Tides of Fortune Ships Guide
Complete guide to Tides of Fortune ships — Sloop, Brigantine, Shipyard construction, customization, repair, and naval combat fundamentals for ARK: Survival Ascended.
Naval Gameplay in Tides of Fortune
Ships are the foundation of ARK: Survival Ascended — Tides of Fortune. The July 3, 2026 DLC transforms survivors into captains commanding wind-driven sailing vessels across the Genesis ocean and beyond. Unlike traditional ARK tames that carry you across water, Tides of Fortune ships are fully constructed structures you build, customize, crew, and fight with — complete with manually aimed broadside cannons, sail management, and anchor mechanics.
Two vessel classes define the naval meta at launch: the Sloop for speed-focused exploration and ambush tactics, and the Brigantine for balanced firepower and durability in sustained engagements. Both require the Shipyard engram to construct and must be placed in deep water. Your ship's capabilities extend beyond hull choice through the Ship Skill Tree, tileset customization, and ongoing repair maintenance.
Whether you are a solo survivor charting treasure map waypoints or a tribe commander coordinating fleet raids, understanding ship fundamentals is essential. This overview covers construction, customization, combat roles, and maintenance — with links to detailed guides for each vessel class and system.
Sloop vs Brigantine
The Sloop is Tides of Fortune's agile scout and raider. Fast, highly maneuverable, and equipped with several cannons, it excels at hit-and-run naval combat, treasure run escorts, and solo exploration of the Genesis ocean. Its smaller footprint makes docking easier in tight harbors and reduces resource costs for tribes building their first fleet. However, the Sloop sacrifices hull durability and cargo capacity compared to the Brigantine.
The Brigantine occupies the medium ship tier with a versatile balance of speed, durability, and firepower. It carries more cannons, supports larger crew complements, and withstands sustained broadside exchanges that would cripple a Sloop. Tribes running Merchant skill builds favor Brigantines for cargo hauling between Market structures, while Piracy-focused groups deploy them as line-of-battle ships in fleet engagements.
Most experienced captains maintain at least one of each: Sloops for scouting enemy positions and chasing treasure timers, Brigantines for holding territory and delivering decisive firepower. Your skill build should complement your primary vessel — Piracy bonuses amplify combat Sloops, while Merchant perks maximize Brigantine trade runs.
Building and Managing Your Fleet
Ship construction begins at the Shipyard, a large water-placed structure that serves as your naval base. Unlock the Shipyard engram through Genesis Part 1 progression, gather the required resources, and place it in sufficiently deep water. From the Shipyard interface, you select your vessel class, contribute materials, and monitor construction progress. The Shipyard also handles repairs, docking, and fast-travel management for anchored vessels.
Server configuration affects fleet scale. Default settings allow up to 50 anchored vessels within a 30,000-unit check radius, though private servers can adjust these values. Plan your harbor layout with multiple Shipyards if your tribe intends to field a large fleet, and position defenses to protect anchored ships from overnight raids.
New players should follow our first ship build guide for a step-by-step walkthrough from engram unlock to maiden voyage. The guide covers resource farming, optimal Shipyard placement, and essential customization choices for your first Sloop.
Combat and Sailing Mechanics
Wind-driven sailing rewards attentive captains. Trim your sails to catch favorable wind, adjust heading to maintain speed during pursuit or retreat, and drop anchor to hold position during cannon exchanges. Broadside cannons fire manually — aim, lead moving targets, and coordinate volleys with crew members for maximum hull damage. Specialist ammunition types add tactical depth to engagements.
Naval PvP follows distinct rhythms compared to land combat. Positioning matters more than raw DPS: approach from windward, present your strongest cannon battery, and use Sloop speed to disengage when outmatched. Fleet battles require communication — designate targets, assign Sloops as interceptors, and keep Brigantines as the main line. Review platform controls and our naval combat guide before your first engagement.
PvE captains use ships to reach offshore Genesis mission zones, transport tames across ocean biomes, and access buried treasure caches marked by Treasure Maps. The Ship Skill Tree's Merchant branch improves cargo efficiency for resource hauling, while Luxury perks make long voyages more comfortable.
Ship Maintenance and Longevity
Ships take hull damage from cannon fire, environmental hazards, and collision. Damaged vessels suffer reduced speed, compromised cannon accuracy, or structural failures at critical health thresholds. Return to a Shipyard for repairs using standard building materials, or carry repair kits for field patches during extended voyages. Neglected damage compounds — a lightly damaged Sloop that avoids repair will eventually become combat-ineffective.
Customization choices affect maintenance costs. Heavier tileset structures and additional cannon mounts increase repair material requirements but provide combat advantages worth the investment. Track your ship's condition through the vessel management interface and schedule regular maintenance between treasure runs and PvP sessions.
Read the dedicated ship repair guide for material costs, repair speed optimization, and emergency field repair tactics. Pair maintenance knowledge with skill tree investments that reduce repair costs or improve hull durability through passive bonuses.