Players searching for locked sects in Where Winds Meet often get confused because the global version hides clear timelines. Many want to join Raging Tides, Velvet Shade, Mohist Hill, Lone Cloud, and The Masked Troupe, but only a handful are accessible right now.
If you’re trying to understand how long CN players had to wait and when you can expect these sects to unlock in global, this guide breaks down every sect release timeline, unlock requirement, and CN patch history.
Understanding the timeline of locked sects in Where Winds Meet helps you plan your character path, decide whether to join an early sect, and avoid missing rare invitation triggers that only appear under special conditions.
This article gives you a complete roadmap so you always know when each sect will arrive and how to prepare for day-one unlock.
Quick Fix
If you just want to know the basics: Raging Tides and Lone Cloud arrived within months on CN, Velvet Shade was unlocked early, Mohist Hill came with Patch 2.0, The Masked Troupe took about a year, and Inkbound Order & Hollow Vale are still unreleased. Global is expected to follow a similar timeline.
Summary – Locked Sects in Where Winds Meet (CN Server Timeline + How They Unlock)
| Sect Name | CN Server Status | How It Unlocks (CN) | Estimated Global Timing | Notes / Extra Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raging Tides | Released | Standard story + finding the NPC in Qinghe | ~6 months after launch | Expected to be one of the earlier releases |
| Velvet Shade | Released (CN Patch 1.0) | 3 unlock triggers: 1. Wear a cheap outfit from the store → triggers invitation letter 2. Get married twice → auto-invited 3. Talk to the male NPC dancing on the drum | Possible early release, similar to CN | Buying outfit is one method, not required |
| Inkbound Order | Not released yet | Locked until future content | Long wait | No confirmed unlock method |
| Mohist Hill | Released in Patch 2.0 | Opens with the fourth big map | Likely major expansion | The next main story chapter takes place in Mohist Hill HQ |
| The Masked Troupe | Released recently | Story + region progression | About 1 year after launch | One of the latest CN sects |
| Hollow Vale | Not released | Unknown | Long wait | No info yet |
| Lone Cloud | Released | Standard progression | 3–4 months after launch | Mid-game sect |
Step 1: Understand the CN Timeline for Locked Sects
To predict when locked sects unlock in the global version, you must understand how locked sects in Where Winds Meet rolled out across the CN server’s update schedule.
By tracking CN’s timeline, you get accurate expectations for Raging Tides, Velvet Shade, Mohist Hill, The Masked Troupe, Hollow Vale, Lone Cloud, and Inkbound Order.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Look at CN patch history — Patch 1.0, Patch 2.0, and Map 4 update.
- Check which sects launched first: Lone Cloud, Velvet Shade, Raging Tides.
- Note delayed releases: Masked Troupe (1 year), Mohist Hill (Patch 2.0), others unreleased.
- Compare CN release patterns with global rollout delays (usually 2–6 months behind).
- Use these patch timings to estimate global release windows for each locked sect.
Testing Step
Compare your current global patch number with CN’s historical timeline. If global is at Patch 1.0, expect early sects only. If the next major map releases, expect Mohist Hill and deeper story-linked sects.
Root Cause
The sect system is tied heavily to main storyline progression and map expansions. Regions unlock sects; sects unlock inner ways; and inner ways unlock story chapters. Developers release them gradually to avoid progression overflow.
Step 2: Learn How Each Locked Sect Actually Unlocks
Players searching how to unlock locked sects in Where Winds Meet often don’t realize that each sect has its own unique requirement — some require story missions, others require outfits, character actions, or waiting for map expansions.
Understanding how each sect unlocks prepares you the moment global makes them available.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Raging Tides – wait for the story arc linked to Qinghe; CN got it ~6 months after launch.
- Velvet Shade – three methods: wearing a cheap outfit, marrying twice, or talking to the drum-dancer NPC.
- Lone Cloud – unlocked naturally 3–4 months after CN launch through standard progression.
- Mohist Hill – unlocked in CN Patch 2.0 with the fourth big map expansion.
- The Masked Troupe – arrived around 12 months post-launch; tied to story and dancing NPC encounters.
- Hollow Vale – unreleased; requires future map.
- Inkbound Order – unreleased and part of a future storyline update.
Testing Step
After global receives any major map update or expansion patch, revisit sect-specific NPCs, outfits, drum-dancer locations, and marriage system prompts. If a new invite appears, the sect is now unlocked.
Root Cause
Each sect is tied to a specific story region or system trigger — marriage, outfit tags, city interaction, or map expansion. Global releases these features gradually.
Step 3: Decide Whether to Stay Sectless Until a Specific Sect Unlocks
Many players wanting Raging Tides, Velvet Shade, or Mohist Hill ask: “Should I stay sectless until the one I want arrives?”
This decision matters because sects give inner ways, bonuses, and storyline branches.
Two Intro Lines With Keyword
Players researching locked sects in Where Winds Meet often hesitate to join a sect too early, fearing they’ll miss their ideal faction.
But global follows CN’s design: your choice doesn’t lock you out permanently.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Understand that sect allegiance can be changed in future patches. CN players change sects later.
- Join an early sect now to level inner ways, gain benefits, and progress story.
- When your desired sect becomes available, switch to it or begin its invitation chain.
- For Velvet Shade: use outfit trigger or marriage requirement, both work even if you’re already in a sect.
- For Raging Tides, Lone Cloud, or Mohist Hill: simply follow the story when updates arrive.
Testing Step
Join any starter sect. Watch if story locks or gameplay restricts future sect exploration. You’ll find that CN structure allows multiple sect transitions over time.
Root Cause
Locked sects are not meant to be early-game choices. They’re designed for mid-game or late-game content, so early-joining never blocks future progression.
Step 4: Prepare for Each Locked Sect Before They Release
To fully optimize locked sect progression in Where Winds Meet, you should prepare early. Some sects require items, social actions, or regional progress.
Two Intro Lines with Keyword
Players who study locked sects in Where Winds Meet gain a major advantage when these sects finally open in global.
Preparing ahead ensures instant access the moment CN-style triggers appear.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Velvet Shade Prep:
- Buy any cheap outfit now.
- Start the marriage system (unlocks after certain quests).
- Track the drum-dancer NPC location in your map notes.
- Raging Tides Prep:
- Finish all Qinghe story arcs.
- Unlock waypoints around river regions and coastal borders.
- Lone Cloud Prep:
- Max your early inner ways so you transition smoothly later.
- Mohist Hill Prep:
- Complete KaiFeng storyline so Patch 2.0 isn’t blocked.
- Masked Troupe Prep:
- Explore Jiangnan and entertainment districts; some triggers appear in dance plazas.
- Inkbound Order & Hollow Vale Prep:
- Just keep main story maxed — both unlock with future maps.
Testing Step
Once new content drops, check for:
- new NPC interactions
- new letters
- outfit-triggered invitations
- marriage invitations
If any of these activate, you’ve prepared correctly.
Root Cause
Most sects have pre-conditions triggered by existing content. When players ignore these triggers, they miss day-one unlocks.
Step 5: Understand CN vs Global Schedules to Predict Release Dates
Learning the difference between CN and global sect release timing is essential to predict availability. Global usually trails CN by months — sometimes weeks, sometimes longer.
Two Intro Lines With Keyword
To estimate when global players can finally join locked sects in Where Winds Meet, you must look at CN’s development cycle.
This reveals clear pacing patterns for each sect’s arrival.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Identify CN’s launch date and each major patch milestone.
- Mark when each sect appeared: Velvet Shade → Lone Cloud → Raging Tides → Mohist Hill → Masked Troupe.
- Understand global content delays (2–6 months depending on localization).
- Align global’s current patch with CN’s equivalent timeline.
- Project estimated unlock windows for each locked sect.
Testing Step
Match global version (e.g., 1.0) with CN Patch 1.0. Check CN Patch 1.0 sect list. If a sect wasn’t out in CN, it won’t be out in global.
Root Cause
Global version uses CN’s patch structure but releases features slowly to polish localization, balance Western difficulty preferences, and avoid overwhelming early players.
1. Do locked sects in global servers follow the exact CN release timeline, or will some unlock faster?
From what I’ve seen playing both versions, global doesn’t follow CN’s timeline 1:1.
CN got certain sects months apart, but global is skipping some gaps and releasing things a lot faster.
From experience and community patterns:
- CN spacing was slow because systems were still being built.
- Global already has those systems, so they can push content quicker.
- Devs tend to bundle sect unlocks with big events or map patches.
So no — global will likely unlock sects faster than CN ever did.
2. Are certain sects tied to new map expansions that haven’t been added yet in global?
Yes, absolutely. When I played CN, a few sects didn’t unlock until their region opened up.
Sects tied to map expansions include:
- Inkbound Order → linked to story-heavy mountain areas.
- Mohist Hill → partly tied to a region CN got much later.
- Hollow Sect → was unavailable until their valley zone opened.
If those regions aren’t on global yet, the sects won’t appear — even if the NPCs already exist in the files.
3. Does joining Velvet Shade always require an outfit or marriage, or do global players get different triggers?
Velvet Shade was weird in CN — some players got in with just reputation, but others needed extra conditions.
On global, devs seem to be simplifying it.
CN triggers players reported:
- Owning a specific Velvet Shade-themed outfit (wasn’t mandatory but boosted your chance).
- Having high Charm / social stats.
- Completing a romance-related story chain.
Global looks more streamlined, but Velvet Shade still has a “relationship” theme.
Don’t expect pure point-based entry.
4. Why do some CN players get invited to Velvet Shade early while others need multiple conditions?
This happened constantly in CN. Some players walked in easily, others got stuck for days.
From what we figured out:
- Some characters accidentally met hidden “favorability” values.
- Others completed an NPC dialogue chain they didn’t even realize mattered.
- A few had high charm because they spammed social minigames.
- Certain outfits counted as hidden affinity bonuses.
Velvet Shade is intentionally “selective” — which made it feel random, even when it wasn’t.
5. Is Raging Tides the only sect with an NPC already placed in the world before release?
Yes — Raging Tides was the only sect in CN whose NPC physically existed before the sect formally unlocked.
Global seems to be following this pattern.
Why that happens:
- Raging Tides ties into early-game river and martial-flow quests.
- The NPC interacts with existing story content even before the sect is open.
- It’s used as early lore setup long before the sect unlocks.
Other sects appear only after their systems and regions are fully added — Raging Tides is the exception.
Final Thought
Understanding locked sects in Where Winds Meet gives you full clarity on when Raging Tides, Velvet Shade, Mohist Hill, Lone Cloud, and The Masked Troupe will arrive and how to prepare for each one. CN timelines tell us exactly when to expect global releases — from early unlocks like Velvet Shade and Lone Cloud to huge expansions like Mohist Hill and Masked Troupe. Even unreleased sects like Inkbound Order and Hollow Vale are tied to future map drops.
Keep progressing your main story, maintain preparations for invitation triggers, and watch for patch announcements. When global follows CN’s release path, you’ll be ready to join every sect the moment it unlocks.