What to know
- Reach reputation level 2 with specific factions like People of Tortuga or Rogue Buccaneers to unlock contracts at Provisioners in Tortuga.
- Each contract costs 100 Piastre and enables a unique merchant stall for food, natural resources, or animal products.
- Build stalls in your base’s bonfire range under a roof; orders arrive after a 70-minute timer.
- Advanced items unlock after clearing local threats in biomes like Coastal Jungle or Foothills.
Merchant contracts transform resource gathering in Windrose by bringing trade directly to your base. Instead of scavenging islands endlessly, you pay Piastre for shipments of essentials like wood, hides, or seeds. This system shines in mid-game when ship upgrades and forts demand massive material hauls.
Merchant contracts details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost per contract | 100 Piastre |
| Reputation needed | Level 2 with faction |
| Purchase location | Tortuga market Provisioners |
| Build requirements | Under roof, in bonfire range |
| Order quantities | 1, 2, 5, or 10 boxes |
| Delivery time | 70 real-world minutes |
| Currencies used | Piastre (silver coins) |
Tortuga serves as the central hub for acquiring these contracts, located southwest of most starting bases via the main quest “How My Sea Adventure Began.”
The market square hosts Provisioners from factions like People of Tortuga and Rogue Buccaneers, often with a fast travel campfire nearby. Pirate patrols en route make ship repairs essential before heading there.
Reputation requirements for access
Factions track your standing through Insignias and Letters of Favor turned in at their vendors. You start at level 1; level 2 unlocks contracts after earning enough points from quests or loot.
- Complete side quests like Buccaneers’ temporary island chain to build rep quickly.
- Hand in faction-specific Insignias (e.g., Tortuga Insignia for People of Tortuga).
- Avoid wasting items on wrong factions, as rep gains are permanent and faction-locked.
How to acquire the contracts
Follow these steps to buy your first contract.
Step 1: Travel to Tortuga
Sail southwest from your home base following the main quest marker. Upgrade your rowboat to handle level 6-10 pirate ships patrolling the waters. Dock and enter the market square.
Step 2: Check faction reputation
Interact with Provisioners. If below level 2 with People of Tortuga or Rogue Buccaneers, farm Insignias from pirate camps or quests first.
Step 3: Purchase the contract
Select the contract (e.g., Animal Products from Rogue Buccaneers). Confirm the 100 Piastre cost and buy.
It appears as a rare miscellaneous item in your inventory.
Step 4: Return to base
Fast travel if unlocked, or sail back safely.
Building your merchant stall
Once back, enter build mode with B key.
Step 1: Locate in menu
Scroll to the bottom of “Crafting & Utilities” tab. The new merchant (e.g., Merchant: Natural Resources) requires the contract item.
Step 2: Choose spot
Place on pier flooring near the coast for easy ship access, under a roof, within bonfire range. The stall has 1 million HP for durability.
Step 3: Interact and order
Press E on the built stall. View available goods, select quantity (max 10 boxes), pay Piastre, and wait 70 minutes. Shipments auto-deliver to your storage.
Available contracts and inventories
Three main contracts exist, each tied to a faction.
| Contract | Faction | Base Items | Unlocked Items (post-threats) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food | People of Tortuga | Coconut (10 Piastre/box) | Banana, Sweet Potato, Cayenne Pepper, Lime, Aloe, Corn, Tomato, Flax (plus seeds at higher cost) |
| Natural Resources | People of Tortuga | Wood (25 Piastre), Stone (25), Clay, Plant Fiber | Sulfur (40), Hardwood (50), Tree Bark (Foothills/Coastal clears) |
| Animal Products | Rogue Buccaneers | Rough Hide, Animal Fat (20) | Advanced leathers, tendons (biome boss clears) |
Prioritize seeds over raw food for infinite farms. Bulk hides save boar-hunting time.
Rewards from merchant contracts
These contracts reward efficiency with bulk access, scaling with progress.
| Reward Type | Examples | Piastre Cost (per box) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Resources | Wood, Stone, Coconut | 10-25 | Always available |
| Farm Essentials | Flax Seeds, Tomato Seeds | 40-50 | Plant for self-sustaining |
| Crafting Bottlenecks | Rough Hide, Sulfur | 20-50 | Key for armor, gunpowder |
| Advanced Materials | Hardwood, Tree Bark | 50+ | Unlocks post-biome bosses |
Max shipments prevent frequent reordering during the cooldown.
Optimizing your orders
- Order max 10 boxes of bottlenecks like Rough Hide or Sulfur while raiding.
- Clear local threats (e.g., Foothills boss) to expand inventories.
- Farm Piastre from ruins (Clay Vases: 5 Piastre) or smugglers before buying.
Unlocking these early cements mid-game dominance, freeing time for ship fleets and forts. Pair with flax farms from seeds for endless linen. Focus Tortuga rep first for dual contracts.
