In Sea of Thieves, Ancient Skeletons are one of the few ways players can earn Ancient Coins. These skeletons differ from other skeleton enemies due to their chromatic coloration and the large sack of coins on their backs. If players can find these enemies, they can earn up to 800 Ancient Coins for defeating them.
Players know when they've found an Ancient Skeleton by following the sound of jingling coins and a specific tune. When the player gets close to the Ancient Skeleton, it will run. Unfortunately, the player only has twenty seconds to catch it before it disappears.
Ancient Skeletons are extremely rare, so some players may find it a better use of their time to buy Ancient Coins in Sea of Thieves with real-world money. However, if players don't have the cash to spare, they can employ a few tricks.
Related: How To Get a Fox in Sea Of Thieves
Farming Ancient Skeletons in Sea of Thieves
According to the Youtube channel HitboTC, Ancient Skeletons can spawn on islands, forts, and sea forts, but players will have more luck exploring islands. The longer a player spends on an island, the higher their chance of finding an Ancient Skeleton. If players have spent much time on a given island and have not encountered any Ancient Skeletons, it's time to get back on the ship and head to the next island. As players wait for an Ancient Skeleton to spawn, they can busy themselves with various island activities, such as burying their own treasure in Sea of Thieves.
Voyages are also helpful in the search for Ancient Skeletons in Sea of Thieves. They give players something to do and force them to travel around different islands. Voyage of Legends and Legend of the Veil are two types of voyages purchasable by Pirate Legends from Athena's Fortune Hideout. These voyages force players to explore a wide range of islands, further increasing the chance of an Ancient Skeleton spawning. Bounty Voyages send players into areas with high skeleton spawn rates, making them lucrative. All Gold Hoarder or riddle-based voyages can help increase time on a particular island and improve spawn chances.
If the only thing a player can do is daydream about the Sea of Thieves pettable dog, they hope to buy with their free Ancient Coins; they can do so while fishing. Because an Ancient Skeleton can spawn at any given moment on an island, players can bunker down and catch some fish while they wait. Sure, players could fish from their boat, but the Ancient Skeleton requires dry land to spawn as it digs itself out of the ground. Therefore, players should always fish on an island, just in case they hear that distinctive melody.
When an Ancient Skeleton spawns, it's best to attack them as they climb out of the ground. After that, they won't be able to run away, and they can be defeated with a few swings of a sword. Otherwise, players will need to shoot them down as they bolt. With the Ancient Skeleton defeated, players can spend their newfound Ancient Coins at the Pirate Emporium in Sea of Thieves on cosmetics of all sorts. While Ancient Skeletons remain rare, determined Sea of Thieves players with a keen ear can find a few and purchase their favorite cosmetic item.
More: Sea of Thieves: How to Unlock The Party Boat Ship Cosmetics
Source: YouTube/HitboTC
