Why the Sloop is the Best Ship

On my first few voyages, I played either in a brig or a galleon. The brig and galleon Stormcloud ships are mighty beasts that tear through the seas, chewing up their opposition. To the point that people have seen the name Stormcloud and instantly bailed. Back in those early adventures, it was nice to have other people on board Bacxaber’s ship, because I was still learning the ropes.

Lately though, I was invited to play on a sloop, which is for two people only. And boy did it improve my experience on sailing and combat. In a single session, Bacxaber and I managed to take down five other sloops, to the point that we got server-merged because everyone else had left.

Seriously, the sloop is amazing compared to the brig and galleon. And here’s why:

Small and nimble

The sloop is a ship made for two people and, at a push, can be used by solo players too. It is much smaller than both brigs and galleons and its size means the sloop has a huge amount of maneuverability. The most notable thing is just how quickly you can turn in a sloop. Galleons in particular have to rely on anchor turns in order to change direction quickly, but that is only just about the same speed a sloop can turn without having to use an anchor.

Really, the sloop is way more enjoyable to steer, and you can more quickly correct where you’re going if you do accidentally go the wrong way. Steering a galleon in anything but a straight line takes forever and brigs aren’t that much better. The smaller turning circle also helps you steer around an enemy ship and pelt them with cannon balls.

Everything is closer together

The layout of a sloop is also much better, especially compared to brigs. The cannon ball barrels are right there on the deck, only a few feet away from the cannons. The wood planks barrel is directly in front of you on the lowest deck, and food is nearby too. I personally like how the quest table and the map are both on the half-level, as it makes it easier to access. In other ships, the map feels way too far away from the wheel. That means way more running back and forth to check that you’re going in the right direction.

Sure, it’s quite a tight fit inside a sloop, but you do have everything in one place, easier to access.

Harder to hit

As I said before, the sloop is small and nimble, automatically making it harder to hit, compared to the brig and galleon. The sloop also hangs a bit lower in the water, which makes it harder to hit in high waves. That being said, because it’s lower, the sloop does fill up pretty quickly. For unsinkability, the galleon is a better choice. You need to hit its lower levels to make the galleon start taking on more water.

But not only is the sloop harder to hit, it also technically has an invulnerable spot where the ship can’t be damaged. The wall behind the brig (as in the jail cell, not a brigantine) never gets any holes. This doesn’t happen on the other ships. Why? Because their brigs are in the middle of the ship, not to one side like on the sloop.

It got buffed for some reason

In season 7 of Sea of Thieves, there were also a few strange changes. The biggest change when it comes to combat is the fact that a sloop needs two chain shots to bring down its mast. That is the same as a brig and its two separate masts. But the sloop didn’t really need these buffs.

“What are the downsides?”

Well, the major downside is that you can only have two pirates on a sloop, and you only have one cannon on each side of the ship. But that’s… kinda it. While galleons seem menacing as they cruise along the seas, while brigs are, well, brigs, sloops are the nippy little monsters which can really catch you off guard if you’re not careful.

So, yeah, don’t underestimate sloops. Because they can and will fuck you up…