New to Wuchang Fallen Feathers and need some pointers for the early game? This Soulslike pulls a lot from its peers but throws in its own twists. You’ll be dealing with a Madness mechanic that keeps creeping up, an Inner Demon that shows up when you die, and a massive skill tree that lets you do anything from leaning into Madness to swapping weapons mid-fight like a pro.
It can feel like a lot at first, especially since the game takes a bit to really click. Here’s a rundown of eight tips to help you get the hang of Wuchang Fallen Feathers and stay alive while exploring Shu.
1. Get the Hang of the Game’s Terms
Right off the bat, Wuchang Fallen Feathers throws a bunch of fancy terms at you. They’re mostly just renamed versions of stuff you’ve seen in other games. Red Mercury? That’s your currency and XP, like Souls or Runes in Dark Souls or Elden Ring. Then you’ve got Shimmer (dodging), Clash (parrying), Skyborn Might (a resource for abilities and magic), and Feathering, a stat tied to certain spell damage. Spells, by the way, come in three flavors: Magic, Feathering, and the clunky “Others.”
It’s a lot to wrap your head around, but the game’s got a Terminology section in the Tutorial tab of the menu. Check it out after an hour or so of playing to make sense of all the new words.
2. Master Shimmering, Skyborn Might, and Obliterate
Dodging, or Shimmering, is your bread and butter. Parrying (Clash) isn’t something you can rely on early—you’ll need to unlock skills for that. Instead, the game pushes perfect dodges, like in Black Myth Wukong. Nail a dodge at the last second, and you’ll hear a sound cue while Wuchang glows blue (later pink). Each perfect Shimmer builds a stack of Skyborn Might, which you’ll use for big moves, weapon switches, or spells.
Enemies have an Obliterate meter—a small circle that fills up as you hit them. When it’s full, a Chinese character pops up, and they’re staggered. Rush in for a heavy hit to deal massive damage. This is key for tough bosses. Also, a charged heavy attack from behind on smaller humanoids will set them up for an instant Obliterate.
3. Stick to 1-2 Weapon Types and Build Their Skills
Wuchang can wield Longswords, Axes, Spears, One-Handed Swords, or Dual Blades. You get two weapon slots, and the Swift Draw ability lets you burn a Skyborn Might stack to whip out your second weapon for a quick attack.
Pick a weapon and focus on its section in the Impetus Repository, the game’s huge skill tree. You don’t have to mix weapon types—each weapon has unique moves, so two Longswords can feel totally different. Later, you’ll unlock Disciplines to tweak those moves. For example, you could rock a Longsword and Dual Blades, or stick with Spears for their heavy thrusts (great for mowing down groups) before switching to One-Handed Swords for magic. Try stuff out to see what clicks.
4. Respeccing Costs Nothing
The game’s super chill about respeccing. You can redo your skill points anytime in the Impetus Repository by picking a skill node and hitting Reset Points. Reset one node, and any connected ones reset too, with the game telling you how many points you’re getting back.
This makes trying new builds a breeze. Struggling against a fast boss with your slow Axe? Swap to an Agility build. Keep running out of stamina? Shift points to Endurance. You’ll probably respec a couple times in your first few hours, and it’s no big deal.
5. Keep an Eye on Madness—or Lean Into It
Madness adds a cool twist to the Soulslike formula. We’ve got a full guide on managing it, but here’s the deal: you gain Madness by killing non-Feathered humanoids or dying. You can lower it by beating Feathered enemies or using specific items. As Madness builds, Wuchang’s eyes go red, demonic marks spread, and you deal more damage while earning extra Red Mercury. But if you die, you lose more Mercury, and at 90%+ Madness, an Inner Demon spawns where you died.
The Inner Demon’s like an Elden Ring invader—you’ve gotta beat it to get your dropped Red Mercury back. It’s risky but rewarding, and it’ll attack enemies too if they’re nearby. You can even build around Madness, with Impetus Repository skills that boost attacks or heal you at high Madness levels.
6. Summons Are Rare
You can summon help with the Bone Whistle, which you’ll get early on by talking to an NPC named Nian Suichang. But don’t expect summons to carry you through boss fights—they’re only available for specific battles tied to NPC questlines. Check our summon guide for more, but early on, don’t count on tag-team fights. Save your inventory space and skip equipping the Bone Whistle most of the time.
7. Magic and One-Handed Swords Are a Great Combo
If you’re into magic—whether part-time or full-on—One-Handed Swords are the way to go. Their Biding Time skill builds Skyborn Might passively, which you need for spells and abilities. The catch? These swords have short range and don’t hit as hard as other weapons. You’ll want to pump points into Agility and Magic in the skill tree. If you prefer heavy hits and keeping your distance, try an Axe instead. But for me, the steady Skyborn Might and ranged magic make One-Handed Swords a lifesaver against overwhelming bosses.
8. Play Around with Pendants, Benedictions, and Tempering
You’ve got options to tweak Wuchang’s stats and survivability beyond armor (which you can transmog with the Alteration system). Pendants and Benedictions are accessories that boost stats like Stamina, Skyborn Might, or Obliterate power. Tempering lets you add elemental damage to your weapons via acupuncture needles.
As a beginner, you’ll get Pendants and Benedictions early, but Tempering unlocks after beating the first major boss, Master Raider - Man-eating Dhutanga. A solid build balances all three, so experiment to find what works.