Where Winds Meet’s January 2026 Roadmap is reveals a swath of new modes, story, regions, and limited-time events, this one looks less like a single “big patch” and more like a month-long cadence: you get a new gameplay pillar early (Solo Mode), then Kaifeng content and a world boss, then PvP preseason and a new region, and you close the month with story and seasonal events.
If you want the rewards, the roadmap tells you exactly when to log in. If you’re going to stay ahead, it also tells you what to prep for. This guide will provide you with all important dates for Where Winds Meet‘s January 2026 Roadmap.
1. Where Winds Meet January 2026 All Roadmap Dates
- Jan 4: Solo Mode (Lv. 10 – Unbound) + Hero’s Realm: Sorrow of Mortalbound
- Jan 8: Kaifeng Campaign & Legacy Quests + World Boss: Nameless General + Event: Jianghu Martial Games
- Jan 15: Puzzle Cave: Mistveil Prison
- Jan 16: Event: Guild Battle Preseason
- Jan 22: Region: Nine Mortal Ways Base
- Jan 25: Story: Whispers Beneath the Moon
- Jan 29: Event: Year of Abundance + Event: Season-End Dash
NetEase has announced the January 2026 Roadmap for Where Winds Meet.
2. Week 1 (Jan 4): Solo Mode Lv. 10 and Hero’s Realm: Sorrow of Mortalbound
2.1 Solo Mode: Lv. 10
The roadmap labels Solo Mode as a Level 10 unlock, so that means the Solo Mode will receive a new ceiling, Level 10, which brings about new rewards, new Gear Tiers, and more formidable opponents. If you’re starting fresh (or returning after a break), getting to level 10 before Jan 4 is the cleanest way not to miss the early wave of rewards and progression.
Where Winds Meet allows you to continuously earn Character EXP even when you’ve reached the current Level limit, thanks to its Stored EXP system. This means you can continue with daily content as usual and still get their EXP rewards while waiting for the next update to drop.
2.2 Sorrow of Mortalbound
Hero’s Realm: Sorrow of Mortalbound is positioned beside Solo Mode on the same date, and it’s being framed as a run worth doing for higher-end gear (including level 71 drops) plus improved reward quality compared to earlier rotations.
One standout reward being discussed is a new item (a “gear echo” style reward) that ties into a Seasonal Shop update. The critical practical takeaway: you’re not only farming drops, but you’re also farming progress toward targeted gear picks.
2.3 New Seasonal Shop Tools
The big quality-of-life angle here is a new shop tab that includes:
- A Legendary Chest that lets you choose the gear slot (weapon or armor category)
- Additional materials tied to opening or “attuning” those rewards
If you’ve ever had a week where you got upgrades everywhere except the slot you actually needed, this is the kind of system that reduces wasted runs. Week 1 looks like the moment to start building that “target farming” loop.
What to do first on January 4 in Where Winds Meet
- Hit level 10 if you are not there yet (so the latest Solo Mode ceiling is immediately available).
- Run Sorrow of Mortalbound early to test difficulty and see what your build can clear consistently.
- Start banking whatever the Seasonal Shop wants for chests/materials, since targeted slots only matter if you can afford to use them.
You can buy Gear Chests in Where Winds Meet from the Activity Shop.
3. Week 2 (Jan 8): Kaifeng Campaign, Legacy Quests, and the Nameless General World Boss
3.1 Kaifeng Campaign & Legacy Quests
Week 2 is your “content week”: Kaifeng Campaign & Legacy Quests implies a new narrative and quest layer that’s meant to be played, not just farmed. Expect a main quest thread plus optional legacy-style questlines you can chip away at between events.
If you care about staying current with the story and unlocking whatever Kaifeng gates behind progression, this is the part of the roadmap you treat as priority content, not background filler.
3.2 Nameless General World Boss
The Nameless General is the big “show up and fight” moment of the roadmap. World bosses are usually less about perfect mechanics and more about:
- being there during active windows,
- having enough survivability to stay in the fight,
- and knowing where to go so you do not waste time.
If you’re the kind of player who logs in, does your dailies, and logs out, this is the week to plan a more extended session.
Sword Trial in Where Winds Meet.
3.3 Jianghu Martial Games Event
Jianghu Martial Games is the first clearly labeled event of the month, and it’s being talked about as having cosmetic motivation. Even if you’re not an event grinder, it’s worth checking the reward track early, because these events are usually easiest when you pace them instead of trying to binge them on the last day.
What to do first on January 8 in Where Winds Meet
- Push Kaifeng quests until you hit the first obvious gate or “come back later” wall.
- Do at least one Nameless General attempt to learn the flow, then decide if you’re farming it or just clearing it.
- Check Martial Games rewards early to see whether you’re chasing cosmetics, materials, or both.
4. Week 3 (Jan 15–22): Mistveil Prison, Guild Battle Preseason, and Nine Mortal Ways Base
4.1 Puzzle Cave: Mistveil Prison (Jan 15)
Mistveil Prison is labeled as a Puzzle Cave, so treat it as a different kind of content beat: less “DPS check,” more “solve and progress.” If you want to enjoy it without rushing, this is the week to keep your schedule a bit lighter and not stack every other grind on top of it.
4.2 Guild Battle Preseason (Jan 16)
The roadmap calls this a preseason, which usually means:
- rules and matchmaking that may change,
- rewards that test participation,
- and a mode meant to collect feedback before a full season.
One reward being highlighted in community previews is a Golden Guard armor cosmetic that’s purchased through event points. If you want it, the best strategy is simple: start early so you’re not forced into stressful, last-minute grinding.
4.3 Nine Mortal Ways Base (Jan 22)
Nine Mortal Ways Base is being framed as a small but dense region, the kind of area where you log in and immediately find:
- Encounters,
- mini-missions,
- a challenge track with rewards,
- chests and extra pulls tied to clearing activities.
If you like checklist content, this is your week. If you hate checklist content, it’s still worth visiting early so you know what rewards you’re ignoring on purpose.
What to do first in Week 3 of January in Where Winds Meet
- Clear Mistveil Prison while it’s fresh (puzzle content is most fun before every solution is everywhere).
- If you care about PvP rewards, join a guild or get your roster sorted before preseason starts.
- When Nine Mortal Ways Base opens, do a quick sweep to identify the “repeatable value” activities you’ll want to farm.
Weekly Guild Quests and Events in Where Winds Meet.
5. Week 4 (Jan 25–29): New Story Chapter and Two End-of-Month Events
5.1 Story: Whispers Beneath the Moon (Jan 25)
Whispers Beneath the Moon is the month’s story highlight, and it’s being described as a more romantic, dramatic questline with a cosmetic reward at the end. If you’ve been waiting for a narrative-focused drop, this is the clean “do it for the experience” piece of the roadmap.
5.2 Year of Abundance (Jan 29)
Year of Abundance is the most “seasonal event”- sounding entry, and it aligns with a fireworks-style celebration vibe. In other versions of similar celebrations, the reward angle has leaned heavily into cosmetics and generous giveaways. Still, the safest expectation is: log in, check the event shop, and assume you’ll need points.
5.3 Season-End Dash (Jan 29)
The roadmap does not explain Season-End Dash, so the best approach is to treat it like a closing-week sprint event: quick objectives, points, and rewards meant to wrap the month. The moment it goes live, look for:
- limited-time missions,
- accelerated reward tracks,
- and “finish what you started” incentives tied to January’s content.
Mirage Boat event in Where Winds Meet.
