How To Complete 15 Men On A Dead Man's Chest Quest In Windrose
Stuck on the Dead Man’s Chest quest in Windrose? Follow this easy guide to find treasure, defeat enemies, and finish fast.
Table Of Contents
Shahrukh Sial is a Gaming Content Strategist at Sparked Host. He identifies his own strategic outlines through deep research to cover game guides, tips, and updates that help players improve their skills and enjoy a better gaming experience.
Introduction
If you want to know how to complete the 15 men on a dead man's chest quest in Windrose, you’re in the right place. This guide is for new and returning Windrose players looking to complete the 15 men on a dead man's chest quest efficiently. The quest is a crucial early-game challenge that teaches you the basics of exploration, combat, and crafting, and is essential for progression as it rewards you with silver and gold needed to advance in the game.
Windrose is a game overflowing with secrets and lore, and that includes the very first moments you spend on the starting shore. Today, we explain step by step how to complete the first treasure hunt in our comprehensive guide for this specific and rewarding island adventure.
You will find that the journey of a pirate is never as simple as just following a map. There are terrible dangers lurking in the shadows and hidden resources you must gather to succeed. This walkthrough ensures that you do not get stuck while searching for the buried gold.
Whether you are playing solo or with a crew, this quest is the perfect way to start your career. By the time you finish, you will have the silver and gold needed to progress. Let us take a look at how to master this early game challenge together.
Windrose 15 Men on a Dead Man’s Chest Quest Walkthrough Guide

Step 1: Starting the Quest
To begin the "Fifteen Men On A Dead Man's Chest" quest, you must first find a treasure map. After crash landing on the island, search the shipwreck on the beach. Inside, you will discover the treasure map that officially starts your quest.
Step 2: Locating the Treasure
The map will guide you inland, where you need to look for a "?" symbol next to the sea. However, the true treasure location is in the center of the island, marked by a circle of four skeletons lying on the ground. These skeletons are arranged to form an "X" or a circle, clearly indicating the burial site.
Once you have located the skeletons, your next task is to craft a shovel.
Step 3: Crafting the Shovel
To dig for the treasure, you need a shovel, which requires three Copper Ore and 10 Wood, and can be crafted at a Workbench. Copper ore is typically found in cave deposits on the island.
Why You Need a Shovel
You cannot simply use your hands to reach the gold; a shovel is required to dig up the buried chest.
How to Obtain Copper and Wood
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Find Copper Ore: Look for another "?" symbol on your map that represents a cave entrance. Copper ore is typically found in cave deposits inside these caves.
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Gather Wood: Collect 10 pieces of wood from trees around the island.
Crafting the Shovel at the Workbench
Once you have the required materials, follow these steps:
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Craft a Pickaxe: Make a pickaxe at your workbench if you don’t already have one.
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Mine Copper Ore: Enter the cave and mine copper ore deposits.
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Smelt Copper: Use your furnace to smelt the copper ore into three copper ingots.
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Collect Wood: Ensure you have 10 pieces of wood.
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Craft the Shovel: At your workbench, combine the three copper ingots and 10 wood to craft your shovel.
With your shovel ready, proceed to the skeleton circle to dig for the treasure.
Step 4: Digging and Combat
Digging Up the Treasure
Stand in the center of the four skeletons and use your shovel to dig into the ground. Usually, it takes two to three digs to uncover the chest.
Combat Encounter: Fighting the Drowned
As soon as you open the chest, you will trigger a fight with four enemies known as "Drowned." Enemies known as "Drowned" can use melee attacks and throw rocks at a distance. Be prepared for a challenging battle.
Combat tips:
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Kite the Enemies: Move in a circle around the area while attacking to avoid being surrounded.
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Use Food Buffs and Bandages: Heal yourself during the fight to stay alive.
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Tactical Retreat: Lead the enemies away from the chest one by one to fight them individually.
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Use Ranged Weapons: If available, attack from a distance to minimize damage.
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Set Up a Tent: Place a tent nearby as a temporary spawn point in case you die.
Once you have defeated all four Drowned, you can safely claim your reward.
Step 5: Claiming Your Reward
With the dead put to rest, the reward of silver and gold becomes yours! Simply open the chest to complete the quest. We recommend holding onto the shovel as Windrose has many more treasure hunts in store. After all, pirates just love to bury their gold.
Transitioning from this quest, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle further adventures and challenges on the island.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is the quest marker not showing up?
A common issue players face is that the quest marker does not appear after they loot the captain. If you find yourself stuck without a location to head toward, check your journal and make sure you have actually read the note from the chest.
In some cases, you must walk a few steps away from the lifeboat for the map to update. If you are still struggling, look for a circle of four skeletons in the middle of the island near the forest edge. Interacting with the ground in that specific spot should trigger the next phase of the dead man's chest quest.
How to beat the Drowned enemies without dying?
Many beginners find the fight with the Drowned very hard because they spawn all at once. If you are stuck dying repeatedly, try these strategies:
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Tactical Retreat: Lead the enemies away from the chest one by one.
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Avoid the Center: Do not stay in the center of the four skeletons, where they can surround you.
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Kite in a Wide Circle: Move in a wide circle and use ranged weapons if you have them.
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Heal as Needed: If you take too much damage, run a short distance away to heal with a bandage before jumping back into the fight.
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Set a Tent: Use a tent nearby as a temporary spawn point if you keep failing.
Where is the clay needed for the furnace?
If you are having trouble because you cannot craft the furnace, you are likely looking for a map icon that does not exist. Clay is located in patches of brown, cracked ground usually near the water or in the low-lying areas of the starter island.
It does not have a "?" icon, so you must find it by looking at the ground while exploring. Once you have the clay, you can complete your order for the furnace and finally smelt the copper needed for your shovel. Without this tool, you cannot dig up the treasure.
Why can I not open the chest after digging?
Sometimes players manage to dig up the chest but find they cannot open it. This happens if there are still skeletons or Drowned enemies lurking nearby that have not been picked up by the combat tracker.
Ensure that you have cleared all four skeletons and any other enemies that appeared during the man's chest quest. If the game still thinks you are in fight mode, you will not be able to loot your rewards. Walk in a small circle around the hole to make sure no enemies are stuck behind trees or rocks.
Conclusion
Completing this first treasure hunt is a great way to learn the basic mechanics of exploration and combat. By following the quest marker and gathering the right materials, you can secure your first major haul of loot and set yourself up for future success in Windrose.
If you want a smooth experience while hunting for gold with your friends, you should consider using SparkedHost Windrose hosting to keep your island lag-free. Start your next quest in Windrose today and see what other secrets are buried beneath the sand.