Where Winds Meet Imperial Palace Expansion – Everything You Need to Know

by

After recently finishing the major update called Hexi Expansion, everyone expected Everstone Studio to take a break before releasing content for Where Winds Meet’s Imperial Palace. However, they’re surprising us by launching it much sooner than anticipated – the first part arrives on May 27th! This new expansion is packed with fresh story lines centered around Zhao Kuangyin (also known as Big Zhao), a huge new area to explore with plenty to do, and exciting combat. We’ve had a chance to play through the first two phases of the expansion (with the second phase releasing in early June) and want to share everything we discovered. Let’s get started…

The Palace’s Size

The Imperial Palace in Where Winds Meet is incredibly large – currently the biggest palace area in the game, and the second-largest location overall after Kaifeng City, covering over a million square meters. With over 3,000 people inhabiting the palace, around 300 of them can actually engage in conversations with you. The palace feels realistically populated, whether you’re quietly moving across rooftops to observe guards or trying to find an assassin within the Sealed Treasure.

Summer and Winter Settings

The Imperial Palace is stunning in the summer, filled with flowers and sunshine. However, it transforms completely in winter. While snow covers everything and a cold mist hangs in the air, the season also brings fun new activities like ice skating and building snowmen.

Cricket Fights, Slap Fights, and More

That’s just a small preview of the many side activities and mini-games available in The Imperial Palace. You can even try sitting on the Dragon Throne – though be warned, there’s a significant penalty! There are also horseback riding and archery challenges. While it would take a long time to experience everything, we did try out some of the stranger options, like Cricket Fighting, which naturally starts with finding and catching a cricket.

Players send their crickets into battle, where they automatically attack each other until one is defeated. It’s surprisingly complex, featuring eight stats per cricket, different abilities and types, and even special moves players can activate. Another combat style is slap fighting – one-on-one battles where you try to land quick hits while avoiding incoming attacks. For example, we encountered Huizhen, who appeared possessed and needed to be ‘cleared’ with a few slaps – which we unfortunately received.

Crimes and Punishments

The game lets you do some silly things – like listen in on conversations for secrets or even turn into a dog to sniff around the palace for clues. While it’s all meant to be fun, the Imperial Palace has rules, and breaking them has consequences. Stealing gets you a sticker on your face, and too much eavesdropping turns your ears into fans! These punishments are strange, and thankfully not permanent. But the real trouble comes from things like sitting on the Emperor’s throne or hanging around in restricted areas like the kitchen. You might end up in prison, where you can try to escape, but getting caught means a spanking – just one example of how wonderfully absurd this wuxia world can be.

Throne and Tempest

The game also features a side story called Throne and Tempest, which takes around three hours to complete. Set in the sprawling Imperial Palace, you’ll become entangled in a web of conspiracies and betrayals while conducting a secret investigation disguised as an Imperial Guard. During your mission, you’ll reconnect with Zhao Guangyi and delve into the mystery surrounding the Phantom, all while uncovering more about the character known as Big Zhao. This side story is full of exciting action and platforming challenges, including a thrilling chase across the rooftops of the Governance Hall.

The Blackclad

The boss battles in Where Winds Meet are consistently exciting, and the game keeps getting better. A great example is the fight against The Blackclad – an old friend of Big Zhao who’s gone missing and is now investigating whether Big Zhao has changed while inside the Imperial Palace. To confront her, you’ll need to chase her down, which involves a thrilling pursuit using a horse-drawn wagon, jumping across rooftops, and dodging enemy fire.

This wasn’t the final showdown, not by a long shot. The fight continued with thrilling chases across walls and rooftops, eventually leading to a courtyard battle against a wave of guards. The first part of the fight is a fast-paced, close-quarters duel where the Blackclad demonstrates incredible skills like deflecting attacks with her blade and performing aerial strikes. But it’s in the second phase that she truly shines, revealing techniques like a flying sword that integrates seamlessly into her attacks, and a wide-area barrage of swords. The whole experience is visually impressive, cinematic, and incredibly fun to play.

Dufu

While the Blackclad is a challenge, the second boss in The Imperial Palace is even tougher. Players face Big Zhao, but a younger, darker version of him named Dufu. He’s a stark contrast to the friendly man most players know. Dufu is incredibly imposing and creates a lot of pressure, making for a really exciting fight. First, you’ll have to dodge attacks from his long-reaching staff. Just when you think you’ve managed that, he switches to hand-to-hand combat, forcing a close-quarters brawl. Unlike the Blackclad’s graceful moves and dramatic arena, this fight is much more raw, brutal, and focused on direct impact.

World Boss: Cat Emperor

There’s an even greater challenge waiting in the Imperial Palace, unlocked after finishing the fishing quests: the Cat Emperor, one of the new World Bosses. Don’t let its fluffy appearance fool you – this boss is surprisingly tough, attacking with a massive fish and powerful strikes. It’s a truly unusual fight, perfectly matching the palace’s blend of fun and structure.

World Boss: Gilded Lament

The Gilded Lament is the second powerful World Boss you’ll encounter within the Palace. She appears to exist in her own separate space and has clearly experienced hardship, judging by the vast amount of poetry scattered around – even written on the scrolls she uses as weapons. Her combat is particularly interesting; she mixes ranged energy attacks with quick, almost dance-like movements and powerful strikes. She can even transform into a ball of energy, forcing players to avoid her damaging aura. The fight is strangely beautiful and makes us eager to learn more about her story.

Impressions

Fans already enjoying the game might see The Imperial Palace as just another addition, and after the diverse landscapes of the Hexi Expansion, the palace grounds can feel a bit repetitive. However, it stays true to the core gameplay, offering a compelling story, exciting and over-the-top activities, and a beautiful, classic wuxia aesthetic. The boss battles are also excellent, each providing a unique and engaging challenge. It remains to be seen where the story of Big Zhao will lead, but we’re excited to find out – and look good doing it!

Read More

2026-05-27 17:46