Gunpowder Skeletons

Gunpowder Skeletons are a kind of Skeleton that wields a Gunpowder Barrel, with which it chases pirates down and cackles madly as all around are sent to Davy Jone's in a world shattering explosion. They were introduced in the Gunpowder Skeletons Bilge Rat Adventure.

Mechanics
The skeleton will activate the fuse so long as a target remains in range, else the fuse is deactivated. Gunpowder Barrel Skeletons move roughly at the same speed as a pirate's walking speed.

During Athena's Fortune Voyages and the Fort of the Damned (Raid), some Skeletons can spawn with Stronghold Gunpowder Barrels. Stronghold Barrel wielding Skeletons are much slower than any other Skeletons.

Pirates can also detonate the Gunpowder Barrel, which can be useful for destroying other Skeletons. Pirates can damage the actual Skeletons by shooting them in the back, legs, or head. Should the Skeleton perish nonexplosively, it will drop the barrel, which can then be used like any other Gunpowder Barrel.

Gunpowder Barrels can be pulled from the hands of Skeletons with a Harpoon, after which the Skeleton itself will die.

Types of Gunpowder Skeletons
There are currently three types of Gunpowder Skeletons that can be encountered in Sea of Thieves:
 * Regular Gunpowder Skeletons, carrying the regular Gunpowder Barrel. These Skeletons can appear in any type and pretty much anywhere where regular Skeletons show up. While Skeleton Captains don't generally carry Gunpowder Barrels, players can encounter a host of Gunpowder Skeleton Captains during an Order of Souls Emissary Quest.
 * Stronghold Gunpowder Skeletons, carrying the Stronghold Gunpowder Barrel. These Skeletons have a rare chance to appear during Voyages related to the Athena's Fortune Company. Shadow of Fate versions of these Skeletons can appear during the final wave of a Fort of the Damned Raid.
 * Ancient Black Powder Skeletons, carrying the Keg of Ancient Black Powder. One of these Skeletons appears during the final chapter of an Athena's Run Voyage, after digging up one of the Treasure Map X's.