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.

Wandering through the world of Windrose is no walk in the park. Aspiring pirate kings and queens must deal with wild boars, bandits, and even the undead as they explore the islands. Eventually, a powerful boss attempts to hinder your progression, and this first major encounter comes in the form of Thomas Richards.

This guide is for new and experienced Windrose players looking to defeat their first major boss. We will cover boss location, preparation, attack patterns, and strategies for both solo and co-op play.

If you follow these instructions, you will be able to defeat Thomas Richards and move on to the next major biome. We have gathered all the facts about his attacks and the rewards you will earn after the fight. Let us get started on your journey to becoming a pirate legend.

Where to Find Thomas Richards in Windrose

Thomas Richards Windrose

Thomas Richards is the first boss in Windrose, found in the Coastal Jungle biome. Players can fight Thomas Richards at the end of the Revenge is Best Served Cold main questline. This quest is essential for your growth in the game and marks a turning point in the story.

You will know you are about to fight him upon receiving a quest with an objective that requires you to find four Black Marks. You can find these Black Marks in different locations across the biome, particularly in Blackbear Outposts. Defeat the pirate guards and open each Richards Crew Chest to find the Black Markers needed to move forward.

Once found, the next step is to infiltrate the camp belonging to Thomas Richards. Board your ship and travel to the main questline marker on the map. Land on the island and defeat the pirates that stand in your way. Eventually, you will be in front of the Hideout Entrance. Enter the hideout to unlock the final step, which is to beat Thomas Richards.

Preparing for the Fight Against Thomas Richards

find Thomas Richards in Windrose

Some pirates may find Thomas Richards in Windrose more trouble than anticipated. Remember, increasing your odds of success starts with preparing for the boss fight. Do so by stocking up on consumable items that restore health and provide helpful buffs. Before you enter, ensure you have a rested buff to maximize your performance.

Recommended Consumables

Make sure to bring the following items in your backpack:

  • Bandages: Useful for healing over time.

  • Health Potions: More effective than bandages during active combat because they work faster.

  • Elixir of Cruelty: Provides an 8% damage boost.

  • Coconut Milk with Bananas: Excellent for Endurance/Stamina.

Best Weapons and Gear

The best weapon to use against Thomas Richards is a mix of melee and ranged options. Aside from a reliable musket for ranged attacks, the Greatsword is ideal for dealing with the boss. While the Saber and Rapier have faster animations, the Greatsword slashes are heavy enough to deplete enemy poise shields without relying entirely on perfect parries. Ensure you stack your gear to Level 5 before the fight.

Buffs to Use Before the Fight

Before entering the boss room, consume your Elixir of Cruelty for the 8% damage boost and eat Coconut Milk with Bananas to boost your Endurance and provide additional stamina. Make sure you have a rested buff active to maximize your performance.

How to Defeat Thomas Richards in Windrose

Thomas Richards has fallen Windrose

Consume the Elixir of Cruelty and Coconut Milk with Bananas before entering the room of Thomas Richards. Once consumed, enter the door and lock onto Thomas Richards immediately so you do not lose sight of him. Thomas Richards has multiple poise shields visible below his health bar, which must be removed to trigger a stun and deal actual damage. Poise shields are the blue bars below Thomas Richards' health bar that must be broken before you can deal direct damage.

Recognizing Attack Patterns

Getting hit by any attacks from Thomas Richards removes a huge chunk of your health. However, these movements are predictable, giving you enough time to dodge, parry, or evade. Heavy attacks deal the most damage to enemy shields, so use them when he finishes a combo. Generally, Thomas swings his sword twice and then follows up with a heavy attack.

Dodging and Counterattacking

  • Pace your attacks: Do not be greedy. Only swing your weapon when he is open.

  • Watch for the Red Glint: If his left hand shows a red glint, he is about to use an unblockable grab attack. You must dodge this move.

  • Avoid the Bombs: He will throw gunpowder bombs that do not explode immediately. Move out of the area before they blow up.

  • Use Ranged Kiting: If your health is low, use a ranged weapon to shoot him from a distance while you heal.

Using Ranged Weapons

If you need to create distance or heal, switch to your musket or other ranged weapon. Shooting his shield from afar is a safe way to lower his poise and avoid close-range attacks.

Why am I doing zero damage to Thomas Richards?

Understanding Poise Shields

Many new players feel frustrated when they hit the boss, but his health bar does not move. This happens because Thomas Richards has several enemy poise shields that act as armor. You cannot deal direct damage to his health until you break these blue shields first.

To fix this, you should use a heavy attack or a weapon like the Greatsword to smash through his defense. Using a reliable musket to shoot his shield from a distance is also a good way to lower his poise safely. Once the shields are gone, he will become staggered, and that is your opportunity to unleash your strongest melee attacks.

How to avoid the Thomas Richards grab attack?

Dodging the Unblockable Grab

If you see the left hand of the boss glow with a red glint, you are in danger of his most powerful grab move. This attack is unblockable, meaning you cannot parry it with your sword. If you get caught, he will hit you for massive damage that can kill you instantly if you are at half health.

The only way to survive this is to dodge backward or to the side the moment you see the red light. Do not try to swing your weapon during this animation. Instead, wait for him to miss the grab, which leaves him open for a quick combo. Timing is the key to winning this Thomas Richards fight.

Stuck on finding the Hideout Entrance?

Some players get lost while trying to beat Thomas Richards because they cannot find where the fight actually starts. After you collect the four Black Marks from the pirate camps, you must follow the main quest marker to a specific island on the map.

The entrance is hidden behind a waterfall along the coastline. If you are having trouble, look for the stone pillars marked with the Blackbear Outpost symbols. Once you enter the Hideout Entrance, you will be in a slow transition area where you can heal and apply buffs before the actual boss fight begins.

Why is the Thomas Richards fight so hard in co op?

If you are playing with a co op crew on a Windrose server, you might notice that Thomas Richards has much more health and stronger shields. This is because the game increases the difficulty based on how many players are in the room. If your team is not coordinated, it can feel impossible to beat him.

To win in co op, you must manage aggro carefully. Have one player with a shield and high health stand in front to parry his attacks, while the other players shoot or use heavy attack moves from behind. If someone goes down, the team must pull away to heal them while the boss is busy with the main tank.

Conclusion

Successfully taking down the first boss is a major milestone that proves you are ready for the more dangerous challenges ahead. By managing your stamina and using the right food buffs, you can beat Richards in Windrose and claim his legendary loot.

If you want the most stable connection for your next boss fight with your friends, you should consider using SparkedHost Windrose hosting for your server. Gather your crew, prepare your bullets, and prepare to kill the pirate threat today.