Join the Midnight Blades: Your Path to PvP Mastery in Where Winds Meet
Looking to embrace the darker side of Where Winds Meet? The Midnight Blades Sect might be exactly what you’re after. This PvP-focused faction becomes accessible surprisingly early in the game, making it a popular choice for players who prefer player-versus-player combat over everything else.
The thing is, while you can join the Midnight Blades early on, the game doesn’t exactly advertise where to find them or what you need to do. If you’ve been wandering around looking for the entrance, you’re not alone—this Sect’s recruitment process is intentionally hidden and, let’s be honest, pretty dark. Here’s everything you need to know about joining, ranking up, and even leaving if things don’t work out.
Finding the Midnight Blades: Location and Entrance Quest
The Midnight Blades recruitment starts in Halo Peak, located in the Sundara Land area in northern Qinghe. You’ll need to be at least Level 10 to join. Here’s the step-by-step process:
Step 1: Locate the Seriously Injured Swordsman
- Travel to Halo Peak in Sundara Land (northern Qinghe region)
- Find the dying swordsman lying on the stones on the north side of Halo Peak
- The map marker will guide you to the exact spot
Step 2: Follow the Blood Trail
- Speak with the Seriously Injured Swordsman — he’ll reveal with his dying breath that the Midnight Blades killed him
- After he passes, follow the blood trail to the east of Halo Peak
- You’ll discover a grim scene: numerous bodies scattered across the grass
Step 3: Meet Icchantika, the Ferryman
- Walk to the center of this kill field
- Your objective marker will update and point upward
- Look up to find Icchantika sitting cross-legged on a stone outcropping above you
- This is the Ferryman of the Midnight Blades — your gateway into the Sect
Step 4: Choose Your Path
- Talk to Icchantika
- When prompted, select “My heart is of the Asura Heart”
- He’ll hand you a special token with dark instructions: “stain it with blood”
Step 5: Stain the Token with Blood
- Kill any enemy, NPC, or animal while the token is in your inventory — a single kill is all it takes
- The fastest method: head to any nearby Outpost and kill an enemy there
- Successfully killing anything will convert the token into an Annihilation Token
- Make sure you’re carrying Icchantika’s token when you score the kill — if you discarded it, the transformation will not trigger
Step 6: Return and Join
- Return to Icchantika with the Annihilation Token
- Select the dialogue option: “Inherit karmic burden, join the Sect”
- Submit your bloodied token — you’re officially a member of the Midnight Blades
Important: Don’t Hand Over the Wrong Token
If you hand Icchantika an unbloodied token (the original White Decree or a Rouge Token), you’ll be steered toward joining the Nine Mortal Ways Sect instead. You’ll receive a popup offering that Sect as an alternative. If this happens, you can still join the Midnight Blades — just make sure you hand over the correct bloodied token (the Annihilation Token) when prompted.
⚠️ Also watch out for a fake Midnight Blades contact near some jail areas in the world — this NPC belongs to a different questline entirely and will not start the real Midnight Blades recruitment. The genuine entrance is always at Halo Peak with Icchantika.
Your Welcome Gift: Infernal Twinblades
The moment you join the Midnight Blades, you’ll receive the Infernal Twinblades weapon and its Martial Art as a welcome gift — a fast-hitting weapon that relies on multiple successive hits, best paired with the Mortal Rope Dart. Check out our best weapons and martial arts tier list to see how it ranks, or our dedicated Infernal Twinblades unlock guide for more details.
Midnight Blades Ranks, Tokens, and Progression
Unlike other Sects in Where Winds Meet that award members titles, the Midnight Blades use an evolving token system to represent rank. Your token changes color and name as you rise through the hierarchy — a reflection of the Sect’s philosophy that your worth is proven in blood.
| Rank | Token | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Novice Cultivator | Light Crimson token | Starting rank upon joining |
| Truth Walker | Vermilion token | Unlocks exclusive hairstyles and armor in the Sect Shop |
| Sufferer | Deep Red token | Unlocks access to the Sufferer’s Trials (weekly PvP event) |
| Chief Elder | Ochre Black token | Highest rank; awarded weekly to the top Sufferer’s Trial performer |
How to Rank Up
To check your current rank and requirements, open your Sect menu → Status tab. Each rank has specific objectives you must complete before advancing. Once all requirements are fulfilled, you’ll automatically promote to the next rank.
You can click any required item in the Status menu and select “How to Obtain” to get a direct map marker pointing you to where that challenge is completed.
The early rank-up quests include:
- Kill for Enlightenment: Kill 20 enemy players in the Arena (1v1 PvP) — must be completed first before other rank-up steps unlock
- Bearing the Sin: Slay the Ferryman (the Sect NPC at Halo Peak) to retrieve the Faded Blood Token — this quest’s wording is confusing, but the solution is to return to the same mountain area after completing your 20 arena kills
- Inner Peace: Hang the Faded Decree at the Tree of Sin (located at the Floral Expanse landmark, to the right) and complete the Path of Bloodshed
Karma Points: How They Work
Karma Points are the Midnight Blades’ primary progression currency. Here’s what you need to know:
- Defeating other players earns Karma Points — in the open world, Arena, and Perception Forest
- Being defeated deducts Karma Points — losses actively set your progress back, not just stall it
- Perception Forest is the best source — the Battle Royale PvP mode is the fastest way to accumulate Karma at scale
- Sect rules actively penalize mercy — hesitating or avoiding combat in the open world goes against the Sect’s code
Sufferer’s Trials: Competing for Chief Elder
Once you reach the Sufferer rank, you gain access to the Sufferer’s Trials — the Midnight Blades’ equivalent of other Sects’ weekly elections. In these trials, Sufferer-ranked members challenge each other and external opponents for Karma Points. The top performer each week is awarded the title of Chief Elder for the following week, until the next Sufferer’s Trial determines a new winner.
The Level 22 Bottleneck
Sect entrance opens at Level 10, but PvP doesn’t unlock until Level 22. This means you can join and hold Novice Cultivator rank early, but you cannot progress further or participate in Karma-earning activities until you reach Level 22. Essentially, you’ll be a member in name only until then.
Our beginner’s tips guide, best early builds, and fast XP levelling guide can help you reach that threshold sooner.
Midnight Blades Sect Shop
The Midnight Blades Sect Shop is exclusive to members and uses two currencies: Coins (for utility items and basic cosmetics) and Reputation Points (for higher-tier rewards).
- Reaching Truth Walker rank unlocks exclusive hairstyles and armor sets
- The signature Blazing Midnight player avatar costs 450 Reputation
- New Sufferer-ranked members receive a free Reputation Giftbox upon reaching that rank, giving a head start on shop purchases
- All cosmetics purchased are yours permanently — even if you leave the Sect
???? Tip: Spend all your Reputation before leaving. Check our guide on all Sect outfits and cosmetics to know what’s worth buying first.
How to Leave the Midnight Blades Sect
Changed your mind? Here’s how leaving works:
- Open the Sect window from your start menu
- Select “Betray Master” in the bottom-right corner
- Confirm when prompted — you’ll be removed from the Sect immediately
The Severance Trial: After leaving, you must complete a Severance Trial in the Perception Forest. This is a forced encounter — it triggers automatically and cannot be manually started. You also can’t clear it by queuing regular Perception Forest matches; the game requires the special Severance Trial instance specifically. You stay until the match ends naturally (you don’t need to win). Read the full Leaving Sects guide for everything on Severance Trials.
What You Lose When Leaving
- Sect Status, Rank, and all Karma Points — reset to zero
- Sect Reputation — completely wiped
- All Merits earned within the Sect — gone
- Access to the Sect Shop
What You Keep
- All items and cosmetics already purchased from the Sect Shop
- The Infernal Twinblades weapon and Martial Art
- Your overall character progression — unaffected
Can You Rejoin the Midnight Blades?
Yes. After leaving, wait 24 real-world hours, then open the Sect menu, select the Midnight Blades, and click “Join Sect” in the bottom-right corner. You’ll restart as a Novice Cultivator — all previous rank and reputation is permanently gone. Once you rejoin, you cannot leave again for 6 days.
Is the Midnight Blades Right for You?
The Midnight Blades are built exclusively for PvP enthusiasts. If you enjoy player-versus-player combat, climbing kill leaderboards, and competitive weekly events, this Sect offers rewards and progression tailored precisely to that playstyle. If you prefer PvE content, exploration, or cooperative gameplay, you’ll likely find the weekly Karma requirements frustrating — consider exploring other Sects in Where Winds Meet instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level do I need to join the Midnight Blades?
You need to be at least Level 10 to join any Sect, including the Midnight Blades. However, PvP systems — which are essential for ranking up — don’t unlock until Level 22. You can join early but won’t be able to progress your rank until then.
What happens if I hand over the wrong token to Icchantika?
Handing over an unbloodied token (such as the Rouge Token or the original White Decree) will trigger a popup offering you the chance to join the Nine Mortal Ways Sect instead. This doesn’t lock you out of the Midnight Blades — if you hand over the correct bloodied Annihilation Token, you can still join the Midnight Blades.
Do Midnight Blades members get titles like other Sects?
No. Unlike other Sects, the Midnight Blades do not award titles. Instead, members receive evolving tokens that change color and name as they advance through the ranks — from the Light Crimson token at Novice Cultivator up to the Ochre Black token at Chief Elder.
What are Karma Points and what happens if I lose a fight?
Karma Points are the Midnight Blades’ primary progression currency, earned by defeating other players. Being defeated deducts Karma Points — so losses actively set back your progress. Perception Forest is the best source of Karma Points in bulk.
What is the Sufferer’s Trial?
The Sufferer’s Trial is a weekly PvP event exclusive to members who have reached the Sufferer rank. Participants compete by defeating other Sufferer-ranked members and challengers to accumulate Karma Points. The top performer each week is awarded the title of Chief Elder until the following week’s trial.
What do I keep if I leave the Midnight Blades?
You keep all cosmetics and items already purchased from the Sect Shop, plus the Infernal Twinblades weapon and Martial Art. You permanently lose your rank, Reputation, Karma Points, and Sect Shop access.
Related Guides
- All Sects — How to Join Guide — compare every faction before committing
- How to Leave Sects & Severance Trials Guide
- How to Unlock Infernal Twinblades
- Weapons & Martial Arts Tier List
- Best Early Builds & Weapon Combos
- Bounty System & Law Enforcement Guide
- How to Level Up Fast & Farm XP
- Beginner Tips & Tricks Guide
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