hideout   North Star Sea Post


Scoring — Sloop

Points system

ActionPoints
Cannonball hit +30
Opponent KO +50
Opponent release +50
Treasure chest +400
Deckshot +100
Reaper Bounty +2000
Crew sunk −1000

Fair play rules

The competition is built on respect, fairness and the enjoyment of the game. We want every crew to be able to fight for their chances under fair conditions. A few simple rules apply to all participants.


No cheating of any kind

Any form of cheating or attempt to bypass the rules is strictly forbidden. This includes the use of external software, tools or methods that give an unfair advantage during matches.

Crosshair overlays are banned

The use of an external crosshair, or any other software adding an overlay that provides extra in-game information, is forbidden. The goal is for every player to have access to the same information and the same opportunities during fights.

Stream sniping is banned

Stream sniping — deliberately watching a player's, caster's or the tournament's stream to gather information about an opposing crew's position or actions — will not be tolerated. Streams exist so the community can follow the competition, not to give participants extra information.

Toxicity: bring the heat... at the right time

Sea of Thieves is a competitive game, and we know a bit of banter is part of the show. During a fight, talk trash, provoke each other and enjoy the rivalry — that's part of competing too. 🏴‍☠️

However, any form of toxicity, harassment or inappropriate behaviour outside of tournament matches may be sanctioned. In short: bring the heat during the fight, but leave the rivalry on the battlefield.

Referees have the final word

Moderators and referees reserve the right to take the measures and apply the sanctions they deem necessary, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the situation and its severity. Since not every situation can be anticipated in a rulebook, we reserve this right to guarantee the integrity, fairness and smooth running of the tournament.

Our goal isn't to punish for the sake of it, but to keep the competition clean, fair and enjoyable for everyone.


Format

Tournament structure

  1. Group stage

    Groups of 5 crews in Sloop, 3 rounds per group. The number of groups adapts to the number of entrants.

  2. Overall ranking

    Each crew's points are added up across all their rounds to build an overall ranking.

  3. Top 10

    The 10 best crews from the overall ranking are split into 2 groups.

  4. Final

    The 5 best crews from that stage face off in 3 rounds to crown the tournament winner.


Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

How is my crew assigned to a group?

To ensure the fairest possible start, group composition will be determined by random draw before the competition begins. Every crew will therefore have the same chance of being placed in any given group.

For the following rounds, the standings will be taken into account to determine match-ups. The principle is as follows: the best-ranked crew will face the lowest-ranked, the 2nd will face the second-to-last, and so on.

This method allows match-ups to evolve based on performance in previous rounds, while keeping a balanced competitive logic.

What happens in case of a tie in the standings?

In case of a tie between two crews in the standings, a TDM (Team Deathmatch) will be organised to break the tie.

The TDM will take place on one of the map's islands, chosen at random at the time of the tiebreaker. The two crews will then fight until only one remains standing.

Following this confrontation, the surviving crew will be ranked above the defeated crew. This system allows ties to be broken directly, clearly and competitively.

Can I swap a player in my crew during the tournament?

Yes. Since you compete in the tournament under your crew's banner, you're allowed to bring in a substitute during the competition.

This change can be made in case of the unexpected, a player's unavailability, or simply for strategic reasons. You're free to adjust your crew's line-up as the tournament progresses.

Please note: the substitute player must have been registered under your crew's banner before the competition started. It won't be possible to add a new player once the tournament has begun.

What happens if my crew misses a match?

If your crew is unable to attend a round, no points will be awarded for that round.

However, if your crew were to miss an entire group stage, for whatever reason, we would be forced to disqualify it from the tournament.

This rule exists to preserve the integrity of the competition and guarantee fair conditions for all participating crews.

Where can I follow results live?

You'll be able to follow matches live through the tournament's official cast, as well as on our partners' channels.

For everything about how matches unfold, results and the evolving standings, head to the dedicated "Results" page. That's also where you can follow the competition's progress round by round.