Loading...
Loading...
Pirate Camps
April 16, 2026 at 05:33 AM
Humanize pirate-camps page wording
Pirate Camps are hostile points of interest scattered across the islands of Windrose's archipelago. They are populated by Blackbeard's pirates and serve as one of the best early-game sources of gunpowder, weapons, and trade goods in the live Early Access build. Pirate camps and their inhabitants respawn daily, making them a farmable resource.
Pirate camps are identifiable by:
Banners, tents, and campfire smoke visible from a distance (even from your ship)
Watchtowers or small wooden palisades along shorelines or tucked into forested areas
Question marks on the map indicating undiscovered points of interest
During quests, camp locations are explicitly marked as quest objectives
Pirates at camps are hostile and will attack on sight. They are classified as human enemies ("Sailors" in the game's terminology). At the Rescuing the Crew quest camps, enemies are Level 6. Pirates can attack in groups of up to 3 at once, even if you try to pull from a distance with a gunshot. General rule: if enemies are two levels above you, avoid them until better equipped.
Pirate camps provide several useful loot types:
Loot Type | Source | Details |
|---|---|---|
Gunpowder | Enemy drops + supply boxes | 2 to 3 units per enemy drop (luck-based); 2 to 3 units per supply box. The main early-game gunpowder source before Sulfur and Millstone crafting come online. |
Weapons/Guns | Enemy drops + chests | Pistols, Blunderbusses, Muskets. Specialty variants like Dragon's Breath and Buccaneer's Friend. |
Trade Goods | Chests and supply containers | Naval Supplies, Medical Crates, Contraband. Sold to Traders for currency (Tortuga, once the wider merchant network is available). |
XP | Fully looting the camp | Clearing all containers grants experience for the progression system. |
Pirate camps and their inhabitants respawn every in-game day. Both the pirates and the loot (including gunpowder in supply boxes) reset. Players can revisit these locations each in-game morning to restock supplies. This makes pirate camps one of the most reliable early-game gunpowder farms in Early Access.
The "Rescuing the Crew" quest, unlocked through Doctor Galen, involves raiding pirate camps to free captured crewmates:
Starting island: Meet Doctor Galen, receive the quest
Second island: Travel to a quest marker and find a camp with 3 enemies holding a crewmate. Kill them and talk to the rescued crewmate.
Third island: The rescued crewmate reveals the rest of the crew is held across 3 pirate camps on the next island. Sail there, disembark, and raid all three camps.
Total crew members to rescue: 7 (needed for the follow-up quest "I Need a Bigger Boat" to repair a ship). Enemies at these camps are Level 6. After completing each objective, the next camp location is marked on your map. Freed crew members appear on the ship after all are rescued and the ship is repaired.
Fight one at a time. Approach an enemy, draw aggro, and lure them away from the group. Repeat for each enemy.
Lock on (T key). Without target lock, dodges will not track the enemy and guard will not face the right direction.
Manage stamina. Every swing, dodge, and block drains stamina. Never let stamina hit zero or you enter the Winded state.
Lower your block when not needed to speed up stamina regeneration.
Parrying is powerful against human enemies. Timing a block as an attack lands staggers the enemy. Works better against Sailors than against Boars.
Use hit-and-run tactics. Attack 1 to 2 times, then retreat. Walking backward alone takes you out of most enemy ranges.
Enemies do not recover health when you die. Attrition tactics (dying and returning) are viable for tough camps.
Upgrade before the Rescuing the Crew quest. Level 6 enemies are significantly tougher than early-game opponents. Invest talent points and upgrade armor.
Gunpowder is one of the rarest early combat resources until your Foothills sulfur chain and Millstone crafting are online. The best farming strategy:
Establish a temporary base near a cluster of pirate camps
Place a Fast Travel Bell near a pirate camp on the coast for instant return trips
Clear the camp each in-game morning (enemies and loot respawn daily)
Loot all supply boxes and defeated enemies for 2 to 3 gunpowder each
Save gunpowder exclusively for boss fights inside dungeons; do not waste it on common enemies
A community tip from the Steam forums: "Build at least one teleportation bell near a pirate camp on the coast. They respawn daily."
Island | Pirate Camp Presence |
|---|---|
Starting island | No active pirate camps. Has Abandoned Buccaneer Camp (guarded by boars) and Smuggler's Cache (guarded by a Drowner). These are ruins, not active camps. |
Second island | At least 1 camp with 3 enemies (Rescuing the Crew quest) |
Third island | 3 pirate camps (Rescuing the Crew quest targets) |
Other islands | Additional camps scattered across the archipelago; exact count not documented |
Two locations on the starting island share thematic similarities with pirate camps but are classified as ruins rather than active camps:
Abandoned Buccaneer Camp: Located west of the starting island. Contains two chests (one requiring platforming, one requiring a hidden button) with Tumbaga Ingots and a Sturdy Saber, plus a Fast Travel Bell. Guarded by aggressive boars, not pirates.
Smuggler's Cache: Hidden coastal area with the entrance concealed behind foliage. Contains the player's first Fast Travel Bell. Guarded by a Drowner enemy.
