Ship. drops you into an open ocean where the goal is simple to describe and harder to survive. You sail out, upgrade your vessel, find new locations, and fight both pirates and sea creatures while a lurking threat watches from the deep. Early on, your money and your firepower are what keep you afloat, so the smartest first moves are the ones that hand you both quickly.
Quick answer: Join the developer group and like the game to claim the Supporter reward, which grants 1,000 free doubloons and the LongCannon before you have earned anything on your own.
Claim the Supporter reward for a free cannon and starting doubloons
The single best early upgrade costs nothing but two clicks. The Supporter badge pays out 1,000 doubloons, the LongCannon, a Silver color, and a Crimson Flag. That cannon and cash bundle is a real head start, since you skip the slow grind of buying your first weapon with money you do not have yet.
Note: The Supporter badge is marked as hard to earn and sits at a low completion rate, which simply reflects that most players never join the group. Doing both steps makes it a guaranteed unlock, not a rare drop.
Doubloons and ship upgrades
Doubloons are the currency you spend to improve your ship. You build them up by sailing out and defeating pirates and sea creatures, then reinvest into a stronger vessel that can take on tougher fights. The Supporter payout of 1,000 doubloons is meant to seed that loop, so put it toward an upgrade rather than sitting on it.
The core progression is a cycle. Fight enemies to earn doubloons, upgrade the ship, then push into new locations that were too dangerous before. Keep repeating that pattern and each area opens up as your firepower and durability climb.
Badges and how to earn them
Three badges track your early progress. One is automatic, one rewards you with gear, and one is a genuine combat milestone.
| Badge | How to earn it | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome | Join the game for the first time | Freebie, awarded on entry |
| Supporter | Join the group and like the game | 1,000 doubloons, Silver color, LongCannon, Crimson Flag |
| Wraith of the Lost | Defeat the Lostship | Marks a major combat milestone |
Defeating the Lostship for Wraith of the Lost
The Lostship is the toughest fight tied to a badge, and beating it earns Wraith of the Lost. Its own description frames it as a storm encounter, with the sea bringing back to life those who fell during the storm. Treat it as an end goal rather than an early target.
Because the badge sits at a very low completion rate, you should arrive fully upgraded. Spend your doubloons on ship improvements first, equip the LongCannon from the Supporter reward, and grind pirate and sea-creature fights until your vessel can survive the encounter. The warning that the ocean has its own eyes and ears is a hint that the deeper you sail, the more the game is tracking you, so do not rush this fight before your ship is ready.
The through-line for a new player is short. Claim the Supporter reward immediately for a free cannon and starting doubloons, farm pirates and sea creatures to keep upgrading, and save the Lostship for when your ship can actually hold up in the storm.
