Where Winds Meet has received two smaller but genuinely interesting updates over the past two days. A new patch has removed several annoying version 2.1 bugs, while a new Dev Letter from Everstone finally explains in more detail how the new Bamboocut – Draught combat style is intended to work.
The second point in particular makes the new Path much more interesting than its initial announcement suggested.
Patch 2.1 clears out several annoying bugs
The latest bug fixes resolve several problems that prevented rewards or quest progress from working properly.
With Bounty Order, Publisher Rewards could sometimes not be claimed after an Energy Challenge. Progress rewards in Cloudtop Ascent were also blocked under certain circumstances.
Two fixes also directly concern the Reflection Temple. One issue prevented the Cuju ball from being handed to the appropriate NPC. Another sometimes stopped a character's shadow from reappearing after death.
Smaller problems with Homestead construction, accessories and a Skystrike Gauntlets animation have also been corrected.
If you were stuck on any of that content, it is worth simply trying again now.
Bamboocut – Draught is more than just Drunken Master
The new Dev Letter about Bamboocut – Draught is considerably more interesting, though.
The Path combines Skystrike Gauntlets with Riven Twinblades, built entirely around a shared Drunkenness system.
During combat, drinking builds up Binge Points, taking you through different levels of Inebriate. As the character gets drunker, individual attacks and abilities change more substantially.
At first, that sounds gloriously ridiculous.
Mechanically, however, there is a fairly clear system behind it.
Gauntlets for close combat and deception
The Skystrike Gauntlets focus more on close combat, surprising movements and exploiting the different Drunkenness levels.
Even in the Tipsy state, the character deliberately moves in a staggering, unpredictable way. Nightwick even lets you drop to the ground in the middle of combat and react differently from that position.
The idea is to disrupt an opponent's rhythm through movements that are hard to read rather than sheer speed.
At high Drunkenness, the style increasingly shifts towards burst damage.
Riven Twinblades turn it into a barrage
The Riven Twinblades take a much more direct approach.
Boundvessel starts a rapid sequence of hits, with attack speed and strength increasing further as successful hits land.
Hero's Blood gets even more interesting.
In the normal state, we dash through enemies and leave Blade Energy behind. At the highest Deepdaze state, this becomes eight consecutive energy waves followed by a final dash.
By this point, it becomes clear that Bamboocut is not simply placing two new weapon abilities side by side.
The two styles are genuinely intended to rotate together.
How Bamboocut is meant to be played
Everstone now describes the intended sequence quite clearly.
We first use the Dual Blades to close the distance and build Binge Points.
Then we switch to the Gauntlets, continue fighting at close range and push Drunkenness as high as possible.
At a high level, we unleash the big Gauntlet burst.
Then we return to the Dual Blades, which use the accumulated state for fast, enhanced combos.
Once Drunkenness drops again, the cycle starts over.
Bamboocut therefore gets a proper rotation:
Dual Blades → build Binge Points → Gauntlets → increase Drunkenness → burst → back to Dual Blades.
That is much more interesting than a combat style where we simply hammer the same three buttons as often as possible.
Conclusion
The bug fixes are unglamorous but useful. Players who were stuck in Reflection Temple, Bounty Order or Cloudtop Ascent in particular should try the relevant content again.
But Bamboocut – Draught is clearly the more exciting part.
The new Dev Letter makes it clear that a real resource and rotation system sits behind the Drunken Master joke. Gauntlets and Dual Blades are meant to complement each other rather than simply being played independently.
If you dismissed the Path as a silly drunken build after a quick first try, it might deserve another round.
When in doubt, just keep drinking. This time, at least, it really is part of the game mechanic.