In 2026, the high seas of Sea of Thieves still hold one of the most lucrative yet laughably perilous side hustles: snake wrangling. While most pirates chase chests and cannonballs, the real gold—up to 2,800 per fanged fiend—lies coiled in the underbrush, waiting for someone foolish… or brave… enough to bag it. The problem? Snakes don’t take kindly to being cargo. One wrong move, and you’re a blind, poisoned mess, easy pickings for a passing megalodon. But fear not! With a dash of preparation and a pinch of musical talent, any swashbuckler can turn venom into vaults.
Gathering Your Snake-Charming Kit
Before you even sniff a snake, you’ll need the proper gear. First, a Snake Basket—a wicker contraption that can be snagged from any Merchant Alliance representative or found abandoned on random beaches. No basket? No capture. It’s that simple. Second, an instrument (concertina, hurdy-gurdy, or even a drum) because snakes, oddly, are music critics with a death wish; they go docile the moment you strike a chord. A cutlass? Useless. A pistol? Pointless. Your banjo is now your deadliest weapon.
Know Your Serpentine Prey
Not all snakes are created equal. There are four color variants, and their payouts range from pocket change to a king’s ransom. Here’s the breakdown:
| Snake Type | Base Value (Gold) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common Green | ~300 | Common as barnacles. Barely worth the risk. |
| Red-Striped | ~800 | A decent find for beginners. |
| Black-Scaled | ~1,500 | Now we’re talking. Handle with care. |
| Golden | ~2,800 | The holy grail. Will make you rich or dead. |
If you’re going to dance with danger, aim for the gold. Literally. The golden snake is the only one that makes the whole eye-bleeding ordeal worthwhile. Anything less, and you might as well be delivering chickens.
The Delicate Art of the Catch
Approach a snake, and it will immediately try to turn your face into a pincushion of venom. Some spit from a distance, others lunge. The counter? Play music. Pull out your instrument and start a sea shanty; the snake will sway hypnotically, giving you a window to scoop it into the basket with secondary interaction keys. But the job’s not done—the moment you stop playing, it gets feisty again. You can either carry the basket in one hand while a crewmate follows you playing the tune, or you can endure the poison and sprint for the ship, chomping bananas to stay alive. Pro tip: teamwork makes the dream work, and also prevents embarrassing deaths on the beach.
Transporting the Biting Cargo
Once aboard, don’t just dump the basket on the deck. That’s a one-way ticket to a crew-wide poison fiesta. Snakes left exposed will spit venom, damage other loot, and even catch fire if your ship is under attack. Instead, stow them below deck—preferably in a pile with your treasure chests. They act as a prickly security system: any boarder who wanders down will get a face full of toxin, giving you precious seconds to regroup. Your snakes become scaly sentinels. Just don’t forget about them during a storm, or you’ll return to a very expensive pile of dead reptiles.
Contracts: The Key to Big Bucks
Selling snakes to a random merchant will net you a pittance. To really cash in, you need a Merchant Contract—those blue-bordered scrolls found in bottles, barrels, or journals. These contracts multiply your payout by a factor of ten and specify a delivery outpost. The catch? A ticking clock. Fail to deliver before time runs out, and your golden snake becomes glorified noodle soup. Always carry a pocket watch and plan a route before hunting. Nothing is sadder than sailing full-speed into port only to see the contract expire a minute before docking. Plan smart, sail fast, and maybe avoid the kraken.
The Bug That Keeps on Giving
As of 2026, a notorious yet beloved bug still floats around the Sea of Thieves: you can often sell contracted animals to any outpost, not just the designated one. This little glitch cuts travel time in half and relieves a mountain of pressure. Even more cheekily, the bug sometimes allows unlimited selling of the same animal type—if you’re brave enough to gather a fleet of golden snakes, you can clean out a merchant’s coffers. It’s one of the rare times a bug actually benefits pirates instead of ruining their day. Exploit it while it lasts, because Rare might one day patch it… maybe.
Final Words for Aspiring Snake Oil Tycoons
Snake deliveries remain a thrilling, high-stakes venture in Sea of Thieves. With a bit of melody, a trusty basket, and a contract in hand, you can turn a slithering menace into a treasure hoard. And if all else fails, at least you’ll have a hilarious story of how your entire crew danced the poison jig mid-voyage. So grab your instrument, shove those snakes below deck, and happy hunting! Just maybe keep a bucket of water handy—no one likes snake-flavored grog.