Navigating the Windrose factions can be a daunting task for any new pirate. While there are four main groups to build reputation with, they don't all offer the same goods or accept the same smuggled wares in exchange for your friendship.
With limited insignias available to trade for favor, choosing which crew to woo can feel overwhelming. I have been sailing the high seas between Tortuga and its neighboring islands nonstop since launch, and I have some specific recommendations on which crew you should rank up first and how to spend both your favor and piastre.
Windrose Faction Basics and NPC Locations
You can find representatives from every Windrose faction in Tortuga. Each location features a Bounty Agent to trade reputational goods with and a Provisioner to buy various supplies and crafting recipes.
If you need to sell items, you must travel elsewhere. However, you won't have to worry about running out of Fast Travel Bells; Windrose offers a free teleport to Tortuga and all four other faction islands. To find the leaders, look for waters highlighted in green on your map.
Types of Faction Representatives
- Bounty Agent: Located in Tortuga; improves reputation by trading insignias and Letters of Favor.
- Provisioner: Located in Tortuga; sells various resources, ship improvements, and crafting recipes.
- Buyer: Located on faction islands; the NPC for selling smuggled goods and valuables for Piastre and Guinea.
- Leader: Located on faction islands; your main point of contact for faction quests.
- Recruitable NPC: Workers for your crafting stations; two are on faction islands, and one is in Tortuga.
How to Improve Your Reputation with Windrose Factions
To improve your rank, you must trade insignia or Letters of Favor. While enemy pirates are a great source of reputation-building items, you can also find insignia hidden in ship caches or chests.
Items for improving faction ranks:
- Newhand Insignia: 1 Favor Value
- Deckhand Insignia: 4 Favor Value
- Letter of Favor: 10 Favor Value
- Veteran Insignia: 20 Favor Value
- Old Sat Insignia: 80 Favor Value
Rank Requirements:
- Level 1: 0 Favor Required
- Level 2: 10 Favor Required
- Level 3: 100 Favor Required
- Level 4: 300 Favor Required
Recommended Progression Strategy
To maximize your efficiency, I suggest following a specific order of operations to ensure you are always upgrading the right gear.
- Prioritize the Brethren: Reach Rank 2 with the Brethren first to unlock new ship designs.
- Upgrade your Hull: Next, reach Rank 2 with the Smugglers for essential hull upgrades and naval tactics.
- The Naval Tactics 5: Silence the Guns upgrade is a personal favorite, providing a 20% reload speed boost and a damage reduction penalty to enemies for 30 seconds after every hit.
- Boost your Firepower: Invest in Rank 2 or 3 cannons from the Buccaneers.
- Don't skimp on tools: Do not be afraid to spend extra piastre on Shipwright's Tools, Smithing Flux, Master's Tools, and Sewing Tools for gear you plan to keep.
The Brethren of the Coast
The Brethren of the Coast are one of the most important factions because they offer new ship designs as your reputation improves. I highly recommend upgrading to the Brig as soon as possible.
- Leader: Benjamin Hornigold
- Island Recruit: Mortar Joe (Powderman)
- Key Quest Steps: Find survivors, tell Captain Hornigold, destroy two pirate boats, and gather resources for the Ranger repairs.
Brethren of the Coast Buyer Items:
- Naval Supplies: 150 Piastre
- Specialized Tools: 250 Piastre
- Combat Repair Kit: 10 Piastre
- Master Combat Repair Kit: 30 Piastre
Brethren of the Coast Provisioner Items:
- Shipwright's Tools: 10 Piastre (Rank 1)
- Steel Nails: 10 Piastre (Rank 2)
- Salt, Coffee Beans, Whiskey, Madeira, or Brandy: 2–10 Piastre (Rank 3)
- Ship Design: Brig: 1,000 Piastre (Rank 2)
- Ship Design: Frigate: 3,000 Piastre (Rank 4)
Smugglers of Port Royal
Once you have secured a new ship from the Brethren, head to the Smugglers of Port Royal for hull upgrades.
- Leader: Marita Suarez
- Key Quest Steps: Talk to the leader, search for Marita's missing ship, and recover stolen cargo.
Smugglers of Port Royal Buyer Items:
- Contraband/Luxuries: 150–250 Piastre
- Silver Items (Spoon, Button, Earring): 5–10 Piastre
- Gold Items (Mask, Temple Jug, Vase, etc.): 5–5 Guinea
Smugglers of Port Royal Provisioner Items:
- Smithing Flux: 10 Piastre (Rank 1)
- Conquistador/Pikeman Plans (Cuirass/Pants): 200 Piastre (Rank 2)
- Hull Bracing (Keelhold, Iron Resolve, or Standfast): 300 Piastre (Rank 2)
- Naval Tactics 1–5: 500 Piastre (Rank 3)
