The Cat Emperor is a World Boss added with the Imperial Palace expansion in Where Winds Meet, which launched on May 28, 2026. This giant feline swings a massive fish as its weapon and fights across two phases. It cannot be staggered because it has inexhaustible Qi, so the encounter rewards aggressive, sustained pressure rather than waiting for stagger windows.
How to spawn the Cat Emperor boss
The fight is tied to The Grand Carp Lost Chapter quest. You will not encounter the Cat Emperor by roaming the map. The summon only happens when you fish at the correct spot during a specific in-game time.
Step 1: Teleport to the Imperial Hill boundary stone, then travel northwest toward the Inner Garden pond. The fishing area sits at the edge of the water.
Step 2: Talk to Li Jingwei beside the pond to begin The Grand Carp quest. He asks for help catching a koi fish.
Step 3: Set the in-game time to the You hour, then start fishing at the pond. Fishing during that window triggers the encounter, and the Cat Emperor appears in place of the fish.
Cat Emperor fight overview and core strategy
The Cat Emperor has two phases and keeps a relentless attack rhythm. You can parry most of its moves to deal bonus damage, but you can never break its poise. Because there is no stagger payoff, the goal is to stay close, parry the long strings, and grind its health down while taking as little damage as possible.
Phase 1 attacks and how to counter them
The Cat Emperor opens the fight with a pounce. After that, it shifts into fish-swing combos with paw and spin follow-ups, plus a heavy cone slam.
| Attack | How to respond |
|---|---|
| Opening pounce | Dodge the leap as the fight begins. |
| Fish swings with paw or spin follow-ups | Parry the string and counter between hits. |
| Cone slam after a short charge-up | Parry it; stay close so your follow-up damage connects. |
Phase 2 attacks and changes
In the second phase the Cat Emperor keeps every Phase 1 move and adds new ones. The same approach still works, so maintain pressure and read the new tells.
| New attack | How to respond |
|---|---|
| Rolls onto its back and circles before lunging | Watch for the launch and dodge or parry the incoming strike. |
| Water spray through the fish | Avoid hugging it during this move; the spray hurts at close range. |
| Ground slam after being set on fire | Expect the slam whenever you apply fire damage, and reposition. |
Because the boss never staggers, there is no shortcut through these phases. Keep parrying, punish the openings after each combo, and chip the health bar down until the Cat Emperor falls.
Once the Cat Emperor is down, the encounter resolves through The Grand Carp quest, wrapping up the fishing trip Li Jingwei asked for at the Inner Garden pond. If you want to face it again or you missed the trigger, return to the same spot, set the clock to the You hour, and cast your line.