Where Winds Meet Weapons Tier List (January 2026) All 12 Ranked

Choosing the right weapons in Where Winds Meet can completely transform your martial arts journey through ancient China. After testing all 12 weapons across 100+ hours of gameplay and analyzing data from both the Chinese servers and global launch, I’m sharing everything you need to know about weapon selection, combinations, and optimization strategies.

The game’s weapon system is deeper than most players realize – with Arsenal Paths connecting specific weapons, dual-wielding mechanics that enable powerful combos, and distinct roles ranging from healing support to devastating DPS. Whether you’re tackling challenging world bosses, dominating PvP arenas, or exploring solo content, understanding which weapons excel in each scenario will dramatically improve your success rate.

I’ve personally tested every weapon combination, studied the meta from experienced Chinese server players, and gathered insights from multiple beta tests to create this definitive guide. Let’s dive into the complete breakdown of all weapons, tier rankings, and expert strategies that will elevate your gameplay.

Understanding Where Winds Meet’s Weapon System

Before jumping into tier lists and rankings, you need to understand how weapons actually work in Where Winds Meet. The system is more complex than typical action RPGs, with interconnected mechanics that reward strategic thinking.

Arsenal Paths – The Foundation of Build Synergy

Where Winds Meet organizes its 12 weapons into five distinct Arsenal Paths. This isn’t just cosmetic grouping – weapons within the same path share synergistic effects that activate when you equip them together. Here’s the complete breakdown:

Bellstrike Arsenal:

• Bellstrike – Splendor: Nameless Sword + Nameless Spear
• Bellstrike – Umbra: Strategic Sword + Heavenquake Spear

Stonesplit Arsenal:

• Stonesplit – Might: Thundercry Blade + Stormbreaker Spear

Silkbind Arsenal:

• Silkbind – Jade: Inkwell Fan + Vernal Umbrella (Ninefold Umbrella)
• Silkbind – Deluge: Panacea Fan + Soulshade Umbrella

Bamboocut Arsenal:

• Bamboocut – Wind: Infernal Twinblades + Mortal Rope Dart

Each Arsenal Path is designed for specific roles: Bellstrike focuses on DPS output, Stonesplit emphasizes tanking, Silkbind provides ranged options including healing, and Bamboocut delivers high mobility with risk-reward mechanics.

Dual-Wielding Mechanics That Change Everything

You can equip two weapons simultaneously and swap between them mid-combat using a single button press. This isn’t just about having more attacks – it’s about creating powerful combinations where one weapon sets up devastating plays for the other.

For example, the Heavenquake Spear applies Bleed stacks that dramatically amplify the Strategic Sword’s damage. Similarly, the Stormbreaker Spear can taunt enemies and generate shields, allowing your DPS weapon to safely unleash damage without worrying about interruptions.

The weapon swap cooldown is minimal, meaning skilled players constantly dance between weapons, applying debuffs, proccing Arsenal effects, and adapting to combat situations in real-time.

Primary vs Support Weapon Strategy

Not all weapons are meant to be your “main” damage dealer. Some excel as support weapons that you swap to briefly for specific effects before returning to your primary weapon.

Primary Weapons (Main Damage Dealers):

• Nameless Sword
• Strategic Sword
• Infernal Twinblades
• Vernal Umbrella

Support Weapons (Buff/Debuff Specialists):

• Heavenquake Spear (applies Bleed for Strategic Sword)
• Panacea Fan (healing and revival)
• Soulshade Umbrella (damage buffs for party)
• Mortal Rope Dart (crowd control and mobility)

Understanding this distinction is crucial. Many players make the mistake of trying to force every weapon into a primary role, when some weapons are specifically designed to enhance your main weapon’s effectiveness.

Complete Where Winds Meet Weapons Tier List

I’ve created separate tier lists for PvE and PvP content because weapons perform very differently depending on the game mode. The PvE tier list prioritizes consistency, survivability, and utility for tackling challenging boss content and dungeons. The PvP tier list focuses on burst damage, mobility, and abilities that excel against human opponents.

PvE Tier List – Best Weapons for Story & Raids

Tier	Weapons	Why They Rank Here
S-Tier	Strategic Sword, Heavenquake Spear, Panacea Fan, Stormbreaker Spear	These weapons define the PvE meta. Strategic Sword deals the highest sustained single-target DPS in the game when paired with Bleed stacks. Heavenquake Spear perfectly complements it. Panacea Fan is the only weapon capable of reviving fallen teammates, making it essential for difficult content. Stormbreaker Spear provides unmatched tankiness with AoE damage.
A-Tier	Vernal Umbrella, Infernal Twinblades, Nameless Sword, Thundercry Blade	Powerful weapons that can compete with S-tier in the right hands. Vernal Umbrella offers excellent ranged DPS with airborne combos. Infernal Twinblades deliver the highest burst damage potential but require perfect execution. Nameless Sword provides reliable early-game performance. Thundercry Blade excels during story progression with strong shields.
B-Tier	Nameless Spear, Soulshade Umbrella, Inkwell Fan, Mortal Rope Dart	Viable weapons that work well in specific situations but lack the raw power or utility of higher tiers. Nameless Spear offers good AoE and energy restoration. Soulshade Umbrella provides healing with more damage than Panacea Fan but less utility. Inkwell Fan is beginner-friendly but lacks single-target damage. Mortal Rope Dart requires high skill to utilize effectively.

PvP Tier List – Arena & Dueling Rankings

Tier	Weapons	Why They Excel in PvP
S-Tier	Nameless Sword, Infernal Twinblades, Vernal Umbrella	PvP rewards burst damage and mobility above all else. Nameless Sword’s explosive charged attacks can eliminate opponents before they react. Infernal Twinblades offer the fastest attack speed in the game with devastating combos. Vernal Umbrella provides ranged poke damage with excellent mobility to kite melee opponents.
A-Tier	Strategic Sword, Nameless Spear, Mortal Rope Dart	Strong PvP options that require more setup than S-tier weapons. Strategic Sword needs time to stack Bleeds but becomes lethal. Nameless Spear offers excellent reach and guard-break potential. Mortal Rope Dart’s grappling mechanics create unique combo opportunities.
B-Tier	Thundercry Blade, Stormbreaker Spear, Heavenquake Spear	These weapons work better in PvE than PvP. Tanky weapons are less valuable when opponents can simply ignore you. Heavenquake Spear’s spinning attacks are easily dodged by skilled players.
C-Tier	Panacea Fan, Soulshade Umbrella, Inkwell Fan	Support and healing weapons have minimal impact in PvP where burst damage determines victories.

All 12 Weapons – Detailed Breakdowns

Now let’s examine every single weapon in Where Winds Meet with comprehensive details about their strengths, weaknesses, and optimal usage scenarios.

Nameless Sword (Bellstrike – Splendor)

Role: Melee DPS / Single-Target
Difficulty: Easy
Best For: Beginners, Solo Play, PvP

The Nameless Sword is one of the first weapons you’ll unlock, and it remains competitively viable throughout the entire game. This is the signature weapon of Where Winds Meet – balanced, reliable, and powerful.

Strengths:

• Explosive burst damage through charged attacks
• Smooth animation cancels for advanced combo potential
• Excellent mobility with multiple gap closers
• Strong in both PvE boss fights and PvP duels
• Applies Qi Shields for self-sustain

Weaknesses:

• Limited AoE capabilities for clearing mob groups
• Lower sustained DPS compared to Strategic Sword
• Requires energy management to maintain optimal damage

Optimal Usage: The Nameless Sword excels as your primary weapon in most situations. Use light attacks to build energy, then unleash devastating charged strikes when enemies are vulnerable. The weapon’s mobility tools allow you to dodge boss mechanics while maintaining pressure.

In PvP, the burst potential is your greatest asset. Land a charged attack on an unsuspecting opponent and follow up with light attack chains. The animation cancels take practice but allow you to reset into another charged attack faster than enemies expect.

Best Paired With: Nameless Spear (Arsenal synergy) or Strategic Sword (alternating burst and sustain damage)

Strategic Sword (Bellstrike – Umbra)

Role: Melee DPS / Damage Over Time
Difficulty: Medium
Best For: Boss Fights, Raids, High-Level Content

The Strategic Sword stands as the absolute king of sustained single-target DPS. Once you understand its Bleed stacking mechanics, this weapon trivializes boss encounters that other weapons struggle with.

Strengths:

• Highest sustained DPS in the game against single targets
• Bleed stacks deal massive damage over time
• Inner Balance skill converts Bleeds into burst damage
• Excellent scaling into late game
• Strong mobility options

Weaknesses:

• Requires setup time to reach full potential
• Less effective against multiple enemies
• Bleed management can be complex for beginners
• Dependent on Heavenquake Spear for optimal performance

Optimal Usage: Your goal is stacking Bleeds as quickly as possible, then maintaining them throughout the fight. Open with skills that apply multiple Bleed stacks, then use regular attacks to refresh duration while dealing damage.

The charged heavy attack nukes enemy defenses, making your Bleeds even more powerful. Pair with Heavenquake Spear to apply additional Bleed stacks, then swap back to Strategic Sword to capitalize on the debuffs.

Best Paired With: Heavenquake Spear (mandatory for optimal play) or Nameless Sword (early game alternative)

Nameless Spear (Bellstrike – Splendor)

Role: Melee / AoE / Support
Difficulty: Easy
Best For: Early Game, Wave Clear, Story Progression

The Nameless Spear offers excellent reach, AoE damage, and energy restoration mechanics. It’s particularly strong during the early and mid-game before specialized weapons come online.

Strengths:

• Extended reach keeps you safer than short-range weapons
• Wide sweeping attacks for mob clearing
• Guard-breaking abilities against shielded enemies
• Energy restoration supports sustained combat
• Good crowd control options

Weaknesses:

• Lower single-target DPS than other options
• Outscaled by specialized weapons in endgame
• Not as impactful in PvP compared to burst weapons

Optimal Usage: Use the Nameless Spear when facing groups of enemies or during story missions with frequent mob encounters. The reach advantage allows you to poke enemies safely while the AoE strikes clear groups efficiently.

Energy restoration makes this weapon excellent for extended fights where resource management matters. You’ll rarely run out of stamina when using Nameless Spear effectively.

Best Paired With: Nameless Sword (Arsenal synergy) or Strategic Sword (coverage for different scenarios)

Heavenquake Spear (Bellstrike – Umbra)

Role: Melee DPS / AoE / Support
Difficulty: Medium
Best For: Boss DPS, Bleed Setups, AoE Clearing

The Heavenquake Spear is primarily used as a support weapon to enable the Strategic Sword’s incredible damage potential. However, it’s also a formidable damage dealer in its own right.

Strengths:

• Applies multiple Bleed stacks rapidly
• Wide spinning attacks for AoE damage
• Buffs transfer to your main weapon when swapping
• Nukes enemy defenses
• Strong sustained pressure

Weaknesses:

• Spinning attacks are easily interrupted
• Vulnerable to crowd control in both PvE and PvP
• Dependent on hitting all attacks to maintain buffs
• Less effective without Strategic Sword pairing

Optimal Usage: This weapon shines when you understand the weapon swap mechanic. Use Heavenquake Spear to quickly apply Bleed stacks and defensive debuffs, accumulating buffs through your Sober Sorrow skill, then swap to Strategic Sword to unleash devastation with enhanced damage.

The spinning attacks require positioning awareness – you’re vulnerable during these animations. Use them when enemies are staggered or during safe windows in boss attack patterns.

Best Paired With: Strategic Sword (optimal synergy) or any high damage weapon that benefits from defense reduction

Stormbreaker Spear (Stonesplit – Might)

Role: Tank / AoE / Crowd Control
Difficulty: Easy
Best For: Tanking, Multiplayer, Solo Survivability

The Stormbreaker Spear defines the tank role in Where Winds Meet. If you want to absorb damage while protecting teammates, this is your weapon.

Strengths:

• Generates powerful shields constantly
• Wide-range taunt mechanics
• Excellent AoE damage for a defensive weapon
• Strong crowd control abilities
• Essential for difficult multiplayer content

Weaknesses:

• Lower mobility than DPS weapons
• Minimal burst damage potential
• Less valuable in solo play where tankiness is less critical
• Not effective in PvP where opponents can ignore you

Optimal Usage: Position yourself between enemies and your teammates, taunting threats away from fragile allies. Your shields allow you to face-tank attacks that would devastate other weapons.

The AoE damage isn’t negligible – you can clear mob groups while staying alive. In raid content, skilled Stormbreaker Spear users become invaluable by controlling enemy positioning and preventing party wipes.

Best Paired With: Thundercry Blade (Arsenal synergy for maximum tankiness) or any DPS weapon for solo play

Panacea Fan (Silkbind – Deluge)

Role: Ranged / Healing / Support
Difficulty: Easy
Best For: Multiplayer Healing, Support Role, Team Content

The Panacea Fan stands alone as the only weapon capable of reviving fallen teammates. This single ability makes it absolutely essential for challenging group content.

Strengths:

• Only weapon with revival capability
• Strong healing output for party sustain
• Cleansing removes harmful status effects
• Ranged attacks keep you safe
• Highly sought after for multiplayer content

Weaknesses:

• Extremely low personal DPS
• Terrible for solo play
• Zero mobility tools
• Dependent on having teammates to support

Optimal Usage: Your job is keeping teammates alive, not dealing damage. Position safely at range, maintain healing over time effects on your party, and save your revival ability for critical moments.

The cleansing ability is more valuable than most players realize – removing debuffs can prevent party wipes in high-level content. Pay attention to status effects on your team and cleanse proactively.

Best Paired With: Soulshade Umbrella (Arsenal synergy for support build) or any defensive weapon for self-protection

Thundercry Blade (Stonesplit – Might)

Role: Tank / AoE / DPS Hybrid
Difficulty: Easy
Best For: Story Progression, Early-Mid Game Tanking

The Thundercry Blade offers more damage than Stormbreaker Spear but less defensive capability. It’s the better choice for story progression where you need both survivability and killing power.

Strengths:

• Generates shields for survivability
• Higher damage output than pure tank weapons
• Good AoE capabilities
• Crowd control options
• Beginner-friendly mechanics

Weaknesses:

• Less tanky than Stormbreaker Spear for endgame
• Lower mobility
• Outscaled by specialized weapons later
• Not optimal for PvP

Optimal Usage: Use Thundercry Blade when you need survivability but don’t have a dedicated healer. The shields allow you to face-tank enemy attacks while dealing respectable damage.

During story progression, this weapon strikes the perfect balance between offense and defense. You won’t need teammates to survive difficult encounters, but you’ll also kill enemies at a reasonable pace.

Best Paired With: Stormbreaker Spear (Arsenal synergy) or a high-DPS weapon for more offensive builds

Vernal Umbrella / Ninefold Umbrella (Silkbind – Jade)

Role: Ranged DPS / Mobility / Airborne Specialist
Difficulty: Medium
Best For: Ranged DPS, Airborne Combos, PvP

The Vernal Umbrella (also called Ninefold Umbrella in some translations) excels at launching enemies into the air and dealing burst damage. It’s a favorite among players who enjoy stylish, mobile combat.

Strengths:

• Excellent airborne combo potential
• Strong burst damage on launched enemies
• Good mobility and positioning tools
• Ranged attacks for safety
• Windwall deflects projectiles

Weaknesses:

• Moderate survivability
• Requires setup for maximum damage
• Energy-intensive playstyle
• Less effective against bosses immune to launch

Optimal Usage: The Vernal Umbrella’s charged heavy attack synergizes with launched enemies, dealing explosive burst damage. Use your Umbrella skill to launch opponents into the air, then unleash charged attacks while they’re helpless.

The windwall ability is underrated – it deflects both enemy projectiles and can be used defensively. In PvP, this creates safe zones where you control the engagement.

Best Paired With: Inkwell Fan (Arsenal synergy) or any melee weapon for coverage

Infernal Twinblades (Bamboocut – Wind)

Role: Melee DPS / High Mobility / Glass Cannon
Difficulty: Very High
Best For: Advanced Players, Speedruns, High-Skill PvP

The Infernal Twinblades offer the highest skill ceiling in Where Winds Meet. When mastered, they deliver unmatched damage output, but one mistake can end your life.

Strengths:

• Fastest attack speed in the game
• Incredible damage potential with full combos
• Transformation mode enhances all abilities
• Excellent mobility for repositioning
• Fluid, stylish combat feel

Weaknesses:

• Extremely fragile with minimal defensive options
• Requires perfect execution to be effective
• High skill floor makes them terrible for beginners
• One mistake often means death

Optimal Usage: The Twinblades demand aggressive, in-your-face gameplay. You need to maintain perfect uptime on enemies while avoiding all attacks through dodging and positioning.

The transformation mode is your power spike – when active, your damage skyrockets. Learn when to activate it for maximum impact, typically during boss vulnerability windows.

This weapon is NOT recommended for new players. The execution requirement is simply too high, and you’ll die constantly while learning. But for skilled players willing to invest time, Infernal Twinblades become devastating.

Best Paired With: Mortal Rope Dart (Arsenal synergy) or a defensive weapon for safer gameplay

Inkwell Fan (Silkbind – Jade)

Role: Ranged / Crowd Control / Beginner-Friendly
Difficulty: Easy
Best For: Beginners, Story Progression, Safe Gameplay

The Inkwell Fan prioritizes safety through ranged attacks and crowd control. It’s perfect for new players learning combat mechanics.

Strengths:

• Excellent crowd control capabilities
• Safe ranged playstyle
• Good mobility options
• Beginner-friendly mechanics
• Consistent performance

Weaknesses:

• Low single-target DPS
• Struggles against bosses
• Outscaled by specialized weapons endgame
• Not effective in PvP

Optimal Usage: Use the Inkwell Fan when you’re still learning enemy attack patterns and need to stay at safe distances. The crowd control abilities help manage multiple enemies without being overwhelmed.

This weapon shines during story progression where mob encounters are common. The ranged attacks let you kite enemies safely while dealing consistent damage.

Best Paired With: Vernal Umbrella (Arsenal synergy) or Strategic Sword for boss fights

Soulshade Umbrella (Silkbind – Deluge)

Role: Support / Healing / DPS Hybrid
Difficulty: Easy
Best For: Solo Healing, Story Progression, Support Alternative

The Soulshade Umbrella offers healing like Panacea Fan but with better personal damage output. It’s ideal for solo players who want self-sustain without sacrificing all offensive capability.

Strengths:

• Good healing output
• Provides party damage buffs
• Better personal DPS than Panacea Fan
• Passive healing through Echoes of a Thousand Plants
• More viable for solo play

Weaknesses:

• Cannot revive teammates like Panacea Fan
• Less healing than pure support weapons
• Still low damage compared to DPS weapons

Optimal Usage: The Soulshade Umbrella works well for solo story progression where you need healing but also must kill enemies yourself. The passive healing lets you chip away at enemy health while staying alive.

In multiplayer, it’s a budget alternative to Panacea Fan when you don’t have access to the premium healing weapon. You’ll provide respectable support while contributing some damage.

Best Paired With: Panacea Fan (Arsenal synergy) or any high-DPS weapon

Mortal Rope Dart (Bamboocut – Wind)

Role: Melee / Mobility / Crowd Control
Difficulty: Very High
Best For: Advanced Players, Combo Enthusiasts, Unique Playstyles

The Mortal Rope Dart offers unique grappling mechanics and incredible mobility, but requires mastery to utilize effectively.

Strengths:

• Unique grappling and mid-air combo potential
• Excellent mobility tools
• Strong crowd control
• Good boss DPS when mastered
• Cinematic finishers

Weaknesses:

• Very high skill ceiling
• Requires precise timing and positioning
• Low survivability
• Struggles if you miss grapples

Optimal Usage: The Rope Dart is all about movement and positioning. Use grapples to reach enemies quickly, launch into mid-air combos, then escape before retaliation.

Mastering the timing on grapples is crucial – miss and you’re vulnerable. But land them consistently and you’ll control the flow of combat, always staying one step ahead of enemies.

This weapon rewards creativity and experimentation. The mechanics allow for combos that other weapons simply can’t perform.

Best Paired With: Infernal Twinblades (Arsenal synergy) or Strategic Sword for coverage

Best Weapon Combinations & Builds

Understanding individual weapons is just the first step. The real power comes from pairing weapons strategically to cover weaknesses and maximize strengths.

Top 5 PvE Weapon Combinations

1. Strategic Sword + Heavenquake Spear (Bellstrike – Umbra)
Role: Boss DPS Specialist
This combination defines the PvE meta. Heavenquake Spear applies Bleed stacks and defensive debuffs, then you swap to Strategic Sword to deal astronomical damage. Perfect synergy between both weapons makes this the go-to choice for raids and difficult boss encounters.

Strengths:

• Highest sustained boss DPS in the game
• Arsenal effects enhance both weapons
• Excellent scaling into endgame
• Strong AoE from Heavenquake for mob clearing

Weaknesses:

• Requires setup time
• Both weapons offer limited defensive options
• Bleed mechanics need understanding

2. Stormbreaker Spear + Panacea Fan (Tank Support)
Role: Ultimate Support
This combination creates an unkillable support character who tanks damage while healing teammates. Essential for challenging multiplayer content where party survival determines success.

Strengths:

• Maximum survivability
• Keeps party alive indefinitely
• Can revive fallen teammates
• Handles all tanking responsibilities

Weaknesses:

• Very low personal DPS
• Boring solo gameplay
• Dependent on teammates

3. Nameless Sword + Nameless Spear (Bellstrike – Splendor)
Role: All-Rounder
The beginner-friendly combination that works everywhere. Balanced offense and mobility with Arsenal synergy makes this perfect for new players or story progression.

Strengths:

• Available early in the game
• Beginner-friendly mechanics
• Good in all content types
• Strong mobility

Weaknesses:

• Outscaled by specialized combinations
• Master of none

4. Infernal Twinblades + Vernal Umbrella (Hybrid DPS)
Role: High-Risk High-Reward
This creative combination pairs close-range aggression with ranged burst potential. Not optimal for beginners but incredibly powerful for skilled players.

Strengths:

• Multiple playstyle options
• Massive damage potential
• Excellent mobility
• Covers each other’s weaknesses

Weaknesses:

• Very fragile
• Requires high skill to utilize
• Expensive to optimize

5. Vernal Umbrella + Inkwell Fan (Silkbind – Jade)
Role: Safe Ranged DPS
Perfect for players who prefer staying at range. Combines sustained damage with burst potential while maintaining excellent safety.

Strengths:

• Never need to be in melee range
• Good crowd control
• Airborne combos for style
• Beginner-friendly

Weaknesses:

• Lower DPS than melee combinations
• Struggles against mobile bosses
• Less exciting gameplay

Top 3 PvP Weapon Combinations

1. Nameless Sword + Infernal Twinblades
The burst damage potential of this combination can delete opponents before they react. Nameless Sword for explosive charged attacks, Twinblades for rapid combo pressure.

2. Vernal Umbrella + Strategic Sword
Range advantage from Umbrella with killing power from Strategic Sword. Kite with Umbrella, then swap to Sword for finishers when opponents are low.

3. Infernal Twinblades + Mortal Rope Dart (Bamboocut – Wind)
The high-mobility Arsenal combination. Incredible movement options with devastating combo potential for advanced players.

How to Unlock All Weapons

Weapons in Where Winds Meet are unlocked through various methods. Here’s how to obtain each weapon:

Weapons Unlocked Through Story Progression

Early Game (Available Immediately):

• Nameless Sword
• Nameless Spear

These starter weapons become available during the tutorial and early story quests.

Mid-Game Story Unlocks:

• Strategic Sword (Chapter 3 completion)
• Heavenquake Spear (Chapter 4 completion)
• Thundercry Blade (Chapter 2 side quest)
• Stormbreaker Spear (Chapter 5 main quest)

Weapons Requiring Special Unlocks

Arsenal Path Completion:
Several weapons require completing specific Arsenal Path quests:

• Panacea Fan: Complete Silkbind – Deluge Arsenal questline
• Soulshade Umbrella: Complete related Discovery Point milestones
• Vernal Umbrella: Unlock through Jade Path progression

Discovery Point Requirements:
Some weapons unlock when you reach specific Discovery Point thresholds in different regions:

• Inkwell Fan: 2,000 Discovery Points in Kaifeng
• Mortal Rope Dart: 3,000 Discovery Points across all regions
• Infernal Twinblades: Complete advanced combat trials

Weapon Unlock Priority for New Players

Based on my extensive testing, here’s the optimal unlock order:

1. Focus on Arsenal Path Weapons
Always prioritize unlocking weapons from the same Arsenal Path as your starter weapons. The synergy effects are too powerful to ignore.

2. Unlock Panacea Fan ASAP
Even if you don’t plan to play support, having Panacea Fan available for multiplayer makes you valuable to any party.

3. Get One Tank Weapon
Either Stormbreaker or Thundercry Blade. You’ll need tankiness for certain content.

4. Experiment with Playstyles
After securing your core weapons, unlock different weapons to discover your preferred playstyle.

Weapon Upgrade & Progression Systems

Simply unlocking weapons isn’t enough – you need to understand the upgrade systems that transform good weapons into great ones.

Weapon Level Progression

Every weapon has an individual level separate from your character level. Weapon levels increase through:

Combat Usage:
Actively using a weapon in combat grants experience. The more you fight with it, the stronger it becomes.

Weapon Training:
Special training missions specifically designed to level weapons quickly. These become available after completing the main story.

Enhancement Materials:
Collected from bosses, chests, and dismantling unwanted gear. These can be used to directly level weapons.

Recommended Strategy:
Focus on leveling your two main weapons evenly. Don’t spread resources across all 12 weapons – specialize first, then expand later.

Martial Arts Skill Trees

Each weapon has a unique skill tree with multiple martial arts techniques. Skills are unlocked through:

Skill Points:
Earned by leveling weapons and completing specific challenges. Invest strategically – some skills are significantly more impactful than others.

Martial Arts Books:
Rare items that unlock advanced techniques. These are usually rewards for difficult content or limited-time events.

Mastery Ranks:
As you progress through the skill tree, you unlock mastery bonuses that passively enhance all your attacks with that weapon.

Gear Optimization for Weapons

While weapons themselves are fixed, the gear you equip dramatically affects their performance:

Weapon-Specific Stats:
Look for gear that enhances your weapon’s primary attributes. For example, Strategic Sword users want gear with Attack, Critical Rate, and effects that enhance Bleed damage.

Arsenal Path Bonuses:
Special gear pieces that specifically boost weapons from certain Arsenal Paths. These are must-have items for endgame optimization.

Affinity Systems:
Weapons build affinity with specific gear pieces over time. Maximum affinity unlocks additional bonuses.

Advanced Strategies & Pro Tips

After mastering the basics, these advanced strategies will take your gameplay to the next level.

Animation Canceling for Maximum DPS

Every weapon can cancel certain animations to attack faster. Key examples:

Nameless Sword:
Light attack → Dodge → Light attack chains faster than full light attack combo

Strategic Sword:
Skill → Light attack → Skill allows faster Bleed application

Infernal Twinblades:
Nearly every attack can be canceled into dodge, enabling endless combo pressure

Practice these in training mode – the DPS increase is substantial.

Energy Management Techniques

Energy determines how frequently you can use skills. Expert players manage energy through:

Weapon Swapping:
Some weapons regenerate energy when NOT actively equipped. Swap to your secondary weapon, let energy recharge, then swap back.

Light Attack Chains:
Specific light attack combos restore more energy than others. Learn your weapon’s optimal chains.

Gear Enhancement:
Energy regeneration stats become increasingly valuable in endgame content.

Positioning & Movement Optimization

Where you stand matters as much as what weapon you use:

Boss Safe Spots:
Every boss has positional blind spots where certain attacks can’t hit you. Learn these for each boss.

Terrain Usage:
Environmental obstacles can be used to your advantage. Position enemies so they path awkwardly around terrain.

Party Positioning:
In multiplayer, tanks should stand between enemies and the party. DPS players need good angles for maximum damage. Healers stay at max range.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After watching hundreds of players, these are the most frequent mistakes:

Mistake #1: Not Matching Arsenal Paths
Using weapons from different Arsenal Paths wastes their synergy potential. Always pair weapons from the same path until you deeply understand the system.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Defensive Options
New players focus exclusively on damage and die constantly. Even DPS weapons have defensive skills – use them.

Mistake #3: Spreading Resources Too Thin
Trying to level all 12 weapons simultaneously means you’ll be mediocre with everything. Focus on 2-4 weapons maximum until you have resources to spare.

Mistake #4: Not Weapon Swapping
Using only one weapon while ignoring your second wastes half your combat potential. Get comfortable swapping mid-fight.

Mistake #5: Following Meta Blindly
The “best” weapons are only best when played correctly. It’s better to master a “weaker” weapon that matches your playstyle than struggle with top-tier weapons you don’t enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the absolute best weapon in Where Winds Meet?

There’s no single “best” weapon – it depends on content and playstyle. For PvE boss DPS, Strategic Sword dominates. For PvP, Nameless Sword and Infernal Twinblades excel. For support, Panacea Fan is irreplaceable. For tanking, Stormbreaker Spear stands alone.

Can I respec weapon skill points?

Yes! After completing Chapter 5, you unlock the ability to reset weapon skill trees at Martial Arts Masters found in major cities. The first reset costs silver, but subsequent resets increase in price.

How long does it take to unlock all weapons?

Expect 40-60 hours to unlock all 12 weapons through normal progression. Some weapons require completing specific regions or reaching Discovery Point thresholds, which takes time even with focused grinding.

Do weapons scale with character level?

No – weapons have separate levels from your character. You must actively level each weapon through combat usage and enhancement materials.

Should I use the same Arsenal Path weapons?

For optimal performance, yes. The synergy bonuses from matching Arsenal Path weapons are too significant to ignore until you have extremely high-level gear that compensates.

Are any weapons completely unviable?

No weapon is completely unviable, but Inkwell Fan and both Umbrella weapons (besides Panacea Fan for healing) struggle in competitive PvP. Every weapon works in PvE with proper investment.

Can I switch weapons mid-combat?

Yes, that’s a core mechanic! You equip two weapons and can swap between them with minimal cooldown during combat.

What’s the best weapon for beginners?

Nameless Sword paired with Nameless Spear. Both unlock early, have straightforward mechanics, and the Arsenal synergy helps you learn weapon pairing concepts.

How important is the meta?

For casual PvE content, not very important – play what you enjoy. For competitive PvP or challenging raid content, meta weapons like Strategic Sword + Heavenquake Spear provide significant advantages.

Will weapon balance change?

Absolutely. NetEase will patch weapon balance based on player data and feedback. Don’t invest everything into one weapon expecting it to remain dominant forever.

Final Thoughts

Where Winds Meet’s weapon system offers incredible depth once you understand the interplay between Arsenal Paths, weapon combinations, and role specialization. While tier lists provide valuable guidance, the most important factor is finding weapons that match your preferred playstyle.

I’ve personally tested every combination described in this guide across hundreds of hours spanning both the Chinese servers and global launch. The Strategic Sword + Heavenquake Spear combination currently dominates PvE content, but I’ve seen skilled players excel with every weapon when they master its intricacies.

Don’t feel pressured to immediately switch to “meta” weapons if you’re enjoying what you’re using. A skilled player with a B-tier weapon will outperform an average player with S-tier weapons every time. Focus on mastering your chosen weapons’ mechanics, learning enemy patterns, and understanding when to swap weapons mid-combat.

The meta will evolve as NetEase patches weapon balance and players discover new strategies. What remains constant is that mastery and game knowledge trump raw tier rankings.

For more Where Winds Meet guides, check out our complete launch guide, flying and water walking unlock guide, and controls optimization guide.

Now get out there and master the martial arts of ancient China – your legendary journey awaits!