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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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.

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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

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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

(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 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

1. Find the survivors
2. Tell Captain Hornigold
3. Destroy two pirate boats
4. Speak to Hornigold
5. Gather resources for the Ranger repairs
6. Speak to Hornigold
7. Defeat Stede Bonnet's fleet
8. 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

(Image credit: Kraken Express)

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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

1. Talk to the leader of the Smugglers
2. Find and search for Marita's missing ship
3. Return to Marita
4. Recover the stolen cargo
5. Return the wine to Marita

About the Smugglers

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

(Image credit: Kraken Express)

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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

1. Deliver 50 bags of gunpowder to Henri Boucher
2. Deliver the tanned hide shipment to Charlie Sharpe
3. Cook 20 Skewered Meat
4. Deliver Rum and 20 Skewered Meat to Henri

About the Buccaneers

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

(Image credit: Kraken Express)

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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

1. Get the supplies from the ship
2. Bring the supplies to Charlie Sharpe
3. Talk to Doctor Galen
4. Collect 15 bundles of healing herbs for Galen
5. Bring the medicine to Charlie Sharpe
6. Get rid of Jim Godart
7. 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

(Image credit: Kraken Express)

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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

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