Naval combat in Windrose is slow and methodical. If you make a mistake, you will sink fast. A single reload takes about 11 seconds. This means you cannot afford to miss your shots. Many players struggle with putting guns on their boats or surviving their first fight. To get cannons, you must follow Doctor Galen’s quest to unlock the Shipwright’s Workshop. Build it under a roof, craft your 12-Pounders, and use a Wharf to install them.
In this guide, we cover everything from building your first cannon to advanced shooting tactics and the best ship loadouts.
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How to Get and Equip Cannons in Windrose
Before you can fight, you need the right buildings at your base. The game does not explain this well. You must place a roof over your shipwright’s workshop, or you cannot use it.
Once the workshop is ready, gather these materials:
- Shipwright’s Workshop: 15 Wood, 10 Coarse Fabric, 5 Copper Ingots
- 12-Pounders: 10 Wood, 10 Copper Ingots
- Wharf: 10 Wood, 10 Coarse Fabric
After you craft the guns, go to your wharf near the water. Select the manage ship menu and drag the cannons into the slots. A Stock Ketch has 3 slots, while a Brigantine has 6. Remember that you must remove a cannon at the wharf before you can upgrade it at the workshop.
How to Upgrade your Cannons
You cannot upgrade your weapons while they are attached to your boat. First, you must go to your wharf and select the manage ship menu. Remove the guns from your boat so they transfer into your personal inventory.
Next, walk over to your shipwright’s workshop. You can now use your gathered resources to upgrade their base stats or ascend them to a higher rarity. Finally, return to the wharf and equip the newly upgraded weapons back onto your ship.
Upgrades are expensive. If you are low on silver and cannot buy new blueprints yet, you should just upgrade your starter cannons to level 5 to survive early fights. You can also save a lot of resources if you hire Jasper Crow for your camp. This NPC gives you a 30% chance to recover the materials you spend at the workshop.
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Best Cannons in Windrose
Your starter gear is weak. You need better variants from the Buccaneers to survive Blackbeard patrols. The game features 12-pound, 24-pound, and 36-pound calibers. You must match the gun size to your boat.
We prepared a quick summary table below. It shows the exact cannon loadout you need for every ship class in the game.
| Ship Class | Supported Caliber | Recommended Variant | Total Cannons Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Ketch | 12-Pounder | Perfectly Ordered | 3 |
| Blackbeard Brigantine | 24-Pounder | Perfectly Ordered | 6 |
| Blackbeard Frigate | 36-Pounder | Devastating | 12 |
A basic Ketch only fits 12-pounders. If you reach reputation level 2 with the Brethren of the Coast, you unlock the Brigantine Blackbeard. This vessel holds six 24-pounders for a huge damage boost. Finally, Frigates are the endgame choice because they carry twelve 36-pounders.
You should not just rely on bigger calibers. You must also craft specific named variants to boost your combat effectiveness.
Perfectly Ordered
This is our top recommendation for most players. The base reload time is a long 11 seconds. If you use this variant and hit an enemy within 4 seconds of a reload, you get a 30% reload speed boost for 22 seconds.
You should equip the 24-pounder version of these on a Blackbeard Brigantine. The high speed of this ship helps you maneuver quickly and keep the buff active. You can also pair these cannons with the Filibuster Set. This armor drops your stamina consumption by 20%, which allows you to fire non-stop without exhaustion.
Devastating
You should use this variant if you want to hunt bosses or elite ships. If you land more than half of a volley, you trigger the Raked effect. This debuff increases the damage the enemy takes by 10% and stacks three times.
You should install the 36-pounder version of these on an endgame Frigate. Boss ships have enormous health pools. The stacked 30% damage multiplier from these cannons will tear right through them.
Tempered
This variant changes the pace of the game. You must wait 6 seconds after a reload to get a 40% damage boost on your next shot. Many players actually prefer this variant because the extra wait time is negligible. The massive damage boost is completely worth the short delay.
Windrose Cannon Ammo and Combat Tactics
The game gives you two ammo types. You can switch between them using the 1 and 2 keys.
- Regular Bullets (Type 1): These deal raw damage to the Hull. Use these to sink ships.
- Chain Shot (Type 2): Use these to destroy the Mast. This ammo slows the enemy down. It is essential for stopping faster ships or preparing for a boarding action.
If you struggle against multiple enemies, you should equip the Broken Rhythm naval tactic. This ability reduces enemy damage and reload speed by 20%. It is a lifesaver during brutal 1v3 battles.
Survival Tip (Hull Bracing): To stay alive during the long 11-second reload time, you should also equip a hull modification. We recommend Hull Bracing: Keelhold. This allows your repair kits to work even while you take damage, which is important during intense broadside duels.
How to Shoot and Hit Targets
To aim, hold the right mouse button. A white arc appears to show the trajectory. When you align properly with a target, the line turns red. Press the left mouse button to fire. Each side of your ship has a cooldown timer after you shoot.
Targeting is difficult because of the wave physics and the short 185m range. Follow these community tips to ensure your cannonballs land:
- Watch the Waves: The ocean waves will block your shots. You must wait for the right moment when your ship is at the peak of a wave before you fire.
- Aim Low: Cannonballs have a natural arc. If you aim at the center of the ship, the shots often fly over the target.
- Manage Your Speed: Do not fight at full speed. Switch to 3/4 speed for tighter turns. This helps you line up your shots. Use 1/4 speed when you move behind an enemy’s stern.
- Lead the Shot: Cannonballs take time to travel. You should aim slightly ahead of where the enemy ship is moving.
- Farm Wood with Cannons: If you need wood for upgrades, do not use your axe. Sail close to a dense coastline and fire your cannons directly into the trees. You will knock down multiple trunks instantly.
Naval combat in Windrose requires patience and preparation. If you craft the right cannon variants and bring enough combat repair kits, you will conquer the ocean easily.
