Sloop — Fast Scout & Raider
Everything about the Tides of Fortune Sloop — stats, build costs, cannon loadout, sailing tactics, and why this fast vessel is the best starter ship in ARK naval combat.
Sloop Overview
The Sloop is Tides of Fortune's entry-level sailing vessel and the fastest ship class available at the July 2026 launch. Designed for exploration, scouting, and hit-and-run naval combat, the Sloop prioritizes maneuverability and speed over raw firepower and hull durability. It arrives pre-equipped with several cannons and supports full tileset customization through the customization system.
Studio Wildcard describes the Sloop as "a fast, highly maneuverable sailing vessel" — and community testing confirms it lives up to that promise. In favorable wind conditions, a well-trimmed Sloop outruns every other vessel class, making it the preferred choice for treasure timer races, enemy position scouting, and disengaging from unfavorable fights. Its medium-sized hull balances resource affordability with enough deck space for essential structures.
Every captain should build at least one Sloop before investing in a Brigantine. The Sloop teaches core sailing mechanics — wind reading, sail trim, cannon leading, and anchor timing — without the higher stakes of losing an expensive capital ship. Follow our first ship guide to construct your maiden Sloop at the Shipyard.
Construction and Resource Costs
Build your Sloop at any placed Shipyard by selecting the Sloop blueprint and contributing required materials. Costs are significantly lower than the Brigantine, making Sloops ideal for solo survivors and small tribes bootstrapping their naval presence. Resource requirements scale with server rates, but expect standard building materials plus metal ingots for cannon components.
Place your Shipyard in deep, open water with clear wind exposure. Sheltered bays protect anchored Sloops from raids but may limit construction access. Consider building near your main base for quick resupply between voyages, or near Genesis ocean entry points if your primary activity is offshore exploration and treasure hunting.
Construction time depends on material delivery speed and tribe membership. Solo builders should pre-farm resources before initiating construction to avoid leaving a partially built hull vulnerable. Tribes can assign members to contribute materials simultaneously through the Shipyard interface for faster completion.
Cannon Loadout and Combat Role
The Sloop ships with several pre-mounted cannons suitable for broadside engagements against similarly sized vessels. While it cannot match the Brigantine's total firepower, the Sloop's speed lets it dictate engagement range — close for alpha strikes against slow targets, or kite larger ships while landing hit-and-run volleys. Piracy skill tree investments amplify this playstyle with cannon damage bonuses and maneuverability perks.
In PvP, Sloops serve as fleet scouts and interceptors. Send them ahead to identify enemy Brigantine positions, harass merchant vessels during trade runs, and chase down raiders fleeing with treasure loot. Solo PvP captains running full Piracy builds can win duels against careless Brigantine pilots who fail to present their broadside batteries.
PvE applications include rapid treasure cache runs (critical when map timers are ticking), Genesis mission transport, and tame escort across ocean biomes. Pair your Sloop with a Parrot for treasure tracking and a Tidepup for emergency healing during offshore encounters.
Sailing Tips and Wind Management
Sloop speed depends heavily on sail trim and wind angle. Keep sails fully deployed when chasing targets or racing treasure timers. Reduce sail area when approaching harbors or preparing broadside firing positions — excessive speed makes aiming cannons difficult. Learn to read wind direction indicators on the HUD and plan routes that maintain favorable wind angles throughout your voyage.
Anchor management separates competent captains from drifting targets. Drop anchor to hold position during cannon exchanges, preventing enemy broadsides from catching you mid-turn. Raise anchor quickly when disengaging — a Sloop caught at anchor against a pursuing Brigantine is a dead ship. Practice anchor timing in safe waters before risking your hull in PvP.
Platform-specific control bindings affect sailing responsiveness. PC players benefit from precise mouse-driven aim for cannons, while console captains should familiarize themselves with trigger-based sail and anchor controls on Xbox and PlayStation.
Customization and Skill Synergies
Tileset structures expand your Sloop beyond its default configuration. Add storage compartments for treasure hauls, Aquatic Compartments for tame transport, TOF Lights for night sailing, and additional cosmetic elements from the Luxury skill tree. Balance utility structures against weight considerations that may slightly affect speed.
The Piracy skill tree is the natural pairing for combat-focused Sloops. Invest in cannon damage, boarding speed, and the Piracy active ability unlocked by completing a full tree row. Merchant and Luxury investments are viable for solo traders running lightweight cargo Sloops, but most captains optimize for speed and firepower.
Maintain your Sloop through regular repairs at the Shipyard. The Sloop's lower hull durability means damage accumulates faster than on a Brigantine — schedule maintenance after every PvP session and major PvE encounter to keep your scout ship combat-ready.