Sea of Thieves is a PVP and PVE open-world, live-service pirate adventure-based game, where players can be attacked both by enemies in the environment and other human players simultaneously. For beginners, PVP might feel challenging, especially when sailing solo or coming up against skilled players who've been playing the game since its 2018 inception.

RELATED: Tips For Conquering The Seas Solo In Sea Of Thieves

The difficulty level for solo players also remains tough in PVE situations, but even more so when factoring in PVP. Whether a newbie or Pirate Legend, in Sea of Thieves it's never too late to pick up PVP tips and tricks to better navigate the seas or revise gameplay strategies in this evolving game.

10 Suspicious Mermaid Activity

Sea of Thieves mermaid in the water

Whether exploring an island or out at sea, it's always best to keep a lookout for mermaids that seem out of place and question their presence. If players lose or fall off their ship and swim far away enough, a fast-travel mermaid appears from the watery depths to enable players to safely return to the ship.

However, it's also a clue that another player may be close by, so it's essential to stay alert. Check the ship is secure and use the spyglass to check for sneaky swimming pirates attacking from the water.

9 Watch Those Ladders

One of the two ladders on the side of the sloop ship in Sea of Thieves

When other player ships give chase, it's also crucial to keep tabs on the ladders on both sides of the ship to try to avoid a surprise boarding party. For solo players this often means multitasking, but players in larger crews can split roles between sailing and surveillance as needed.

On the flip side, attackers can make use of ladders to carefully sneak on board and find a hiding spot till ready to pounce. Players can still jump or cannon themselves onto the ship though, so be prepared for any entry point.

8 Barrel Hiders

Checking for players hiding in barrels in Sea of Thieves using the sword

Be sure to check all barrels on the ship for player hiding spots by stabbing them with the sword. The Barrel Disguise Emote gives players ample opportunity to hide aboard other player ships, so it's worth checking for suspicious barrel behavior.

The same is true of chests with the Chest Hide Emote. Although it doesn't close fully, this emote can allow cleverly placed pirates to conceal themselves amongst hoards of treasure. Barrel hiding is also a fun way to board player ships, watching while players frantically search for intruders.

7 Store Explosive Barrels Cautiously

Gunpowder barrel stored in the ship lower deck in Sea of Thieves

Be careful when storing explosive barrels on the ship as other players can snipe them from afar with devastating effects. Some players store them in the crow's nest to sell later, but this can leave the mast vulnerable.

RELATED: Sea Of Thieves: The Best Ways To Make Money

Even for those pirates who like to live dangerously, a safer option is to store explosives out of sight on the lowest deck, either at the back or front end of the ship. Boarding players can still destroy them, so it's worth thinking twice about whether to collect them in the first place.

6 Protect The Mast And Master The Chain Shot

The ship's mast destroyed in Sea of Thieves

Players with masterful accuracy of the chain shot can make ship PVP battles a breeze. A toppled mast is the perfect distraction and moment to overwhelm a player's ship by boarding or peppering it with more cannon fire whilst the ship remains grounded.

If this happens to a defending player, it's best to get the ship repaired and its sails restored as quickly as possible. It's also critical to create distance from the attacks whilst simultaneously remaining vigilant to repeated, catastrophic mast attacks. Learning to defend against chain shot attacks is valuable and even better to master them.

5 Close Quarters Combat

Fighting another ship in Sea of Thieves

In PVP combat, it's best to keep moving as much as possible whether running, jumping, or zigzagging. Hold down the attack button for a quick sword lunge to conquer another player with a few sword swipes before they even have time to blink.

Some players skilled at PVP will also alter their position from upper to lower decks to confuse and disorientate other players. It's essential to have plenty of supplies on standby like fruit and throwables to keep health topped up and vary attacks. The blunderbuss and sword can also be an effective weapon combination.

4 Surprise And Speed - The 180-Degree Ship Turn

Using the harpoon to perform a 180 degree ship turn in Sea of Thieves

Nothing feels cooler than performing the classic 180-degree ship turn maneuver to escape players in pursuit. To perform this, turn the steering wheel full lock left or right, then drop the anchor so the ship's momentum swings it 180 degrees. Players can also use the harpoon to hook onto a rock or island to help the ship turn further.

It's also useful to note the direction of the wind to gain maximum speed and distance. This move can also reposition the ship into a cannon fire position, surprising other players Pirates of the Caribbean style.

3 Make Use Of The Environment

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds May Use Sea of Thieves Water Tech - Storm Cropped

For players not in the mood to PVP, gaining a bit of distance and sailing directly into environmental hazards like storms is another way to escape pursuing player ships.

RELATED: Sea Of Thieves: Mistakes Players Make While Sailing Solo

When out of the storm, players can change direction or hide behind an island and wait to see where the enemy ship goes. For this to potentially work, all lanterns on the ship should be switched off to reduce visibility. Players up for the challenge can also sail into storms for an epic PVP battle where lighting and burst ship hulls up the ante.

2 Sacrificial Scuttle

Scuttling the ship in Sea of Thieves

If things go sour and PVP turns out to be too much, there's always the option to scuttle the ship to allow players to move forward and carry on with objectives without interruption. This can also be a surprising tactic to catch enemy players off guard.

A disadvantage of scuttling is players will lose any loot they have collected to the waters. However, players can return and retrieve it if they are fast enough before it sinks to the ocean's depths, providing the ship's respawn point isn't too far away from its original location. Sometimes it's best to wave bye to the ship and start over.

1 Form Alliances With Caution

Performing the wave emote in Sea of Thieves

It's important to remember that not all other players are out to get each other and many do enjoy teaming up with others. However, it is always best to be wary when encountering other pirates. Some will attack straight away, while others will try to lure players in with the promise of friendship with the alliance flag or using in-game communication features.

Use emotes to do a quick wave and see how other players react to try to tell if they are friendly. There are plenty of pirates who will just be sailing the seas minding their own business, but any alliance should be approached with caution. If an alliance fails, sneakily lighting up the other player's stove or hiding a Chest of Sorrows aboard their ship is always a fun way to wreak a fiery or watery pool of revenge.

Sea of Thieves is available to play on PC and Xbox and free to play on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

MORE: Secrets In Sea Of Thieves Most Players Still Haven't Found