Windrose Ships: Unlocking, Variants, and Best Upgrades

All Windrose Ships at a Glance

Currently, there are a total of nine ships in Windrose, divided into the following three classes:

• Stock Ketch
• Brethren Ketch
• Blackbeard Ketch
• Stock Brigantine
• Brethren Brigantine
• Blackbeard Brigantine
• Stock Frigate
• Brethren Frigate
• Blackbeard Frigate

In addition, there’s the small boat you receive when you start Windrose. It’s suitable for short distances and getting started in the game, but it’s later replaced by the Ketch.

How to Build New Ships in Windrose

Before you dive headfirst into building your next dream ship, you’ll need to know a few basics. You can’t just assemble new Windrose ships anywhere on the beach.

You’ll need a shipyard, the correct blueprint, the necessary materials, and—most importantly—enough space to actually lower the ship into the water. The Windrose shipyard isn’t just important for building. There, you can manage your ships, repair them, and switch between ships you’ve already unlocked. So if you want to use larger ships like brigantines or frigates in the long run, you should set up your base and harbor accordingly early on. A large fleet or big ships won’t do you much good if your dock looks like a parking lot that’s way too small in front of a crowded supermarket.

Windrose Ketch – Your First Real Ship

You unlock the Ketch through the main quest “I Need a Bigger Boat.” This gives you your first fully-fledged ship, which will accompany you through a large part of the early game. However, you don’t actually build a new ship here; instead, you repair a damaged wreck that you’ll find as you progress through the game. To do this, you’ll need materials like wood, nails, and ropes.

The standard Stock Ketch is a good all-rounder and perfect for learning the basics of sailing in Windrose. The ship is maneuverable, relatively inexpensive, and more than sufficient for your first expeditions. Later on, you can choose between two specializations:

Brethren Ketch
If you’d rather play it safe, the Brethren Ketch is the better choice. It can withstand more damage and is particularly well-suited for solo players or leisurely voyages in search of resources or new areas.

Blackbeard Ketch
The Blackbeard Ketch, on the other hand, is aimed at players who frequently find themselves in combat. It focuses more on offense and suits a more aggressive playstyle. A quick tip: Don’t invest too many resources in the Ketch. While it’s a solid ship, it will be significantly outclassed by the Brigantine later on.

Windrose Brigantine – Major Leap Forward in the Midgame

Many players notice a significant turning point as soon as the brigantine enters the fray. The ship offers significantly more space, greater firepower, and is ideally suited for longer expeditions, trade, voyages, and naval battles.

You can unlock the brigantine in Windrose through the “Brethren of the Coast” quest. To do so, you’ll need Reputation Level 2 and then purchase the blueprint from a merchant for 1,000 piastres. After that, head back to the shipyard, where you can build your new ship with the appropriate materials.

That’s exactly why it’s worth stocking up on supplies early on. Larger ships require significantly more materials than the ketch. You shouldn’t wait until you’re already standing impatiently in front of the shipyard to start collecting wooden planks, nails, cloth, rope, ingots, and tools. The brigantine also comes in three variants:

Stock Brigantine
The standard version is a well-designed utility ship and ideal for players who want to progress and play efficiently. It’s a major upgrade from the ketch and, for many, the first big step toward the midgame.

Brethren Brigantine
The Brethren Brigantine is particularly popular. Its greater stability makes longer voyages much more relaxed. It really shows its strengths in co-op play or when farming large quantities of resources.

Blackbeard Brigantine
Are you more into exciting battles? Then you should take a closer look at the Windrose Blackbeard Brigantine. It focuses more on firepower and an aggressive playstyle, but is all the less forgiving of mistakes.

Windrose Frigate – Perfect for the Endgame

Currently, the strongest ship you can find in Windrose is the Frigate. Once you reach the endgame, you should keep this name in mind.

You can also unlock it through the “Brethren of the Coast” quest, though this time only at Reputation Level 4. The blueprint costs 3,000 piastres. Additionally, significantly higher-quality materials are required—so be sure to keep an eye on your warehouse and shipyard. If you regularly venture into dangerous areas or are out on missions with your friends, there’s really no way around the Frigate.

Stock Frigate
Eager for the next big ship upgrade? Then grab the Stock Frigate—a powerful all-rounder for your entry into the endgame.

Brethren Frigate
This version of the frigate is ideal for long journeys, co-op adventures, and any player who values stability. If you often transport large amounts of resources or don’t want to get into a sweat right away in every battle, this variant will keep you completely relaxed on your travels.

Blackbeard Frigate
The Blackbeard version is also the most offensive variant of the frigate. The ship is perfect for players who want to get the most out of their armament and enjoy getting into battles on the high seas.

Stock, Brethren or Blackbeard?

You might be wondering which ship variant is the best. And the answer depends heavily on your preferred playstyle.

The Stock ships are classic all-rounders and are best suited for standard gameplay progression.

The Brethren ships prioritize greater durability and good control. This is a major advantage for solo players or co-op groups, because small mistakes aren’t immediately punished on the water.

The Blackbeard ships are designed for risk-takers. They’re aimed at players who like to play offensively, need plenty of firepower at sea, and are willing to take some risks.

In short:

• Stock = balanced all-around ships
• Brethren = defensive players will be happy here
• Blackbeard = full-on offense and more risk

Which ship upgrades are worth doing first?

Even though the temptation is great to use every newly unlocked upgrade right away, you should first think about what really makes sense and will help you progress. Especially when resources are scarce, it’s important to set priorities.

1. Cannons

Better cannons are among the most important ship upgrades in Windrose. However, make sure your ship can actually handle the desired armament. Not every ship is suitable for every cannon size.

2. Hull Upgrades

Increased durability might not sound very exciting, but it saves you a lot of repairs—especially on long voyages—and, in the worst-case scenario, even prevents the loss of your ship.

3. Storage Capacity

The more resources you can transport per voyage, the less often you’ll have to shuttle back and forth between your base and gathering areas, saving you time and allowing you to make faster progress.

4. Boarding and Tactical Upgrades

These are especially worthwhile for players who want to engage in combat regularly. If you’re mainly gathering resources and taking a more laid-back approach, you can put these upgrades on the back burner for now.

Common Mistakes with Windrose Ships

There are common mistakes often seen in connection with ships in Windrose. Make sure you:

• don’t put too many resources into the Ketch, even though the Brigantine should already be your next goal
• don’t focus solely on high firepower and large cannons while completely losing sight of durability, repairs, and storage space
• don’t forget your base. Of course, we’re talking about Windrose ships here, but a large Frigate won’t do you any good if your port is so small that every docking becomes a test of patience
• and, very importantly: don’t start collecting materials only after you’ve already purchased the blueprint. Larger ships require a lot of resources, and stocking up on supplies beforehand will save you time and frustration later on

Which Windrose ships are really worth it?

If you want to be as efficient as possible, the following order is definitely a good approach:

• Stock Ketch to start with
• Brethren Brigantine for the midgame
• and the Brethren or Blackbeard Frigate for the endgame

Your best personal strategy, of course, depends on whether you prefer to play alone, team up with friends, or seek out as many naval battles as possible. For a relaxed progression, the Brethren ships are usually more enjoyable, while the Blackbeard ships are better for offensive players.

FAQ

How many ships are there in Windrose?
Currently, there are nine large ships and one small boat available at the start of Windrose. The ships are divided into the Ketch, Brigantine, and Frigate classes, each with a Stock, Brethren, and Blackbeard variant.

How do I unlock new Windrose ships?
You’ll receive the Ketch through the main quest. You unlock the Brigantine and Frigate through the “Brethren of the Coast” faction by increasing your reputation and purchasing the respective blueprint.

Which ship variant is the best?
For most players, Brethren ships are the most comfortable choice, as they offer greater stability. Players who prefer an offensive playstyle should take a closer look at the Blackbeard variants.

Which ship upgrades should I build first?
Prioritize cannons, cargo capacity, and hull upgrades. Only after that are specialized tactical or boarding upgrades worth investing in.

Cruise through the endgame with the right Windrose ships

Choosing the right ship definitely plays a big role in how enjoyable Windrose is for you. While the Ketch is great for getting started, the Brigantine will take you comfortably through the midgame. By the time you get to the Frigate, you’ll be ready for long expeditions, powerful enemies, and major raids.

If you play regularly with your friends anyway, setting up your own GPORTAL Windrose server makes sense. Everyone can go online whenever they want, build new ships, gather resources, or continue working on the base. So round up your crew, hoist the sails, and show the other pirates who really rules the seas.