Starting out in Where Winds Meet can feel overwhelming, but following a structured approach makes progression smoother and more efficient. This guide provides practical advice on choosing difficulty, mastering combat, managing gear, and using resources wisely to get the best start.

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Selecting Difficulty and Using Deflection Assist

For a balanced beginning, the Recommended difficulty is ideal. It provides enough challenge without affecting experience points or loot quality. Hardcore and Legendary difficulties are best reserved for experienced players seeking intense challenges, with Hardcore featuring permanent death.

The Deflection Assist feature, available in Story and Recommended difficulties, simplifies parry timing. While it's helpful early on, relying on it too long can create bad habits. Focus on learning perfect parries and dodges to improve combat effectiveness over the long term.

Solo Versus Multiplayer Experience

Playing solo allows access to the full story, side missions, and most open-world content until about level 60–70. Multiplayer shifts some solo missions toward group-based content like dungeons, world boss events, guild conflicts, and arena duels. Be aware that NPCs in hubs may be fewer to accommodate other players, but you can still form parties by invitation. Solo mode occasionally features other players in shared zones, so it isn't completely isolated.

Combat Fundamentals

Combat is highly skill-based, rewarding timing and precision. Prioritize perfect parries early; they drastically reduce incoming damage and can open enemies to instant finishers. The parry key (E) or block-to-parry technique (holding block then attacking) is essential for defense. Perfect dodges slow time briefly, but perfect parries remain the most critical tool for control and damage. Learning animation-canceling and chaining stagger windows allows for faster kills and smoother encounters.

Optimizing Gear and Builds

In early stages, balance damage and utility. Pairing weapons and gear with synergistic effects can greatly enhance performance. For instance, combining the Nameless Sword with the Panacea Fan increases sustain due to the latter's healing boost. The in-game Improvement Guide is a reliable source for set and weapon recommendations. Preserving set bonuses like those from the Hawking Set is crucial. Auto Enhance is convenient up to level 50–60 for saving upgrade time. Later, focus on synergy combos, such as Rope Dart abilities with Infernal Blades or using Stormbreaker Spear heavy attacks to empower Thundercry Blade and Predator Shield.

Breakthroughs and Level Cap Management

Keep an eye on level caps, which occur roughly every ten levels. When prompted with "Level Cap Needs To Be Increased," completing Mausoleum Trials unlocks a higher maximum level, more energy, stronger stats, and more powerful enemies. These breakthroughs also provide rewards tied to the new cap, making them essential for efficient progression. Ignoring them leads to wasted XP and slower advancement.

Following Story and Side Content

Main story missions and side quests provide substantial experience and unlock important gear, internal arts, and mystic cards. Focus on completing these from level one through 60 to access key abilities, traversal tools, and essential upgrades. Side missions, in particular, unlock resources necessary for building effective late-game setups.

Collectibles and Permanent Improvements

Oddities, such as crickets, beetles, and purple lotus-like plants, can be traded to the Melodies of Peace vendor. Collecting five specific oddities grants permanent bonuses like increased endurance or vitality, which are critical for unlocking higher-level mystic arts. Utilize Wind Vision and minimap indicators to locate them efficiently.

Movement and Mounts

Early movement upgrades are essential. Acquire a horse through missions, taming, or theft; tamed mounts may have better speed or terrain advantages and can be sold. Lightness skills remain the most valuable traversal tools, with abilities like Meteor Flight unlocking major horizontal and vertical mobility. Some areas restrict these skills until the appropriate keepsakes or medallions are obtained.

Strategic Jade Use

Spend Jade on upgrades with long-term benefits, such as internal, mystic, or martial arts scrolls, and breakthrough-related items. Avoid low-level gear chests or consumables early, as gear will quickly be replaced. Save major purchases for levels 60–70 when legendary rewards become meaningful.

Gathering Resources and Crafting

Collect all loose materials like flowers, ores, and feathers for crafting and upgrades. Use Wind Vision or Wind Stance to locate nearby resources efficiently. Looting defeated enemies also yields upgrade materials. Check the resource menu to identify which enemies and locations yield specific items, and plan routes to maximize gathering efficiency.

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By following these steps, players can establish a strong foundation, avoid early-game pitfalls, and steadily advance toward powerful builds and efficient progression.