There are 30 commendations for you to unlock during Season 16, Reapers Rising. While many are straightforward, several can take time to complete.
To complete all the available commendations, you must embark on the Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage, revive fallen Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons, and master the Cannon of Rage!
Ancient Archaeologist
Unearth Ancient Pillars.
To complete this Commendation, you must unearth 15 Ancient Pillars.
You can only find Ancient Pillars to unearth during the Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage. The Search for Ancient Secrets is a Reaper’s Bones Voyage that you can start from your Quest Table.
After starting the Voyage and meeting with the Reaper Parrot, who is waiting for you on a large island, you will receive a Map with three images. Each image is of a specific location on the island where you can dig up an Ancient Pillar. Directional clues accompany each image to help you pinpoint the area you need to dig.
If you need help finding one of the locations, check out our dedicated Ancient Pillar Location guide here!
Relics for the King
Sell Skulls of the Banished to The Reaper’s Bones for King Flameheart.
To complete this Commendation, you must sell 50 Skulls of the Banished to The Reaper’s Bones. You can only find Skulls of the Banished from completing the Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage.
After meeting with the Reaper Parrot, unearthing three Ancient Pillars, and breaking the protective seals guarding a Sarcophagus, you can dig up the Sarcophagus to reveal the Skull of the Banished.
You can only sell the skull to The Reaper’s Bones on The Reaper’s Hideout. However, you must be mindful of rival crews checking their Map Table. The Skull of the Banished has a unique marker on the Map Table, letting other pirates track you as you try to deliver it.
Bony Bodyguard
Complete Search for Ancient Secrets without any of your skeletons dying more than six times.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete the Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage without any summoned Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons dying more than six times.
As you wind Ancient Pillars, travel between dig sites, and dig up the Sarcophagus, waves of Ancient Warrior will attack you and the Order of Bone Skeletons. You must make it your priority to defeat any Ancient Warriors that appear as fast as possible. While the Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons have decent health, they can quickly become overrun if one or more Ancient Warriors attack them simultaneously. You could throw some Bone Callers during the attacks for extra support.
While winding an Ancient Pillar, jump off as soon as you hear Ancient Warriors appear and kill them all before returning to the pillar. You’ll also want to check for Gunpowder Barrels nearby that can explode and kill the Skeletons. And don’t use Firebombs!
You could not revive your Skeletons to prevent them from dying again. However, that might make proceeding throughout the rest of the Voyage a little tougher.
As you travel between dig sites, you must also be aware of Ancient Warriors that appear. Don’t leave too much space between you and the Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons as you travel so you can quickly assist them in defeating the Ancient Warriors.
Just as you did when winding up the pillars, stop digging up the Sarcophagus as soon as you hear the Ancient Warriors appear. Defeat the wave of warriors and continue digging.
Dastardly Desecration
Complete all ‘Search for Ancient Secrets’ Commendations.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete the Ancient Archaeologist, Relics for the King, and Bony Bodyguard Commendations.
Seal of Approval
Break the seal on a Reaper’s Chest or Chest of Bones.
To complete this Commendation, you must break the seal on 20 Reaper’s Chests or Chests of Bones.
You can find Reaper’s Chests in emergent Shipwrecks, from Skeleton’s Orders, and inside the Vault of a Fort of the Damned.
Once you have one, you can break the seal by interacting with the prompt “Break Seal.” As soon as you break the seal, the chest will blast open and summon Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons.
Ghostly Reaper Raid
Break the seal on Reaper’s Chests at Sea Forts.
To complete this Commendation, you must break the seal on a Reaper’s Chest at a Sea Fort 20 times.
Once you find a sealed Reaper’s Chest, take it to any active Sea Fort and open it up. You’ll need to make sure the chest isn’t opened yet to receive credit. Simply placing an open chest on the Sea Fort to summon Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons will not count.
Fortunate Reaper Raid
Break the seal on Reaper’s Chests at Forts or the Fort of the Damned.
To complete this Commendation, you must break the seal on a Reaper’s Chest at a Forts or Forts of the Damned 10 times.
Once you find a sealed Reaper’s Chest, take it to any active Skeleton Fort or Fort of the Damned and open it up. You’ll need to make sure the chest isn’t opened yet to receive credit. Simply placing an open chest on the Fort to summon Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons will not count.
Sunken Reaper Raid
Break the seal on Reaper’s Chests at Shrines or Treasuries.
To complete this Commendation, you must break the seal on a Reaper’s Chest at a Shrines or Treasuries 10 times.
Once you find a sealed Reaper’s Chest, take it to any Siren Shrine or Treasury and open it up. To receive credit, you’ll need to swim down to the Shrine or Treasury with the chest and open it once you are inside.
You’ll need to ensure a crew hasn’t opened the chest yet to receive credit. Simply placing an open chest in the Shrine or Treasury to summon Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons will not count.
Reaper Recruiter
Complete all Commendations for breaking all Reaper’s Chest seals.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete the Seal of Approval, Ghostly Reaper Raid, Fortunate Reaper Raid, and Sunken Reaper Raid Commendations.
Rusty Rescuer
Unearth buried Order of Bones and Blade Skeletons on islands.
To complete this Commendation, you must dig up and revive 30 Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons. You can find Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons to unearth on large islands in all four regions.
To find an Order of Bone and Blade Skeleton on an island, look for a bony hand sticking out of the ground. The hand will also glint red from a distance, making it easier to spot. Once you find an order of Bone and Blade Skeleton, dig it up and revive it to progress the Commendation.
Wild Order
Complete quests whilst accompanied by unearthed Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons in The Wilds.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete ten Quests on islands in The Wilds.
Start a Voyage that will take you to a large island in The Wilds. Once you arrive, look for bony hands sticking out of the ground and unearth any you encounter. As soon as you find one, work on completing the Quest. Large islands in The Wilds include Kraken’s Fall, Marauder’s Arch, Old Faithful Isle, Shipwreck Bay, The Crooked Masts, and The Sunken Grove.
Ancient Order
Complete quests whilst accompanied by unearthed Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons in The Ancient Isles.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete ten Quests on islands in The Wilds.
Start a Voyage that will take you to a large island in The Ancient Isles. Once you arrive, look for bony hands sticking out of the ground and unearth any you encounter. As soon as you find one, work on completing the Quest. Large islands in The Ancient Isles include Crooks’ Hollow, Devil’s Ridge, Discovery Ridge, Plunder Valley, Shark Bait Cove, and Snake Island.
Plentiful Order
Complete quests whilst accompanied by unearthed Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons in The Shores of Plenty.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete ten Quests on islands in The Shores of Plenty.
Start a Voyage that will take you to a large island in The Shores of Plenty. Once you arrive, look for bony hands sticking out of the ground and unearth any you encounter. As soon as you find one, work on completing the Quest. Large islands in The Shores of Plenty include Cannon Cove, Crescent Isle, Lone Cove, Mermaid’s Hideaway, Sailor’s Bounty, and Smuggler’s Bay.
Roaring Order
Complete quests whilst accompanied by unearthed Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons in The Devil’s Roar.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete ten Quests on islands in The Devil’s Roar.
Start a Voyage that will take you to a large island in The Devil’s Roar. Once you arrive, look for bony hands sticking out of the ground and unearth any you encounter. As soon as you find one, work on completing the Quest. Large islands in The Devil’s Roar include Fetcher’s Rest, Flintlock Peninsula, The Devil’s Thirst, Ruby’s Fall, and Ashen Reaches.
Explosive Surprise
Give an Order of Bone and Blade Skeleton gunpowder to carry.
To complete this Commendation, you must give an Order of Bone and Blade Skeleton a Gunpowder Barrel to carry.
You can find Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons randomly on large islands. Look for a bony hand sticking out of the ground that glints red from a distance. After you find and dig out an Order of Bone and Blade Skeleton, approach it with a Gunpowder Barrel to give to the Skeleton. You will see a prompt to ‘Give Item,’ and the Skeleton will take it from you.
Mobile Mortar
Give an Order of Bone and Blade Skeleton a Cannon of Rage to carry.
To complete this Commendation, you must give an Order of Bone and Blade Skeleton a Cannon of Rage to carry.
You can find Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons randomly on large islands. Look for a bony hand sticking out of the ground that glints red from a distance. After you find and dig out an Order of Bone and Blade Skeleton, approach it with a Cannon of Rage to give to the Skeleton. You will see a prompt to ‘Give Item,’ and the Skeleton will take it from you.
Crew of Bone and Blade
Complete all Unearthed order of Bones and Blade Commendations.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete the Rusty Rescuer, Wild Order, Ancient Order, Plentiful Order, Roaring Order, Explosive Surprise, and Mobile Mortar Commendations.
Rageful Cannoneer
Defeat enemies using a Cannon of Rage.
To complete this Commendation, you must defeat 150 enemies with the Cannon of Rage. Defeating Skeletons, Ocean Crawlers, Phantoms, and pirates will progress the Commendation.
You are guaranteed to find the Cannon of Rage inside the Vaults of emergent Skeleton Forts, Forts of Fortune, and Forts of the Damned. You also have a chance to discover them in the Treasuries of Sea Forts or washed up on island beaches.
Twice Cursed Cannoneer
Land hits on an enemy ship with Cursed Cannonballs using a Cannon of Rage.
To complete this Commendation, you must shoot an enemy ship with Cursed Cannonballs using a Cannon of Rage five times. You can shoot the same ship five times with Cursed Cannonballs or shoot five different ships over several sailing sessions. You’ll want to use Purple Cursed Cannonballs as those work against ships.
Shooting Skeleton Ships or pirate ships will progress the Commendation.
Burning Bombardment
Land hits on an enemy ship with firebombs using a Cannon of Rage.
To complete this Commendation, you must shoot an enemy ship with Firebombs using a Cannon of Rage 20 times. You can shoot the same ship 20 times with Firebombs or shoot 20 different ships over several sailing sessions.
Shooting Skeleton Ships or pirate ships to progress the Commendation.
Mobile Cannoneer
Complete all Cannon of Rage Commendations.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete the Rageful Cannoneer, Twice Cursed Cannoneer, and Burning Bombardment Commendations.
Skeletal Sabotage
Destroy a Cannon of Rage on an enemy ship while wearing the Skeleton Curse.
To complete this Commendation, you must destroy a Cannon of Rage on an enemy ship while wearing the Skeleton Curse.
You can destroy the Cannon of Rage on a Skeleton or pirate ship. The Cannon of Rage takes damage from all weapons, explosions, and fire while deployed. So, as soon as you set it down on a ship, deploy it and continually slash it with your Cutlass until it explodes.
Masterful Tactics
Hit masts with chainshots using a Cannon of Rage while wearing the Skeleton Curse.
To complete this Commendation, you must hit masts with Chainshots using a Cannon of Rage while wearing the Skeleton Curse 50 times. You can shoot the same ship with 50 chainshots or different ships over several sailing sessions.
You must shoot pirate ships with Chainshot to progress the Commendation as you cannot damage Skeleton Ships.
Reaper Rivals
Sell stolen Skulls of the Banished as a Reaper’s Bones Emissary while wearing the Skeleton Curse.
To complete this Commendation, you must sell 15 stolen Skulls of the Banished as a Reaper’s Bones Emissary while wearing the Skeleton Curse.
To steal the Skull of the Banished, you’ll need to wait for someone to complete the Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage. At the end of the Voyage, the crew can acquire the skull.
Unlike most treasures, the Skull of the Banished has a unique marker on the Map Table that all pirates can see. While you can scan the Map Table to look for the marker, you can also scan the horizon to see if another crew is working on the Voyage. During the final phase of the Voyage, while the crew digs up the Sarcophagus that holds the Skull of the Banished, a green swirling beacon will be in the sky. You can sail toward the island with the beacon in preparation for the crew getting the skull.
If you manage to take it from the Sarcophagus before the crew whose Voyage it is, it will still count as stolen, even though they didn’t touch it.
Bondy Bandit
Sell stolen Reaper’s Chests or stolen Chests of Bone while wearing the Skeleton Curse.
To complete this Commendation, you must sell three stolen Reaper’s Chests or Chests of Bone.
Unlike most treasures, the Reaper’s Bones and Chests of Bone have a unique map marker you can track on the Map Table. The Reaper’s Chest, in particular, also emits a red and green swirling beacon in the sky for all to see. Crews can find Reaper’s Chests in shipwrecks, inside the Vault of the Fort of the Damned, and from Skeleton Orders.
Once you spot either chest, reach it and take it from another crew. Make sure a rival crew touches it before yours to count as stolen.
Bone vs Blade
Complete all Seasonal Commendations while wearing the Skeleton Curse.
To complete this Commendation, you must complete the Skeletal Sabotage, Masterful Tactics, Reaper Rivals, and Bony Bandit Commendations.
Rusty Rollick
Kill Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons as an Athena’s Fortune Emissary.
To complete this Commendation, you must kill 30 Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons as an Athena’s Fortune Emissary. You’ll need to encounter other crews who have unearthed and revived Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons to kill while sailing as an Athena’s Fortune Emissary to progress the Commendation.
Rowing Devotion
Dock a Rowboat with the Reaper’s Bones livery to your ship.
Order of Paddle and Blade
Dock a Rowboat with the Order of Bone and Blade liverly to your ship.
To complete this Commendation, you must attach a rowboat with the Order of Bone and Blade liverly to your ship. You can find rowboats randomly on the shores of small and large islands across the Sea of Thieves. A rowboat with the Order of Bone and Blade liverly looks like a black rowboat with a dark maroon trim. It also has Skeleton Runes painted on it.
Devious Dinghy
Complete the ‘Rowing Devotion’ and ‘Order of Paddle and Blade’ Commendations.
