If you’ve just started Where Winds Meet and stumbled upon the General Shrine in Qinghe, you’ve probably already met Elder Gongsun—and he’s probably already kicked your teeth in. This elderly Qi master sits right near the fast travel point at the beginning of the game, and despite being one of the earliest duels available, he’s surprisingly brutal.
I got absolutely demolished my first three attempts. The old man just wouldn’t give me any breathing room, and his combos felt endless. But here’s the good news: once you understand his patterns, Elder Gongsun becomes much more manageable, even without any weapon upgrades. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to take him down and unlock him as a Combat Assist companion.
Understanding the Duel Mechanics in WWM
Before we dive into strategy, here’s something crucial: healing is disabled during duels. You can’t pop a healing item mid-fight to recover your Qi (the game’s stamina system). This means you need to rely entirely on good defense and smart offense. If you’re still learning the basics of combat, check out our beginner’s tips and tricks guide to get comfortable with the fundamentals.
Recommended Loadout
For this fight, keep it simple:
- Weapon: Nameless Sword (your starting weapon works perfectly fine)
- Skills:
- Shadow Step – Quick gap closer for melee strikes
- Daunting Strike – Useful for closing distance when Elder Gongsun backs away
You don’t need any fancy upgrades or different starting weapons to win this duel. The key is understanding his attack patterns and knowing when to strike.
Elder Gongsun’s Attack Patterns in Where Winds Meet
Here’s what makes this fight predictable once you recognize the tells: Elder Gongsun always waits for you to attack first, and his response determines the entire combo that follows.
Opening Combo #1: The Kick Sequence
When Elder Gongsun opens with a kick, brace yourself—this turns into a long, relentless ground combo that’s incredibly difficult to parry consistently. While skilled players can parry through the entire sequence, there’s a much easier approach:
Just jump.
Seriously, triple jump into the air and wait it out. Elder Gongsun’s kick combo is entirely ground-based, meaning he won’t target you while you’re airborne. You’ll avoid 90% of the damage and only need to dodge or parry once or twice when you land. This simple trick saved me so much frustration once I figured it out.
Opening Combo #2: The Palm Shove (Your Best Opportunity)
When Elder Gongsun starts with a two-handed shove, pay close attention—this is your golden opportunity. Here’s how the sequence unfolds:
- He shoves you back
- Immediately jumps backward into a lotus position
- Fires off four palm strikes
- Performs a delayed airborne axe kick (heel comes down from above)
- Finishes with a strong red glint palm strike
That final red glint palm strike is your bread and butter. The timing window is generous, making it easy to parry, and you can immediately follow up with damage. I dealt the majority of my damage during this fight by patiently waiting for this exact moment. Don’t get greedy—wait for the red glint, parry it, and punish.
Follow-Up Moves to Watch For
After his opening sequence, Elder Gongsun can transition into four different moves. Here’s how to handle each one:
1. Qi Recovery
Elder Gongsun will stand still and move his hands in a pattern to restore his stamina. Never let him finish this. Use Shadow Step to quickly close the gap and interrupt him with a strike, or use Daunting Strike if you’re too far away. This is a free damage opportunity—take it every time.
2. Pole Vault
This one’s actually kind of funny. Elder Gongsun starts hopping between the wooden poles around the arena like some kind of martial arts parkour master, shouting “Left! Right! Front! Back!” as he moves. He always hits four poles before attacking. When he stops announcing his position, he’s about to dive down with a kick. You can parry or dodge this fairly easily once you recognize the pattern.
3. Frog Jump
Yes, you read that right. Elder Gongsun transforms into a glowing yellow frog and performs three massive hops, creating AoE damage with each landing. It looks ridiculous, but the damage is real. Watch the timing and either parry or dodge each impact. The visual cue is obvious, so this isn’t too hard to avoid.
4. Frog Cloud
Elder Gongsun assumes a frog stance (with a golden glow) and creates a dark cloud around himself that blinds you if you don’t dodge or parry. He immediately follows with a quick forward frog jump. Dodge backward on the cloud, then jump to avoid the follow-up attack. Don’t panic—just stay calm and time your movements.
Core Strategy Tips
Here’s what worked best for me:
- Be patient and defensive. This isn’t a race. Wait for Elder Gongsun to give you the red glint palm strike opening.
- Prioritize the red glint parry. This single move will account for most of your damage output.
- Jump to avoid the kick combo. Don’t try to be a hero and parry everything—just go airborne.
- Always interrupt Qi Recovery. Free damage is free damage.
- Stay mobile during frog attacks. Keep your distance and time your dodges carefully.
- Don’t spam attacks. Elder Gongsun punishes aggression. Let him commit to his combos, then strike during recovery.
If you’re struggling with timing your parries and dodges, you might want to practice your movement mechanics first. Our guide on how to fly in Where Winds Meet can help you get more comfortable with aerial movement, which is surprisingly useful in combat.
Rewards for Defeating Elder Gongsun
Once you finally take down the old master, you’ll unlock:
- Top Fighter Achievement
- Elder Gongsun as a Combat Assist companion
- 5 Echo Jade (claim this through the Achievements menu under Qinghe Area)
Elder Gongsun is actually a solid Combat Assist once unlocked, so the fight is definitely worth the effort. If you’re curious about other unlockable features in the game, check out our guide on joining different sects.
Ending Note
Elder Gongsun feels like a massive difficulty spike when you first encounter him, especially if you’re still getting used to Where Winds Meet’s combat system. But once you learn to recognize his two opening moves and focus on parrying that red glint palm strike, the fight becomes much more manageable.
Don’t feel bad if it takes you several attempts—this is one of those fights designed to teach you patience and pattern recognition. Take your time, stay defensive, and capitalize on those key openings. You’ll have him down before you know it.
For more Where Winds Meet guides and tips, including quest walkthroughs like Blind to the World and dungeon guides like Echoes in the Shrine, keep exploring our full collection of resources.
Good luck with the duel, and may your parries always land true!
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