Where Winds Meet Flying & Water Walking Guide (March 2026) Pro Tips

Updated by Aditya Nair
November 15, 2025
Gaming Guides

Mastering mobility in Where Winds Meet transforms your entire gameplay experience. Wind Walking (flying) and Water Walking (travel mode) are two essential abilities that let you traverse the vast world of ancient China with unparalleled freedom.

After spending over 100 hours exploring every region and testing different progression paths, I’ve compiled this definitive guide to help you unlock these game-changing movement abilities as quickly as possible.

Wind Walking & Water Walking Requirements

Ability	Requirement	Location	Key Item
Wind Walking (Basic Gliding)	Complete Fisherman’s Quest	Pond Area – Region 1	“What is the Dust Cloud” Book
Wind Walking (Full Flight)	4,000 Discovery Points	Any Region	Token of Spring and Autumn Festival
Water Walking (Travel Mode)	4,000 Discovery Points + Curiosities	Starting Area Vendor	Wind Controlling Magic Skill
Regional Flight Access	4,000 Discovery Points Per Region	Region-Specific	Regional Progress Level 4

Understanding Wind Walking and Water Walking in Where Winds Meet

Before diving into the unlock process, let me explain what makes these abilities so crucial. Wind Walking allows you to perform aerial dashes and eventually achieve true flight with no fall damage. Water Walking, part of the powerful Travel Mode, grants super-fast sprint speed AND lets you run across any water surface in the game.

Here’s what most guides don’t tell you: these abilities are region-locked. This means you’ll need to repeat the unlocking process in each major zone you visit. However, the system becomes significantly faster once you understand the optimal progression path.

How to Unlock Wind Walking (Flying)?

Step 1: Find the Fisherman and Start the Initial Quest

Your journey to flight begins in the first region’s pond area. Here’s exactly what you need to do:

Travel to the pond on the left side of the starting region (Qinghe/Green Wilderness)
Look for a quest book titled “What is the Dust Cloud” – it’s near the water’s edge
Interact with the book to trigger a cutscene
Meet the Fisherman NPC who will introduce you to Wind Walking concepts
CRITICAL: Speak to the fisherman again to officially start the quest before attempting the challenge

This last step trips up many new players. I wasted 20 minutes jumping between pots before realizing I hadn’t actually activated the quest dialogue!

Step 2: Complete the Jumping Trial

The Fisherman’s platforming challenge tests your aerial mobility skills:

Jump across a series of pots floating above the water
Use double jump and triple jump to reach distant platforms
Execute mid-air dashes to cover larger gaps
Stay patient – falling resets you to the last pot, not the beginning

Pro Tip: This trial actually teaches you the basic controls you’ll use for advanced flying later. Practice chaining jumps and dashes smoothly, as this muscle memory becomes invaluable during exploration.

After successfully completing the challenge:

Read the booklet provided by the Fisherman
Acquire basic gliding ability – you can now execute aerial dashes
Note: You WILL still take fall damage at this stage

Step 3: Achieve Full Flight (The Game-Changer)

This is where most players get confused. That basic gliding ability isn’t true flight – you’re essentially performing enhanced jumps. For complete, fall-damage-free aerial mobility, you must reach Regional Progress Level 4.

How to Earn 4,000 Discovery Points Fast

Discovery Points come from nearly every activity on your map. Based on my testing, here’s the most efficient point-earning strategy:

Highest Priority Activities (Complete These First):

Fast Travel Pillars – 200-300 points each, most efficient points-per-minute
Blue Book Quests – 150-400 points depending on complexity
Enemy Stronghold Clearances – 250-500 points, plus excellent loot

Medium Priority Activities:

Curiosity Collection – 50-100 points per item (but necessary for Water Walking anyway)
Hidden World Bosses – 300-600 points, requires combat skill
NPC Interactions – 25-75 points, quick and easy

Time-Efficient Route I Discovered:

Based on my speedrun testing in Qinghe, you can hit 4,000 points in approximately 6-8 hours using this route:

Activate all 8 Fast Travel Pillars in the region (1,600-2,400 points)
Complete 10-12 easy blue book quests (1,500-2,000 points)
Clear 3-4 enemy camps (750-2,000 points)
Collect Curiosities along the way (supplemental points)

What NOT to Do:

Don’t grind random mobs for points – the returns are terrible
Don’t ignore Fast Travel Pillars “for later” – they’re your best point source
Don’t attempt hidden bosses before level 20 unless you’re very skilled

Step 4: Claim Your Token and Return to the Fisherman

Once you hit 4,000 Discovery Points:

Open your Regional Progress panel (check your map screen)
Claim the “Token of Spring and Autumn Festival” from rewards
Return to the same Fisherman NPC from the initial quest
Hand over the token to permanently unlock Wind Walking for that region

Congratulations! You can now:

Fly freely within this region
Take NO fall damage from any height
Use advanced aerial techniques like air slams
Access previously unreachable areas

How to Unlock Water Walking?

Water Walking is technically part of a broader ability called Travel Mode, which also grants incredible sprint speed. Many players accidentally unlock this while working toward full flight, but let me show you the optimal path.

Requirements for Water Walking

Reach 4,000 Discovery Points (same as full flight)
Collect Curiosities throughout your exploration
Visit the Curiosity Vendor in the starting area
Hand in collected Curiosities to unlock skills

Finding and Collecting Curiosities

Curiosities are special collectibles scattered across the world. Here’s what you need to know:

Types of Curiosities:

Crickets – Usually found near vegetation or rocks
Purple Flowers – Emit a purple cloud when collected (catch before it touches ground)
White Bird Branches – Requires bow and “Still Water” skill for easy collection
Beehives – Located in trees, easily spotted
Butterflies – Found near flowers during daytime
Frogs – Hidden in ceramic pot piles (break to reveal)

Curiosity Collection Tips:

After 50+ hours of systematic collection, I’ve learned these tricks:

Enable Treasure Hunting Mode in settings (but be careful near NPCs to avoid criminal actions)
Check your mini-map constantly – Curiosities show an insect icon when nearby
For white birds: Switch to bow, activate “Still Water” time-slow, then shoot
For purple flowers: Some are toxic – shoot the poison cloud first before collecting
For frogs: Listen for croaking sounds – they guide you to hidden pot locations

Most Important Discovery: Curiosities provide DUAL benefits:

Discovery Points toward your 4,000 goal (50-100 each)
Materials needed to unlock Travel Mode skills

This means collecting Curiosities efficiently accelerates BOTH unlocks simultaneously!

Unlocking the Wind Controlling Magic Skill

Once you’ve gathered sufficient Curiosities:

Travel to the starting area where you first chose your weapon
Locate the Curiosity Vendor (same NPC who gave you weapon choices)
Interact with the vendor and view available skill unlocks
Hand in your Curiosities to purchase skills
Unlock “Wind Controlling Magic” (also called Flying Eaves Chasing Shadows)

This skill grants:

Super-fast sprint speed (significantly faster than horses)
Ability to run across ANY water surface
Stamina-efficient long-distance travel
No regional restrictions (works everywhere once unlocked)

Regional Restrictions and How They Work

Here’s the critical limitation that frustrates new players: Wind Walking is region-locked, but Water Walking is universal.

How Regional Flight Restrictions Work

When you move to a new major region (like transitioning from Qinghe to Kaifeng), here’s what happens:

What You Keep:

Water Walking / Travel Mode (works everywhere)
Basic gliding ability from the Fisherman quest
Your collected Curiosities and tokens

What You LOSE:

Fall damage immunity
Full aerial mobility
Advanced lightness skills

To regain full flight in new regions:

Explore and earn 4,000 Discovery Points IN THAT SPECIFIC REGION
Claim the region-specific token (Glimmer Pendant, Flight Medal, etc.)
Deliver token to the regional NPC associated with flight

Why This System Exists:

The developers designed this to encourage thorough exploration of each region rather than skipping content by flying over it. While initially frustrating, I’ve found it creates a satisfying progression loop where you gradually unlock each region’s full mobility potential.

Regional Unlock Priority

Based on gameplay flow, here’s the order you’ll likely unlock regions:

Qinghe (First Region) – Tutorial area, easiest to complete
Kaifeng (City Zone) – Dense with Fast Travel Pillars, quick completion
Later Regions – Follow story progression

Pro Strategy: Don’t stress about 100% completion in each region before moving forward. Complete the main story, then return with better gear to efficiently farm remaining Discovery Points.

Advanced Flight Techniques and Air Slam Combo

Once you’ve unlocked full flight, you can access one of the game’s best combat abilities: the Air Slam Internal Art.

Unlocking the Air Slam Ability

Travel to the barren wasteland area (accessible from Qinghe)
Find the high waypoint near the former temple site
Speak to the old monk NPC
Complete his book-style quest chain (approximately 2-3 hours)
Receive the Air Slam Internal Art as reward

Why This Matters:

The Air Slam ability deals MASSIVE damage when executed from mid-air:

Scales with upgrade stones (becomes even stronger late-game)
Works on both regular mobs AND bosses
Creates satisfying combos when combined with aerial mobility
Functions as both gap-closer and damage dealer

My Favorite Combat Rotation:

Launch into the air with Wind Walking
Position above enemy
Execute Air Slam for huge damage
Immediately chain into ground combos
Disengage with another aerial dash if needed

This technique transformed my approach to challenging encounters, especially world bosses. The ability to create distance, reposition, and strike from unexpected angles gives you enormous tactical flexibility.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After helping dozens of players through Discord, I’ve identified the most common Wind Walking and Water Walking mistakes:

Mistake #1: Attempting Advanced Content Too Early

The Problem: Trying to fight hidden bosses or explore dangerous areas before reaching Regional Progress Level 4

The Solution: Focus on safe Discovery Point activities first. Save challenging content for when you have fall damage immunity.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Curiosities

The Problem: Rushing past Curiosities thinking they’re optional collectibles

The Solution: Every Curiosity serves dual purposes (Discovery Points + Travel Mode unlock). Collect them systematically.

Mistake #3: Not Speaking to the Fisherman Twice

The Problem: Attempting the jumping trial before officially activating the quest dialogue

The Solution: Always exhaust NPC dialogue options before starting challenges.

Mistake #4: Expecting Universal Flight Immediately

The Problem: Assuming flight works everywhere after unlocking it once

The Solution: Understand that each major region requires separate 4,000 Discovery Point progression.

Mistake #5: Flying Over Everything

The Problem: Using flight to skip ground-level exploration entirely

The Solution: Remember that many Curiosities, NPCs, and secrets are only discoverable on foot. Balance efficient travel with thorough exploration.

Optimization Strategies for Fast Unlocks

Want to unlock both abilities in the shortest time possible? Here’s my optimized strategy after multiple playthroughs:

3-Phase Unlock Strategy

Phase 1: Foundation (Hours 1-2)

Complete Fisherman’s jumping trial immediately
Activate ALL visible Fast Travel Pillars in starting area
Accept 5-7 easy blue book quests simultaneously

Phase 2: Systematic Collection (Hours 3-5)

Follow a route hitting Fast Travel Pillars → Nearby Quests → Curiosity Clusters
Clear 2-3 enemy strongholds that are on your path
Don’t detour for individual Curiosities yet

Phase 3: Final Push (Hours 6-8)

Check Regional Progress to see exactly how many points remain
Target highest-value activities first (uncompleted strongholds, remaining pillars)
Finish with Curiosity cleanup if needed

This approach minimizes backtracking while maintaining steady progression.

Co-Op Acceleration Technique

Here’s a little-known trick: If you have a friend who’s already unlocked a region’s map, you can exploit co-op to reveal everything instantly:

Join their co-op session
Use the “teleport to party member” function
They can fast-travel to different pillars, revealing them on your map
You’ll uncover the entire region in minutes instead of hours

This doesn’t give you the Discovery Points, but having the full map revealed makes collecting them FAR more efficient.

FAQ

Q: Do I need to complete the Fisherman’s quest to unlock Water Walking?

A: No, Water Walking (Travel Mode) unlocks independently through the Curiosity vendor. However, both abilities require 4,000 Regional Progress points, so you’ll naturally progress toward both simultaneously.

Q: Why can I glide but still take fall damage?

A: This means you’ve only completed the initial Fisherman quest. To remove fall damage, you must reach Regional Progress Level 4 (4,000 Discovery Points) and give the Token of Spring and Autumn Festival to the Fisherman.

Q: If I unlock flying in one region, is it available everywhere?

A: No. Full Wind Walking (with fall damage immunity) is region-specific. You must earn 4,000 Discovery Points in each major region to fly there. However, Water Walking works universally once unlocked.

Q: What’s the fastest way to earn 4,000 Discovery points?

A: Focus on this priority order:

Activate ALL Fast Travel Pillars first (200-300 points each)
Complete straightforward blue book quests (150-400 points)
Clear enemy camps and strongholds (250-500 points)
Collect Curiosities along your route (supplemental points)

This approach typically takes 6-8 hours in Qinghe region.

Q: Can I use Wind Walking in multiplayer/online mode?

A: Yes, but you must have it unlocked in that specific region in your solo mode first. The unlock carries over to online play for regions you’ve completed.

Q: Do Curiosities respawn after collection?

A: No, Curiosities are one-time collectibles. Plan your collection route carefully and use your mini-map to track nearby ones.

Q: What happens if I miss the Fisherman quest?

A: The Fisherman NPC remains in the pond area indefinitely. You can start his quest at any point in your playthrough – it’s not missable.

Q: Is there a penalty for dying during the jumping trial?

A: No, failing the trial simply resets you to the last pot you successfully reached. There’s no experience loss or other penalty.

Q: How does Travel Mode work exactly?

A: Hold your sprint button (Shift on PC, Circle on PlayStation) to build momentum. After 2-3 seconds, you’ll enter a super-sprint state with blue energy effects. In this state, you can run across water surfaces.

Q: Can I unlock both abilities in the same play session?

A: Absolutely! In fact, my optimized route unlocks both within 6-8 hours by combining Discovery Point farming with systematic Curiosity collection. They naturally progress together.

Conclusion

Unlocking Wind Walking and Water Walking in Where Winds Meet dramatically transforms your gameplay experience. The freedom to soar across ancient Chinese landscapes and sprint across rivers creates that authentic wuxia feeling that makes this game so special.

Remember these key takeaways:

✅ Complete the Fisherman quest first – Gets you basic gliding immediately
✅ Prioritize Fast Travel Pillars – Best Discovery Point efficiency
✅ Collect every Curiosity you see – Dual benefits for minimal effort
✅ Understand regional restrictions – Flight requires re-unlocking per region
✅ Use co-op map sharing – Accelerates exploration significantly
✅ Don’t forget the Air Slam ability – Perfect complement to aerial combat

By following this guide, you’ll master mobility faster than 90% of players and unlock countless previously inaccessible areas. The sense of freedom when you first achieve true flight and sprint across water is genuinely magical – one of Where Winds Meet’s most rewarding moments.

Now get out there and conquer the skies! Your wuxia adventure awaits, and those 4,000 Discovery Points won’t earn themselves. Remember to explore thoroughly, collect every Curiosity, and most importantly – enjoy the journey through this breathtaking recreation of ancient China.