Windrose: Best Ships and Upgrades Guide 2026

Windrose, published by Kraken Express, has established itself as the surprise hit of spring 2026. Launched in early access on Steam and Epic Games Store on April 14, this PvE pirate adventure survival game has crossed the two million copies sold mark in a single month, propelling the Golden Age of Piracy to the top of the charts. The game lets you fight on land and at sea, solo or with friends, with a building and crafting system and an open world to explore in the footsteps of the ghostly Blackbeard.

But in Windrose, everything happens at sea. Without a good ship, well-calibrated cannons, and a dedicated crew, it's impossible to survive the hostile fleets prowling around Tortuga. Here's the complete guide to dominating the waves.

Ship classes: from the Ketch to the Frigate

Before anything else, a clarification: contrary to what the classic pirate imagination might suggest, Windrose uses neither skiff, nor sloop, nor galleon. Kraken Express opted instead for a more historically rigorous nomenclature. The game currently offers ten vessels, split into three main classes plus a small starter ship.

The Boat, your first dinghy

You start the adventure with a simple Boat, a lateen-rigged rowboat that only serves to cross coves and gather a few resources. It has no weaponry whatsoever and won't survive a naval engagement. Think of it as a floating tutorial.

The Ketch, your first real ship

The Ketch unlocks by completing the "Need A Bigger Boat" quest chain within the first few hours of play. Light and maneuverable, it carries about a dozen small-caliber cannons and is more than enough to take on cursed patrols and small hostile units. Three variants exist: the base Ketch (Stock), the Blackbeard version obtained by looting ghost wrecks, and the Brethren version purchased from the Brethren of the Coast.

The Brigantine, the game's turning point

The Brigantine (nicknamed Brig by the community) represents your first real upgrade. To unlock it, you need to buy the blueprints from the Brethren of the Coast for 1,000 Piastres, after reaching reputation level 2 with that faction. The Blackbeard Brigantine variant is particularly sought after: it carries six 24-pounder cannons and reaches up to 22 knots, making it an unbeatable speed/power compromise for the mid-game.

The Frigate, the current pinnacle

The Frigate represents the current flagship vessel of early access. It requires reputation level 4 with the Brethren of the Coast and a massive investment of 3,000 Piastres to obtain the blueprints. Once built, it offers a devastating firing platform, capable of unleashing full broadsides of heavy caliber and absorbing considerable damage. This is the ship to aim for if you plan on taking on the big ocean bosses and the world-ships that haunt the waters around Tortuga.

Ship equipment: the four decisive slots

You're not just piloting a hull: the real customization happens at the Wharf (your base's dock) and the Shipwright's Workshop (the carpenter's shop). Four slots dictate your effectiveness in naval combat.

Cannons: your absolute priority

Cannons are your main source of damage. The entire community recommends prioritizing investment in this equipment line to maximize your first-strike advantage. For the Ketch and the Brigantine, the Perfectly Ordered cannons in the highest caliber supported by your ship remain the best option: their passive effect grants 30% additional reload speed if you hit an enemy within four seconds of a reload. All cannons are crafted and then equipped at level 1 to be upgraded up to level 15 at the workshop, with each tier significantly increasing raw stats.

The Hull Modification

Hull reinforcement improves the ship's DEF and reduces damage taken. The Hull Bracing: Keelhold modification is considered the best option for long engagements: it extends by 30% the duration during which you benefit from full healing, a major advantage against enemy frigates or sea bosses.

Naval Tactics

Naval Tactics are permanent passive bonuses slotted into a dedicated slot. They don't level up and have no ascension: it's a definitive strategic choice. They unlock starting at rank 3 with the Smugglers of Port Royal, the hidden faction discovered through quests like "Underground Network". Five tactics are available and each radically changes your playstyle, from a piercing damage bonus to accelerated regeneration.

Boarding Party Gear

Finally, boarding party gear improves your NPCs' stats during assault phases: HP, attack, and defense. Overlooked by many players, this slot nonetheless becomes crucial once you decide to capture ships rather than sink them, since boarding yields more loot.

Recruiting and upgrading your crew

The current early access allows six recruitable NPCs: four Workers that you pay directly and two Guests tied to narrative progression. The four main Workers are Black Axel, Jasper Crowe, Mortar Joe, and Rosalinda Mercer. Note: recruiting isn't enough. You then need to manually assign them to their workbench via the Worker tab in the crafting menu to activate their bonuses (faster reloading at the blacksmith, better yields at the carpentry workshop, etc.).

For the onboard crew that operates the ship and fights during boardings, progression comes through boarding party gear and reputation with the People of Tortuga, which unlocks veteran sailors. Each faction has its own Bounty Agent who accepts the Pirate Insignias collected from defeated enemies. Note: reputation isn't shared. Each insignia handed over to one faction is lost to the others, which means a strategic choice has to be made from the start of the game.

Naval combat: chain to slow down, cannonballs to finish

The current meta on Windrose's waters relies on a well-honed sequence. Start by loading your cannons with Chain Shot to target enemy sails. A few hits are enough to apply a massive speed penalty: the opposing ship drags along, turns poorly, and becomes an easy target. Then follow up with standard cannonballs to pierce the hull and finish off the ship, or switch to boarding if you want to recover the loot intact.

Positioning matters as much as firepower. Line up perpendicular to your target to land a full broadside, keep the wind at your back to maintain your speed, and don't hesitate to invest in improved sails once your cannons are maxed out. The recommended progression is clear: cannons first, sails next, hull third, boarding gear last.

Faction priority to progress quickly

To rush the Blackbeard Brigantine, target the Brethren of the Coast as soon as you arrive in Tortuga and hand over all your insignia until you reach rank 2. Then switch to the Smugglers of Port Royal to unlock naval tactics, before returning to the Brethren for the Frigate. The Rogue Buccaneers are more transactional and less interesting early on, while the People of Tortuga remain useful for side quests and supplies.

What to remember before setting sail

Windrose is set to remain in early access for at least a year and a half according to Kraken Express, with the Ashlands biome announced for a minimum of six months from now. Naval content will therefore keep expanding: new ships, new tactics, and likely new factions. In the meantime, the winning formula boils down to three lines: rush the Blackbeard Brigantine via the Brethren of the Coast, max out Perfectly Ordered cannons, and assign Black Axel to your workshop to speed up crafting cycles. The rest is patience and a cool head when facing the black sails appearing on the horizon.