Where Winds Meet Beginner's Guide: Best Weapons, Martial Arts & Progression Tips

Where Winds Meet is a free-to-play wuxia action-adventure RPG set in China during the turbulent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. You play a wandering youxia, mastering an arsenal of martial weapons across a sprawling open world of quests, sects, and duels. Each weapon type ties to its own martial arts school, so combat is as much about choosing your style as your gear. It's free to play on Windows, monetises cosmetics rather than power, and offers cross-platform progression. This guide will help newcomers find their footing fast.

Getting started

The opening hours drop you into a huge world, so focus on learning combat fundamentals before chasing every marker.

• Equip two weapons. You carry two weapon types at once and can swap between them mid-combat, so build a pairing that covers both single targets and crowds.
• Master dodge and parry. Combat rewards timing. Learning to dodge and parry attacks matters far more than raw stats early on.
• Follow the main story first. The critical path unlocks core systems, travel options, and key regions like Qinghe, Kaifeng, and Hexi.
• Explore between quests. Encounters, lost chapters, and exploration objectives are scattered everywhere and reward you for wandering off the beaten path.

Best early weapons and martial arts

Every weapon pairs with a distinct martial arts school that shapes your skills and rhythm. There's no single "best" choice; pick a pair that suits how you like to fight.

• Sword: the balanced all-rounder. Good reach, solid damage, and forgiving timing make it the ideal first weapon for most players.
• Spear: long range and strong single-target pressure, great for keeping tougher foes at bay.
• Dual blades: fast, aggressive, and ideal if you like weaving in and out with quick combos.
• Fan or umbrella: stylish, technical options with unique utility for players who want something less conventional.
• Gauntlets and rope dart: close-range brawling and ranged flair respectively, for more advanced, high-skill playstyles.

A common strong starter pairing is a reliable sword for general combat plus a longer-reach or crowd-friendly second weapon so you always have an answer. Experiment freely early, since you can learn multiple schools over time.

Progression tips

• Upgrade your active weapons first. Pour resources into the two weapons you actually use rather than spreading investment thin.
• Join a sect. In-world sects unlock skills, techniques, and progression paths that deepen your build.
• Run co-op dungeons for reliable gear and materials, and lean on teammates to learn tougher boss patterns.
• Complete daily and side content to keep a steady flow of upgrade currencies coming in.
• Try PvP arenas once you're comfortable, since they sharpen your parry and dodge timing quickly.
• Form or join a guild to access group content, shared goals, and a community that can carry you through tougher encounters.
• Learn a second martial arts school early so you can swap styles to counter different enemy types instead of being locked into one approach.

Mistakes to avoid

• Spreading upgrades across too many weapons. Commit to your main pairing so it stays powerful.
• Ignoring defence. Players who never parry or dodge stall out fast against skilled bosses.
• Rushing past exploration. Skipping encounters and side content leaves you under-geared and short on resources.
• Chasing cosmetics over fundamentals. The game monetises appearances, not power, so your skill and build matter most.
• Sticking rigidly to one style. Trying different schools early helps you find what genuinely clicks.

Where Winds Meet rewards curiosity and clean combat over brute force. Pick a comfortable weapon pairing, learn to dodge and parry, and let the open world's quests and sects guide your growth. With a focused build and a bit of practice, you'll be dueling with the best of them. Ready to wander? Play Where Winds Meet free on PC and begin your journey.