There are four Windrose factions to build reputation with, but not all of them provide the same goods or accept the same smuggled wares in exchange for your friendship. With limited insignias to trade for their favor, choosing which pirate crew to woo can be a little overwhelming—but that’s where I come in.
I’ve been sailing the high seas between Tortuga and its neighboring islands nonstop since launch, and I’ve got some thoughts on which crew you should rank up first and how to spend both your favor and piastre. So here’s everything you should know about the Windrose factions, including their related quests, where to sell your valuables, and a list of goods each faction offers.
Windrose faction basics
You can find representatives from every Windrose faction in Tortuga, each with a Bounty Agent to trade reputational goods with and a Provisioner to buy various supplies and crafting recipes from. If you want to sell to a faction’s buyer, you’ll have to travel elsewhere, but don’t worry about running out of Fast Travel Bells. Windrose makes it easy by offering a free teleport to Tortuga and all four of the other faction islands, so you won’t have to waste your fast travel resources.
Types of faction representatives
The buyer and ‘leader’ NPCs are located on islands separate from Tortuga. The easiest way to spot them is by sailing around and checking your map for waters highlighted in green. That means they’re occupied by an allied faction, and the island they operate out of should be somewhere nearby.
NPC
Description
Available on Tortuga?
Bounty Agent
Improves your reputation by trading insignias and Letters of Favor
✅
Provisioner
Sells various resources, ship improvements, crafting recipes, etc.
✅
Buyer
NPC for selling your smuggled goods and valuables in exchange for Piastre and Guinea
❌
Leader
Main point of contact for faction quests
❌
Recruitable NPC
Workers for your crafting stations that offer talents for managing resources
Two are located on faction islands; one is available in Tortuga
Improving your reputation with factions
You’ll improve your rank with each Windrose faction by trading insignia or Letters of Favor. Enemy pirates are a good source of reputation-building goodies, but you can also find insignia in ship caches or hidden in chests.
Item
Favor Value
Newhand Insignia
1
Deckhand Insignia
4
Letter of Favor
10
Veteran Insignia
20
Old Sat Insignia
80
Rank
Favor Required
Level 1
0
Level 2
100
Level 3
300
Level 4
600
Quick tips for ranking up and buying provisions
(Image credit: Kraken Express)You can’t sell items in Tortuga, so try to find all four faction islands as soon as possible to offload your valuables and start saving for upgradesPrioritize upgrading your ship first by reaching Rank 2 with the BrethrenNext, reach Rank 2 with the Smugglers for hull upgrades and naval tacticsInvest in more ship upgrades with Rank 2 or 3 cannons from the BuccaneersDon’t be afraid to spend extra piastre on Shipwright’s Tools, Smithing Flux, Master’s Tools, and Sewing Tools for upgrading gear and naval equipment you plan to keep
Brethren of the Coast
Quest: Brethren of The Coast
About the Brethren
The Brethren offer new ship designs as your reputation improves with them, making them one of the most important factions in the game. I recommend upgrading to the Brig as soon as possible, then using upgrades from the Smugglers to beef up your new ride.
Brethren of the Coast Buyer
(Image credit: Kraken Express)
Item
Sell Price
Naval Supplies
150 Piastre
Specialized Tools
250 Piastre
Combat Repair Kit
10 Piastre
Master Combat Repair Kit
30 Piastre
Brethren of the Coast Provisioner
Item
Cost
Reputation Rank
Shipwright’s Tools
10 Piastre
1
Steel Nails
10 Piastre
2
Salt
2 Piastre
2
Coffee Beans
3 Piastre
3
Whiskey
10 Piastre
3
Madeira
10 Piastre
3
Brandy
10 Piastre
3
Ship Design: Brig
1,000 Piastre
2
Ship Design: Frigate
3,000 Piastre
4
Style Book: Privateer Flag Designs
10 Guinea
3
Style Book: Stock Hull Colors
30 Guinea
3
Style Book: Stock Sails Colors
30 Guinea
3
Style Book: Brethren Flag Designs
10 Guinea
4
Style Book: Brethren Hull Colors
10 Guinea
4
Style Book: Brethren Sails Colors
10 Guinea
4
Smugglers of Port Royal
Quest: Smugglers
About the Smugglers
After you score a new ship from your reputation with the Brethren, go for a hull upgrade from the Smugglers and a set of Naval Tactics. The Naval Tactics 5: Silence the Guns upgrade was my favorite of the bunch, delivering a 20% reload speed and damage reduction penalty to your enemies for 30 seconds after every hit.
Smugglers of Port Royal Buyer
(Image credit: Kraken Express)
Item
Sell Price
Contraband
150 Piastre
Luxuries
250 Piastre
Silver Spoon
5 Piastre
Silver Button
5 Piastre
Silver Earring
10 Piastre
Bone Beads
5 Piastre
Wooden Talisman
5 Piastre
Clay Vase
5 Piastre
Ancient Incense Burner
1 Guinea
Ancient Chalice
1 Guinea
Pot with Golden Horns
1 Guinea
Gold Mask of the Priest
5 Guinea
Gold Temple Jug
5 Guinea
Gold Vase of the Chief
5 Guinea
Smugglers of Port Royal Provisioner
Item
Cost
Reputation Rank
Smithing Flux
10 Piastre
1
Plans: Conquistador’s Cuirass
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Conquistador’s Pants
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Pikeman’s Cuirass
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Pikeman’s Pants
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Keelhold Hull Bracing
300 Piastre
2
Plans: Iron Resolve Hull Bracing
300 Piastre
2
Plans: Standfast Hull Bracing
300 Piastre
2
Naval Tactics 1: Ambush
500 Piastre
3
Naval Tactics 2: No Quarter
500 Piastre
3
Naval Tactics 3: Stretch the Supply
500 Piastre
3
Naval Tactics 4: Shipshape
500 Piastre
3
Naval Tactics 5: Silence the Guns
500 Piastre
3
Plans: Stone and Planks (Base Set)
10 Guinea
2
Plans: Timber Pillars, Beams, and Fences
20 Guinea
2
Plans: Straw Roofs and Triangular Walls
20 Guinea
3
Decoration: Luxurious Fireplace
30 Guinea
4
Decoration: Fountains and Planters
30 Guinea
4
Decoration: Elegant Iron Utensils
30 Guinea
4
Style Book: Smugglers Flag Designs
10 Guinea
4
(1) Guinea
50 Piastre
1
20 Piastre
1 Guinea
1
Rogue Buccaneers
Quest: Buccaneers
About the Buccaneers
The Buccaneers also offer useful offensive upgrades for naval combat, but I found defensive plans more helpful for surviving the open seas. I suggest prioritizing the Smugglers first, then move on to upgrading your offenses with cannon upgrades from the Buccaneers.
Rogue Buccaneers Buyer
(Image credit: Kraken Express)
Item
Sell Price
Spirits
50 Piastre
Munitions
100 Piastre
Crab Shell
10 Piastre
Dodo Head
20 Piastre
Boar Head
20 Piastre
Wolf Head
30 Piastre
Head of a Mountain Goat Leader
30 Piastre
Crocodile Head
50 Piastre
Rogue Buccaneers Provisioner
Item
Cost
Reputation Rank
Master’s Tools
10 Piastre
1
Merchant Contract: Animal Products
100 Piastre
2
Plans: Flibustier’s Jacket
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Flibustier’s Pants
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Tracker’s Jacket
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Tracker’s Pants
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Tempered 12-Pounders
300 Piastre
2
Plans: Perfectly Ordered 12-Pounders
300 Piastre
2
Plans: Devastating 12-Pounders
300 Piastre
2
Plans: Tempered 24-Pounders
400 Piastre
3
Plans: Perfectly Ordered 24-Pounders
400 Piastre
3
Plans: Devastating 24-Pounders
400 Piastre
3
Plans: Tempered 36 Pounders
500 Piastre
4
Plans: Perfectly Ordered 36-Pounder
500 Piastre
4
Plans: Devastating 36-Pounder
500 Piastre
4
Plans: Clay and Logs (Base Set)
10 Guinea
1
Plans: Weathered Pillars and Fences
20 Guinea
2
Plans: Reed Roofs and Clay Walls
20 Guinea
3
Decor: Hunter’s Furnishings
30 Guinea
4
Style Book: Buccaneers Flag Designs
10 Guinea
4
People of Tortuga
Quest: Catastrophe’s Aftermath
About the People of Tortuga
The People of Tortuga don’t offer much that will help you against your enemies, but they do sell new building plans and decorations that will keep your base lookin’ mighty fresh. I rushed leveling this faction and regretted it since it made naval combat harder, but at least I looked good doing it. Anyway, do as I say, not as I do, and save this faction for last.
People of Tortuga Buyer
(Image credit: Kraken Express)
Item
Sell Price
Provisions
50 Piastre
Medicine
100 Piastre
People of Tortuga Provisioner
Item
Cost
Reputation Rank
Sewing Tools
10 Piastre
1
Merchant Contract: Food
100 Piastre
2
Merchant Contract: Natural Resources
100 Piastre
2
Plans: Privateer’s Coat
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Privateer’s Pants
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Marksman’s Doublet
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Marksman’s Pants
200 Piastre
2
Plans: Marble, Plaster, and Tile (Base Set)
10 Guinea
2
Plans: Columns and Arches
20 Guinea
2
Plans: Tile Roofs (Extras)
20 Guinea
3
Plans: Elegant Stained Glass Doors and Windows
20 Guinea
4
Plans: Mahogany Staircases and Railings
20 Guinea
4
Decorations: Luxurious Seating
30 Guinea
4
Decorations: Mahogany Tables and Cabinets
30 Guinea
4
Decorations: Elegant Cabinets
30 Guinea
4
Decorations: Elegant Curtains and Shelves
30 Guinea
4
Is Windrose worth it? Weigh your choices
Windrose Discovery list: Don’t miss a thing
Windrose Fast Travel Bell: How to make them
Windrose gunpowder: Homemade or scavenged
Windrose Traveler’s Camp: Find the second chest
