The Frigate is the pinnacle of warship technology in Windrose and the ultimate expression of naval power. Armed with 12 cannon ports, a massive hull capable of absorbing tremendous punishment, and a crew capacity that supports complex combat operations, the Frigate is the ship you build when you are ready to dominate the seas. This guide covers everything from acquisition to the optimal endgame build, including cannon loadouts, armor plating strategies, and the crew management techniques that separate a good Frigate captain from a great one.
How to Unlock and Build the Frigate
The Frigate is not available until the late game. You must have explored at least three major biomes, completed the Admiral's Council quest line, and reached Shipwright level 8 in the crafting skill tree. The prerequisites are steep, but the payoff is a warship that can go toe-to-toe with anything the ocean throws at you.
Prerequisites
- Shipwright Level 8 — Requires 4,500 total Shipwright XP. Focus on building and upgrading smaller ships to accumulate XP.
- Admiral's Council Quest Line — Start this quest chain at the Capital Harbor faction office after reaching Friendly reputation with the Maritime Alliance.
- Ashlands Biome Access — You need materials exclusive to the Ashlands for several Frigate components, including Obsidian Ingots and Charcoal Steel.
- Advanced Wharf (Tier 3) — The basic and Tier 2 Wharfs cannot accommodate the Frigate's size. You need the Advanced Wharf blueprint, obtained from the Shipwright Master NPC at the Capital Harbor.
Building Materials
Constructing a base Frigate requires a significant material investment. Here is the full bill of materials:
| Material | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwood Planks | 300 | Processed from Ironwood at the Sawmill (Ashlands) |
| Steel Ingots | 80 | Smelted from Iron Ore + Coal at the Blast Furnace |
| Copper Ingots | 40 | Smelted from Copper Ore at the Furnace |
| Obsidian Ingots | 20 | Smelted from Obsidian at the Blast Furnace (Ashlands) |
| Heavy Rope | 30 | Crafted from Thick Fiber at the Loom |
| War Sails Canvas | 8 | Crafted from Thick Fiber and Silk at the Loom |
| Tar | 50 | Crafted from Coal and Resin at the Furnace |
The total crafting time is approximately 12 minutes of real-time at a Tier 3 Wharf. Unlike smaller ships, the Frigate requires the Wharf to be connected to a bonfire with a minimum radius of 20 meters. Ensure your base layout accommodates this requirement before starting construction.
Before starting the Frigate build, stockpile at least 50% more materials than the recipe requires. Upgrading the Frigate to combat readiness consumes nearly as many materials as the initial build. Having everything ready means you can upgrade immediately after construction instead of making multiple resource-gathering trips.
Frigate Base Stats and Overview
The Frigate's base statistics reflect its role as the game's premier warship. Here is what you start with before any upgrades:
| Stat | Base Value | Max Upgraded |
|---|---|---|
| Hull HP | 2,400 | 5,000 |
| Speed (base) | 12 knots | 17 knots |
| Turning Radius | Wide | Moderate |
| Cannon Ports | 12 (6 per side) | 12 |
| Cargo Capacity | 24 slots | 40 slots |
| Crew Capacity | 5 | 8 |
| Draft | Deep | Deep |
| Armor Slots | 4 | 4 |
The Frigate's defining feature is its 12 cannon ports — more than double the Brigantine and triple the Sloop. This firepower advantage means the Frigate can output devastating broadsides that obliterate smaller ships in a single volley. The trade-off is maneuverability: the Frigate turns slowly and has a deep draft that prevents it from entering shallow waters or narrow channels.
Frigate Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Overwhelming firepower — 12 cannon ports deliver the highest burst DPS of any ship in the game. A full broadside from a fully-cannoned Frigate can destroy a Brigantine in 2-3 volleys and cripple NPC Galleons.
- Massive hull HP pool — At 5,000 HP when fully upgraded, the Frigate can absorb punishment that would sink any other ship three times over. This survivability lets you make aggressive plays and recover from mistakes.
- Armor slot system — The Frigate is the only ship with dedicated armor slots (4 total). Armor plates reduce incoming damage by a percentage based on material quality, making the ship exponentially more durable.
- Large crew capacity — With up to 8 crew members, you can assign dedicated gunners, repair crews, and a navigator simultaneously. This enables complex combat strategies.
- Cargo space for extended voyages — 40 cargo slots at maximum upgrade allow you to carry enough supplies for long expeditions without needing to resupply.
Disadvantages
- Poor maneuverability — The Frigate turns slowly and responds sluggishly to helm input. You cannot quickly reposition or dodge incoming fire the way a Sloop or Brigantine can.
- Deep draft limitation — The Frigate cannot enter shallow waters, river mouths, or narrow channels. Many coastal shortcuts and shallow-water safe zones are completely inaccessible.
- Extreme material cost — Building and upgrading a Frigate consumes more resources than every other ship combined. A fully-upgraded Frigate costs roughly 3x what a Brigantine requires.
- Slow wind acceleration — The Frigate's heavy mass means it takes longer to accelerate and decelerate. Wind shifts and sail adjustments have delayed effects.
- Requires large crew — A Frigate with fewer than 4 crew members operates well below its potential. Solo players will struggle to utilize more than half of its cannon ports.
The Frigate is not a solo-friendly ship. While a single player can technically sail it, you will only be able to fire 4 of the 12 cannons yourself (the rest rely on NPC crew AI, which is significantly less effective). If you primarily play solo, the Brigantine is a more practical endgame investment.
Best Cannon Loadout for the Frigate
With 12 cannon ports, the Frigate gives you enormous flexibility in cannon configuration. The optimal loadout depends on your playstyle and the type of encounters you expect. Here are the three best setups:
Loadout A: Full Steel Battery (Best All-Around)
Equip all 12 ports with Steel Cannons. This provides the best balance of damage, range, and reload speed. Steel Cannons deal 55 damage with Long range and a 3.5-second reload — the highest DPS per cannon in the game. The total broadside damage from a full volley is 660 HP, enough to strip half the health of most NPC ships in a single pass.
Loadout B: Mixed Siege Configuration (Boss Hunting)
Place 4 Siege Cannons on the lower deck (highest damage, shortest range) and 8 Steel Cannons on the upper deck. The Siege Cannons deal 90 damage each but have limited range — you use them during close-range passes against boss ships and fortified structures. The Steel Cannons handle standard engagements and provide range coverage while you close distance.
Loadout C: Carronade Brawler (PvP Close-Range)
Replace all cannons with Heavy Carronades — devastating close-range weapons that deal 80 damage with extreme spread and very short range. This loadout requires you to get alongside enemy ships, but the burst damage is terrifying. In PvP, a Carronade Frigate that gets alongside an opponent can destroy them in a single broadside.
| Cannon Type | Damage | Range | Reload | Cost per Unit | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel Cannon | 55 | Long | 3.5s | Steel Ingots x4 | All-around combat |
| Siege Cannon | 90 | Short | 6.0s | Steel Ingots x8, Obsidian x2 | Boss fights, sieges |
| Heavy Carronade | 80 | Very Short | 4.0s | Steel Ingots x6 | PvP brawling |
| Long Steel Cannon | 48 | Very Long | 3.8s | Steel Ingots x5 | Kiting, chasing |
| Swivel Gun | 15 | Medium | 1.2s | Iron Ingots x2 | Anti-personnel |
Assign your NPC crew members to specific cannon decks before combat begins. Lower-deck gunners fire first in a broadside sequence, followed by upper-deck gunners. Staggering your broadside this way creates a continuous stream of fire rather than a single burst followed by a long reload pause, significantly increasing sustained DPS.
Armor Plating Strategy
The Frigate's 4 armor slots are its most unique feature and the key to its survivability. Armor plates reduce all incoming hull damage by a percentage based on the material used. Here is how to optimize your armor configuration:
| Armor Material | Damage Reduction | Durability | Weight (Speed Penalty) | Material Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Plate | 15% | 800 | -0.5 knots | Iron Ingots x10, Tar x5 |
| Steel Plate | 25% | 1,200 | -0.8 knots | Steel Ingots x15, Tar x10 |
| Obsidian Plate | 35% | 1,800 | -1.2 knots | Obsidian Ingots x8, Steel x10 |
| Dragonbone Plate | 45% | 2,500 | -0.5 knots | Dragonbone x6, Obsidian x5 |
Armor plates have durability and will degrade as they absorb damage. When a plate reaches 0 durability, it stops providing damage reduction until repaired. You can repair armor plates at any Wharf using the same materials used to craft them (at 50% cost). In the field, a crew member with the Repair skill can patch damaged plates using Tar and appropriate metal ingots.
Recommended Armor Setup
- Port Side (3 plates): Dragonbone Plates. Your port side will face enemies most often during standard combat positioning (starboard-side approach is less common in Windrose's encounter design).
- Starboard Side (1 plate): Steel Plate. One plate on the off-side provides basic protection without the full weight investment.
Do not put heavy armor on all 4 slots unless you are prepared for a significant speed penalty. Four Obsidian Plates reduce your speed by 4.8 knots, bringing the Frigate from 17 knots to just over 12 knots — slower than an upgraded Brigantine. Balance protection with mobility based on your intended activity.
Hull Upgrade Priority
The Frigate's hull can be upgraded through four tiers, each significantly increasing HP and unlocking the next armor slot. Follow this upgrade sequence for maximum combat effectiveness:
| Tier | Materials | Hull HP | Armor Slots | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Hardwood x100, Steel x20, Tar x15 | 3,000 | 1 | Basic armor |
| Tier 2 | Hardwood x150, Steel x30, Tar x25, Obsidian x5 | 3,800 | 2 | Reinforced bow |
| Tier 3 | Hardwood x200, Steel x40, Tar x35, Obsidian x10 | 4,400 | 3 | Expanded gun deck |
| Tier 4 | Hardwood x250, Steel x60, Tar x50, Obsidian x20, Dragonbone x5 | 5,000 | 4 | Flagship status |
Crew Management for the Frigate
With a crew capacity of up to 8, the Frigate demands careful crew management. Here is the optimal crew composition for different scenarios:
Full Combat Crew (8 Members)
- 1 Helmsman (Player or NPC) — Steers the ship and manages sails.
- 4 Gunners (NPC) — Assigned to specific cannon decks. Two per side provides full broadside coverage.
- 2 Repair Crew (NPC) — Dedicated to hull repairs and armor patching during combat.
- 1 Boarding Specialist (NPC) — Armed with melee weapons and gunpowder, ready to board enemy ships.
Expedition Crew (5 Members)
- 1 Helmsman
- 2 Gunners
- 1 Repair Crew
- 1 Navigator (NPC) — Reduces voyage time between waypoints and reveals hidden islands on the map.
Invest in the Leadership skill tree to improve NPC crew effectiveness. Each rank in Leadership increases NPC gunner accuracy by 5% and repair speed by 10%. At Leadership level 5, your NPC gunners become nearly as accurate as a player, making the Frigate's full 12-cannon broadside devastating even with AI crew.
Combat Tactics for the Frigate
The Frigate's combat style is fundamentally different from smaller ships. Instead of agility and speed, you rely on positioning, broadside timing, and raw firepower. Master these tactics to dominate every encounter:
- Use the weather gauge. Always try to approach from upwind so the enemy must fight while sailing into the wind. A downwind enemy is slower and less maneuverable, giving you more time to line up broadsides.
- Present your armored side. If you have asymmetric armor (3 port, 1 starboard), always present the heavier side toward the enemy. Even the reduced damage from a single Steel Plate adds up over a long fight.
- Fire on the uproll. Time your broadsides to fire when your ship is rolling toward the enemy (the upward part of the wave cycle). Cannons fire slightly upward on the downroll, reducing accuracy. Wait for the uproll for maximum hit probability.
- Keep repair crews on standby. With a large crew, you can afford dedicated repair NPCs. Set them to repair mode during combat lulls — they will automatically patch hull breaches and restore armor durability.
- Never chase smaller ships. Sloops and Brigantines can outmaneuver the Frigate easily. Instead of chasing, fire a few volleys as they pass, then continue on your heading. Engaging in a chase wastes cannon ammunition and sails.
Full Upgrade Cost Summary
Here is the total material cost for fully upgrading every system on the Frigate, including all cannons and maximum-tier armor:
| System | Hardwood | Steel | Obsidian | Tar | Dragonbone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull (all tiers) | 700 | 150 | 35 | 125 | 5 |
| 12 Steel Cannons | 0 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Armor (3 Dragon + 1 Steel) | 0 | 15 | 19 | 30 | 18 |
| Sails (max tier) | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cargo (max tier) | 80 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crew Quarters (max) | 50 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Total | 890 | 243 | 54 | 155 | 23 |
These numbers are substantial. A fully-upgraded Frigate is an endgame project that requires weeks of resource gathering even with an efficient base and NPC workers. The investment is worth it — a max-tier Frigate with full armor and Steel Cannons is virtually unstoppable in both PvE and PvP encounters.