Windrose leans hard into its pirate fantasy, but there's a full crafting system running underneath all the naval combat and exploration. Six primary crafting stations handle everything from weapons and armor to potions and jewelry, and each one connects to a network of add-on upgrades that unlock higher-tier recipes. Skipping upgrades early is fine, but mid-game and late-game recipes will eventually force your hand. Here's every station, what it builds, and exactly what you need to upgrade it.
What does each crafting station do?
Before getting into upgrade costs, here's a quick rundown of what each station actually produces. Knowing the purpose of each one helps you prioritize which to upgrade first based on your playstyle.
The Refining Stations sit in a separate category. They don't produce gear directly, but they process raw materials into usable crafting components, which makes them foundational to everything else.
How do upgrades work in Windrose?
Each crafting station accepts a set of add-ons that physically expand its functionality. You craft each add-on separately using specific materials, then place it at the same Bonfire as the base station. According to Destructoid's coverage, recipes for these add-ons unlock gradually through quests (both main and side) and exploration, so there's no need to rush them at the start.
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Don't stress about upgrading everything at once. You'll naturally acquire add-on recipes as you progress through quests. The game will signal when you need a higher-tier station by gating advanced recipes behind specific add-ons.
Windrose Guide: All Crafting Stations & How to Unlock Them
Workbench upgrades
The Workbench starts with just 5x Wood and handles the broadest range of basic tools and items. Its two confirmed upgrades are:
- Sawhorse: 20x Wood, 10x Copper
- Toolbox: 10x Wood, 20x Nails, 5x Foothills Iron Ingot
Destructoid's table also lists a Tool Shelf as a third add-on for the Workbench. The exact material cost for the Tool Shelf wasn't specified in available sources.
Cooking Fire upgrades
The Cooking Fire (3x Wood, 3x Stone) handles all food preparation. Keeping this upgraded matters for sustaining yourself and allies during longer expeditions. Its upgrades are:
- Cutting Table: 10x Wood, 2x Copper Ingot
- Cookware Shelf: 10x Hardwood, 2x Ironware
Destructoid also lists a Supplies Rack as a third Cooking Fire add-on, though specific material costs weren't documented in the available sources.
Armor and Clothing Workshop upgrades
The Armor and Clothing Workshop (5x Wood, 10x Coarse Fabric) is your main source for defensive gear. It has one confirmed upgrade with full material details:
- Shoemaker's Bench: 30x Hardwood, 20x Tanned Leather, 15x Linen Fabric
Destructoid additionally lists a Material Rack and Try-on Mannequin as add-ons for this station. Full material requirements for those two weren't available in the documented sources.
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The Armor and Clothing Workshop requires Tanned Leather for its Shoemaker's Bench upgrade. Make sure you have a Tanning Rack (a Refining Station) built before you start farming materials for this upgrade.Weaponsmith Workshop upgrades
The Weaponsmith Workshop (10x Wood, 5x Copper Ingot) handles both crafting and upgrading weapons. Its confirmed upgrades are:
- Shipwright's Workshop: 15x Wood, 10x Coarse Fabric, 5x Copper Ingot
- Anvil Station: 10x Wood, 1x Anvil
Destructoid lists Bellows and Water Barrel as additional add-ons for this station. The Shipwright's Workshop add-on is notably useful for ship-related crafting, which fits directly into Windrose's naval gameplay loop.
Alchemy Table upgrades
The Alchemy Table (5x Wood, 2x Clay Pot) produces potions and elixirs. Its confirmed upgrades with full material costs are:
- Stove and Pot: 5x Stone, 5x Clay, 1x Copper Pot
- Reagent Table: 5x Hardwood, 2x Rum Bottle, 2x Silver Ingot, 2x Sulfur, 1x Ironware
Destructoid also lists a Distiller as a third add-on. The Reagent Table requires Silver Ingot, which you'll need to farm separately.
Jewelry Table upgrades
The Jewelry Table (10x Wood, 5x Foothills Iron Ingot, 3x Silver Ingot) handles jewelry crafting and upgrades. According to Deltia's Gaming, this station has no additional upgrades in the base documentation. Destructoid, however, lists a Jeweller's Bench and Jewelry Cabinet as add-ons for this station.
This is a minor conflict between the two sources. Based on Destructoid's more detailed table (which appears to be the more recently published source from April 16, 2026), the Jewelry Table does have at least two add-ons. Full material costs for those weren't documented in either source.
What are the Refining Stations?
Refining Stations are standalone structures that process raw materials into crafting components. None of them have upgrades, but they're prerequisites for everything else. Here are all five:
- Charcoal Kiln: 25x Wood, 20x Clay
- Smelting Furnace: 15x Clay, 30x Stone
- Spinning Wheel: 10x Wood, 5x Rope
- Tanning Rack: 10x Wood, 5x Rope
- Millstones: 15x Wood, 1x Millstone Parts
The Smelting Furnace is the one to prioritize first. Most upgrade recipes across every station call for metal ingots, and you can't smelt those without it. The Tanning Rack comes second if you're pushing toward the Armor Workshop's Shoemaker's Bench.
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The Spinning Wheel and Tanning Rack both cost exactly the same materials (10x Wood, 5x Rope). Build both at the same time to save yourself a second resource run.For more Windrose content and guides across other games, browse the latest guides at GAMES.GG.