Windrose factions: Recommendations for improving your reputation with the Smugglers, Buccaneers, Brethren, and People of Tortuga

4 days ago 2

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.

Faction NPCs and their locations

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.

Items for improving faction ranks

Item

Favor Value

Newhand Insignia	1
Deckhand Insignia	4
Letter of Favor	10
Veteran Insignia	20
Old Sat Insignia	80

Rank requirements

Rank

Favor Required

Level 1	0
Level 2	100
Level 3	300
Level 4	600

Quick tips for ranking up and buying provisions

Windrose - Pirate NPCs on a pier. One is nodding off while the other stares at him.

(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

Windrose - Two pirates sitting at a table drinking and eating

Quest: Brethren of The Coast

Find the survivorsTell Captain Hornigold Destroy two pirate boatsSpeak to Hornigold Gather resources for the Ranger repairsSpeak to HornigoldDefeat Stede Bonnet's fleetReturn to tell Hornigold of your victory

Windrose - Benjamin Hornigold, the leader of the Brethren.

About the Brethren

Leader: Benjamin HornigoldIsland 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

Windrose - 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

Windrose - A pirate holding an axe

Quest: Smugglers

Talk to the leader of the SmugglersFind and search for Marita's missing shipReturn to MaritaRecover the stolen cargoReturn the wine to Marita

Windrose - The leader of the Smugglers, Marita Suarez. She has long brown curly hair and is wearing a large pirate hat and green doublet.

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

Windrose - The Smugglers buyer window

(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

Windrose - A player's pirate standing in front of limes

Quest: Buccaneers

Deliver 50 bags of gunpowder to Henri BoucherDeliver the tanned hide shipment to Charlie SharpeCook 20 Skewered MeatDeliver Rum and 20 Skewered Meat to Henri

Windrose - The leader of the Buccaneers Henri Boucher

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

Windrose - The 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

Windrose - Player character seated on a pile of crates beside a fire

Quest: Catastrophe's Aftermath

Get the supplies from the shipBring the supplies to Charlie SharpeTalk to Doctor Galen Collect 15 bundles of healing herbs for GalenBring the medicine to Charlie SharpeGet rid of Jim GodartReturn to Charlie Sharp

Windrose - The People of Tortuga leader, Charlie Sharpe. He's an older man with white hair and a mustache. He's got rope around his arms and wears a blue bandana.

About the People of Tortuga

Leader: Charlie SharpeRecruit: 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

Windrose - The buyer window for People of Tortuga displayer two items

(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