Beginner Guide
Getting Started Guide – Complete Beginner Tutorial
New to Where Winds Meet? This guide walks through initial settings, character creation, starting weapons, combat fundamentals, first quests, Oddities, and early progression systems so your first five hours feel smooth instead of overwhelming.
1. Overview
What Is Where Winds Meet?
Where Winds Meet is a massive open-world wuxia action RPG set in 10th-century China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. You play as a wandering martial artist exploring a dynamic world filled with story quests, Oddities, social activities, and challenging combat.
This guide focuses on the best initial settings, how to start efficiently, how to survive combat, and what to prioritize in your first hours.
2. Initial Settings
Best Options for Beginners
2.1 Exploration Guidance
Recommended: Detailed
- Highlights quest objectives clearly.
- Shows nearby chests and POIs on the minimap.
- Great while learning the map; you can switch it off later.
2.2 Control Mode
Recommended: ARPG
- Responsive, action-focused combat.
- Feels natural if you enjoy action RPGs/Souls-likes.
- MMO mode exists but is less precise for dodging and counters.
2.3 Difficulty
Recommended: Recommended (normal)
- Balanced challenge with room to learn.
- Story: easier combat, narrative focus.
- Legends: hardest difficulty, only select if you already know the combat system.
2.4 Social Preference
Recommended: Shared Journey
- Unlocks social systems and co-op content immediately.
- You can still play solo; this just keeps co-op options open.
- Easier to join events, bosses, and parties later.
3. Character Creation
Designing Your Wuxia Hero
The creator includes detailed face sliders, body proportions, hairstyles, and accessories. Appearance is essentially permanent without premium items, so take your time.
- Preview in multiple lighting scenes.
- Rotate/zoom to check angles and details.
- Save preset codes if available so you can reuse looks.
4. Starting Weapons
Best Beginner Choices
Early in the tutorial you pick two starting weapons. The choice sets your early combat style but isn’t permanent—you unlock all weapon types within a few hours.
Recommended Starters
- Umbrella: defensive, shields, perfect for learning boss patterns.
- Spear: long reach, crowd control, safe pokes, good damage.
Alternatives
- Sword: balanced and easy.
- Fan: ranged/support oriented.
- Dual Blades: fast but punishing.
- Rope Dart: unique, higher learning curve.
You’ll unlock every weapon soon, so treat the starter pick as a comfort choice.
5. Combat Fundamentals
How Not to Die in 5 Minutes
5.1 Three Defensive Pillars
Blocking
- Reduces incoming damage.
- Buys time while learning patterns.
- Won’t save you from heavy telegraphs.
Dodging
- Invincibility frames during animation.
- Perfect Dodges may trigger slow motion.
- Most reliable general defense.
Parrying
- Highest reward when timed right.
- Counter Red Attacks and deal stagger damage.
- Turns tough bosses into manageable fights.
5.2 Attack Types & Visual Cues
- White Attacks: standard; block/dodge/parry.
- Red Attacks: unblockable; dodge or parry for counters.
- Golden Attacks: high-damage, unparryable; only dodge works.
Train yourself to respond to color cues, not just animations.
5.3 Weapon Swapping
Weapon swapping is part of combat. Press Tab (default) to swap mid-combo, chaining different weapon strings. Practicing early makes advanced builds natural later.
6. First Steps
Exploring the Open World
6.1 Unlocking the Map
The world starts fogged. Find campfire icons, travel there, and speak to the Wayfarer NPC to reveal the region and unlock services.
6.2 Boundary Stones
- Unlock fast travel between discovered stones.
- Grant Exploration Points.
- Serve as respawn points.
6.3 Resource Gathering
Grab plants, animal drops, ores, and random components. Crafting and upgrades need tons of materials later, and early detours save future grind.
6.4 Time Manipulation
Quests often require certain times of day. Use the in-game time system (menu option) to skip ahead instead of waiting in real time.
7. Early Questing
Main Story & Level Cap
7.1 Follow the Main Story
Stick to the main questline initially. It teaches mechanics, unlocks features/NPCs, and moves you through starter zones efficiently.
7.2 Daily Level Cap
The game limits how many levels you can earn per day. Once capped, main XP pauses—shift to side content instead of grinding mobs.
7.3 When Capped, Do This:
- Explore for Oddities and secrets.
- Complete side quests and World Affairs.
- Gather materials and farm nodes.
- Unlock Boundary Stones.
- Join social activities (Pitch Pot, Fishing, Chess, etc.).
8. Easy-to-Miss Quest
Grab This Early Quest
Near the starting area, head slightly west from your first campfire. At a crossroads camp, an NPC offers a quest about retrieving a beehive. Completing it unlocks mechanics many newcomers miss—do it before rushing ahead.
9. Oddities
Don’t Ignore Oddity Icons
Oddities are color-coded points of interest that grant rewards, progression, and lore. They often award experience, gear, Enlightenment Points, or unlock systems.
Universal Harmony
Green
Dialogue events and world interactions.
Hidden Paths
Blue
Exploration challenges and hidden routes.
Wild Ritual
Orange
Combat encounters and special fights.
Ghost Fire
Purple
Supernatural events and eerie moments.
Camp
Yellow
Rest points, quest hubs, basic services.
Martial Fellowship
Red
Combat trials and martial lessons.
Fishing Contest
Blue
Fishing minigames and competitions.
Shop
Brown
Merchants, vendors, and crafting suppliers.
10. Progression Systems
Mystic Arts, Internal Arts & Enlightenment
Your power comes from layered systems. Understanding them early prevents wasted points.
Mystic Arts
- Active abilities tied to weapons.
- Upgrade skills you actually use.
- Mapped to keys like Q, etc.
Internal Arts
- Passive trees boosting stats.
- Center path unlocks Heavy Attack and extra Mystic slots (up to 4).
- A few key nodes drastically improve survivability/damage.
Enlightenment Points
- Earned by exploring, quests, Boundary Stones, Oddities.
- Spent on Mystic and Internal Arts.
- Prioritize core combat upgrades before niche nodes.
11. First 5 Hours Roadmap
Quick Checklist
- Set Detailed Exploration, ARPG controls, Recommended difficulty, Shared Journey.
- Create your character and confirm appearance.
- Pick Umbrella + Spear (or Sword) as starter weapons.
- Finish the tutorial and reach Level 5+.
- Practice block → dodge → parry and read telegraphs.
- Unlock nearby campfires and Boundary Stones.
- Follow the main quest until the daily cap.
- Explore for Oddities, side quests, and resources when capped.
- Spend Enlightenment Points on Mystic/Internal Arts essentials.
- Log out at a Boundary Stone or camp, ready for the next day.
Follow this roadmap to keep your first five hours structured, rewarding, and far less confusing.