Where Winds Meet is an immersive Wuxia open-world RPG where Mystic Skills, also known as Mystic Arts, elevate your combat prowess, exploration capabilities, and puzzle-solving. These powerful abilities fall into three categories: Offensive (Vitality-consuming attacks and utilities), General (cooldown-based passives and counters), and Movement (traversal tools). Offensive skills shine in battles with crowd control, bursts, and debuffs, while others aid navigation or stealth. Equipping up to eight via the Develop menu and upgrading them with Ebon Iron and Breakthrough Materials boosts damage, duration, and efficiency.

Unlocking the best ones early transforms challenging encounters into dominant displays. This guide ranks the top 10 based on versatility, damage output, PvE/PvP utility, and accessibility, drawn from community tests and expert recommendations. Prioritize Qinghe region skills for a strong start.

1. Celestial Seize (Puzzle/Disarm Utility)

Pull distant objects, chests, or weapons effortlessly out of combat, and disarm foes in battle for counterattacks scaling with weapon weight. Essential for exploration, theft, and turning enemy gear against them.

Unlock Location: Start the "Foul Play" Exploration Quest at Heaven's Pier in Qinghe. Speak to Qiu Yuehai near the tavern, steal the Nullifying Pill from behind Hu Wei using basic skills, expose the cheater, and complete the task.

2. Leaping Toad (Area Debuff Damage)

Flip back to knock enemies away, lunge for damage, and retreat. Chain casts apply Toad Venom debuff, culminating in a Golden Toad Crash AoE knockdown. Meta for mobility, poison DoT, and Arena PvP.

Unlock Location: In General's Shrine (Qinghe), speak to Liang Xiaolong (kneeling man near the golden toad), then perform Skill Theft by observing and mimicking the jumping toad.

3. Lion's Roar (Area Debuff Knockback)

Slam a giant bell for initial damage, then roar for 14 hits in a massive AoE with 15% Damage Reduction and Fortitude. Crowd control king for groups and bosses.

Unlock Location: Ring all four copper bells in Qinghe: west of General's Shrine (near hidden passage), southwest path before Stonewash Strand, northeast cliff above Buddha Fort, and south of Wraith Village teleport in a clear area.

4. Meridian Touch (Puzzle Immobilize)

Immobilize enemies at range, break Vital Points, and drain Qi. Out of combat, trigger special NPC effects like healing or depetrification. Versatile CC for combos.

Unlock Location: In Stonewash Strand (Qinghe Verdant Wilds), find the petrified Yan Qiren statue between General's Shrine and Heaven's Pier. Interact and select "immobilize" to free him; he teaches it.

5. Cloud Steps (Puzzle Mobility/Stomp)

Leap to marked spots or high slams out of combat; stomp enemy shoulders in battle to shatter Qi, ideal vs. cavalry. Grapple-like traversal staple.

Unlock Location: Under General's Shrine in Qinghe. Climb the roof, Mighty Drop the cracked pavement to reveal a passage, burn vines with fire arrows, explode barrels, defeat foes, and loot the corpse at the bottom.

6. Tai Chi (Puzzle Throw)

Whirl and hurl enemies for massive damage on impact (walls/cliffs). Early-game powerhouse for redirects and environmental kills; also gathers leaves or ripples water.

Unlock Location: During early main quest "A Bear of a Time" en route to General's Shrine. Use Skill Theft (gold ring prompt) on the bear performing Tai Chi.

7. Guardian Palm (Area Damage)

Smites ground for AoE; from height (3-5m), evolves to Lamp Light palm strike with knockback. Upgrades to Rite of Transcendence for detonations. Strong AoE filler.

Unlock Location: Complete "Where a Thousand Buddhas Wept" Side Story in Sundara Land (Qinghe area).

8. Dragon's Breath (Single-Target Burst Burn)

Enter Intoxicated state to breathe fire for 2 hits + Ignition DoT. Top DPS per Vitality in tests; stacks with Drunken Poet. 15% Damage Reduction.

Unlock Location: Kaifeng Fairgrounds "Beast Reverie" (Part 9 Wandering Tales). Speak to Luo Jiu/Kongkong, use Celestial Seize on Liang Yuan at Small Shoes Camp for Travelogue, return to unlock.

9. Yaksha Rush (Single-Target Control)

Lunge to break defenses and launch upward; bonus damage on breaks. High DPS contender, Arena favorite.

Unlock Location: Complete Side Story "Final Volume - A Rainbow in the Endless Night" or "Final Jianghu Legacy" in Qinghe.

10. Ghost Bind (Area Damage Control)

Flash to immobilize up to 6 enemies, deal damage, and break Vital Points. Group CC beast, though weaker vs. elites/PvP.

Unlock Location: Kaifeng Forsaken Quarter "Unwanted Hospitality" Quest. Enter abandoned house for cutscene, speak to NPC Tu Shan Yun through window, demonstrate on guards.

Upgrading and Tips

Breakthrough skills at shrines using Ebon Iron (Lv.1-4) and materials. Prioritize Tier 1-4 for passives like reduced costs or bonus damage. Combos like Leaping Toad into Lion's Roar excel in PvE, while quick casters like Dragon's Breath dominate DPS rotations. Explore Qinghe fully for 6000+ points to unlock Movement skills like Fan Glider.