Windrose Guide: Best Cannons & How to Get Them
Dominate naval combat by unlocking the Epic 36-Pounder cannons and building Blackbeard's Frigate.
Quick Answer: The 36-Pounders are the undisputed best cannons in Windrose. Reach Reputation Level 4 with the Rogue Buccaneers to unlock the blueprints, build Blackbeard’s Frigate to actually carry their weight, and pick the “Perfectly Ordered” variant for the highest sustained DPS.
The moment the tutorial wraps up, Windrose throws you straight to the wolves. You will constantly find yourself outnumbered in the Caribbean. Fast enemy sloops will try to flank you while massive man-o’-wars rain fire from a distance. Your starter cannons simply cannot keep up with the scaling difficulty.
If you want to rule the seas, you need to upgrade to the 36-Pounders. Getting your hands on this Epic-tier heavy artillery requires serious faction grinding and a massive ship upgrade, but the payoff is absolute naval dominance.
Why the 36-Pounders Rule the Meta
Right now, the 36-Pounders sit comfortably at the top of the game’s damage hierarchy. When maxed out at level 15, they deliver a staggering 380 attack power, giving you the highest direct hull damage possible.
You cannot just jump straight to them, though. A solid mid-game progression route involves slapping 24-Pounders on a Brig. Those mid-tier guns will give you the firepower needed to safely grind the reputation required for the endgame cannons.
Which 36-Pounder Variant Should You Choose?
Once you unlock the shop, you will see three different variants of the 36-Pounders. They all cost 500 Piastre, and you can only mount one type at a time. Picking the right passive effect completely changes how you approach combat.
| Variant | Key Passive | Best Playstyle |
| Perfectly Ordered | +30% reload speed for 22s after hitting within 4s of reload; +30% aiming speed | Sustained pressure, chaotic and messy fights |
| Devastating | Applies Raked (10% damage increase, stacks 3x) on volleys of 50+ hits; +15% reload speed | Boss ships, drawn-out engagements |
| Tempered | +40% volley damage after waiting 6s post-reload; +20% damage to Weak Spots | Precision sniping, one-shotting weaker ships |
Perfectly Ordered is hands down the best general pick. It rewards you for staying aggressive and keeps your firing rhythm insanely fast without demanding perfect angles.
Devastating shines when you start taking on massive boss ships. Once you reliably land full volleys, the Raked debuff stacks up to make every follow-up shot hit like a truck.
Tempered is a trap for most players. Yes, a 40% damage boost sounds incredible, but waiting a full 6 seconds after reloading is an eternity during naval combat. Ships move, your angle breaks, and you usually just end up eating enemy fire while holding your shot.
Pro Tip: Need a break from getting blasted by enemy ships? Step on dry land and use our Windrose Guide: How to Solve the Ancient Altar Puzzle to farm some fast Guineas to help fund these expensive ship upgrades.
Step-by-Step Unlock Guide
1. Max Out Rogue Buccaneers Reputation
The Rogue Buccaneers are the finest marksmen in the game, and they are the only faction holding these blueprints. You must hit Reputation Level 4 before they even let you look at their Epic inventory. Grind out the “Buccaneers” and “Glorious Hunters” questlines, and hand over every Boar and Crocodile Head you find to push your standing up.
2. Purchase Your Blueprint
Head over to the Epic section of the Rogue Buccaneers shop and drop 500 Piastre on the variant plan of your choice. Again, do not waste money buying all three unless you are swimming in cash.
3. Build Blackbeard’s Frigate
You cannot strap 36-Pounders to a Brigantine or a Sloop. The recoil and weight are simply too much. You have to build Blackbeard’s Frigate.
First, buy the Ship Designs: Frigate from the Brethren of the Coast for 3,000 Piastre. Then, prepare for a massive farming session. You will need all of these materials to construct it:
- 300 Nails
- 320 Wooden Planks
- 240 Linen Fabric
- 160 Timber
- 120 Foothills Iron Ingots
- 80 Tarred Planks
- 80 Tarred Fabric
- 80 Rope
- 50 Shipwright’s Tools
Keep in mind that the Frigate is sluggish compared to early-game ships. It has a painfully wide turning radius, so you have to outplay your enemies with smart positioning and sheer range.
4. Craft and Mount
Take your materials and blueprint to the Shipwright’s Workshop. Craft the cannons, dock your new Frigate, open the Ship Customization menu, and drag those massive guns right into your broadside slots.
A Quick Note on Ammunition
Standard cannonballs get the job done, but specialized ammo turns the 36-Pounders into an absolute nightmare for the AI. Load up Heated Shot to melt hulls with fire damage, or swap to Grapeshot to shred the enemy crew before you board them.
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