The "Revenge Is Best Served Cold" quest is one of Windrose's first major tests of patience and preparation. You are not just wandering between islands collecting trinkets. You are systematically dismantling Richard's entire operation across three distinct locations before getting a shot at the man himself. Miss a single enemy or skip a chest, and you will stare at an empty inventory wondering where your fourth Black Mark went.
What is the Revenge Is Best Served Cold quest in Windrose?
According to multiple walkthroughs documented by Deltia's Gaming and Nerdschalk, this quest unlocks after you build your ship and serves as one of the first major story missions in Windrose. The objective has two clear phases: collect 4 Black Marks scattered across the Blackbeard Waters region, then use those marks to locate and defeat Thomas Richards at his camp. The game marks general quest locations in your Journal, but the chest placement and enemy density can catch unprepared players off guard.
Track marks via your Journal
How the Black Mark system works
Black Marks are guaranteed rewards, not random drops. Each one sits inside a Richard's Crew Chest that only unlocks after you eliminate all marked enemies in that zone. The chest will not appear or open if any required enemy is still alive nearby. This is the single most common reason players get stuck: they rush through an area, miss one pirate hiding behind cover, and the chest stays locked.
The quest spans three main locations in sequence:
danger
If a chest is not appearing, scan the area carefully. A single surviving enemy is almost always the cause.
Where to find all 4 Black Marks
Step 1: Clear the Blackbeard Outpost (Ancient Ruins island)
Head to the Blackbeard Outpost in the Ancient Ruins area. You are looking for marked NPCs with icons floating above their heads. These are your required kills. Take them down methodically rather than charging in, since the outpost has multiple enemies that can converge on you fast.
Once the area is clear, four chests become accessible. Open all of them. According to the Nerdschalk walkthrough, 2 Black Marks are found here, but their exact chest placement can vary. Check every single chest in the zone, including corners and less obvious spots. Some players have reported finding marks in chests they nearly skipped.
Step 2: Move to the enemy camp
The second location is a camp that is more densely populated than the outpost. Expect multiple enemies attacking from different angles. Rushing this area is a mistake. Work through the camp methodically, using positioning to avoid getting surrounded.
After clearing all enemies, locate and open the camp chest. This yields your third Black Mark, bringing the running total to three.
info
If you are struggling with crowd control at the camp, pull enemies toward open ground rather than fighting in tight spaces where their numbers advantage hurts most.
Step 3: Board the final ship and fight Richard's Lieutenant
The last mark is on a ship, guarded by Richard's Lieutenant, the toughest enemy in the quest chain. The ship deck is a confined space, which makes this fight more demanding than the earlier zones. Healing items matter here. Stamina management matters here.
Focus on dodging the Lieutenant's attacks and isolating the fight. Once the Lieutenant is down, the final set of chests unlocks. Loot them to claim the fourth and final Black Mark.
How to defeat Thomas Richards
With all 4 Black Marks collected, Thomas Richards' camp location appears on your map. The camp itself is not empty: expect his henchmen throughout the approach. Clear them before pushing to the center, where the boss room waits behind a wooden gate.
As documented by Destructoid, Thomas Richards uses a two-handed weapon and carries grenades. The grenade blasts are the biggest threat since a couple of hits can drain your health fast. His melee attacks hit hard but are slow and telegraphed, which makes them dodge-able with decent timing.
The correct approach: play defensively. Wait for Richards to attack, let the combo miss, then punish the recovery window. He tires after combos, which creates consistent openings. Do not get greedy. According to Deltia's Gaming, Richards also rushes toward you periodically. When that happens, create distance and reset rather than trading hits.
warning
The unblockable attacks and grenades are the most dangerous parts of this fight. Prioritize dodging over dealing damage whenever Richards winds up for a big move.
If you die during the Richards fight, Destructoid notes you can fast-travel back to the camp and resume from that point without replaying the Black Mark collection phase.
After defeating Richards, return to your base and speak with Doctor Galen. That conversation closes out the quest. Your rewards for completing the quest include Experience Points, 1x Seafood Platter, and 1x Thomas Richards' Journal, according to Deltia's Gaming.
What loot drops during the quest?
Beyond the quest rewards, the NPCs, chests, and boss throughout the mission drop a solid range of useful items:
For more Windrose walkthroughs and strategies across a range of games, browse more guides on GAMES.GG.