So, you’re standing on the shores of Cannon Cove, looking at a piece of parchment that looks like a toddler’s doodle session, and you’re wondering where it all went wrong. Honestly, the Revenge of the Morningstar guide is one of the most searched things in the Sea of Thieves community for a reason. This isn’t just another "go here, dig there" Tall Tale. It’s a logic puzzle wrapped in a ghost story.
Most people think they can just wing it. They can't.
Rare designed this eighth chapter of the Shores of Gold arc to be a massive speed bump. You’re hunting Graymarrow, a skeleton lord who isn't exactly thrilled to see you, but before you can even trade blows with him, you have to play detective. It’s tedious if you don’t know the trick, but it’s actually kind of brilliant once the mechanical gears click into place. You’re literally decoding a dead crew’s final moments using a cryptic cipher.
Getting the Revenge of the Morningstar Started Right
First off, don't just sail anywhere. You need to talk to Sandra the Shipwright at Dagger Tooth Outpost. She’s the one holding the book. If you forget to vote on the quest on her table, you’re just a pirate taking a very long, very pointless scenic cruise.
Once the quest is active, you’re looking for a shipwreck. Specifically, the Morningstar. It’s resting underwater near Boulder Cay. You aren't just looking for loot here; you’re looking for three specific logs. They’re scattered in the wreck—one in the captain’s cabin, one in the hull, one near the mainmast. Basically, if it’s glowing, grab it. These logs point you toward a hidden chest on Boulder Cay itself.
Digging up that chest is the "Aha!" moment. It contains the Morningstar Uniform.
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Put it on. Seriously.
You have to look the part to get information out of the NPCs at Sanctuary Outpost. If you roll up in your glowing Ghost set or your pajamas, the barkeep and the shopkeepers will just give you the cold shoulder. They need to think you’re part of the old crew. This is where most guides fail to emphasize the roleplay aspect—without that uniform, the quest simply doesn't progress. You need to talk to Tyler (the tool shop guy) and Tracy (at the tavern). They’ll give you the coordinates for the next phase.
The Cipher is Where Everyone Quits
Okay, let’s talk about the Morningstar cipher. This is the part of the Revenge of the Morningstar guide that makes players want to scuttle their own ship. You get a page full of symbols—skulls, arrows, suns, and weird little icons that look like cups.
It’s a translation game.
Each symbol corresponds to a word. "Sun" usually means East. "Player" means You. "Walk" is... well, walking. The game gives you a translation key in your quest book, but the actual puzzles are randomized. You might get a prompt that says "From setting sun walk seven face rising sun." Translated? Go west, walk seven paces, then face east.
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It’s easy to mess up the count. One tip that actually works: use your compass to "walk" the paces. Holding the compass up makes your character take deliberate, measured steps. If you just run and count in your head, you’ll miss the dig spot by five feet and spend twenty minutes digging up half the island in a rage. We’ve all been there.
The goal here is to find two things: the Skull of Captain Douglas and the Chalice of Resurrection.
Why the Randomization Matters
Rare didn't want this to be a one-and-done thing you could just look up on a wiki map. The islands change. Sometimes you're on Cannon Cove, sometimes you're on Sunken Grove. The specific rock or tree mentioned in your cipher is unique to your session.
If your cipher mentions a "Resting Grave," look for the actual physical assets on the island that match. Don't just look at the map. Look at the world. This is what makes Sea of Thieves different from a standard waypoint-chaser. You’re actually navigating.
Facing Graymarrow Without Sinking
Once you have the skull and the chalice, you have to go to the altar on Cannon Cove. This is the boss fight. Graymarrow isn't a joke, especially if you’re playing solo. He’s got high health, he summons adds, and he has a knockback attack that can send you flying off a cliff or deep into the jungle.
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Bring blunderbombs. Lots of them.
Distance is your friend here. If you stay too close, his shockwave will drain your health before you can eat a mango. If you’re on a Brigantine or a Galleon, you can actually cheese this a bit by harpooning him or pulling him toward the shore and letting your ship’s cannons do the heavy lifting. It’s a bit "sweaty," but it saves a lot of time.
The fight is a war of attrition. He teleports, he vanishes, he talks a lot of trash. Just keep hitting him. When he finally goes down, he drops the Shroudbreaker stone. This is your ticket to the finale of the whole Tall Tale series.
Common Bugs and How to Avoid Them
Nothing ruins a Revenge of the Morningstar guide experience like a glitch. I've seen it happen dozens of times: you dig where the cipher says, and nothing happens.
- Check your uniform: Ensure every piece is equipped. Sometimes the game "forgets" you're wearing it if you've been in the water too long.
- The "No Dig" Bug: If you’re 100% sure you’re at the right spot but the shovel hits nothing but sand, try sailing away until the island title card pops up again, then come back. It resets the island's "state."
- Missing Logs: If the logs don't appear in the shipwreck at Boulder Cay, someone might have already been there in your server. This is rare, but switching servers usually fixes it.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
To finish this efficiently, follow this exact workflow. Don't deviate.
- Check your supplies first. Don't start this quest with ten planks and some bananas. You’re going to be at Cannon Cove for a while, and it's a popular spot for other players to jump you.
- Take a screenshot of the cipher key. Opening and closing the quest book every five seconds is a nightmare. Use your phone or a second monitor to keep the symbol meanings visible at all times.
- Identify the "Anchor" point. Every cipher starts with a landmark. Find that landmark first (like the "Kraken Bone" or the "North Grave"). If you start your pace count from the wrong rock, you’re doomed.
- Use the "Compass Walk." I can't stress this enough. Hold the "Primary Use" button with your compass out to feel the vibrations for each step. It is the only way to be precise.
- Park your ship for a quick getaway. Face your ship toward the open sea, anchor up, sails up. If another crew rolls up while you're fighting Graymarrow, you need to be able to drop those sails and move instantly.
The Revenge of the Morningstar isn't the hardest Tall Tale—that honor probably goes to the Shores of Gold itself—but it is the most meticulous. It demands your attention. If you treat it like a chore, it’ll feel like one. But if you lean into the "ghost detective" vibe, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences the Sea of Thieves has to offer.
Grab the skull. Get the stone. Don't let Graymarrow's trash-talking get to you. You've got a world to save, or at least a very expensive gold hoard to find. Once you hand that Shroudbreaker stone in, you’re ready for the final stretch. Just make sure you’ve got a good crew for what comes next; you’re going to need them.