If you’ve spent any time wandering the misty valleys and bustling imperial cities of Where the Winds Meet, you’ve probably already stumbled on references to the game’s core faction system sooner rather than later. Picking where the winds meet sects is one of the first big decisions you’ll make after you finish the opening tutorial, and it shapes everything from your available skills to the side quests you can unlock later in the endgame. A lot of new players rush this choice without realizing how much it impacts their experience, so we put together this guide to break down everything you need to know before you lock in your pick.
What Makes Where the Winds Meet Sects Unique From Other Game Factions
Most open world RPGs lock you into faction choices that only give a few minor cosmetic rewards or a small skill tree bonus, but that’s not the case here. Each sect has its own deep lore ties to the game’s Song Dynasty setting, and every perk set comes with real, tangible impacts on how you interact with the world around you. For example, if you join a sect focused on medicinal healing and herbalism, you’ll be able to forage rare plants that other players can’t access, and you’ll get 20% discounts at all apothecary vendors across the map. If you pick a martial arts focused sect, you’ll unlock exclusive combat moves that you can’t get through any other progression path. You also get access to sect exclusive housing, weekly events, and group quests that are only available to members of that specific group. That means you don’t just pick a name tag when you choose your sect — you pick an entire playstyle and community to follow for the rest of your playthrough. You won’t be able to switch sects for the first 30 hours of play, so it’s worth taking the time to pick one that aligns with what you actually enjoy doing in the game, not just what sounds cool on the surface.
Core Sect Types and Their Core Playstyle Fits
We’ve played through every sect’s opening arc at least twice, so we’ve broken down the four most popular options to help you narrow down your choices:
- The Qingyun Sect: This is the best pick for players who love fast, acrobatic combat and open world exploration. Members get a permanent 15% movement speed boost when climbing mountains and gliding, plus exclusive sword skills that deal extra damage to flying enemies. It’s also the only sect that lets you unlock the cloud glider upgrade early, which makes traversing the massive map far less tedious.
- The Baihua Valley: Players who prefer support roles, crafting, and roleplay will love this sect. You get access to herbalism recipes that let you craft potions 30% more effective than standard options, and you can revive downed party members 2x faster in group content. A lot of new players sleep on this sect, but it’s one of the most sought-after picks for endgame raid groups and cooperative world boss fights.
- The Black Tiger Clan: This is the ideal pick for players who love PvP and high-risk, high-reward play. Members get 10% extra damage bonuses when fighting other players in open world PvP zones, and they can access exclusive smuggling routes that let them sell contraband items for 2x the regular vendor price. The catch: other players will be able to attack you on sight in certain safe zones if you have a high enough clan reputation, so this isn’t a good pick if you prefer to play alone or avoid PvP entirely.
There are a few smaller, niche sects you can unlock later in the game, but these three are the only ones available to new players right after the tutorial. If you’re still not sure which to pick, you can test each sect’s basic skills for 10 minutes each in the trial area before you confirm your choice, so don’t feel pressured to pick immediately when you first get to the selection screen.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Picking Your Sect
A lot of new players make the same errors when picking their sect, and end up stuck with a playstyle they hate for dozens of hours. First, don’t pick a sect just because your friend picked it. If your friend loves PvP and picks Black Tiger Clan, but you hate fighting other players, you’re going to be miserable if you follow their advice.
Another common mistake is ignoring the sect’s non-combat perks. A lot of players only look at combat skills, but the gathering, crafting, and traversal perks are far more useful for 90% of your playtime. For example, the Qingyun Sect’s glide boost might not sound like a big deal, but it saves you hours of travel time across hundreds of hours of play, which adds up way more than a small damage boost that only applies to specific enemy types.
You also don’t need to pick a sect that matches your starting class. You can adjust your build and skill tree to fit any sect’s playstyle, so don’t let your initial class choice lock you into a sect you don’t actually want to join. If you’re still on the fence about where the winds meet sects, you can also look up playthrough clips of each sect’s endgame content to get a better idea of what to expect long term.
Once you pick your sect, there are a few things you should do first to get the most out of your membership. First, complete the introductory sect quests as soon as you join. They unlock your core sect skills and the first tier of faction reputation bonuses, so you don’t have to grind for them later when you’re trying to progress through the main story.
You should also join the sect’s group chat as soon as you can. Most experienced players post tips for exclusive loot runs, rare spawn locations, and limited time sect events that give you rare rewards you can’t get anywhere else. A lot of new players skip this step, but it’s the easiest way to get free gear and level up faster in the early game.
Make sure to check the sect bulletin board every time you log in. There are daily quests that give you sect reputation, which you can use to buy exclusive gear, skins, and skill upgrades that you can’t get with regular in-game currency. The higher your reputation, the more perks you unlock, including access to the sect’s exclusive elite training grounds where you can grind for rare combat manuals and upgrade your skills far faster than regular open world grinding.
At the end of the day, there’s no “best” pick when it comes to where the winds meet sects. The right choice depends entirely on what you enjoy doing in the game, how you prefer to play, and what kind of content you want to spend most of your time on. Take the time to review the options, try the trial versions, and don’t rush your choice, and you’ll end up with a sect that makes your playthrough far more enjoyable for dozens of hours.How to Make the Most of Your Sect Membership After Joining
