Riding across Where Winds Meet’s vast plains demands a trusty steed-here’s how to claim yours without delay.
With so many systems, weapons, currencies, upgrades, and much more, figuring out how to get a steed isn’t all that straightforward, especially if you miss the quest designed to push you in the right direction. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to get a horse in Where Winds Meet.
There are several ways to get a horse in Where Winds Meet, as follows:
Complete The Shameless quest
To complete the Shameless quest, speak with the NPC near Jiangnan who offers the initial challenge. Follow his objectives, which include performing a few humorous tasks to prove your charm and wit. Once you finish all the quest steps, you’ll earn your first horse as a reward, allowing you to travel faster across the open fields and reach new areas with ease.
The first opportunity you have to get a horse is during Chapter One Heaven Has No Pier. Just before you reach General’s Shrine in the Verdant Wilds, you’ll bump into Roundy and Ruby, starting The Shameless side quest. Follow them as they try to make a run for it. You’ll need to take them on in combat. After they’ve sustained enough damage, they’ll dart, leaving two horses for you to choose from.
Snatch a horse from an NPC
Approach an NPC mounted on a horse in the open world. Hold the interact key while facing them to attempt stealing the mount. Success depends on your stealth level and proximity-stay hidden to avoid alerts. The horse becomes yours instantly if the grab works, letting you ride off without pursuit. Practice on lone travelers for easier targets.
If The Shameless passed you by, don’t worry, there’s another way to get your first horse. Approach any NPC riding a horse from behind, and you’ll see a prompt to Snatch Horse. Tap F to kick the rider off and claim the steed for yourself. Note that the previous owner will turn hostile, so either fight them off or flee with the horse.
If you’re struggling to find NPCs riding horses, head to the Appearance menu and cycle through to the Mounts tab. Once there, select any horse under Exploration Rewards, then tap “How to obtain” and choose “Snatch horse”. This will open up the map, showing a small area where you’ll find NPCs riding horses.
Capture a horse
Approach a wild horse in the open world and press the interact key to mount it. Hold the key to stay on as it bucks, then mash the sprint button rhythmically until the stamina bar fills and it calms. Once tamed, it follows you as your personal mount for faster travel.
You can also capture a wild horse. Head to the Appearance menu, then the Mounts tab, Explorations Rewards, and select a horse. Go to “How to obtain” and select “Capture horse” to bring up the map and see the nearest location where you’ll find a group of horses.
Head over to the spot. Once there, approach any of the horses from behind. They’ll pop if they catch wind of you, so move slowly. When you’re close, tap F when the “Capture Horse” prompt appears. This will trigger a quick-time mini-game. The idea is to tap the right button at the right time based on where the horse icon moves on the circle. Complete the game to tame the horse.
Buy a horse
Locate a horse trader in major towns like Yongye or border outposts, marked by icons on your map. Select the mount vendor and browse available horses, which vary in speed, stamina, and coat patterns. Pay the listed silver price using your inventory funds, then claim your new steed right away for immediate riding. Check trader stock periodically, as it refreshes with new options.
Best early mounts to prioritize and why
In Where Winds Meet, prioritize Spirited Courser and Jinzhui Gold-Gray Charger as your top early mounts after unlocking the system in Chapter One. These A-tier options outperform basic story horses in speed, skills, and utility right from Wildmane Ranch or NPC theft spots.
Spirited Courser
This mount excels for beginners due to its resource-gathering bonuses and ability to carry a friend, speeding up co-op exploration and early quests. Steal it from patrolling riders near Bamboo Retreat for quick access without spending Echo Beads.
Jinzhui Gold-Gray Charger
Choose this for superior sprint speed and combat skills, making traversal and fights more efficient in the open world. Tame or buy it early at Wildmane Ranch to outpace basic mounts by 20-30% in travel time.
Acquisition Priority
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Steal Spirited Courser first for immediate utility.
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Target Jinzhui next via ranch merchant or wild taming north of Bloom Veil.
These picks scale well into mid-game without premium costs.
Which mounts unlock guaranteed rather than by RNG
In Where Winds Meet, guaranteed mounts come from story progression, merchants, or specific events rather than random wild taming or theft spawns.
Story-Given Mounts
The first basic horse unlocks automatically after completing the Chapter One quest “For Whom Does He Return,” where you claim it from a defeated thief-no RNG involved. This starter mount persists in your stable for reliable early travel.
Merchant Purchases
Buy guaranteed horses like entry-level options at Wildmane Ranch stables using Echo Beads; vendors always stock fixed inventory such as the standard Courser variants. Premium Quin Horses from select shops also purchase directly without chance-based mechanics.
Event Rewards
Certain festival or repeatable quests at locations like Bamboo Retreat award specific mounts upon completion, ensuring 100% acquisition if requirements are met. These outpace RNG methods for consistent progression.
