The Soulslike Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a lot like many other entries in the genre: heavy on exploring lore-heavy worlds and narratives, wrapped in a steep level of difficulty.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is similar enough to Soulslike heavyweights, such as Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Lies of P, that any familiarity with those games will go a long way here. Nevertheless, there are some quirks to Wuchang that you should be aware of. Below, we offer seven beginner’s tips for Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.
Experiment with combat before things get rough
When you first spawn into Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, you are dropped into an open zone with no enemies or threats. On the left-hand side of the screen, you’ll see the game’s controls. It’s crticial that you make use of this safe spot to become accustomed to the them.
Wuchang’s combat is faster than a traditional Soulslike. It’s frankly closer in speed to Bloodborne than to the Dark Souls trilogy or Elden Ring, and with its perfect dodge mechanic, you can empower your offense by mastering your defense. The starting area is the perfect area to hone that skill.
Choose a weapon class that suits you
You can find one of every weapon type in Wuchang’s starting area, so be sure to experiment with all of the weapon classes while you have a chance. If you’re new to Soulslike combat, a Longsword or One-Handed Sword is a good starting point. They offer a good balance of offense and defense (though the Longsword is better for parries than dodges). Dual Blades are good to use for those who like to quickly dip in and out of combat, unleashing a flurry of slashes. Spears are ideal for patient players who want to make use of the range. And Axes are just as powerful as you’d expect, but they are balanced around being slow.
Master the dodge early
The dodge mechanics — specifically, timing — are among the most important aspects to understand about Wuchang. If you time a dodge right, your dodge animation will get a blue flourish as you gain a Skyborn Might stack. Skyborn Might is used for the special attacks attached to your weapon as well as for casting spells. To get the most out of your offensive capabilities, it’s important to become good at dodging. While there are other ways to gain Skyborn Might, perfect dodging is useful no matter what weapon or skill tree build you end up playing.
Keep your guard up, even when you don’t see any threats
If you see an item out in the open with not a single enemy in sight, exercise caution. Getting ambushed from around a corner while you’re picking up an item is a common “gotcha” moment. Soulslike veterans might be used to the common tricks played by From Software, but Wuchang is a bit more clever with how it hides its ganks. A lone pot might burst at the head and legs and catch you off guard. A sleeping enemy could be on the other side of a well-hidden pressure plate that triggers a trap, sending you back to the last shrine you’ve rested at. Use your lock-on to scan wide spaces and empty rooms; if something seems off, there’s probably something lurking.
Don’t forget buffs and items
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers’ tempering system is free to use. It allows you to apply elemental buffs to your weapons, and they aren’t tied to an item, allowing you to use and reuse them as many times as you like. Many of the bosses have elemental weaknesses you can exploit, so not using the tempering system is leaving free damage on the table, free damage that might push you over the edge when it comes to a tough encounter. Also, make use of consumables that can give you an edge in combat as well. Throwing knives and bombs are incredibly useful for taking out a group from a distance or chipping away at an enemy as they approach. It’s also important to check your inventory for consumable mercury items. These grant experience points that can be used to strengthen Bai or purchase items and armor.
Manage your madness
One of Wuchang’s more interesting mechanics is the feathering curse, also known as madness. This mechanic affects the gameplay in many ways, so you should try to have a decent understanding of it. The game itself doesn’t even tell you everything that madness affects in-game, but in simple terms, madness influences what happens when you die. Killing humanoid enemies that aren’t afflicted with the feathering curse and dying will raise your madness. Killing beasts, monsters, or beings with the curse reduces madness but only slightly. You can check your madness percentage on your character status screen.
Dying at 50% or less madness is optimal, as you only lose a small portion of unspent red mercury, the in-game currency. Dying between 50% and 90% madness causes you to lose a large chunk of your mercury, and if you have above 90% madness, you’ll lose it all. However, at max madness, if you die, it will manifest Bai’s inner demon at the spot you died. If you return and defeat that demon, you can regain the mercury you lost.
You can manage madness by being patient, keeping deaths low, and taking time to kill feathered enemies. This even includes birds like the many crows found throughout the overworld.
Take breaks
This is more so a tip for Soulslike as a whole, but it applies just as well to Wuchang: Fallen Feathers as to any other genre entry. This genre is built around trial and error. You will die many times as you try to learn the game’s mechanics, and it’s easy to become discouraged. These games require a growth mindset. Try to learn from every mistake and every death. Persistence will make these games easier over time as long as you’re willing to apply what you learn, experiment with the game’s mechanics, and take breaks after a string of deaths. Stick with the journey and refine your approach. Finding success will make it all worth it.