Windrose Ships Guide: How to Unlock the Ketch, Brig, and Frigate

Whether you want to haul cargo between islands, chase down enemy pirates, or turn your ship into a floating fortress packed with cannons, choosing the right vessel in Windrose makes a huge difference. While you begin the game with nothing more than a tiny rowboat, you will eventually unlock three major ship classes: the Ketch, Brig, and Frigate.

Each ship offers more storage, more cannon slots, and greater power, but upgrading your fleet takes time, Piastres, and a mountain of crafting materials.

In this guide, we'll explain how to unlock every ship in Windrose, where to get the blueprints, the full crafting recipes, and which ship is best for your playstyle.

How Ships Work in Windrose

Unlike many survival games, you do not build your ship piece-by-piece. Once you unlock a ship blueprint, you simply gather the required materials and craft the vessel at a Wharf.

To create any new ship, you will need:

• A Wharf
• The correct ship blueprint
• All required crafting materials
• Enough space to launch the vessel

The Wharf also lets you manage, repair, and swap between ships you already own.

The First Ship: Ketch

The Ketch is the first proper ship you unlock in Windrose. You receive it during the early main quest "I Need A Bigger Boat."

Instead of building a brand-new ship, you repair a damaged vessel washed up on shore.

How to Unlock the Ketch

1. Progress through the early tutorial quests.
2. Complete the quest "I Need A Bigger Boat."
3. Repair the stranded ship using the materials below.

Ketch Repair Materials

Material	Amount
Wood	100
Nails	20
Coarse Fabric	20
Rope	10

Once repaired, the Ketch becomes your first real ship and unlocks crew management and sea travel.

Ketch Stats

Stat	Ketch
Cannon Slots	8
Storage	Small
Speed	Medium
Durability	Low
Best For	Early exploration and learning naval combat

The Ketch is not particularly powerful, but it is cheap, reliable, and more than enough for the early islands.

How to Unlock the Brig

The Brig is the next major upgrade and is significantly stronger than the Ketch. It has more storage, more health, and nearly double the cannon capacity.

To unlock the Brig blueprint, you must:

• Reach Reputation Level 2 with the Brethren faction
• Visit the merchant at Tortuga or another Brethren settlement
• Purchase the Brig blueprint for 1,000 Piastres

Once you have the blueprint, head back to your Wharf and gather the required materials.

Brig Crafting Recipe

Material	Amount
Nails	200
Wooden Planks	200
Coarse Fabric	120
Copper Ingots	80
Timber	40
Linen Fabric	40
Rope	40
Shipwright's Tools	30

Brig Stats

Stat	Brig
Cannon Slots	14
Storage	Medium
Speed	Medium-High
Durability	Medium
Best For	Mid-game exploration, trading, and naval battles

The Brig is widely considered the best all-around ship in Windrose. It offers enough firepower to handle most threats while still being fast enough to travel efficiently.

If you are only planning to build one upgraded ship for most of your playthrough, the Brig is likely the best choice.

How to Unlock the Frigate

The Frigate is currently the strongest ship available in Windrose. It is larger, tougher, and capable of carrying an absurd number of cannons.

To unlock the Frigate blueprint, you need:

• Reputation Level 4 with the Brethren faction
• 3,000 Piastres
• Access to the high-level merchant that sells Frigate plans

Because of its cost and required materials, the Frigate is generally considered an endgame ship.

Frigate Crafting Recipe

Material	Amount
Wooden Planks	320
Nails	300
Linen Fabric	240
Timber	160
Foothills Iron Ingots	120
Tarred Planks	80
Tarred Fabric	80
Rope	80
Shipwright's Tools	50

Frigate Stats

Stat	Frigate
Cannon Slots	36
Storage	Large
Speed	Slow-Medium
Durability	Very High
Best For	Endgame combat, boss fights, and large-scale naval battles

The Frigate is not especially fast, but its incredible durability and massive cannon count make it the deadliest ship in the game.

If your goal is to dominate naval combat or take on high-level enemy fleets, the Frigate is the ship you want.

Ketch vs Brig vs Frigate

Feature	Ketch	Brig	Frigate
Unlock Time	Early Game	Mid Game	Late Game
Cannon Slots	8	14	36
Storage	Small	Medium	Large
Cost	Very Low	Moderate	Extremely High
Speed	Moderate	Fast	Slower
Best Use	Exploration	Balanced Gameplay	Heavy Combat

For most players:

• Choose the Ketch to get through the early story.
• Upgrade to the Brig as soon as possible.
• Save for the Frigate once you are deep into the late game.

Ship Variants and Factions

As you progress, you may also unlock special ship variants tied to different factions.

Currently, the most common variants are:

• Brethren ships
• Blackbeard ships

Brethren variants usually have more durability and are designed for sustained combat.

Blackbeard variants are faster and can often equip larger cannons, making them ideal for aggressive hit-and-run tactics.

For example:

• A Blackbeard Brig is faster and can carry heavier cannons.
• A Brethren Frigate has more health and survives longer in battle.

If you enjoy mobility and fast attacks, Blackbeard ships are often the better choice. If you prefer tanky, reliable ships, Brethren variants are stronger.

Best Ship to Build First

If you are wondering which ship to prioritize, here is the simplest progression path:

1. Repair the Ketch.
2. Save up for the Brig blueprint.
3. Use the Brig for most of the game.
4. Build the Frigate once you have extra Piastres and late-game resources.

The Brig gives the best balance between cost, speed, and power, making it the best overall ship for most players.

Final Tips for Building Ships Faster

Before starting your next ship project, make sure to:

• Build extra storage for materials.
• Stockpile Copper, Wood, Rope, and Fabric early.
• Set up Fast Travel Points near resource-heavy islands.
• Save your Piastres instead of spending them on minor upgrades.
• Upgrade your crafting stations before trying to build the Frigate.

The resource grind for larger ships is steep, but once your new vessel is complete, the upgrade is absolutely worth it.

Ready to rule the seas? With the right ship and a properly equipped crew, you will be able to take on everything Windrose throws at you.

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