Wandering Windrose is no walk in the park. Pirate kings and queens have to deal with boars, bandits, and even the undead. Eventually, a boss attempts to hinder progression, and this first major encounter comes in the form of Thomas Richards. Here, you’ll learn Thomas Richards’ location and how to prepare and defeat him, so you can be on your merry way to the next major biome.

Where to Find Thomas Richards in Windrose?

Note: Image courtesy of Dlonem. Thomas Richards is the first boss in Windrose, found in the Coastal Jungle biome. Players can fight him at the end of the Revenge is Best Served Cold main questline. You’ll know you’re about to fight Thomas Richards upon receiving a quest with an objective that requires you to find four Black Marks. Find these Black Marks in different locations across the biome, particularly in Blackbear Outposts. Defeat the pirate guards, and open each Richard’s Crew Chest to find the Black Markers. Once found, the next step is to infiltrate Thomas Richards’ camp. Board your ship, and travel to the main questline marker on the map. Land on the island, and defeat the pirates that stand in your way. Eventually, you’ll be in front of the Hideout Entrance. Do so to unlock the next step, which is to defeat Thomas Richards.

Preparing for the Fight Against Thomas Richards

Note: Image courtesy of Dlonem. Some aspiring pirate kings and queens may find Thomas Richards more trouble than anticipated. Remember, increasing your odds of success starts with preparing for the boss fight. Do so by stocking up on other consumable items that restore health and provide helpful buffs. Some items to have in your backpack are Bandages and Health Potions. Consider bringing an Elixir of Cruelty to increase your overall damage output by 8%. As for the food, the Coconut Milk with Bananas is a good choice, as it boosts Endurance, which, in turn, provides additional stamina. Perhaps your next question is, “What is the best weapon to use against Thomas Richards?” Aside from a good ranged weapon, such as the Musket, the Greatsword is ideal for efficiently dealing with Thomas Richards. Although the Saber and Rapier have faster attack animations, the Greatsword’s slashes are heavy enough to deplete enemy poise shields without significantly relying on perfect parries.

How to Defeat Thomas Richards in Windrose?

Note: Image courtesy of Dlonem. Consume the Elixir of Cruelty and Coconut Milk with Bananas before entering Thomas Richards’ room. Once consumed, enter the door and lock onto Thomas Richards immediately so you don’t lose sight of him. Getting hit by any of Thomas Richards’ attacks removes a huge chunk of your health. However, these movements are predictable, giving you enough time to block, parry, or evade. With that, don’t be greedy with your attacks. Instead, pace yourself and only swing your Greatsword (or your weapon of choice) when Thomas Richards is open to receiving attacks. Generally, Thomas Richards swings his sword twice. He’ll then either step back or move forward for an extra heavy attack. Observe the boss after the second sword swing, and act accordingly. If Thomas Richards manages to land a good hit, distance yourself and apply the Bandage or consume a Healing Potion to recover health. Repeat this process until Thomas Richards’ inevitable defeat. In a co-op environment within a Windrose server, a player, particularly one with the best reflexes, draws aggro and parries Thomas Richards’ attacks. Everyone who joined the fight can then gang up on the boss once he staggers from the team’s tank, breaking the boss’s poise. Other attacks to watch out for include an unblockable grab attack (evade upon seeing his hand flashing red) and a bomb. Thankfully, the bomb doesn’t detonate immediately, giving you time to move out of the area before it explodes. Players who defeat Thomas Richards in Windrose yield the following rewards:

• 50 Experience Points
• Thomas Richards’ Journal
• Seafood Platter
• Silver Ingot