Wandering Sword Wiki

Wandering Sword offers two combat modes, switchable before battle via the small text next to your portrait in the top-left corner. Once a fight starts, the mode is locked for that encounter.

Use turn-based mode for boss fights, duels, and sparring — you control every ally's movement and skills. Use real-time mode for grinding random encounters — all characters act simultaneously and the pace is much faster, though only the protagonist is under your direct control.

Sword is the most beginner-friendly weapon path. You get strong early skills like Thunderbolt Swordplay from the Mount Wanxi boss chest, excellent range, high evasion builds, and broken-tier starter weapons. Saber, fist, hidden weapon, and polearm are all viable long-term — martial points can be respec'd later — but sword smooths the early game most reliably.

Before leaving the first region, clear every area and side quest you can find. Recruit every available companion. Consult Wei Huo in the starter village for The Great Mountain Cultivation method — 400 martial points for a massive early HP buffer. Complete Wei Huo's boar quest and pick up Tu Na breathing techniques through companion quests when available.

After each main story chapter, run a full-map sweep. Talk to every NPC with a quest marker, visit every newly unlocked region, and check sect bulletin boards. Side quests provide the majority of martial manuals, blueprints, recipes, and companion unlocks.

Rising through Wudang or Shaolin ranks permanently locks out lower-rank side content. Some companions like Huo Changqing require visiting specific cities before rank thresholds. Shaolin and Wudang inner training paths also compete — plan your sect allegiance early if you want specific manuals.

Always maintain multiple save slots. Key moments that branch endings and companion fates include Broken Cliff jumps, Phoenix Cave guardian choices, Tian Shan summit dialogues, Zanglong Valley final battle, and Tianfo Cave rear-guard decisions.

Use this table as a checkpoint list. Before moving to the next phase, verify you have completed regional side content and recruited available companions. "Closes / Risk" marks content that becomes unavailable or harder to obtain.

There are 14 recruitable companions in the base game, each gated behind unique quest chains. Several are permanently missable if you advance main story or sect ranks too quickly. Sima Ling and Shangguan Hong are story-critical; others like Kong Liang and the Shaolin monk require extensive prerequisite quests.

Attacking from behind deals 50% bonus damage (Backstrike). Side attacks also grant bonuses. In real-time mode, circle behind enemies during their attack animations. In turn-based mode, use movement points to flank before executing skills.

Non-directional area skills (e.g., Wuling Heart Sutra fragments, Yuanshan Swordplay) use your mouse cursor position to determine facing. If you cast while standing behind an enemy without targeting them, your character may attack backward — triggering an enemy backstrike on their turn. Always click the enemy before releasing AoE skills.

Each weapon type has strong late-game manuals, but early access differs significantly.

Prioritize cultivation methods over individual moves early on — they boost HP, base stats, and provide passive buffs. Focus 1–2 active skills per weapon until mid-game. Meridian points from manuals are the primary long-term power ceiling; side quests are the main source.

Player-forged equipment is roughly 50% stronger than mob drops. Forged boots dramatically increase movement speed — often doubling travel pace. Collect ore and jadeite from mining nodes; use Jadeite Ore from your inventory (consumable category) to obtain forging jade.

The Advanced Jadeite Guanyin statue is one of the best early-to-mid game accessories. It boosts cultivation speed comparable to grade III non-crafted accessories while adding base stat bonuses. Prioritize tailoring levels via bulk cloth shoe crafting in Gosu City if needed.

You do not need to grind life skills early — learn from companions and sect teachers as quests unlock them. Buy cloth in Gosu City for cheap tailoring XP. Alchemy pills from side quests often outperform shop purchases.

Martial manuals are the primary unlockable progression system. Each manual collected is tracked and can carry over to New Game Plus (for a price at the Inheritance Vault). Some manuals are exclusive to specific quest branches — Rain of Flowers and other faction-locked paths require multiple playthroughs or save-scumming.

Manuals register as unlocked in the NG+ shop the moment you save with them in inventory. Before a branching decision, save in slot A, take the manual path, save in slot B, then reload slot A — the manual stays unlocked for NG+ purchase even if you choose the other branch on that save.

Most manuals can be learned by the entire party and never expire — plan reading sessions to boost the whole team. Random manual drops exist but side quests remain the reliable source.

Wandering Sword features approximately 20 ending variations based on companion affinity, sect choices, side quest completion, and final dialogue selections. A "perfect" ending requires completing all main and side quests, maximizing companion affinity, and making specific final choices at Tian Shan summit.

These moments permanently branch story outcomes:

Story expansion set beyond the main campaign. Features a mysterious island adventure, the Qingyun Fan martial art, island management with resource stewards, a private arena for tactical battles, new outfits for Shangguan Hong and Sima Ling, and White/Gray Seal mounts.

Major story DLC (Chinese title: 碧海仙踪 / 碧海潮生). Expands the world with additional regions, bosses, and martial content. Console complete editions bundle this with the base game.

Cosmetic mount DLC included in the Deluxe Edition and console complete releases. Does not affect combat balance but improves travel quality of life.

The console release bundles base game plus major DLC, Japanese and Chinese full voice acting, and Japanese/Korean subtitles. New players on console get the full experience in one package.