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.

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.

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.

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

Brethren of the Coast Buyer

Brethren of the Coast Provisioner

Smugglers of Port Royal

Smugglers of Port Royal Buyer

Smugglers of Port Royal Provisioner

Rogue Buccaneers

Rogue Buccaneers Buyer

Rogue Buccaneers Provisioner

People of Tortuga

People of Tortuga Buyer

People of Tortuga Provisioner