The Hunting Spear is one of the most unusual weapons in Sea of Thieves. It is part melee weapon, part throwing weapon, part hunting tool, and part chaos starter during ship fights. Used well, it can finish animals quickly, pressure pirates from awkward angles, and create openings that a cutlass or pistol cannot.
This guide explains how the Hunting Spear works, how to use melee and charged throws, where it fits in PvE and PvP, and how to counter players who rely on it.
What Is the Hunting Spear?
The Hunting Spear is a throwable and melee-capable weapon in Sea of Thieves. It is designed around direct hits, timing, and commitment. Unlike a pistol or Eye of Reach, the spear is not just a simple ranged shot. You can stab with it at close range, throw it after charging, and recover or replace it depending on the situation.
The weapon is especially useful because it fits multiple parts of the sandbox:
- Hunting animals such as boars.
- Fighting PvE enemies on islands.
- Pressuring players in close and mid-range combat.
- Creating sudden burst damage during boarding attempts.
- Forcing enemies to move during ship fights.
The Hunting Spear rewards players who can predict movement. If you miss throws constantly, it feels clumsy. If you land them at the right moment, it can feel extremely punishing for the target.
How To Get a Hunting Spear
Hunting Spears can be found and equipped like other weapons and tools made available through the game’s weapon system. Once you have access to the spear, you can select it as part of your combat loadout and use it alongside another weapon.
Before heading into PvP with it, spend time testing the spear on islands against animals and PvE enemies. The throw timing, charge feel, and travel arc take practice, and missing a charged throw against another pirate can leave you exposed.
Hunting Spear Controls and Attacks
The Hunting Spear has two main functions: close-range attacks and charged throws.
| Action | Purpose | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Quick melee attack | Close-range poking damage | Finishing weakened enemies or animals |
| Charged throw | High-commitment ranged attack | Opening fights, punishing predictable movement, hunting |
| Recovery or replacement | Maintains spear supply | After missed or landed throws, depending on location |
The charged throw is the signature move. It gives the spear its threat, but it also makes your timing obvious if you charge in plain sight. Good players will strafe, jump, break line of sight, or rush you while you prepare the throw.
Best Uses for the Hunting Spear in PvE
The Hunting Spear is strongest in PvE when you can control the start of the fight. Against animals, island enemies, and slower targets, a charged throw can begin the encounter with heavy pressure.
Good PvE uses include:
- Opening a boar hunt with a charged throw.
- Damaging enemies before they enter melee range.
- Finishing enemies while conserving firearm ammunition.
- Clearing isolated threats during island voyages.
- Adding burst damage before switching to a gun or cutlass.
The spear is less comfortable when you are surrounded by fast enemies. If multiple skeletons, Ocean Crawlers, or phantoms are closing in, do not spend too long charging throws while taking damage from every side.
Using the Hunting Spear Against Boars
The Hunting Spear is a natural fit for boar hunting. Wild Boars and Grand Boars can charge, flee, and heal from fruit if they get space. Starting the fight with a spear throw gives you immediate damage before the boar can begin controlling the chase.
For the safest boar hunt:
- Track the boar quietly and get close without alerting it too early.
- Use a charged spear throw as your opener.
- Dodge the charge rather than trying to face-tank it.
- Follow up with a firearm or short melee attacks.
- Keep pressure on the boar so it cannot run back to fruit and heal.
If you are hunting a Grand Boar, fight in open ground. A missed spear throw in tight terrain can turn into a messy chase through rocks, trees, and cliffs.
Using the Hunting Spear in PvP
In PvP, the Hunting Spear is a pressure weapon. It can punish pirates who move predictably, hold ladders, stand on cannons, or run in straight lines across a deck. It is less forgiving than a gun because the throw has commitment, but it can surprise players who are focused on repairs or naval combat.
Strong PvP situations include:
- Throwing at a pirate repairing mast or hull.
- Pressuring someone on cannons during a broadside.
- Using a spear throw before boarding to force movement.
- Finishing a pirate who is low after pistol or blunder damage.
- Holding an angle where the enemy must move through a narrow path.
The spear works best when the enemy has limited movement choices. A pirate climbing a ladder, raising anchor, repairing a mast, or running below deck is much easier to predict than someone freely dodging on an open beach.
Best Loadouts With the Hunting Spear
The Hunting Spear should be paired with a weapon that covers its weaknesses. Since spear throws require timing and commitment, a reliable backup weapon matters.
| Loadout | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting Spear + Pistol | Flexible mid-range pressure | Requires consistent aim |
| Hunting Spear + Eye of Reach | Strong ranged burst | Weak if rushed at close range |
| Hunting Spear + Blunderbuss | Dangerous on ships and ladders | Limited long-range threat |
| Hunting Spear + Cutlass | Strong mobility and melee follow-up | No firearm backup |
For general play, Hunting Spear plus pistol is the safest all-round setup. For boarding and tight ship combat, spear plus blunderbuss can be brutal. For island hunting and PvE, spear plus Eye of Reach gives strong opening damage at range.
Hunting Spear Tips for Ship Combat
The Hunting Spear is not a replacement for cannons, but it can matter during close ship fights. If your ship is side by side with another crew, a spear user can pressure exposed pirates on deck while the cannon line keeps firing.
Use the spear to:
- Interrupt pirates on cannons.
- Threaten boarders climbing ladders.
- Force helm players to move off the wheel.
- Hit enemies repairing mast, anchor, or capstan.
- Create panic before a teammate boards.
Do not stand in the open charging throws while the enemy has cannon angle. If you get knocked off or killed before throwing, the weapon does nothing. Use cover, mast, railings, and timing to expose yourself only when the throw is ready.
How To Aim the Hunting Spear
The spear is easiest to land when you aim where the target will be, not where they are. This is especially important against pirates who are sprinting, jumping, or climbing.
Practical aiming tips:
- Aim at predictable actions, not random movement.
- Throw when the target commits to a ladder, cannon, repair, or stair path.
- Use short sightlines where dodging is harder.
- Do not overcharge in full view if the enemy is watching you.
- Practice on animals and PvE enemies before relying on it in PvP.
The spear becomes much stronger when you stop treating it like a gun. It is not only about raw aim; it is about timing the throw when the opponent has already committed to an action.
How To Counter the Hunting Spear
The best counter to the Hunting Spear is movement. A spear user wants you to move predictably or stay locked into an animation. If you keep changing direction and avoid narrow paths, the throw becomes much harder to land.
Counter tips:
- Strafe and break line of sight when you see a charged throw.
- Do not climb ladders directly into a spear user’s aim unless you have support.
- Use blunderbombs or gun pressure to interrupt the throw.
- Rush spear users if they are too focused on charging at close range.
- Avoid repairing or raising anchor in obvious sightlines unless a teammate covers you.
The spear is dangerous, but it is not unbeatable. It becomes weaker when the user is forced to react quickly instead of setting up a clean throw.
Is the Hunting Spear Good for Solo Players?
The Hunting Spear can be good for solo players, but it is not always the easiest weapon. Solo pirates need reliable tools because one mistake can send them to the Ferry of the Damned with nobody to recover the fight.
For solo PvE, the spear is useful for hunting and opening fights. For solo PvP, it depends on confidence. If you can land throws under pressure, it gives you surprise burst damage. If you miss often, a pistol, Eye of Reach, cutlass, or blunderbuss may be more consistent.
Common Hunting Spear Mistakes
- Charging throws in the open: This gives enemies time to dodge or shoot you.
- Using it like a pistol: The spear rewards prediction, not quick snapshots.
- Forgetting your backup weapon: After a missed throw, you need a reliable follow-up plan.
- Chasing too hard after animals: Boars and other targets can punish messy movement.
- Ignoring ship positioning: A spear is useless if cannon pressure sinks you first.
Quick Hunting Spear Summary
- Use charged throws to open fights or punish predictable movement.
- Pair the spear with a reliable backup weapon.
- Use it for boar hunting, island PvE, boarding pressure, and close ship fights.
- Do not charge throws in the open while enemies are aiming at you.
- Counter spear users with strafing, line of sight, pressure, and blunderbombs.
- Practice timing before relying on the spear in serious PvP.
The Hunting Spear is at its best when you think ahead. It is not the easiest weapon in Sea of Thieves, but it gives pirates a flexible tool for hunting, pressure, and surprise damage. Learn when to throw, when to stab, and when to switch weapons, and the spear becomes much more than a novelty.
