In Windrose, each naval engagement is a story waiting to unfold. Experience the clash of timber, the roar of cannon fire, and the yells of pirate crews as ships clash in the high seas. But once an enemy ship lies ahead, you’re left at a crossroads: do you choose to board or sink the vessel? This guide charts the course for boarding vs. sinking ships in Windrose, highlighting the risks, benefits, disadvantages, and possible loot for both options.

Boarding and Sinking Ships in Windrose: An Overview

Remember, naval battles in Windrose aren’t one-dimensional. Choose between boarding or sinking an enemy ship after your vessel pummels it with sufficient cannon fire. Do you continue pelting it with explosive cannon balls, or perhaps it’s better to close in, grapple the wounded vessel, and unleash a brutal close-quarters melee dance on its decks?

Boarding Ships in Windrose

Boarding begins by weakening an enemy ship to a “disabled” state, which should be around 20% of its health. At this point, the vessel stops, allowing you and your crew to jump onto the offending pirate ship. The scene erupts into a desperate fight between both parties. Lady Victory shines upon the squad with the largest number of surviving members.

Risks

For starters, boarding a ship in Windrose throws you into the thick of the action. Death becomes a real possibility, and dying in the hands of enemy pirates means losing all your hard-earned items in your backpack. Additionally, boarding locks both ships. That means other enemy vessels that may wander into the area, seeing that your ship is now a sitting duck. Then there’s the risk of losing your crew members mid-battle. Although your loyal pirate squad will eventually recover, losing them in the middle of a boarded fight means you’ll be left to fight the remaining enemies alone.

Benefits

While the stakes are high when boarding enemy ships in Windrose, the rewards are greater than sinking those vessels. Many captains would argue that the primary motivator for boarding is the promise of a larger payout. For instance, a successful board rewards you with a bonus of Piastres. Winning the battle may also grant you rare loot as you scavenge the enemy ship’s hull. It’s also reasonably common to find items like faction insignias, ship repair kits, and resources, such as coffee, salt, and gunpowder, when raiding an enemy vessel. Additional experience points (XP) are also available for those brave enough to board a ship.

Disadvantages

Boarding a ship in Windrose presents itself as a “high risk, high reward” scheme. Although the rewards are plenty, the high preparation costs mean it’s not something you can attempt on a whim. For starters, you must craft and equip the Boarding Party Gear item at your ship’s wharf. Without it, your crew might as well be swinging sticks instead of cutlasses. It’s also a multi-stage process. Pirate captains in Windrose who are pressed for time may want to consider sinking the ship instead of boarding it.

Sinking Ships in Windrose

If you’re the type of pirate captain who thinks that “simple is best,” then sinking enemy ships in Windrose might be the better option than boarding them. After disabling an enemy vessel, simply continue to fire your cannons until its health bar depletes. Wait for a moment, and the spoils float to the surface, waiting for collection.

Risks

While fairly straightforward, sinking ships in Windrose has some risks. For instance, there’s the potential of failing quests. Although rare, some objectives require you to board a vessel, such as the “Board the Unsinkable” objective from the “Needle in a Haystack” quest, which eventually leads to the Israel Hands boss fight. However, the most significant hazard of bringing a ship down to Davy Jones’s locker is the reduced loot. Since you can’t loot its hull, you’ll get fewer rewards as compared to boarding. Those bonus Piastres and resources become lost at sea.

Benefits

As mentioned earlier, sinking a ship is undoubtedly faster than undergoing the entire boarding process. It’s also a safer method, since your vessel remains at a distance, keeping it and your crewmates out of harm’s way. Raining cannon fire also doesn’t require any special equipment. Your only concerns are your aim and which ship has the more powerful cannons. There’s still the possibility of acquiring some loot, albeit the amount and rarity are often lower than when boarding ships. Nonetheless, expect items like ship repair kits, faction insignias, and basic resources that appear from a vessel’s rubble after demolishing it with your cannons.

Disadvantages

Given the time invested, sinking ships is generally seen as less profitable than boarding. Transforming items, such as silver and other rare goods, into debris adds up quickly over time. Following the “sink everything” policy also slows overall progression.

Which is Better: Boarding vs. Sinking Ships in Windrose?

The definitive answer, as with other aspects of this survival title, is situational. Sometimes, boarding ships might be better than sinking them. On the other hand, some players prefer sinking over boarding because it saves them a great deal of time and effort. Remember, your chosen strategy evolves as you progress from humble castaway to a legendary pirate captain. Still, consider sinking ships during the game’s early stages. Also, only target low-level threats. Doing so should reduce risks and prevent unnecessary resource wastage. Mid- to late-game captains, especially those hunting for profit, might think about switching to boarding.