If the Riddle says to “Strike a Shanty”, “with instruments to play a number”, or “a tune be struck?”, then you must play your instrument at the location it tells you to find. If the Riddle says “Read me and it shall appear”, you must read the Riddle at the location it tells you. If the Riddle says to “Lift a Beacon”, “Lift ye flame high”, or “A light held up towards the sky” you must raise your Lantern at the location it tells you.
If you are having trouble finding any of the landmarks, there’s an official guide which shows the location of every riddle landmark. [1] X Research source
Be careful of nearby ships as they may want to sink you and take the treasure for themselves
Be careful as some islands look similar to each other (e. g. Boulder Cay and Chicken Isle) so make sure to compare certain noticeable features like trees, rocks, and red plants.
Use your ship’s map to find out where you’ll be once you set foot on the island Use natural landmarks to find your way toward the X. Look for nearby pathways to lead you. Use a compass to orient yourself if you get lost.
If you are a full galleon, you’ll have to be right on top of the X to find it. If you are a solo sloop, you can be in the general area of the X to find it. Be cautious when digging up the treasure as skeletons may appear.
Be careful of nearby ships as they may want to sink you and take the treasure for themselves.
Golden Wayfinder Compasses do not point exactly at its target as the needle will constantly sway, but it does point in the general direction.
There is a chance when you dig up the map piece Skeleton will appear and if you kill them, you’ll receive some Gold Hoarder Trinkets. There is also a chance that more than one map piece may be on one island.
Map pieces can show the X, other parts of the island where the X will be, or just water as it is random which piece you’ll end up with.
Moon Totem: “The moon shines bright within the island’s large cave” Inside the Northern side of the Island’s inner Cave system. [2] X Research source Snake Totem: “The snake slithers in sand under the island’s grand archway” Under the North-Western Stone Arch. [3] X Research source Scarab Totem: “The scarab hides in the cave near the island’s tears” Right inside the Cave opening by the Eastern waterfall. [4] X Research source Boar Totem: “The boar cowers in sand beneath the vast cliff on the island’s each beach” Amidst the rocks on the South-Eastern beach. [5] X Research source Shark Totem: “The shark awaits in lonely rocks near twin palms, beneath the great rock spine of the island” Amidst the Northern cliff-face under the Island’s central Arch. [6] X Research source Fetcher’s Rest: “The eagle perches in a glowing cave near the island’s central arch” In the central cave system, next to Eagle cave paintings. [7] X Research source Ashen Reaches: “The sun sets against rocks within the island’s northwest tunnel” In the middle of a northern cave system cutting through the island. [8] X Research source
When grabbing treasure on the scaffolding drop it off the side so it can land on the ground to once again minimize travel time and maximize the amount of treasure. You can also pick up the piles of gold for extra money but do this last as they give little gold compared to the chests. If you have a full crew have one person getting the Medallions for the Chest of Ancient Tribute, one person grabbing and dropping chests, one person getting the chests out of the vault and one grabbing the gold piles.
Do this first when entering a vault as the Chest of Ancient Tribute sells for around 3000 coins. You don’t need all three medallions to open the chest. Get one medallion to reveal the first the symbol, then match up the fourth symbol with the first and finally use it to figure out the other two.
If the door closes before you could get everything out, just go for the gold piles.
Be careful of nearby ships as they may want to sink you and take the treasure for themselves.
