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Sea of Thieves Season 18 Act 2 – January Twitch Drops & Orb of the Banished Guide
🚨 Quick-Scan Status
- Event Status: Active (Drops began Jan 23)
- Deadline: January 30, 2026 (Twitch Drops End)
- Wallet Relief: ~$10.00 Saved (Exclusive Cosmetics)
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5
🛠️ Technical Intel
| Attribute | Specification |
| Game Title | Sea of Thieves |
| Event Type | Season 18 Content Update / Twitch Drops |
| Lore Impact | Cosmetic Only (Ship & Character Customization) |
| Entry Barrier | Free-to-Play (Game Pass/Twitch Account Linking) |
📝 Sea of Thieves Season 18 Act 2: Overview & Strategy
Ahoy, pirates! Season 18 continues its epic saga with the launch of Act 2, bringing new mysteries and challenges to the Sea of Thieves. While the centerpiece of this update is the enigmatic Orb of the Banished challenge, requiring crews to brave the fiery depths of Molten Sands Fortress, the immediate and most accessible loot comes from the concurrent Twitch Drops. Starting today, players can earn a suite of exclusive cosmetics, including the striking Amethyst Mercenary Sails, a must-have for any pirate looking to stand out on the high seas.
These drops are simple to acquire: link your Twitch account to your Sea of Thieves account and watch any partnered Sea of Thieves streamer. The drops are cumulative, meaning you don’t need to watch a single streamer for the entire duration. The Orb of the Banished, on the other hand, presents a more active challenge. This new world event at Molten Sands Fortress offers its own set of in-game cosmetic rewards, expanding on the Season 18 storyline. Helix Pro-Tip: Coordinate with your crew to tackle the Orb of the Banished challenge. The Molten Sands Fortress can be a chaotic zone, and having a dedicated team will significantly increase your chances of success and survival against both the environment and rival pirates.
🎁 Sea of Thieves Loot List: How to Claim Amethyst Mercenary Sails
| Reward Item | Rarity | Requirement |
| Amethyst Mercenary Sails | Exclusive | Watch 4 Hours (Cumulative) |
| Gilded Phoenix Spyglass | Rare | Watch 2 Hours (Cumulative) |
| Thunderous Fury Flag | Epic | Watch 1 Hour (Cumulative) |
| Gold & Doubloons | Currency | Complete Orb of the Banished Challenge |
| Banished Orb Tattoo Set | Exclusive | Complete Orb of the Banished Milestones |
📊 HelixPedia Efficiency Rating
- Grind Factor: 2 (Passive Twitch viewing for drops, active for Orb challenge)
- Grind Fun Meter: 4 (Watching streams is chill, in-game event is high-intensity fun)
- FOMO Level: High (Twitch drops are time-limited exclusives; Orb rewards are seasonal)
- HelixPedia VTT Ratio: Worthy (Easy to get unique cosmetics, plus a new in-game challenge)
🚀 How to Participate
- Link Accounts: Ensure your Twitch account is linked to your Xbox/Microsoft account via the Sea of Thieves Twitch Drops page.
- Watch Streamers: Tune into any partnered Sea of Thieves streamer on Twitch between January 23 and January 30, 2026. Look for channels with “Drops Enabled.”
- Claim Rewards: Track your progress and claim your drops from your Twitch inventory. Once claimed, they will appear in your in-game vanity chests.
- Tackle the Orb: For the Orb of the Banished rewards, sail to Molten Sands Fortress and investigate the new world event beacon.
- HelixPedia Pro-Tip: The Orb of the Banished challenge at Molten Sands Fortress is persistent until Act 2 concludes. If PvP is too hot, wait until later in the week when server populations might be lower for a safer run.