The Mortal Rope Dart in Where Winds Meet is a Martial Arts weapon focused on melee DPS, built around rapid rope attacks and a combat pet rat. It sits in the Bamboocut arsenal and pairs especially well with Infernal Twinblades for high hit-count, on-hit damage builds.
There are only two ways to add Mortal Rope Dart to your arsenal:
- Infiltrate the Nine Mortal Ways Martial Hall in Kaifeng and steal the technique using Skill Theft.
- Join the Nine Mortal Ways Sect and complete its initiation line.
Overview of Mortal Rope Dart and its role
Mortal Rope Dart is a hybrid melee weapon that mixes mid‑range control with close‑range combos. Light attacks sweep around you in up to four consecutive strikes, while Charging Stance lets you either yank enemies in or slam them to the ground.
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Combat type | Melee Combat |
| Main role | DPS |
| Arsenal | Bamboocut |
| Recommended partner weapon | Infernal Twinblades |
Its kit leans on:
- Bladebound Thread (Martial Arts Skill): A rope dart throw that either pulls you to bosses or drags regular enemies to you, then optionally follows up with a knockdown kick and applies a Vendetta Token.
- Rodent Rampage (Special Skill): Consumes a Token of Gratitude to summon a rat that performs extra strikes whenever you use Light Attacks for 10 seconds, even if you switch weapons.
- Charging Stance: A stance that grants Tenacity and, based on charge duration, can buff Rodent Rampage, regenerate HP, or restore Endurance.
This design makes Mortal Rope Dart ideal for crowd control and sustained DPS, especially when you trigger many on-hit events with fast weapons like Infernal Twinblades.
All ways to unlock Mortal Rope Dart
There are two unlock paths:
- Method 1 – Skill Theft in Kaifeng: Infiltrate the Nine Mortal Ways Martial Hall using disguises, then perform Skill Theft on the Rope Dart instructor.
- Method 2 – Join Nine Mortal Ways: Become a disciple of the Nine Mortal Ways Sect and clear its initiation questline to receive the Martial Art.
The Skill Theft route lets you pick any Sect later without locking into Nine Mortal Ways early, so it is the flexible option if you care about future allegiance.
Method 1: Unlock Mortal Rope Dart with Skill Theft in Kaifeng
This route revolves around an Exploration Quest in Kaifeng’s Nine Mortal Ways Martial Hall, plus the “Disguise: Veil of Love” quest that unlocks the disguise system.
Prerequisite: have Skill Theft unlocked
Before heading to Kaifeng for the Rope Dart, you need the Skill Theft (also named Art Theft in some UI text) Mystic Art. Without this, you can enter the hall but you will not be able to steal the technique at the end.
Phase 1: Reach the Nine Mortal Ways Martial Hall in Kaifeng
Step 1: Travel to Kaifeng City and head for the Nine Mortal Ways Sect Martial Hall in the southwestern part of the region. Approach the main entrance and try to walk through the front gate. A guard will stop you and explain that only disciples can enter.
Step 2: After the guard turns you away, turn around and find the Mysterious Elder sitting or standing beside the house directly opposite the Martial Hall gate. Speak to this elder to learn that you can infiltrate the hall by disguising yourself as a disciple. This conversation sets up the infiltration quest.
Step 3: A new objective appears to “Draw a portrait for Muddle.” Muddle is a Nine Mortal Ways disciple drinking near the Martial Hall. Follow your quest marker until you stand in front of him, then interact to start the portrait mini‑game and capture his appearance.
At this point the story branches slightly depending on whether you have used disguises before.
Phase 2: Unlock disguises via “Disguise: Veil of Love”
If you have never used the disguise system, aiming at Muddle and pressing G will automatically start the Exploration Quest “Disguise: Veil of Love.” This unlocks the disguise mechanic that you later need for infiltrating the Martial Hall.
Step 1: Follow the new objective to the Fairgrounds in Kaifeng and locate Wuyan, the Disguise Shop Owner, inside a shop marked with a mask icon on the map. Talk to Wuyan to hear about Qiao Sanlang’s unrequited love and the Jade Satchet.
Step 2: Leave the shop and find Qiao Sanlang standing just outside. Press V to activate Wind Sense (sometimes called Wild Sense), center your camera on Qiao, then press the Middle Mouse Button to open his request window. Highlight the Jade Satchet and select Request. He will refuse, advancing the quest.
Step 3: Return to Wuyan and report the refusal. She will suggest disguising yourself as Qiao’s love interest. Follow the quest marker to Fang Wenxiu, then interact with her and use the portrait mini‑game again to draw her likeness.
Step 4: Bring Fang Wenxiu’s portrait back to Wuyan. She will prepare a disguise and dress you up as Wang Feixiu based on the portrait. Accept the disguise.
Step 5: While wearing the disguise, go back to Qiao Sanlang and request the Jade Satchet again. This time he will hand it over without resistance, completing the core of the quest.
Step 6: Return to Wuyan one more time to finish “Disguise: Veil of Love.” You now permanently unlock the disguise system, and the Jade Satchet appears in your bag as a Common Item you can use to obtain a cosmetic accessory.
Tip: Disguises come with heavy movement and combat restrictions. While disguised as any character (including Muddle later), you cannot use Martial Skills, Mystic Arts, or even perform normal jumps.
Phase 3: Disguise as Muddle and enter the Martial Hall
With disguises unlocked, you can now fully commit to the Mortal Rope Dart infiltration.
Step 1: Go back to Muddle near the Martial Hall if the earlier portrait was not completed, and draw his portrait. Once the drawing is done, the game will automatically guide you back to Wuyan at the disguise shop.
Step 2: Speak with Wuyan and choose the Disguise dialogue option. Select Muddle from the list of available disguises. Confirm to transform into Muddle.
Step 3: Fast travel or run back to the Nine Mortal Ways Martial Hall. Approach the main gate again. While disguised as Muddle, the guard at the entrance will now treat you as a disciple and let you pass through the front door.
Phase 4: Get the Core Disciple’s Token and reach Elder Tian
Once inside the outer yard, there is another layer of security between you and the inner sanctum where Mortal Rope Dart is taught.
Step 1: Walk toward the inner yard entrance until you meet Pan Shui, a student who blocks access. He explains that only holders of a Core Disciple’s Token may proceed.
Step 2: Turn toward the building on the right side of the courtyard, which serves as the kitchen. Go inside and look for a disciple named Tiancai, usually sitting or working near the cooking area.
Step 3: Use Wind Sense on Tiancai to inspect his inventory and confirm he is carrying the Core Disciple’s Token. Open the request window and ask him for the token. He will hand you the Core Disciple’s Token needed to pass Pan Shui.
Step 4: Return to Pan Shui with the token in your inventory. He will now allow you to enter the inner yard.
Step 5: Inside the inner yard, head for Elder Tian, the instructor standing or seated in the main hall directly ahead of the entrance. Speak to Elder Tian to formally obtain access to the Mortal Rope Dart weapon.
Phase 5: Use Skill Theft to learn Mortal Rope Dart
Having reached Elder Tian and the training yard, the final step is to perform Skill Theft on the Rope Dart user to permanently learn the Martial Art.
Step 1: Go to the training yard or instructor’s position indicated by your quest marker. A martial demonstration or target is available there for Art Theft.
Step 2: Target the appropriate Rope Dart instructor or marked NPC and activate Skill Theft. This starts the Skill Theft minigame, where you must successfully copy the Mortal Rope Dart style.
Step 3: Complete the Skill Theft minigame. On success, Mortal Rope Dart is added to your Martial Arts list, granting its skills, Charging Stance, and the linked Talents tree.
Step 4: After learning the skill, go back into Elder Tian’s room and exit through the side door that leads to the backyard. There, speak to the Mysterious Elder again to wrap up the infiltration questline.
The Mysterious Elder may point you toward the Ghostlight Market, which in turn opens the path to formally joining the Nine Mortal Ways Sect later if you choose.
Method 2: Unlock Mortal Rope Dart by joining Nine Mortal Ways Sect
If you prefer a more straightforward narrative route and do not mind your Sect choice, Mortal Rope Dart also unlocks through the Nine Mortal Ways Sect itself.
Step 1: Progress until you can travel to the Nine Mortal Ways Sect hub area and speak with its leaders to begin the sect initiation questline.
Step 2: Complete the initiation objectives, which test your combat and adherence to the sect’s rules. When you are officially recognized as a disciple, Mortal Rope Dart becomes available as one of the sect’s signature Martial Arts.
This method does not require disguises or infiltration but commits your character to Nine Mortal Ways for Sect‑based progression and rewards.
Mortal Rope Dart Talents, Internal Arts, and gear synergies
Once unlocked, Mortal Rope Dart levels up like other Martial Arts. Every 10 levels, you can perform a Breakthrough to unlock one of several Talents in a fixed order:
| Talent | Unlock timing | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Rate Increase | After first learning Mortal Rope Dart | Makes the Agility stat increase your Critical Rate. |
| Mouse Damage Enhancement | Breakthrough Tier 1 | Boosts the Physical Damage of your summoned rats. |
| Bamboocut Increase | Breakthrough Tier 2 | Raises Bamboocut Attack and further scales Bamboocut damage from your minimum Bamboocut Attack. |
| Attribute Attack Damage Enhancement | Breakthrough Tier 3 | Makes all Skills deal damage based on Attribute Attack and adds extra Bamboocut damage. |
| Bone Corrosion Enhancement | Breakthrough Tier 3 | Causes Guided Blade and Coiled Dragon to apply Bone Corrosion for 5 seconds. |
Mortal Rope Dart also has a set of Internal Arts and gear that complement its playstyle, especially when combined with Infernal Twinblades.
- Echoes of Oblivion: Lets Infernal Twinblades apply Sin and Karma debuffs and ignore a portion of Physical Defense or Bamboocut Resistance while those are active.
- Vendetta: Extends the duration of Vendetta Tokens and refunds Tokens of Gratitude, feeding the Rodent Rampage resource loop.
- Riptide Reflex: Reduces the cooldown of your current Martial Arts skill when you hit an enemy with a control skill, up to once every 10 seconds.
- Breaking Point: Adds stacks of Disintegration on Critical Hits against Exhausted enemies, increasing Physical Penetration and Critical Damage Bonus.
Recommended gear sets often include:
- Swallowcall Set: Raises minimum Physical Attack with two pieces, and with four pieces boosts Light Attack damage against targets with less than 40% Qi and against Exhausted targets.
- Calmwaters Set: Increases Physical Defense with two pieces, and with four pieces gives Perfect Dodges a chance to restore a percentage of Max HP and Endurance.
For tuning priorities, Mortal Rope Dart benefits most from:
- Minimum Physical Attack
- Maximum Physical Attack
- Critical Rate
How to play Mortal Rope Dart effectively
Mortal Rope Dart’s combat loop revolves around three pillars: summoning rats, controlling spacing with the rope, and using Charging Stance smartly.
- Keep Rodent Rampage active: Spend a Token of Gratitude to start Rodent Rampage before long combos. Every Light Attack then triggers extra rodent strikes, multiplying your on-hit effects.
- Use Bladebound Thread for positioning: Against bosses, Bladebound Thread pulls you in to start close‑range combos. Against regular enemies, it drags targets out of groups or off ledges, then lets you follow with a knockdown kick.
- Leverage Charging Stance: Charge for 1.5 seconds to supercharge Rodent Rampage with extra rodents, or hold longer to regenerate HP (around 3 seconds) or Endurance (around 4.5 seconds). Watch your Endurance so you do not leave yourself unable to dodge.
- Attack while charging: In Charging Stance, your Light and Heavy attacks transform into tools like Coiled Dragon (a strong knockdown throw) or a rope pull that drags distant enemies toward you. These moves punish foes who try to interrupt your charge.
When paired with Infernal Twinblades, Mortal Rope Dart’s rats trigger extremely often thanks to the blades’ high hit count. Use Rope Dart to pull or control enemies, then swap to Infernal Twinblades with the Rope Dart - Conversion skill to shred targets while the rodents keep attacking in the background.
Whether you steal it in disguise or earn it as a sect disciple, Mortal Rope Dart opens up one of the most kinetic, crowd‑shredding playstyles in Where Winds Meet, especially for players who like to juggle positioning, timing, and resource‑driven pet mechanics.
