Wuchang Fallen Feathers, developed by Leenzee Games and set in the late Ming dynasty, is a deep Soulslike. However, it features several gameplay and character build systems that are unique and offer their own flavor. At the outset it can be a little confusing but worry not as we are here to help!
Before we dive in, if you’re curious in general about Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and whether or not you want to embark on the adventure, you can find our written review here and our video review below.
Starting Out
Unlike other recent games in the genre, the “souls” system you should be instantly familiar with. You get Red Mercury Essence (souls) for killing enemies and when you worship at a shrine (bonfire) you can enter the “Impetus Repository” to spend the essence. However, instead of simply applying points to core attributes, Wuchang features a large, branching skill tree that incorporates attributes, special moves, flask usage, weapon upgrades, and more within it.
Keep this in mind as we move forward as Wuchang essentially incorporates all upgrades and functions into the shrine menu rather than, say, having to visit a “blacksmith” to upgrade weapons.
Now, the core attributes are as follows:
Vitality increases your maximum health and affects the potency of your Vitality Control spells
Endurance affects your maximum stamina
Strength increases your attack power with Strength-aligned weapons
Agility increases your attack power with Agility-aligned weapons
Feathering affects your Feathering damage. Specifically, a higher Feathering attack power increases the Feathering damage you deal, while a higher Feathering mitigation reduces Feathering damage you take
Magic affects your Magic damage. Specifically, a higher Magic attack power increases the Magic damage you deal, while a higher Magic mitigation reduces Magic damage you take
As you would expect there are also several status effects that can affect you and your enemies. Just like you’re familiar with, you defensive rating against statuses dictates how well you’ll be shielded against them. And just like the Souls games, there are items for each type you can use to get rid of the effect and/or protect you further.
Paralysis reduces damage output
Corruption applies continual damage
Despair will fill a meter that results in immediate death
Burn will inflict direct damage while also increasing the amount of damage suffered
Frostbite reduces your max stamina by 50% and deals an initial instance of damage when triggered
Poise Break stuns while also dealing an initial instance of damage when triggered
Blight applies continual damage
Beyond your core attributes and the potential status effects, there are a number of unique systems that come into play. Let’s get into them as they are critical to understand.
Prioritization
One of the most important things is that healing flask upgrades not only require a specific item but also to have branches unlocked on the skill tree within the Impetus Repository. This means that prioritizing your point placement becomes critical. But don’t panic too much, thankfully Wuchang allows you to reset points at will endlessly. So, I’m here to simply save you some time.
As you first enter the Impetus Repository, you’ll begin at the center of a hexagonal branching skill tree. From there, you can expand across 5 different weapon styles and 1 character based path labeled “Illusive” which says “Shimmer grants 1 stack of Skyborn Might.” We’ll come back to that one soon. For now, you’ll need to select which weapon style you want to experiment with first between the following:
One-Handed Swords utilize fast attacks with a shorter range
Longswords are slower but with a greater range. Compare this to simply doing “two-handed” in peer titles
Spears have great range and focus on counters
Axes hit heavy and also enable you to block attacks out of the gate (the only weapon class to do so)
Dual-Blades capitalize on successive attacks and momentum
Each of the weapon branches expands multiple times. Throughout each of them you’ll spend points on the core attribute that will provide you with larger attack bonuses, strengthen your direct power with that weapon type, and unlock unique skills related to those weapons. And again, feel free to experiment as you can reset points any time you’re worshiping at a shrine. You can also have two weapons equipped at once and swap between them at will (which can even provide bonuses).
Returning to the “Illusive” branch of the skill-tree, this is where upgrades to your flask live, spell enhancements, and additional stat buffs across a few areas. You’ll want to begin opening this branch up rather early. Frequently plot out your next few skill points between your preferred weapon style and the Illusive branch.
As you progress and take down large-scale enemies and bosses, you’ll acquire Lost Remains and Forgotten Remembrances. These are what you use to increase the number of flasks you can carry (Remembrances) and their potency (Remains).
Unique Terminology
There are a lot of unique aspects in Wuchang Fallen Feathers. After over 30 hours, I’m still working through a variety of optimization. The below won’t be comprehensive, rather it’s to help you understand the aspects you’ll encounter and which ones you should focus on for your playthrough. Let’s begin with several definitions:
Madness: One of the unique aspects of Wuchang is your “inner demon.” As you die, you madness meter will increase (viewable in the status screen). As you kill enemies, it will decrease. Should you die too often and fill the meter, a demon will manifest that will attack you and any other enemies in the vicinity. Should you kill it, you will regain your red mercury and be awarded with a bonus item or two. There are additional aspects relating to Madness covered in the next section.
Skyborn Might:Â Think of Skyborn Might as your active points while playing to conduct actions other than basic attacks. Spells, special skill attacks, swift draws, etc… all consume Skyborn Might. It is represented in the lower left of the UI by the feathers on your character image. When you begin, you’ll only be able to carry 1 point at a time. This can be expanded in the skill tree.
Shimmer:Â Shimmer is simply the name in Wuchang for a perfect dodge. Dodging at the perfect time will make your character “shimmer” and earn 1 stack of Skyborn Might.
Swift Draw:Â When you have two weapons equipped, you can consume a stack of Skyborn Might mid-attack to instantly swap between weapons and do a stringed attack. These can be very powerful when utilized effectively.
Swift Strike: Each weapon type has unique skills and attacks that can be performed by consuming Skyborn Might.
Temper: The Tempering menu is used to activate unique effects on your weapons. In Wuchang, this is how you will activate a fire or ice version of your weapon, for example. There are 5 separate slots that you will unlock as you progress with the main relating to a status effect and the others relating to core attributes. Aligning these with your build will empower your attacks greatly.Â
Benediction: Benediction is similar to socketing on your weapon. You can equip three stones, one each for Oath, Wisdom, and Memory which apply bonus effects. You can also sync all three of them in a set to increase the associated bonus.
Invoke: Utilizing madness as a currency, you can “buy” items at a shrine which will in-turn increase your madness. You can do this out of necessity or as a strategy (more on this shortly).
Enter Dream: Essentially doing a full “rest” at the shrine. This will fully heal you, refill your flasks and reusable items, and respawn the vast majority of enemies.
Shield of Casuality: Awarded when you kill a boss that is directly tied to the story’s main progression.
Sankhara Wuchang: Awarded when you kill a boss or major enemy that is not directly tied to the main story. However, it’s death may award significant items and influence side quests and/or NPCs.
Digging Deeper
Madness:
- Madness is a key feature in Wuchang. Beyond a unique currency and challenging the inner demon, it also comes into player relating to your skills. And as you reach your max madness, you will begin to deal more damage simultaneously taking more.
- There are a number of skills that activate or trigger when above 50% Madness (which can be viewed any time on the Character tab). Additionally, there are even stronger skills/buffs that activate when over 90%.
- This most often comes into play when dying repeatedly to a challenging boss. Doing more damage and gaining greater buffs is a unique system to give the player an advantage. This can also be activated manually by using “Maddening Incense” which is a reusable item you unlock.
Tempering:
- While you’ll set up your temper effects in the Temper menu at shrines, you have to activate it with a different reusable item called “Temperance.”
- Putting this in your quick bar enables you to use it like a flask during gameplay. You can expand the number you carry through the skill tree.
Weapon Disciplines:
- Each weapon can have a single discipline equipped to it at a time. You do this via the “Discipline” menu while at a shrine.
- Learning these and mastering them is a critical part of expanding your capabilities.
- Additionally, through Disciplines is how you unlock certain abilities like Block, Parry, Deflect, and Clash for some weapon types.
Additional Tips
As with any deeper Soulslike, there’s a lot of learning that takes place across the journey. Here are some of the most notable things I’d keep in mind when setting out.
Explore!
- One of my favorite aspects of Wuchang is the large amount of optional areas, paths, bosses, and elite enemies. Explore everywhere! There are paths that are sometimes barely noticeable yet lead to entirely new areas. Not only will you discover cool items and fights, but it will help you better be prepared for the late game.
Hone in on your preferred play style
- While this may sound obvious, some of the later bosses are extremely aggressive and rarely give you time to breath. Generally speaking, this is not a slower, sword and board, ARPG. It’s fast-paced and your skills will be tested. So if you’re someone who prefers to dodge and strike, having high endurance and unlocking clash/parry will be critical. If you want to play slower/stronger, obviously go with strength and axes.
- However, you will also need to align your Disciplines, Tempering, and Benediction accordingly. Find that balance…you will need it.
Utilize your full inventory
- Unlike some games in this vein that severely limit usable items, Wuchang gives you plenty of usable items and provides avenues to acquire even more. Don’t be like me and let all of them sit in your menu endlessly (I’m working on it…). Use them accordingly and put yourself in a better situation.
Don’t be afraid to explore different areas to continue gaining power
- As I said, there is an abundance of “side” areas in Wuchang. It’s a large game. If you’re having trouble progressing the main story or past a specific boss, don’t be afraid to tackle other areas. You’ll often gain additional skills, levels, and items that can be of great use.
Alright, that should help you get on your way and I’ll likely add some additional aspects over the next few days. Wuchang is a superb game and even now I’m continuing to enjoy my time with it. As always, I’m more than happy to answer questions so you can find me on Bluesky as well as discussing the game on our Discord. Feel free to reach out!
