Where Winds Meet blends its 8 switchable weapon types (Sword, Spear, Dual Blades, Mo Blade, Heng Blade, Rope Dart, Umbrella, Fan) with weapon-specific Martial Arts that define each style's actual moveset, skills, and identity. A weapon type sets the basic combat feel, but the Martial Art you equip on it, plus your two-weapon loadout and Dual-Weapon Skill, is what truly shapes a build. Strength comes from a kit's combo uptime, mobility, burst windows, and how safely it can pressure or reset a fight.
How we rank ABI weapons
This is a PC Game Pilot editorial ranking that weighs each weapon type's and Martial Art's in-game kit design against official version 1.7 balance data and the current community PvE/PvP meta. We separate raw solo/boss performance from PvP viability and support value, since WWM rewards very different things in each mode. Rankings reflect the July 2026 meta and will shift as new weapons (Gauntlets) and balance passes arrive.
Best weapons right now (quick answer)
The Nameless Sword and Strategic Sword remain the safest S-tier all-rounders, while the Snowparting Blade (Heng Blade) is the top aggressive PvP pick and the Thundercry Blade (Mo Blade) is the premier PvE/boss powerhouse after its 1.7 buffs. For teams and survivability, the Panacea Fan and Soulshade/Everspring Umbrella styles anchor support and control.
Full weapon tier list
| Weapon | Tier | Class | Style / family | Best use | Strengths | Weaknesses | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nameless Sword A free starter style that stays S-tier through endgame, giving unmatched investment efficiency. | S+ | Martial Art | Bellstrike - Splendor (Sword) | all-round | Mobility, charged burst, instant-kill and escape tools | Rewards clean execution | F2P-friendly |
| Sword The core balanced weapon type; its Martial Arts stay top-tier from tutorial to endgame. | S+ | Weapon | Sword type (Bellstrike family) | all-round | Balanced, forgiving, strong combos | Master-of-none ceiling vs specialists | F2P-friendly |
| Everspring Umbrella Top-tier crowd control and zoning that shines in mob-heavy PvE content. | S | Martial Art | Bamboocut - Dust (Umbrella) | PvE | Ranged AoE, battlefield control | Setup-reliant, less bursty | Investment |
| Fan The ranged control/support weapon type; strong in groups and beginner-friendly. | S | Weapon | Fan type (Silkbind family) | all-round | Ranged control, support identity, poke | Modest raw single-target DPS | F2P-friendly |
| Heng Blade A duel-focused weapon type carried by the meta-defining Snowparting Blade. | S | Weapon | Heng Blade type (Stonesplit family) | PvP | Single-target stagger, mobile offense | Weaker vs grouped enemies | Investment |
| Panacea Fan The definitive medic style that every co-op team wants, and a free starter to boot. | S | Martial Art | Silkbind - Deluge (Fan) | PvE | Healing, buffs, ranged control | Low solo kill pressure; hit by heal nerfs | F2P-friendly |
| Snowparting Blade The standout aggressive dueling style thanks to evasive pressure that opponents struggle to react to. | S | Martial Art | Stonesplit - Strength (Heng Blade) | PvP | Excellent mobility, high burst, hard-to-dodge attacks | Punished if burst whiffs | Investment |
| Soulshade Umbrella A flexible bruiser-support hybrid that blends sustain with ranged disruption. | S | Martial Art | Silkbind - Deluge (Umbrella) | all-round | Mixed damage, light healing, slows | Lower PvP ceiling post heal nerfs | Investment |
| Strategic Sword The current PvP DPS backbone, controlling fights through wounds and animation management. | S | Martial Art | Bellstrike - Umbra (Sword) | PvP | Bleed pressure, sharp burst windows, spacing control | Needs setup to peak | Investment |
| Thundercry Blade One of the strongest PvE weapons after its 1.7 charge-damage and counter buffs. | S | Martial Art | Stonesplit - Might (Mo Blade) | boss | Huge charged damage, counters, tanky uptime | Slow, commitment-heavy | Investment |
| Umbrella A quirky, versatile ranged weapon type with the deepest control toolkit in the game. | S | Weapon | Umbrella type (Silkbind/Bamboocut) | long-range | Ranged needle pressure, control, utility | Playstyle takes learning | Investment |
| Dual Blades The high-speed, high-risk close-combat weapon type built around relentless tempo. | A | Weapon | Dual Blades type (Bamboocut - Wind) | PvP | Speed, tempo, aggressive pressure | Risky, low margin for error | Investment |
| Heavenquaker Spear A solid wound-stacking spear that rewards patient, range-controlling play. | A | Martial Art | Bellstrike - Umbra (Spear) | all-round | Bleed wounds, sustained poke | Ramp-up needed | Investment |
| Infernal Twinblades Explosive close-range DPS that can delete opponents in combo but punishes mistakes hard. | A | Martial Art | Bamboocut - Wind (Dual Blades) | PvP | Fast consecutive hits, combo-chain burst | Fragile, must stay glued to target | Investment |
| Mo Blade The tank-leaning weapon type that trades tempo for control and staying power against bosses. | A | Weapon | Mo Blade type (Stonesplit family) | boss | Shield-like defense, AoE, survivability | Low speed, poor kiting | Investment |
| Nameless Spear A free spacing tool that pairs perfectly with sword burst in the PvP meta. | A | Martial Art | Bellstrike - Splendor (Spear) | PvP | Range pressure, tempo control | Lower burst than swords | F2P-friendly |
| Spear The reliable mid-range poke weapon type with strong, accessible Martial Arts. | A | Weapon | Spear type (Bellstrike/Stonesplit) | mid-range | Reach, poke, safe spacing | Weaker in point-blank scrambles | F2P-friendly |
| Unfettered Rope Dart The stronger Rope Dart style, blending zoning control with melee threat. | A | Martial Art | Bamboocut - Dust (Rope Dart) | long-range | Ranged AoE, control, melee flexibility | Lower single-target ceiling | Investment |
| Rope Dart One of the most flexible weapon types, but it lacks a true top-tier damage profile right now. | B | Weapon | Rope Dart type (Bamboocut family) | all-round | Both ranged and melee threat, versatile | Jack-of-all-trades damage | Investment |
| Stormbreaker Spear A durable support-tank spear that pairs with the Panacea Fan for a bunker co-op comp. | B | Martial Art | Stonesplit - Might (Spear) | PvE | Damage soak, team utility, AoE | Modest solo output | Investment |
Best weapon by category
- Best overall: Nameless Sword (Sword) - free, forgiving, and S-tier from tutorial to endgame
- Best budget: Nameless Sword or Panacea Fan - both are free starter styles that stay meta-relevant
- Best beginner: Sword / Nameless Sword - the most forgiving kit with mobility and escape safety nets
- Best close range: Snowparting Blade (Heng Blade) for duels, or Infernal Twinblades (Dual Blades) for combo bursts
- Best mid range: Spear (Nameless / Heavenquaker Spear) for safe reach and spacing control
- Best long range: Umbrella (Everspring / Vernal) and Unfettered Rope Dart for ranged AoE and battlefield control
- Best high-end raid: Thundercry Blade (Mo Blade) for boss DPS, with Panacea Fan or Stormbreaker Spear anchoring survivability
Why ammo matters more than the gun
In Where Winds Meet the 'ammo' equivalent is your Martial Art choice plus your two-weapon loadout, not the weapon type alone. A weapon type sets the basic feel, but each Martial Art (e.g. Bellstrike - Splendor on Sword vs Stonesplit - Might on Mo Blade) determines the real moveset, skills, and win condition, and you can only use a Martial Art while its matching weapon is equipped. Because you carry two weapons and can chain a Dual-Weapon Skill on the switch, fights are usually decided by how well you thread combo uptime, cancel into your off-weapon, and land burst inside a safe reset window. Internal Arts and Mystic Arts layer further stat and effect bonuses on top, so a well-tuned style-plus-loadout matters more than the base weapon icon you picked.
Season 6 patch impact
The meta is still early and volatile roughly half a year after global launch. Version 1.7 (late May to June 2026) delivered notable balance shifts, most importantly buffing the Thundercry Blade's charge damage and counter rotation to make it a premier PvE weapon, while healing nerfs pushed pure support styles like Panacea Fan and Soulshade Umbrella slightly down in competitive PvP. With Version 1.8 and a ninth weapon type (Gauntlets) on the horizon, expect further reshuffling.
ABI weapon tier list FAQ
What is the best weapon overall in Where Winds Meet?
The Sword type, via the Nameless Sword and Strategic Sword Martial Arts, is the best all-round choice. Nameless Sword in particular is a free starter that stays S-tier into endgame, giving it the best balance of power, safety, and investment value.
What is the best F2P or beginner weapon?
The Nameless Sword and Panacea Fan are both free starting styles that remain meta-relevant, so you never have to replace them. Beginners should start on the Sword for its forgiving mobility and escape tools before branching out.
What is the best PvP weapon?
The Snowparting Blade (Heng Blade) is the top aggressive duelist thanks to high burst and hard-to-dodge, mobile attacks. The Strategic Sword plus Nameless Spear pairing is also a dominant PvP combo, controlling fights through bleed pressure and spacing.
What is the best PvE or boss weapon?
The Thundercry Blade (Mo Blade) is the premier boss/raid weapon after its Version 1.7 buffs, delivering huge charged damage with tanky counter uptime. Pair it with a Panacea Fan or Stormbreaker Spear for a durable co-op setup.
Do martial arts matter more than the weapon type?
Yes, in practice the Martial Art matters more. The weapon type only sets the basic combat style, while the Martial Art defines the actual moveset, skills, and win condition, and Internal/Mystic Arts layer on further bonuses. Two players on the same weapon type can play completely differently based on their chosen style.
Can you switch weapons in Where Winds Meet?
Yes. You equip two weapons at once and can freely switch between them mid-combat, chaining a Dual-Weapon Skill on the swap. This weapon-switching and combo-canceling is central to high-level play, so most builds are designed around a synergistic two-weapon loadout rather than a single weapon.
Sources
- Steam - Where Winds Meet
- Game8 - All Weapons and Weapon Types
- Game8 - Best Weapon Tier List
- Fextralife Wiki - Martial Arts Weapons
- Game8 - All Patch Notes and Updates
- Official - Version 1.7 Path Balance Adjustment
Last updated Jul 11, 2026. PC Game Pilot editorial ranking based on official patch notes and in-game testing.