Use your favourite features in-game with our Desktop AppCombat in Windrose isn't just limited to what you find on land. As with all good Pirate experiences, it's among the briney waves where the fun really unfolds.
Ship combat can be a little complicated however and it all starts before you even set sail. Here are some tips to get you going and conquer the Seven Seas (or at least this pocket of the Caribbean).
You'll receive your introductory ship early on into the game after you encounter Doctor Galen for the first time, shortly after completing the introductory base building quests.
Continue his quest line until you unlock the Shipwright's Workshop. From here you'll be able to prepare for the open seas by not only building a sea-worthy vessel but crafting add-ons such as cannons, armor, and boarding equipment.
Upgrade these pieces using Wood, Copper, Fabric and the like until you start needing materials that you don't have access to yet. This serves as a good indicator that it's time to move on from the first island and explore new lands for new components.
With your ship all dolled up you're almost set to go! It's highly recommended to also take some Repair Kits and Grog for your voyage: the former will keep your ship in good shape, the latter will buff you and your crew to optimise your piracy.
Before engaging enemy sea vessels in combat make sure you've downed that Grog to improve your crews damage, reload speeds, and resilience.
Be aware that your ship can fire from three sides: Left, Right, and Front. Each side has its own set of cannons with its own independent cooldown, and it's a good idea to rotate sides to not only keep the momentum going but also to stay moving to dodge enemy bombardments.
In the early game before you face tougher opponents and have a more nimble ship, you can mostly get away with rotating between only two sides - this changes if there are more enemies around, wherein you may have to employ that third side.
Your ship also has access to something called Chain Shot. This is your secondary ammo type and it's used primarily for taking out sails - think of it as your "support" ammo as opposed to raw damage. This Chain Shot is especially useful in drawn-out fights versus multiple enemies or tough Elite opponents, where you won't be able to rush targets down with brute force and instead need to employ some strategy.
To make the most of Chain Shot you'll want to aim for the ship's sails. Hit them enough times and a debuff icon will appear to indicate that the ship will now move significantly slower, making the ship offensively weak and defensively vulnerable.
You don't have to board every ship you see. In cases where you're engaged in combat against multiple enemies, it's often a better idea to sink the first few and only board the last - not only will this save you the struggle of boarding while still in combat, but you can also get some relevant loot to turn the fight in your favour from sunken ships. Most notably, Repair Kits.
These kits are essentially health potions for your ship, so don't forget to use them!
As part of the main story line you'll find yourself in a bustling swashbuckling hub known as Tortuga. This is the main town of Windrose and is home to more than just scallywags and sea dogs - there are useful vendors and other NPCs critical to making the most of your seafaring adventures.
Provisioners and Bounty Agents are the two you need to keep an eye out for. Bounty Agents allow you to turn in the Pirate Insignias from your defeated foes for reputation, this reputation is needed in turn to purchase different items from the Provisioners of different factions.
You'll get access to ship armor, cannons, and buffs. These buffs, known as Naval Tactics, can be extremely helpful when fighting off other pirates - much like how Grog benefits the crew, these Tactics will provide increased damage, health, and even HP regeneration for your vessel.
The gear you unlock and purchase from Bounty Agents and Provisioners can be upgraded and ascended to increase its strength and give it improved passives. If you find a piece of gear that you particularly like, it's a good idea to spend the necessary recources on beefing it up - these resources are found all across the world, so make sure to keep exploring, looting, and raiding.
Naval combat in Windrose is as much about loot and planning as it is actual fighting. Build up your ship strength, assemble your crew, and go reign terror on the high seas!
