Windrose factions: Recommendations for improving your reputation with the Smugglers, Buccaneers, Brethren, and People of Tortuga
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.
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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.
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|
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.
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|
Item |
Favor Value |
|---|---|
|
Newhand Insignia |
1 |
|
Deckhand Insignia |
4 |
|
Letter of Favor |
10 |
|
Veteran Insignia |
20 |
|
Old Sat Insignia |
80 |
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|
Rank |
Favor Required |
|---|---|
|
Level 1 |
0 |
|
Level 2 |
100 |
|
Level 3 |
300 |
|
Level 4 |
600 |
Quick tips for ranking up and buying provisions
- 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 upgrades
- Prioritize upgrading your ship first by reaching Rank 2 with the Brethren
- Next, reach Rank 2 with the Smugglers for hull upgrades and naval tactics
- Invest in more ship upgrades with Rank 2 or 3 cannons from the Buccaneers
- Don’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
- Find the survivors
- Tell Captain Hornigold
- Destroy two pirate boats
- Speak to Hornigold
- Gather resources for the Ranger repairs
- Speak to Hornigold
- Defeat Stede Bonnet’s fleet
- Return to tell Hornigold of your victory
About the Brethren
- Leader: Benjamin Hornigold
- Island Recruit: Mortar Joe (Powderman)
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
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|
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
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|
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
- Talk to the leader of the Smugglers
- Find and search for Marita’s missing ship
- Return to Marita
- Recover the stolen cargo
- Return the wine to Marita
About the Smugglers
- Leader: Marita Suarez
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
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|
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
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|
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
- Deliver 50 bags of gunpowder to Henri Boucher
- Deliver the tanned hide shipment to Charlie Sharpe
- Cook 20 Skewered Meat
- Deliver Rum and 20 Skewered Meat to Henri
About the Buccaneers
- Leader: Henri Boucher
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
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|
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
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|
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
- Get the supplies from the ship
- Bring the supplies to Charlie Sharpe
- Talk to Doctor Galen
- Collect 15 bundles of healing herbs for Galen
- Bring the medicine to Charlie Sharpe
- Get rid of Jim Godart
- Return to Charlie Sharp
About the People of Tortuga
- Leader: Charlie Sharpe
- Recruit: Black Axel (Cook)
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
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|
Item |
Sell Price |
|---|---|
|
Provisions |
50 Piastre |
|
Medicine |
100 Piastre |
People of Tortuga Provisioner
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|
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 |