Where Winds Meet Beginner's Guide: Learn the Basics

Lost in the vast world of Where Winds Meet? You're not alone. With so many systems and activities, it can feel overwhelming at first. But once you get the hang of it, you'll discover endless ways to play. This beginner's guide smooths out the learning curve so you can focus on what you enjoy most.

First up is character customization. The character creator is incredibly detailed, but some options like hair color can't be changed later without special items. Since this is a gacha game, cosmetics matter, and you'll unlock more as you play. Items like Transformation Pills let you change your appearance, body type, and even your name. For more details, check out the dedicated character customization guide.

At first you'll choose between online and solo modes, but you can switch freely later. Each mode offers different activities and rewards, so you'll want to try both. In online mode, you enter a shared world with other players where you can join multiplayer activities from the Wandering Paths menu (unlocked at level 3). Solo mode gives you your own world where you can invite up to 4 friends, and progress is shared with anyone near the host. You can also ask others for help or accept it. For more details, see the guide on how co-op works.

Completing quests and leveling up triggers a short battle called "Breakthrough" that raises your level cap and rewards. To keep progressing, do the following:

Once the opening scene is complete, you can freely explore two massive regions: Qinghe and Keifeng. The campaign quests take hours to complete, but there's plenty to do along the way. NPCs will call out to you, landmarks will lure you in, and you might even run into world bosses. New quests and encounters get added to your quest log, so check it often, especially the exploration tab. For early priorities, see the what to do first guide.

To reveal more of the map, find Wayfarers at campfires. They'll share the map for free, and you can fast travel to their campsites. Also, unlock boundary stones for fast travel points. Grab them whenever you see one.

Want a horse? You can steal one by pulling off its rider, and it's yours. Keep capturing until you find one you like. For more tips, see the guide on how to get mounts.

Character progression is complex because there are many ways to improve your stats and abilities. Here are the basics: Hold LT/L2 and press a face button (or Q, ~, Tab on KBM) to activate weapon-specific martial arts. Learn new ones through Skill Theft from NPCs. Mystic skills are weapon-agnostic and are activated with RT/R2 and face buttons (or number keys). You can equip up to 8, and they help both in and out of combat.

Completing quests and opening chests grants Enlightenment points that contribute to Talent points. Use them in the Development menu under Talent to unlock new techniques and stat boosts.

Early on, you'll collect mystic items like Enchanting Lotus, Redmist Beetles, and Whisper Hives. Hold onto them! After the prologue, when you meet Qi Sheng, he'll exchange them for powerful enhancements.

Did this guide help you get started? Let us know in the comments!