After you build the Wharf and Ketch, it’s time to start collecting materials to build your next Windrose ship and accompanying gear upgrades. It’s not a hard process, but since ship plans are so pricey, I get the desire to feel out your options before making any commitments.
That’s where I come in, having misspent much of my own piastre so you don’t have to. I’ve bought every ship and available upgrade in Windrose so far, so I’ve compiled a list of all the Brig and Frigate materials required to build your favorite model. I’ve also included a few suggestions on the best Windrose ship builds for those of you struggling to make a decision.
The Best Windrose ships and equipment
I couldn’t name just one vessel as the best Windrose ship, so instead, I’m suggesting you build the Brethren Brig first and then save for the Blackbeard Frigate later. They’ll share the same gear, so you shouldn’t have to spend much more, but the Frigate’s extra battery and slight stat boost over your starter Ketch make it too good to go ignored.
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Keep in mind that there’s only one Boarding Party Gear in early access, so you’ll have to rely on upgrades at the Shipwright’s workshop to improve your boarding power. I would also prioritize upgrades to the Keelhold Hull Bracing. The Iron Resolve was fine enough, but removing the interruption to repair kits with the Keelhold was truly a game-changer.
Best Windrose ship: Brethren Brig, for mid to late game
(Image credit: Kraken Express)
It’s tempting to stick with the Ketch and save for the Frigate, but I really struggled with some of the big sea battles required to progress the main story and faction quests. The Brethren Brig upgrade (with the extra ship gear) was how I finally managed to board the Unsinkable in the Needle in a Haystack main quest.
I suggest buying a few ship upgrades first, like the Hull and Devastating 12-Pounder, then go ahead and build the Brethren Brig. Also, keep investing in the same ship gear to conserve your resources. The upgrades aren’t locked to any one ship, so you can pop them out of your old vessel and add them to the Blackbeard Frigate later.
HP: 90,000
Max Speed: 18
Cargo Size: 32
Main Battery: 6 guns, 12 lbs
Secondary Battery: None
Restoration Cost: Medium
Swipe to scroll horizontallyBrethren Brig ship gear
Gear slot
Item
Effect
Source
Cannon
Devastating 12-Pounders
Hitting a target with more than 50% of volley applies Raked for 25s. All damage dealt to affected target is increased by 10% (Up to 3 stacks)
Buccaneers Provisioner: 300 piastre
Hull
Keelhold Hull Bracing
Taking damage no longer affects the duration of repair kits
Smugglers Provisioner: 300 piastre
Naval tactics
Naval Tactics V: Silence the Guns
Hitting an enemy applies Broken Rhythm for 30s, reducing reload speed and damage by 20%
Smugglers Provisioner: 500 piastre
Boarding gear
Boarding Party Gear (Upgraded)
Increases power of your crew while boarding enemy ships
–
Best Windrose ship: Blackbeard Frigate, for the endgame
By the time I upgraded to the Blackbeard Frigate, I had no trouble surviving with the extra cannon and my other gear upgrades (and I was just better at the game by that point, too). That’s why I didn’t bother with the Brethren Build, despite its HP boost and increased cargo space.
The Brethren Frigate seems fine enough, but I see no point in prioritizing cargo space when it’s so easy to return to camp or unload wares at any Windrose faction buyer. You also don’t need the increased HP when you’ve got a secondary cannon and a slight speed bump. I always need a hefty supply of repair kits, but my enemies don’t last long enough to whittle away all of my ship’s HP.
HP: 110,000
Max Speed: 20
Cargo Size: 28
Main Battery: 12 guns, 24 or 36 lbs
Secondary Battery: 6 guns, 12 or 24 lbs
Restoration Cost: High
Swipe to scroll horizontallyFrigate ship gear
Gear slot
Item
Effect
Source
Cannon
Devastating 12-Pounders
Hitting a target with more than 50% of volley applies Raked for 25s. All damage dealt to affected target is increased by 10% (Up to 3 stacks)
Buccaneers Provisioner: 300 piastre
Secondary Cannon
24-Pounders: Perfectly Ordered
After reloading, hitting an enemy within 4s decreases reloading speed by 30% for 22s
Buccaneers Provisioner: 300 piastre
Hull
Keelhold Hull Bracing
Taking damage no longer affects the duration of repair kits
Smugglers Provisioner: 300 piastre
Naval tactics
Naval Tactics V: Silence the Guns
Hitting an enemy applies Broken Rhythm for 30s, reducing reload speed and damage by 20%
Smugglers Provisioner: 500 piastre
Boarding gear
Boarding Party Gear (Upgraded)
Increases power of your crew while boarding enemy ships
–
Ketch materials and stats
(Image credit: Kraken Express)Obtain the Ketch plans by completing two main quests: Rescuing the Crew and I need a Bigger BoatRepairs: (20) Wood, (5) Coarse FabricSwipe to scroll horizontallyKetch materials
Item
Amount
Source
Nails
100
Workbench Recipe:
(20) Copper Ingots
Wood
150
Gathered from trees
Coarse Fabric
40
Workbench Recipe:
(120) Plant Fiber
Rope
30
Workbench Recipe:
(90) Plant Fiber
Ketch models
Ketch
HP: 50,000
Max Speed: 19
Cargo Size: 28
Main Battery: 3 guns, 12 lbs
Secondary Battery: None
Restoration Cost: Low
Brethren Ketch
HP: 65,000
Max Speed: 17
Cargo Size: 36
Main Battery: 3 guns, 12 lbs
Secondary Battery: None
Restoration Cost: Low
Blackbeard Ketch
HP: 35,000
Max Speed: 21
Cargo Size: 20
Main Battery: 3 guns, 12 or 24 lbs
Secondary Battery: None
Restoration Cost: Low
Brig materials and stats
(Image credit: Kraken Express)Obtain the Brig Plans by reaching Rank 2 with the Brethren of the Coast and buying Ship Design: Brig (1,000 piastre)Repairs: (30) Wooden Planks, (5) Linen FabricSwipe to scroll horizontallyBrig materials
Item
Amount
Source
Nails
200
Workbench Recipe:
(40) Copper Ingots
Copper Ingot
80
Smelting Furnace Recipe:
(480) Copper Ore
(80) Charcoal
Timber
40
Workbench Recipe:
(120) Hardwood
Wooden Plank
200
Workbench Recipe:
(400) Wood
Linen Fabric
40
Spinning Wheel Recipe:
(120) Flax Fiber
Coarse Fabric
120
Workbench Recipe:
(360) Plant Fiber
Rope
40
Workbench Recipe:
(120) Plant Fiber
Shipwright’s Tools
30
Brethren of the Coast Provisioner: 300 piastre
Brig models
Brig
HP: 70,000
Max Speed: 20
Cargo Size: 24
Main Battery: 6 guns, 12 lbs
Secondary Battery: None
Restoration Cost: Medium
Brethren Brig
HP: 90,000
Max Speed: 18
Cargo Size: 32
Main Battery: 6 guns, 12 lbs
Secondary Battery: None
Restoration Cost: Medium
Blackbeard Brig
HP: 50,000
Max Speed: 22
Cargo Size: 16
Main Battery: 6 guns, 12 or 24 lbs
Secondary Battery: None
Restoration Cost: Medium
Frigate materials and stats
(Image credit: Kraken Express)Obtain the Frigate Plans by reaching Rank 4 with the Brethren of the Coast and buying Ship Design: Frigate (3,000 piastre)Repairs: (30) Tarred Planks, (20) Timber, (10) Tarred FabricSwipe to scroll horizontallyFrigate materials
Item
Amount
Source
Nails
300
Workbench Recipe:
(60) Copper Ingots
Foothills Iron Ingot
120
Smelting Furnace Recipe:
(360) Foothills Iron Ore
(120) Charcoal
Wooden Plank
320
Workbench Recipe:
(640) Wood
Timber
160
Workbench Recipe:
(480) Hardwood
Tarred Planks
80
Workbench Recipe:
(80) Wooden Planks
(80) Tar
Linen Fabric
240
Spinning Wheel Recipe:
(720) Flax Fiber
Tarred Fabric
80
Tanning Rack Recipe:
(80) Linen Fabric
(80) Tar
Rope
80
Workbench Recipe:
(240) Plant Fiber
Shipwright’s Tools
50
Brethren of the Coast Provisioner: 500 piastre
Frigate models
Frigate
HP: 160,000
Max Speed: 18
Cargo Size: 40
Main Battery: 12 guns, 24 lbs
Secondary Battery: 6 guns, 12 lbs
Restoration Cost: High
Brethren Frigate
HP: 200,000
Max Speed: 16
Cargo Size: 52
Main Battery: 12 guns, 24 or 36 lbs
Secondary Battery: 6 guns, 12 or 24 lbs
Restoration Cost: High
Blackbeard Frigate
HP: 110,000
Max Speed: 20
Cargo Size: 28
Main Battery: 12 guns, 24 or 36 lbs
Secondary Battery: 6 guns, 12 or 24 lbs Restoration Cost: High