Your ship is your mobile base, your combat platform, and your key to exploring the open waters of Windrose. Building and upgrading ships is one of the biggest resource sinks in the game — and one of the most rewarding. This guide covers the full progression from your first Ketch to the mighty Frigate, including where to build, which variants to choose, material requirements, upgrade slots, and ship rooms.
Where to Build: Wharf vs. Shipwright's Workshop
You build ships at the WHARF, not the Shipwright's Workshop. This is the single most common mistake new players make. The Shipwright's Workshop is for upgrading existing ships — adding cannons, hull reinforcement, and other equipment. If you cannot find the ship construction menu, you are probably at the wrong station.
The Wharf is where you construct new ships from blueprints. It handles the full build process: selecting your ship type, choosing a variant, and supplying all the required materials. The Wharf becomes available relatively early in the Coastal Jungle after completing initial quests. Once you have built a ship, dock it at any port to access the Shipwright's Workshop for upgrades.
Ship Progression: Ketch to Brigantine to Frigate
Windrose features three ship types, each representing a significant step up in size, capability, and resource cost. You unlock each new ship type as you progress through the biomes and defeat key bosses.
| Ship Type | Unlock Biome | Size Tier | Base Cannon Slots | Crew Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketch | Coastal Jungle | Small | 4 | 6 |
| Brigantine | Foothills | Medium | 8 | 12 |
| Frigate | Cursed Swamps | Large | 14 | 20 |
Each ship type is viable for its corresponding biome. Do not rush to the Brigantine if you have not fully explored the Coastal Jungle — the Ketch handles everything the starting biome throws at you. Progress naturally, and build the next ship when your current one feels outmatched.
Ship Variants: Stock, Brethren, and Blackbeard
Every ship type has three variants that offer different stat distributions and cosmetic themes. When you build a ship at the Wharf, you choose from:
- Stock — The default, balanced variant. Even stats across all categories. A safe choice for your first build of any ship type.
- Brethren — Emphasizes speed and maneuverability at the cost of raw durability. Best for players who prefer hit-and-run tactics and evasive sailing.
- Blackbeard — Emphasizes durability and firepower at the cost of speed. Best for players who want to stand and fight, absorb damage, and bring maximum guns to bear.
Material Requirements by Ship
Below are the approximate material requirements for each ship type across all three variants. Exact numbers may vary with game updates, but these are the community-verified baselines.
Ketch Materials
| Material | Stock | Brethren | Blackbeard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Planks | 100 | 120 | 150 |
| Iron Ingots | 40 | 35 | 60 |
| Cloth | 30 | 45 | 20 |
| Rope | 20 | 25 | 20 |
| Pitch | 15 | 10 | 25 |
Brigantine Materials
| Material | Stock | Brethren | Blackbeard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Planks | 250 | 280 | 350 |
| Iron Ingots | 100 | 80 | 150 |
| Cloth | 80 | 120 | 50 |
| Rope | 50 | 65 | 50 |
| Pitch | 40 | 25 | 70 |
| Copper Ingots | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Frigate Materials
| Material | Stock | Brethren | Blackbeard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Planks | 500 | 550 | 700 |
| Iron Ingots | 200 | 160 | 300 |
| Cloth | 150 | 220 | 100 |
| Rope | 100 | 120 | 100 |
| Pitch | 80 | 50 | 140 |
| Copper Ingots | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Steel Ingots | 20 | 20 | 20 |
The Brigantine Blackbeard variant is the most widely recommended build in the community. The Brigantine is the sweet spot between the Ketch's limitations and the Frigate's massive resource cost. The Blackbeard variant's emphasis on durability and firepower means it handles naval combat and boss ship encounters reliably. Many players skip the Frigate entirely and run a fully upgraded Brigantine Blackbeard through endgame content.
Shipwright's Workshop: Upgrade Slots
Once your ship is built, dock at any port to access the Shipwright's Workshop. This station handles all post-construction upgrades. Each ship has four upgrade slots:
| Slot | Purpose | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Cannons | Offensive firepower | Increases cannon count, damage, and reload speed |
| Hull Reinforcement | Defensive durability | Increases max hull HP, damage resistance, and leak repair speed |
| Naval Tactics | Maneuverability | Improves turn speed, sail response, and ramming damage |
| Boarding Party | Crew combat | Improves crew effectiveness during ship-to-ship boarding actions |
Upgrade priorities depend on your playstyle, but the general community consensus is: Hull Reinforcement first (keeping your ship alive is mandatory), then Cannons (offensive capability), then Naval Tactics (maneuverability), with Boarding Party as a luxury for later. Each upgrade slot requires specific materials that scale with the upgrade tier.
Ship Rooms
Larger ships can be equipped with interior rooms that provide passive bonuses and utility functions. These rooms are built inside the ship and become available as you upgrade. The full list of ship rooms:
| Room | Function | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Great Room | Social hub and crew morale | Increases crew efficiency and morale regeneration |
| Crew Quarters | Rest and recovery for crew | Faster crew respawn after boarding combat |
| Galley | Food preparation | Produces food buffs for the crew, extends voyage duration |
| Workshop | On-board crafting | Allows weapon and tool crafting at sea, repair equipment |
| Navigation Room | Map and route planning | Reveals points of interest, speeds up travel on charted routes |
| Infirmary | Medical care | Faster health regeneration for the captain and crew |
| Recreation | Entertainment space | Major crew morale boost, reduces desertion risk |
The number of rooms you can install depends on the ship tier. The Ketch supports 2 rooms, the Brigantine supports 4 rooms, and the Frigate supports all 7. Prioritize the Workshop (for on-sea repairs) and Infirmary (for health regen) first, then expand into morale-boosting rooms as your crew grows.
Ship Building Tips
- Stockpile before building. Gather all materials in advance. Half-built ships at the Wharf are wasted trips.
- Build at the Wharf, upgrade at the Shipwright's Workshop. Do not confuse the two stations.
- The Brigantine Blackbeard is the community favorite. It hits the sweet spot of cost, durability, and firepower.
- Upgrade Hull Reinforcement first. A dead ship deals zero damage.
- Install the Workshop room early. Being able to repair equipment at sea saves hours of backtracking.
- Demolishing a ship gives a full material refund. If you build the wrong variant, you get everything back — no penalty.
For the raw materials needed for ship construction — wood, iron, copper, steel — check out our Biomes & Resources Guide to find the best farming locations. And if you are still setting up your first base, start with our Beginner's Guide.