Embarking on your journey in Where Winds Meet presents you with a critical early-game choice: selecting your first specialized weapon. Shortly after saving Qi Sheng and giving him an Oddity, you must choose one of four unique arms. This decision will significantly shape your initial combat experience. This guide will break down the best starting weapons in Where Winds Meet, detailing their roles, abilities, and how they complement the game’s early challenges.
Your First Weapon Choice: The Four Options
After the introductory sequences and acquiring the basic Nameless Sword and Nameless Spear, you will be presented with a choice between four weapons:
Infernal Twinblades
Thundercry Blade
Panacea Fan
Vernal Umbrella
Understanding the role of each is key to making an informed decision for your playstyle.
Weapon Breakdown: Roles & Abilities
1. Infernal Twinblades
Role: Fast-Paced Melee DPS / Self-Sustain
Acquisition: Available from the first major choice.
Analysis: The Twinblades offer a rapid, aggressive fighting style. However, since you already start with the capable Nameless Sword and Nameless Spear, its practical value as a pure damage-dealer can be lower. Its true strength lies in its unique mechanics.
Key Abilities:
Addled Mind & Calamity’s Greed: Core skills for building up the Karmic Flame resource.
Flamelash: Consumes Karmic Flame to unleash powerful attacks that also provide lifesteal, allowing you to sustain your health in battle.
2. Thundercry Blade
Role: Heavy-Hitting Burst Damage
Acquisition: Found in the second major region.
Analysis: This is a powerful, heavy blade that focuses on sweeping slashes and devastating charged attacks. It generates and consumes Fighting Spirit to unleash its most powerful abilities.
Key Abilities:
Predator’s Shield, Sunrush Gale, and Avalanche: These skills are centered around building and spending Fighting Spirit to execute powerful, charged assaults that can break enemy guards and deal massive damage.
3. Panacea Fan
Role: Primary Healer / Support
Acquisition: Available from the first major choice.
Analysis: The Panacea Fan is the only weapon dedicated to healing. It’s an excellent choice for players who prefer a support role. However, its effectiveness is notably reduced in early-game boss fights due to the Healing Reduction effect present in those encounters.
Key Abilities:
Cloudburst Healing, Light Dust After Morning Rain, and Emerald Dewtouch: These are all healing-focused skills designed to restore your health and potentially that of your allies.
4. Vernal Umbrella
Role: Mid-Range Control / Utility
Acquisition: Found in the second major region.
Analysis: A highly unique weapon that excels at controlling the battlefield from a medium distance. It utilizes a resource called Blossom to power its automatic and special attacks. It pairs exceptionally well with melee weapons like the Nameless Spear or Thundercry Blade.
Key Abilities:
Blossom: A core mechanic that enables automated attacks.
Spring Sorrow, Unfading Flower, and Apricot Heaven: These skills provide crowd control and supportive effects, making it easier to manage groups of enemies.
Recommendation: What is the Best Starting Weapon?
For most players, the choice boils down to immediate needs versus long-term planning.
For Pure Early-Game Power: Choosing the Thundercry Blade or Vernal Umbrella when you reach the second region provides a significant and direct power spike that complements your starting weapons.
For a Unique and Sustainable Playstyle: The Infernal Twinblades are a strong pick from the first choice if you value mobility and self-healing (lifesteal) to survive tough encounters without relying on consumables.
For a Support-Oriented Playthrough: The Panacea Fan is a niche but valuable choice, though be prepared for a greater challenge in solo boss fights early on.
Important Gameplay Notes
All Weapons are Earned: The game ensures that all weapons can be acquired through gameplay mechanics. There is no reliance on a gacha system for weapons; the in-game gacha only offers cosmetics and consumable items.
Learn Martial Arts: Simply obtaining a weapon is not enough. You must find and learn the corresponding martial arts scrolls to unlock and upgrade its abilities.
FAQ: Where Winds Meet Starting Weapons
Q: Can I get all the weapons eventually?
A: Yes, the game’s design allows you to acquire all weapons through normal gameplay without relying on random chance.
Q: Is the Panacea Fan useless in boss fights?
A: Not useless, but less effective. Early bosses apply a Healing Reduction effect, which significantly dampens the Fan’s direct healing power, making it a harder choice for solo players in the very beginning.
Q: Should I pick a weapon from the first choice or wait for the second region?
A: The weapons in the second region (Thundercry Blade, Vernal Umbrella) are generally more powerful and specialized. However, picking the Twinblades early gives you a unique and powerful tool immediately. The Fan is a matter of preference.
Q: Does the game have pay-to-win weapon gacha?
A: No. The gacha system in Where Winds Meet is confirmed to be for cosmetic items and consumables only, not for weapons or core combat abilities.
Conclusion
Choosing the best starting weapon in Where Winds Meet ultimately depends on your preferred combat role. If you seek aggressive, close-quarters combat with self-healing, the Infernal Twinblades are a fantastic choice. If you prefer to wield raw, heavy-hitting power or sophisticated crowd control, it’s worth progressing to the second region to acquire the Thundercry Blade or Vernal Umbrella. For dedicated supporters, the Panacea Fan is your only option, but be ready for a steeper early-game challenge. Remember, your choice is not permanent, as you can collect and master all weapons on your journey.