Windbound: Survive the seas longer with these tips and tricks
As with most survival games, Windbound makes it difficult to stay alive. Kara can die of hunger, she might get injured by a wild animal, her boat my wreck on some rocks, or she might not have the necessary tools needed to sail the seas.
If you’re having any difficulty braving the randomly generated islands, we’ve got your back. Follow these tips and tricks to make it through the game’s five levels.
Breath of the sea
Windbound
Hunt, gather, sail
Kara has been separated from her tribe and must learn to hunt, craft, and sail the seas. Will you be able to gather all of the necessary materials she needs to survive on her own?
Gather, gather, gather
Source: Windows Central
As you gather more materials, Kara will learn more crafting options, which might just turn the tides in your favor. So always pick up a new material or try to hunt a new animal when you see one. You’ll need to sail to other islands to locate more durable materials so you can create weapons and more reliable tools.
Don’t eat the raw meat
Source: Windows Central
Unlike The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, eating raw meat in Windbound isn’t a good idea. Kara will become temporarily sick, and it can be difficult to maneuver her while she’s feeling the effects. Instead, always cook your meat on a fire before consuming it.
Cooking takes awhile, so make sure to give yourself enough time for the meat to cook without allowing Kara to die of hunger.
Use a Cooking Rack
Source: Windows Central
After you’ve made a Fire, interact with it, and then provide two Sticks and three Thick Grass to add the Cooking Rack.
Build a boat and mast right away
Source: Windows Central
As far as materials go, during the first part of the game, I recommend that you always try to have at least 12 Thick Grass and one Stick on you to make a simple Grass Canoe and Grass Mast in case of emergency. Your boat can get destroyed, so you will be happy to have everything necessary for a replacement.
Your boat is a safe haven from land animals
Windbound is a little glitchy in some ways. But fortunately, that can sometimes work in your favor.
As you progress, you’ll come upon some dangerous land animals. You might not have the weapons necessary to take them down. If you need to escape, simply run to the beach, jump on your boat, and select Sail. Land-dwelling foes cannot hurt you while you’re in this position, even if you don’t go anywhere.
You can then either wait for the animal to lose interest or sail to another location to avoid them.
Craft a bag and pot ASAP
Source: Windows Central
To give yourself more leeway, be sure to craft a bag as soon as you can to provide you with additional item slots. There’s even a bag that slows down the degradation of your food, so I highly recommend you work on making that as quickly as you’re able to.
You can also craft various types of pots for your ship that can hold several materials. Just be careful with what you put inside. If your boat wrecks, these items will disappear.
Gather food on every island
Purple plumpuff mushrooms sprout from the ground on desert islands, while Rustcap mushrooms can be found growing on large tree trunks. These are some of the most healing items, not to mention some of the easiest foods to gather.
Once you know where the food is located on an island, plan your visit accordingly if there are plenty of mushrooms. Remember where they are and then pick them just as you’re leaving to make them last longer on the seas.
Hold that bow taut
Once you’ve acquired or crafted a bow, you’ll be able to shoot wild animals for food and materials. If you hold the string taut for several seconds, a glowing light will appear around the two ends of your bow. This is an indicator that lets you know that your attack will be more powerful when you release the arrow.
Whenever possible, aim your bow for several seconds until it gets as powerful as it can be before letting it fly. That way, you won’t use as many arrows taking the beast down. By the way, if you successfully kill an animal, you’ll be able to retrieve the arrows you’ve shot at it.
Stay away from coral reefs
Source: Windows Central
Not to mention that the crabs that inhabit the reefs will try to jump on your canoe as you go by. If they are successful, they might just eat your boat away, causing you to sink into the ocean’s depths.
Now, if you’re in a dire situation without a boat, swimming from one coral reef to the next until you reach land might be your only option. But otherwise, they should definitely be avoided.
Scout out your next destination
Source: Windows Central
Locate your lost boat
Source: Windows Central
Check out those tiny islands
Source: Windows Central
For instance, you might find pots filled with hundreds of Sea Shards or maybe even a rock shrine that can permanently increase your health or stamina. Shrines with a yellow glow increase the stamina bar while shrines with a red glow increase your max health.
Windbound survival tips
Now you have a better idea how to survive the ocean-faring life found in Windbound. Good luck on your trip. Remember to keep Kara fed and stock up on the most important materials whenever you can. I hope you can sail safely and find all of the materials you’re looking for.
Breath of the sea
Windbound
Hunt, gather, sail
Kara has been separated from her tribe and must learn to hunt, craft, and sail the seas. Will you be able to gather all of the necessary materials she needs to survive on her own?
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