Where Winds Meet is drawing sharp criticism for a cosmetic system that lets players spend extraordinary sums chasing rare skins and weapon effects.
The wuxia open-world RPG is free to play and offers plenty of earnable outfits, hairstyles, and accessories, but its premium gacha banners and weapon dyes are pushing the limits of what players expect even from aggressive live-service games.
How the Where Winds Meet gacha pricing works
Player discussions outline a straightforward but punishing structure for the high-end cosmetic banners.
| Element | Detail | Implied cash cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single pull | Ticket for the premium cosmetic draw | ~$2 per pull when bought |
| Pity threshold | “Pitty orb” after 150 pulls | ~$300 for 150 pulls |
| Top-tier outfit | Most expensive costumes cost 2 pity orbs | Up to ~$600 if you miss the drop |
| Average chase | One orb from pity, another via luck or dismantling | Roughly $300 on average |
| Super-premium banner | 10 outfits, some worth 1 “currency”, some 2 | Up to ~$500 to convert into a 2‑cost outfit |
Players describe a system where costumes pulled from the “super premium” banner can be broken down into a special currency and then traded for a specific outfit on that banner. The catch: some outfits are valued at one unit of this currency, while others cost two. Pulling a one‑unit costume when you’re chasing a two‑unit one effectively forces more spending to close the gap.
That structure puts Where Winds Meet in the same broad range as other character-focused gacha games for a single target pull, but pushes higher at the top end once pity-currency exchanges and worst‑case RNG are factored in.
Weapon skins and dyes reach much higher spending levels
The most expensive cosmetic interactions don’t stop at character outfits. High-level weapon skins and color customization introduce another spending tier entirely.
| Cosmetic type | Mechanic | Reported spend range |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon skin | Exchanged using rare “expensive items” from the same gacha pool | ~$200–$300 at minimum guarantee, or no cash if lucked into the item |
| Weapon dye (basic) | Color customization tied to additional charges | Lower, but cumulative |
| Weapon dye (all-black / all-white) | Highly specific color requirements | Estimated at around $1,500 for the exact result |
Players describe “expensive items” that drop from the same cosmetic gacha pool and are then traded in a separate mall for full clothing sets and weapon appearances. While a single rare item can theoretically be obtained for free over a long period, the minimum guarantee is again framed around 150 pulls per item, putting the cost of a guaranteed weapon skin in the low hundreds of dollars.
The dye system goes further. Meeting specific color goals on weapons—like making them completely black or completely white—is described as “very crazy” in cost, with estimates around $1,500 if you are trying to hit an exact look through repeat charges.
Direct-purchase skins and free cosmetics offer alternatives
Not every cosmetic in Where Winds Meet runs through this gacha funnel. Shop outfits in the Chinese version are often cited in the $1–$40 range, with higher-end store costumes closer to $70 and most landing in a $20–$50 band. Weapon skins and skill effect cosmetics sold directly are mentioned around $10.
The game also layers in a large number of free or grindable cosmetics:
- Full outfit sets from pre-registration, beta rewards, main quests, sect shops, exploration milestones, profession progress, and social systems.
- Individual outfits from story quests, the Season Shop, and achievements.
- Hairstyles unlocked at character creation, through brushing hair at specific mirrors, and from the Solemn Echo permanent banner.
On top of that, the “cheap” draw banner uses in‑game Echo Jade, and weekly items such as “Lingering Melody” can be traded for discounted pulls on the higher-end cosmetic gacha. Reputation and “Meow Meow Temple” currencies give extra rolls without cash, and various exchange codes provide free items and currency for new players.
Player reaction focuses on predatory design and visuals
Reactions in early discussion threads range from resignation to outright rejection. Some players simply state they will avoid spending $600 on a skin, or any money at all, and instead treat Where Winds Meet purely as a free game. Others object less to the presence of cosmetics and more to the way the base outfits are positioned as “garbage tier” compared to the premium looks, making it feel like visual upgrades are a de facto requirement.
There is also concern over the “predatory” nature of a banner that mixes 1‑ and 2‑currency outfits without a way to hard-target the desired item, and over systems where extremely specific dye results are only realistically reachable with four-figure spending.
Where Winds Meet’s open world, deep progression systems, and generous supply of free cosmetics give players reasons to log in without paying. But the way its highest-end outfits and weapon skins are priced and distributed is already shaping the game’s reputation as much as its combat and exploration.
