Windrose has a modest selection of ships for players to choose from. Each comes with its own benefits and caveats. This guide will focus on addressing the challenges posed for each stage of the game rather than just maximizing your damage or durability.
Ketch: Early Game Skirmisher
The early game of Windrose revolves around exploration and understanding where to find resources. The ships players will face during this stage of the game are not all too difficult unless you wander too far. Aside from exploration, the main challenge at this stage of the game is the lack of resources. Because of this, the build will focus on being efficient to avoid wasting resources.
Best Build
|
Variant |
Stock |
Effect |
|---|---|---|
|
Main Gun |
12-Pounders: Tempered |
|
|
Hull |
Hull Bracing: Standfast |
|
|
Combat Orders |
Naval Tactics IV: Shipshape |
While out of combat, restores 3% of ship health every 3 seconds |
|
Crew Power |
Boarding Party Gear |
N/A |
Why
The Ketch is the very first ship players have access to. It is the quintessential early-game ship, bare-bones but serviceable and nimble. This build will use the Stock Ketch because of its decent overall stats. With 50,000 Health and a respectable 19 Knots Speed, the ship is more than capable of dealing with most early game enemies.
Using the Tempered variant for the cannons is the optimal choice. Having 40% increased damage for 6 seconds after reloading makes a huge difference in the early game, when enemies are noticeably weaker. This bonus damage makes every broadside and cannon volley much more impactful.
Since we are trying to conserve resources to reach the next ship as soon as possible, this build will use Naval Tactics IV. This Combat Order is great for conserving your repair kits since you can regain ship health passively outside of combat. This effect saves a metric ton of resources for the early game, essentially speeding up your progress towards the Brig.
Finally, for the Hull bracing, we'll be using the Standfast thanks to its amazing ability to provide a 25% damage reduction while you have charges. Each time you are damaged, you expend 1 charge and gain the damage reduction effect for 3 seconds. This effect makes it the best choice for the early game, as you wouldn't want to burn through resources constantly repairing the ship.
Brig: Mid Game Bruiser and Hauler
The mid-game of Windrose is all about the grind. Gathering materials, sailing the seas, discovering new resources for those juicy Key Discoveries, and preparing for the endgame. Having said that, the ship of choice should also reflect that, and none are more suited for the task than the Brethren Variant of the Brig.
Best Build
|
Variant |
Brethren |
Effect |
|---|---|---|
|
Main Gun |
12-Pounders: Perfectly Ordered |
|
|
Hull |
Hull Bracing: Keelhold |
|
|
Combat Orders |
Naval Tactics III: Stretch the Supply |
Increase duration of consumables - Repair kits by 30% and Grog by 200% |
|
Crew Power |
Boarding Party Gear |
N/A |
Why
The Brethren Variant of the Brig is an ocean juggernaut. With an astounding 90,000 Health and massive storage space, exploring and carrying that booty you found on an island home won't be a problem. It has the same number of guns as the stock brig, but much more Health and cargo capacity.
Since we are in the mid-game and have more resources to spare, with much less maneuverability, sustaining the ship in combat through repairs is a must. For this, the best choice would be stacking Naval Tactics III: Stretch the Supply with Hull Bracing: Keelhold.
These 2 ship components work amazingly together when it comes to sustaining your ship. You're essentially enabling your crew to make field repairs even while taking damage, while also making your repair kits much more efficient.
As for your cannons, taking the Perfectly Ordered cannon variant allows you to have better damage uptime. Alternatively, if you plan to face larger targets, taking the Devastating variant is better thanks to the stacking damage bonus.
Frigate: Endgame Destroyer
Finally, we reach the endgame, where it's all about being the biggest and most terrifying pirate ever to set sail on the ocean. Once the Frigate has been unlocked and has been built, you have essentially turned the ocean into your personal sandbox. At this stage of the game, it's just about min-maxing and completing personal goals, and this ship is perfect for that.
Best Build
|
Variant |
Blackbeard |
Effect |
|---|---|---|
|
Main Gun |
36-Pounders: Perfectly Ordered |
|
|
Auxiliary Gun |
24-Pounders: Devastating |
|
|
Hull |
Hull Bracing: Keelhold |
|
|
Combat Orders |
Naval Tactics II: No Quarter |
Destroying an enemy ship within 50 meters restores Health by 30% over 10 seconds. |
|
Crew Power |
Boarding Party Gear |
N/A |
Why
The Frigate is the final ship players can acquire. It requires a tremendous amount of resources to construct, but the payoff is undoubtedly worth the effort, especially the Blackbeard variant. This variant has access to the largest cannons in the game and also has access to a secondary set of cannons, giving plates a blistering amount of firepower.
For the Hull Bracing, we are keeping Keelhold for its usefulness in supporting the ship. For the Combat Orders, the build will be using Naval Tactics II. Using this heals the ship every time you can sink an enemy.
Where this build truly shines is with the weaponry. So far, the Blackbeard variant of the Frigate is the only ship with access to 36-pounders and 24-pounder secondary cannons. Once again, for the main gun, the ship will be using Perfectly Ordered for more cannon volleys. To maximize this effect, the secondary battery will be taking the Devastating variant of cannons. This combo grants enemies hit with a volley a stacking debuff that increases the damage they take. Paired with faster reloads for the main gun, the ocean becomes your playground.
