Tiers

Tiers are the levels of quests you can get for your Voyages. Tiers are unlocked at every 5 levels in your Reputation for each of the three main Factions. As you earn reputation for completing voyage objectives, and turning in random loot, you will gain access to higher tiers of voyages. Your tiers are only counting for the faction you bought it from and can only be bought at the faction you reached that level of. Purchasing new tiers unlocks better voyages, as well as new cosmetic Items to purchase.

Difficulty level of, and quality of loot from, voyages increases as you unlock higher tiers. For example: Unlocking the highest tiers on all factions allows you to become Pirate Legend, granting access to the Athena's Fortune Hideout, where Athena's Voyages can be purchased from the Athena's Fortune Trading Company. Athena's Voyages are not tiered.
 * Gold Hoarders: Lower tiered voyages will consist of one or a few smaller islands across short distances, with only a few low-value chests to dig up. Higher tiered voyages will include more islands across longer distances, larger islands and riddles, and yield high-value chests. Higher tiered voyages will often be multi-chaptered.
 * Order of Souls: Lower tiered voyages will consist of one or a few smaller islands across short distances, with only a few low-value Skeleton captain skulls to collect. Higher tiered voyages will include more islands across longer distances, larger islands, and yield high-value Skeleton captain skulls. Higher tiered voyages will often be multi-chaptered.
 * Merchant Alliance: Lower tiered animal voyages start out with low-value white and red speckled chickens, including pigs and snakes (and progressing to higher-valued animals such as black and gold variants) as higher tiers are unlocked. Low-tier Cargo Runs include few items, adding more items as higher tiers are unlocked.