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How to Build and Upgrade Ships in Windrose
Setting sail in Windrose on a basic dinghy will only get you so far before Blackbeard’s brutal fleets send you to the ocean floor. To dominate the high seas and transport your hard-earned loot safely, you need a vessel that strikes fear into the hearts of rival pirates. By establishing a proper shipyard and investing in top-tier armaments, you ensure your crew is ready for any boarding party or broadside attack. In this Nitrado article, we walk you through exactly how to build and upgrade your ships, turning your humble settlement into a true maritime stronghold.
Windrose Building & Upgrading Ships
Navigating the waters of Windrose requires constantly improving your maritime capabilities. From patching up your very first vessel to outfitting a massive warship with epic-tier cannons, establishing a fleet is a highly rewarding process. Here is everything you need to know about getting your shipyard operations up and running.
How to Get Your First Ship
While you begin your adventure with a tiny dinghy, securing a proper pirate ship requires some dedicated scavenging. Following the tutorial, Dr. Galen provides two critical main quests: I Need a Bigger Boat and Rescuing the Crew. Completing these objectives allows you to repair a grounded vessel and recruit the seven sailors needed to man the helm.
Gather the following resources to repair your first real ship and tow it out to sea:
- 100 Wood
- 20 Nails
- 10 Rope
- 20 Coarse Fabric
Taking command of this restored vessel grants the speed and durability required to begin exploring the wider archipelago.
Unlocking and Building New Ships
Expanding your fleet requires a dedicated dock to house and manage your vessels. Upon completing the initial ship quests, you unlock the ability to construct a Wharf. Navigate to Build Menu > Utilities > Wharf to place the dock on a shoreline within the range of a Bonfire. Accessing the Shipyard tab at the Wharf allows you to construct entirely new vessels.
The very first ship type you unlock after the tutorial is the Ketch. To acquire larger, more intimidating vessels, you must visit the provisioner for the Brethren of the Coast faction to purchase their building plans.
| Ship Blueprint | Reputation Required | Cost | Faction Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketch | None | Resources Only | N/A (Unlocked after tutorial) |
| Brig | Level 2 | 1,000 Piastre | Brethren of the Coast |
| Frigate | Level 4 | 3,000 Piastre | Brethren of the Coast |
Every ship type comes in three distinct architectural options, allowing you to tailor the vessel to your crew’s needs:
- Stock: A perfectly balanced option for general sailing and exploration.
- Brethren: Boasts more health and cargo space but sails much slower. Excellent for long-distance resource transportation.
- Blackbeard: Features less health and cargo space, but moves significantly faster and equips heavier, stronger cannons. Perfect for aggressive naval warfare.
Upgrading Your Ship Gear for Peak Performance
Taking enemy cannon fire will quickly sink an unprotected ship. To reinforce your hull and increase your firepower, build a Shipwright’s Workshop.
Your ship loadout consists of four main gear categories. You cannot modify gear while it is attached to your ship. You must dock at your Wharf, move the ship gear into your personal inventory, and then carry it to the Shipwright’s Workshop to process upgrades.
Cannons (Primary Damage)
Cannons are your primary source of damage during naval combat. While basic cannons are crafted early on, premium named cannons must be purchased from faction vendors. These blueprints come in three distinct weight classes.
| Cannon Weight Class | Reputation Required | Cost | Faction Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Pounders | Level 2 | 300 Piastre | Rogue Buccaneers |
| 24-Pounders | Level 3 | 400 Piastre | Rogue Buccaneers |
| 36-Pounders | Level 4 | 500 Piastre | Rogue Buccaneers |
Each weight class features three named variants. Ascending these named variants unlocks game-changing reload and damage buffs.
| Cannon Type | Rare Effect | Epic Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Devastating | Hitting a target with >50% of a volley applies the Raked effect (25s). All Damage to affected targets increases by 10%. Stacks up to 3 times. | Reload speed increased by 15%. |
| Perfectly Ordered | After reloading, hitting an enemy within 4 seconds increases reloading speed by 30% for 22s. | Aiming speed increased by 30%. |
| Tempered | After reloading, waiting 6 seconds before firing increases the next volley’s Damage by 40%. | Hitting a Weak Spot deals 20% bonus Damage. |
Note: Always check your ship’s weight limit. Only the Blackbeard Ketch, Blackbeard Brig, and all Frigates can support 24-pounder cannons. The devastating 36-pounder cannons are exclusive to the Blackbeard Frigate.
Hull Modifications (Defense)
Your Hull is what keeps you alive during chaotic naval combat. Hull Modifications increase your ship’s defense stat and heavily reduce incoming damage. Ascending this gear provides massive boosts to your repair kits and defensive stacks.
| Hull Modification | Reputation Required | Cost | Rare Effect | Epic Effect | Faction Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keelhold | Level 2 | 300 Piastre | Taking damage no longer affects the duration of repair kits. | Repair Kit effect duration is increased by 30%. | Smugglers of Port Royal |
| Standfast | Level 2 | 300 Piastre | Grants 5 stacks of Standfast. Taking damage consumes 1 stack and reduces incoming damage by 25% for 3s. | Provides an additional 3 stacks of the Standfast effect. | Smugglers of Port Royal |
| Iron Resolve | Level 2 | 300 Piastre | As Ship Health drops, Damage Resistance increases (up to 25% at 30% Ship Health). | Repair Kits effectiveness increased by 30%. | Smugglers of Port Royal |
Naval Tactics (Passive Buffs)
Unlike cannons and hulls, Naval Tactics cannot be upgraded or ascended. Instead, these books provide a permanent passive benefit to your ship.
| Naval Tactics | Reputation Required | Cost | Passive Effect | Faction Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I: Ambush | Level 3 | 500 Piastre | If you neither deal nor take Damage for 2 minutes, the next volley deals 130% increased Damage. | Smugglers of Port Royal |
| II: No Quarter | Level 3 | 500 Piastre | Destroying an enemy ship within 50 meters restores 30% Ship Health over 10 seconds. | Smugglers of Port Royal |
| III: Stretch The Supply | Level 3 | 500 Piastre | Increases consumable duration: Repair Kits by 30% and Grog by 200%. | Smugglers of Port Royal |
| IV: Shipshape | Level 3 | 500 Piastre | While out of combat, restores 3% Ship Health every 3 seconds. | Smugglers of Port Royal |
| V: Silence The Guns | Level 3 | 500 Piastre | Hitting an enemy applies Broken Rhythm for 30s, reducing their Reload Speed and Damage by 20%. | Smugglers of Port Royal |
Boarding Party Gear
Boarding Party Gear increases the combat power of your crew during boarding actions. It is crafted at the Shipwright’s Workshop at Uncommon rarity and cannot be ascended. However, you can upgrade it from Level 1 to Level 15. High-level Boarding Party Gear allows your crew to easily overpower enemies when you board a ship, making the raid faster and much safer.
Ascending Cannons and Hulls
To unlock the powerful Epic Effects for your cannons and hull bracing, you must ascend them from Rare to Epic rarity. With the specific gear in your personal inventory, access the Shipwright’s Workshop. By spending Tumbaga Ingots, you ascend the gear, immediately unlocking its secondary ability. Keep in mind that Naval Tactics and Boarding Party Gear cannot be ascended.
Recommended Ships to Command
Building an unstoppable fleet takes time, so deciding which ship to construct first depends heavily on your current progression and what your crew values most. Your journey naturally dictates your shipyard’s capabilities.
As you sail further from your starting settlement, you will unlock and build ships in this distinct progression order:
- Ketch: Your dependable early-game vessel, unlocked immediately after the tutorial and perfect for exploring the initial zones.
- Brig: The natural mid-game upgrade. You will need to venture into the next major area to gather the specific resources required to construct it.
- Frigate: The ultimate maritime warship. Building this vessel requires current endgame resources salvaged from the most dangerous, subsequent territories.
Once you have the required resources for your next ship, your choice comes down to three architectural options based on your playstyle:
- Stock: The standard choice for captains who want a perfectly balanced sailing experience.
- Brethren: The best option if you highly value ship health, maximum survivability, and massive cargo space for long scavenging runs.
- Blackbeard: The definitive choice if you prioritize pure combat ability, fast travel speeds, and equipping the heaviest cannons available to sink enemy fleets.
Command the Windrose Tides
Mastering naval warfare in Windrose requires preparation, tactical upgrades, and a steady supply of resources. By salvaging shipwrecks, rescuing loyal crew members, and strategically aligning with factions for premium blueprints, you establish a fleet capable of conquering the archipelago. Take the helm of your newly fortified vessels, optimize your ship gear for maximum destruction, and carve your unstoppable legacy across the open ocean.
Helpful Resources
Best Weapons in Windrose – Tier List
Best Armor in Windrose – Complete Set Guide
How to use Fast Travel in Windrose
