Where Winds Meet: How to Unlock All Combat Techniques?

Where Winds Meet is an open-world action adventure inspired by the wuxia genre, taking us to 10th-century China. Here you gradually master martial arts, much like the heroes of films such as House of Flying Daggers. And this blog is dedicated exactly to these martial arts.

At the moment, Where Winds Meet features 12 weapon combat techniques, but some of them are locked at the start. Simply picking up the right weapon won’t work - each technique must be unlocked separately. In this blog, I’ll go through all available combat styles and explain how to access each of them.

What You Need to Do Before Unlocking Combat Techniques

While some techniques are available early on, others require you to learn specific Mystic Arts first. Once you reach level 8, head to the Peace Bell Tower in the southwest of Qinghe. There you can play the skill theft mini-game, where you must track the opponent’s movements and press the F key at the right moment when golden rings appear. If you succeed, you will learn the Veil of Stillness technique, which is essential for silently approaching enemies from behind.

Then you need to complete the quest Echoes of Old Battles in the Northern Vow Ruins located in the southeast of Qinghe. Open the hidden passage by defeating the enemies in the large courtyard with a huge circular symbol in the center, and then light two torch-like structures: one next to the courtyard itself and the other on top of the tower in the southwest part of the ruins.

Head down, solve the puzzles, and you’ll find a golden chest containing the Touch of Death technique, which allows you to eliminate enemies from behind.

Some dungeons require a Dragon Key to enter, which can occasionally be obtained as a reward for clearing outposts on the map.

Nameless Sword

The Nameless Sword technique is available to you from the very beginning. It is a close-combat style designed primarily for duels. It includes moves that let you quickly close the distance with a dash or evade enemy attacks with a backflip.

You will get the Nameless Spear technique almost immediately after starting the game. It is also a close-combat style but more mobile. Its arsenal includes two key skills: one temporarily immobilizes the enemy by knocking them down, which is very useful in one-on-one fights and also restores your stamina, while the other delivers a powerful direct strike to the target.

Panacea Fan

The Panacea Fan technique is suited for ranged combat and is especially useful for team support. It allows you to attack enemies from a distance while helping your allies at the same time: one skill heals an area around you, and the other restores health to both you and the ally who needs it the most. The damage is low, and you’ll need to combine it properly with other weapons if you prefer not to communicate with other players. And if you want to make your build more flexible in any situation, check out this blog: “ Where Winds Meet Best Early Game Builds ”, which will be very helpful for creating a solid early-game setup.

You can obtain this technique fairly early. All you need to do is learn the Taiji Mystic Art by observing a bear and then bring a beehive to Qi Shen. Another option is to visit the underground sanctuary near the Bamboo Abode close to the starting area and use the skill theft mechanic.

Thundercry Blade

The Thunderclap Blade technique is a good choice for players who prefer heavy weapons and a slower, more powerful combat style. It allows you to create a shield equal to 25% of your maximum health, pull enemies toward you, and finish them off with a strong area-of-effect attack.

You can unlock this technique early in the game through Qi Shen as well. If you don’t choose it as a reward, your second chance will come when you infiltrate the Well of Heaven sect’s battle camp in the southern part of Kaifeng. This location isn’t underground, but getting inside is still tricky. Keep in mind that enemies on the rooftops have a great line of sight, so sneaking in won’t be easy.

If you want to learn more about the sects and how to join them, make sure to check out our blog Where Winds Meet Sects: How To Join Them Full Guide. It covers all the guilds currently available in the game, as well as those planned for future updates. Thanks to guilds, you’ll be able to find the kind of content that makes you want to return to Where Winds Meet again and again.

Infernal Twinblades

The Infernal Blades technique is perfect for players who enjoy fast and aggressive close-quarters combat. As you attack, you fill the Karmic Flame gauge. Once it reaches its maximum, you gain a powerful buff: temporary immunity to certain types of damage, increased damage output, and a higher critical hit chance. Not only is this an extremely effective, button-heavy aggressive playstyle, but it also looks incredibly flashy - the animations are truly impressive.

You can also obtain this technique from Qi Shen as one of the early rewards. If you skip it there, you can unlock it later in the Midnight Mercy Sanctum, which is located southwest of Battlecrest Slope in Qinghe - the same area where you acquired Touch of Death.

Vernal Umbrella

The Umbrella of Youth is a ranged combat technique. One of its skills turns the umbrella into a small stationary turret that continues attacking while you switch to another weapon. The second skill immobilizes all regular enemies, giving you time to reposition safely or unleash a series of attacks.

If you don’t want to take this technique from Qi Shen, you can unlock it in the Temporal Pavilion in Kaifeng. However, you can’t simply walk in and learn it - you’ll first need to complete a small quest and gain access to the hall where a private banquet is taking place.

After speaking with the servant Wang Ping’an, enter the pavilion, go up to the third floor, and talk to Jiang Ting’er. She will ask you to bring her a souvenir, and to figure out what exactly she wants, you’ll need to collect five clues from the following characters nearby:

• A person guarding the storage room door on the lower floor.
• Two women playing a game southwest of the pavilion.
• A striped cat sitting southwest of the pavilion’s perimeter.
• Two women near a folding screen on the first floor of the pavilion.
• Two women by the window on the third floor where the banquet is held.

Once you gather all the clues, you’ll be able to work out where the storage room key is hidden. Sneak inside, get the souvenir, bring it to Jiang Ting’er - and she’ll let you enter the banquet.

Stormbreaker Spear

The Thunderstrike Spear stands out for its high damage and its ability to distract enemies, reducing their offensive potential. Another skill in this technique allows you to knock enemies to the ground, preventing them from defending themselves.

When you reach level 3, open the menu and go to the mailbox tab. There you’ll find a message from a general of the Raging Tides sect - inside, you’ll receive the Thunderstrike Spear technique as a gift.

Strategic Sword

The Strategist’s Sword is a close-combat technique that shines in an aggressive playstyle. By landing consecutive hits, you apply a bleeding effect to the enemy, steadily draining their health.

You can obtain this technique through skill theft by infiltrating the Lone Cloud Sanctum near Encircling Lake in the southwest of Qinghe.

Heavenquaker Spear

The Heavens-Trembling Spear allows you to fight up close while still keeping enemies at a distance. Its skills work very well together: the first is a spinning combo that strengthens both your character and the second ability, which applies bleeding based on the number of hits landed.

You can find this technique in the Raging Tides Sanctum in the eastern part of Qinghe. It is located on the riverbank, directly across from the Verdant Wilds, where your journey begins.

Inkwell Fan

The Ink Fan technique is also suitable for close-range combat at a distance. Its abilities let you launch enemies into the air or blow them back with a gust of wind, and using the latter also grants you a bonus to evasion and ranged damage.

You can obtain this technique through skill theft in the Silver Needle Sanctum, located in the northern part of Qinghe near the Bodhi Sea.

Soulshade Umbrella

Like the Panacea Fan, the Soulshield Umbrella technique is designed for ranged combat and support. Its first skill highlights allies who need healing, while the second turns the umbrella into a turret, allowing you to switch to another weapon and continue fighting.

To obtain this technique, head to the small village west of Mistveil Forest in Kaifeng. Find the two-story house and enter through the open doorway on the second floor. Then go downstairs - on the first floor, you’ll encounter a martial artist wielding an umbrella. He is the one from whom you can steal this technique.

Mortal Rope Dart

The Fleeting Life Shambiao is a fast close-combat technique. Its main ability lets you pull a regular enemy toward you or pull yourself to a larger target. There is also a second skill that summons aggressive rats and consumes a unique resource of this technique called Tokens of Gratitude.

This technique can be found in the martial arts hall of the Nine Mortal Ways sect in the southern part of Kaifeng. First, try entering directly - the guard will stop you. Then speak with the mysterious old man nearby; he will hint that you can get inside with the right disguise. After that, go to Wuyan at Lin's Cosmetics in the southeast of the city, near the marketplace. By completing her small request, you will learn how to disguise yourself.

Next, find a sect disciple outside the hall and draw his portrait, then bring the sketch back to Wuyan - this will earn you the disguise. Just make sure to return to the hall using a different route so you don’t run into the same disciple; if he recognizes you, you’ll have to start over. Once you make it inside, complete a few additional steps - and you’ll receive the shambiao along with the technique itself.

Which Technique Is Best to Choose in Where Winds Meet?

The answer to this question depends entirely on your personal preferences and playstyle. If you enjoy high damage and lots of fast actions, then your best choice is the Infernal Twinblades. If you prefer smoother movements paired with strong damage, then spear techniques like the Stormbreaker Spear will suit you better.

One important note: your techniques cannot be upgraded directly, but they can be enhanced through sect progression, as sects grant bonuses that align with certain combat styles. Unfortunately, not all sects are available in the game at the moment, but this doesn’t significantly affect your choice. So pick the technique that fits the way you like to play - just be prepared for challenges and experimentation.