Where Winds Meet: Complete Martial Arts Unlock Guide 2026

Martial Arts System Overview

The 12 martial arts divide into six pairs:

• Bellstrike-Splendor: Nameless Sword + Nameless Spear
• Bellstrike-Umbra: Strategic Sword + Heavenquaker Spear
• Silkbind-Deluge: Panacea Fan + Soulshade Umbrella
• Silkbind-Jade: Inkwell Fan + Vernal Umbrella
• Bamboocut-Wind: Infernal Twinblades + Mortal Rope Dart
• Stonesplit-Might: Stormbreaker Spear + Thundercry Blade

Some unlock automatically, others require exploration, Dragon Keys, or sect membership. For faster progression, Where Winds Meet top up through buffget provides secure Jade Fish currency with competitive pricing.

Default Unlocks

Automatic at creation:

• Nameless Sword
• Nameless Spear

Level 3 (via mail):

• Stormbreaker Spear

These foundational weapons teach combat mechanics before you pursue specialized martial arts.

Qi Sheng Oddity Rewards

Submit your first Oddity to Qi Sheng to unlock four martial arts simultaneously:

• Panacea Fan
• Thundercry Blade
• Infernal Twinblades
• Vernal Umbrella

This rewards exploration over combat, making it the fastest way to expand your arsenal early.

Dragon Key Sanctum Unlocks

Dragon Keys drop from clearing Qinghe outposts (first clear only). First breakthrough grants one key and raises world level to 2. Keys are consumed on sanctum entry—choose wisely.

Strategic Sword Unlock Steps

1. Complete Echoes of Old Battles quest at Northern Vow Ruins (southeast Qinghe)
2. Light two flames and solve environmental puzzles
3. Open gold chest to obtain Touch of Death
4. Use Dragon Key at sanctum south of Qinghe via Back Mountain Teleporter
5. Enter Lone Cloud Sanctum (Encircling Lake, southern Qinghe)
6. Stealth-kill two militiamen
7. Use Skill Theft on master to acquire Strategic Sword

Strategic Sword pairs with Heavenquaker Spear in Bellstrike-Umbra for aggressive offense.

Other Sanctum Locations

Heavenquaker Spear: Raging Tides Sanctum, Wildmane Ranch (northeast Qinghe). Alternative: Join Raging Tides Sect.

Inkwell Fan: Silver Needle Sanctum, Floral Expanse Beyond (northern Sundara Land). Alternative: Join Silver Needles Sect (unlocks Panacea Fan + Inkwell Fan).

Soulshade Umbrella: Post Station master, Mistveil Forest (eastern Kaifeng).

Vernal Umbrella: Temporal Pavilion master, Kaifeng City.

Sect Membership Paths

Joining sects provides alternative unlocks without consuming Dragon Keys:

• Raging Tides Sect: Heavenquaker Spear
• Silver Needles Sect: Panacea Fan + Inkwell Fan
• Well of Heaven Sect: Thundercry Blade
• Nine Mortal Ways Sect: Mortal Rope Dart

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Mortal Rope Dart Infiltration

Disguise yourself and infiltrate Nine Mortal Ways Martial Hall on Nanmen Avenue, Kaifeng City. Tests stealth over combat. Alternative: Join Nine Mortal Ways Sect for legitimate access.

Upgrade Costs and Resource Requirements

Tier 1 (Rank 0-9):

• Lv.1 Ebon Iron x2 per rank
• Total: 18 Lv.1 Ebon Iron

Tier 2 Rank 0:

• Breakthrough Material x5
• Lv.1 Ebon Iron x2

Tier 3 Rank 0:

• Breakthrough Material x15
• Lv.2 Ebon Iron x4

Higher ranks within tiers require additional resources. Tier 3 represents endgame specialization—you won't max all 12 weapons simultaneously.

Weekly Limits and Inner Way

Custom Tips: 15 per week (purchased with Jade Fish). Prevents unlimited currency progression. Prioritize your main weapons.

Inner Way: 10 pages per completion. Unlocked through quests, exploration, and achievements.

Resource Farming

Lv.1 Ebon Iron: Mid-tier enemies in Qinghe and early Kaifeng.

Lv.2 Ebon Iron: Late-game content and elite encounters.

Breakthrough Materials: Daily activities, weekly challenges, sanctum completions.

Jade Fish: Achievement rewards, quest completions, events.

Establish daily farming routes that gather materials while progressing other objectives.

Combat Synergies and Loadouts

Bellstrike-Splendor: Balanced offense/defense. Beginner-friendly.

Bellstrike-Umbra: Aggressive burst damage.

Silkbind-Deluge: Crowd control and area denial. Excels in group combat.

Silkbind-Jade: Precision and elemental damage.

Bamboocut-Wind: High mobility and sustained damage. Rewards skilled positioning.

Stonesplit-Might: Maximum raw damage. Aggressive playstyle.

Two-Weapon Optimization

Pair complementary weapons that cover weaknesses—crowd control with single-target damage, or defense with burst offense. Test combinations against different enemy types to find your preferred loadout.

Pro Tips and Common Mistakes

Don't waste Dragon Keys: Test similar default weapons first. If you enjoy Nameless Sword, Strategic Sword will suit you.

Specialize, don't spread: Focus resources on 2-4 martial arts. Resource scarcity makes maxing all 12 impossible.

Consider sect membership: Often easier than sanctum infiltration. Evaluate roleplay and long-term goals before choosing.

Resource priority: Upgrade your main two weapons to Tier 3 before diversifying. Power spikes outweigh having multiple Tier 1 weapons.

Custom tip focus: Use all 15 weekly tips on 1-2 weapons until they reach satisfactory proficiency.

Version 1.3 Updates

November 26, 2025 update refined balance and unlock requirements. Community feedback shows increased satisfaction with diverse unlock paths—sanctum, sect, and infiltration options provide meaningful choice.

FAQ

What are the easiest martial arts to unlock first?

Nameless Sword and Nameless Spear unlock at creation. Stormbreaker Spear arrives at level 3. Submit any Oddity to Qi Sheng for Panacea Fan, Thundercry Blade, Infernal Twinblades, and Vernal Umbrella simultaneously.

How many Dragon Keys can I obtain and which sanctum should I prioritize?

Dragon Keys drop from first-time Qinghe outpost clears. First breakthrough grants one key. Prioritize sanctums matching your combat style—Strategic Sword for aggressive sword users, or Heavenquaker Spear if you won't join Raging Tides Sect.

Can I unlock all martial arts without joining any sect?

Yes, through sanctum infiltration. But sect membership is easier: Raging Tides for Heavenquaker Spear, Silver Needles for both fans, Well of Heaven for Thundercry Blade, Nine Mortal Ways for Mortal Rope Dart.

How much Ebon Iron do I need to fully upgrade one martial art?

Tier 1: 18 Lv.1 Ebon Iron. Tier 2 Rank 0: 2 Lv.1 Ebon Iron + 5 Breakthrough Materials. Tier 3 Rank 0: 4 Lv.2 Ebon Iron + 15 Breakthrough Materials. Higher ranks need more.

What does the 15 weekly custom tip limit mean?

Custom tips (bought with Jade Fish) cap at 15/week, preventing unlimited currency progression. Encourages strategic allocation toward main weapons while maintaining balanced advancement.

Should I upgrade multiple martial arts or focus on two weapons?

Focus your primary two-weapon loadout to Tier 3 first. Resource requirements spike dramatically at higher tiers. Specialize, then gradually upgrade secondary weapons for flexibility.