Season 1 “Blade Out” at a Glance (Dates, Scope, and Why It Matters)

Season 1 isn’t just a label—it’s the container that holds a rotating set of events, season menus, and limited-time reward tracks. Officially, NetEase described Season 1: Blade Out as the kickoff season available at global launch.

Here are the most important “Blade Out” timing anchors you should know:

• Season 1: Blade Out (Season window): listed as running from November 14, 2025 through February 6, 2026, with the next season starting February 6, 2026.
• Battle Pass is split into “Volumes” (shorter passes inside the season), which is why you’ll see different end dates:
• Blade Out – Vol. 1: Nov 14, 2025 → Dec 11, 2025.
• Blade Out – Vol. 2: Dec 12, 2025 → Jan 6, 2026 (confirmed via the Magpie’s Farewell set being tied to this pass window).

What this means in real life: Season 1 is the “big umbrella.” Under that umbrella you’ll get multiple Battle Pass volumes, rotating events, and at least one major content update.

And yes—Blade Out is the first themed season by design. PlayStation’s official write-up about the game’s launch and post-launch plan explicitly says that content updates will arrive as themed seasons, and the first themed season is titled Blade Out.

What “Blade Out” Means (Without the Marketing Fluff)

“Blade Out” matters because it signals three things about how Where Winds Meet works going forward:

1. This is the first real seasonal structure: menus, events, and rotating reward tracks start living on timers rather than being purely “do it whenever.”
2. The game is building habits: Blade Out is packed with onboarding-style events and progression rails that teach you how to earn currencies, where to spend them, and which activities feed which reward tracks.
3. Playable content isn’t paywalled, but seasonal rewards still exist: PlayStation’s messaging says playable content is free, while NetEase emphasizes “no pay-to-win mechanics.” At the same time, you’ll still see premium cosmetics/quality-of-life tied to Battle Pass tiers.

So when someone asks “What does Season 1 Blade Out mean?” the practical answer is:

• A season timeline with rotating content and rewards
• Multiple Battle Pass volumes inside the season
• A long list of featured events (some permanent for the season, some time-limited)
• At least one major patch/update adding areas, bosses, and systems during the season’s life

Season vs Battle Pass vs Events (Don’t Mix These Up)

A lot of confusion comes from the game using similar names for different layers. Use this mental model:

• Season (Blade Out) = the “season container” that spans weeks/months and holds multiple things.
• Battle Pass Volume (Blade Out Vol. 1 / Vol. 2) = a shorter timed pass with its own reward track and missions, often rolling over multiple times inside one season.
• Events = time-limited or season-long panels that give specific rewards for specific tasks (login streaks, campaigns, mini-games, etc.).
• Major Updates = patches that add zones, bosses, quests, or new systems during the season (for example: Update 1.1 content that includes Roaring Sands and more).

Once you separate these, Blade Out becomes easy: you’re not “missing the season” just because a pass volume ends—you’re just rolling to the next volume while the season continues.

How Seasons Are Meant to Feel (The “Loop” Blade Out Pushes You Into)

Blade Out is structured to gently push you into a repeating weekly loop:

• Log in and claim “easy wins” (login events like Dawn to Dusk)
• Do targeted tasks that progress multiple panels at once (Campaigns + Lumina Guide + Battle Pass missions)
• Spend your daily/weekly energy efficiently so you don’t hit caps and waste regen time
• Convert time into currencies (Jade Fish, pass XP, event currencies like Lucky Money in Fortune Beyond Parlor)
• Spend currencies with a plan (Season Shop and other rotations)

If you follow that loop, you stay “season-relevant” even if you only play a few hours a week.

Daily Reset, Weekly Rhythm, and Early Level Caps (Why Blade Out Feels “Gated”)

Blade Out launched with a very noticeable early progression gate: daily level caps tied to your “Solo Mode Level.” Game8 documents a daily reset at 4:00 PM EST / 9:00 PM UTC and lists day-based level cap unlocks (example: Day 1 player level cap 20, Day 2 cap 30, Day 3 cap 40, etc.).

That matters for two reasons:

1. You can’t brute-force everything in one weekend the moment you start playing. Blade Out is built for steady progress.
2. Many seasonal panels assume you’re progressing naturally—if you try to “skip ahead,” you’ll feel blocked by story/level gating rather than by a lack of skill.

Important note: some community guides discuss resets differently (for example describing resets as “9 PM local time”), but the safest rule is: trust the in-game timers and/or the server reset anchor documented at 9 PM UTC.

Battle Pass in Blade Out (What It Actually Is)

The Battle Pass is one of the biggest “season meaning” systems because it’s the clearest timer-driven reward track.

Game8 describes the Battle Pass as containing daily and weekly quests for extra rewards and resources, and it is tied to the currently active “Seasonal Battle Pass.”

How to Unlock the Battle Pass

To unlock Battle Pass access, you must progress early main story:

• It unlocks during Chapter 1 of the main quest Heaven Has No Pier, at the sub-quest A Horse Neighs in the Forest.

If you’re new, this is why the pass can feel “missing” for the first hour or two—it’s not bugged; it’s locked behind early onboarding.

Blade Out Battle Pass Volumes (Why There’s More Than One)

• Blade Out – Vol. 1 runs Nov 14 to Dec 11, 2025.
• Blade Out – Vol. 2 runs Dec 12, 2025 to Jan 6, 2026 (confirmed through the Magpie’s Farewell set being available from that current pass window).

This “volume” approach is extremely important: it means your most valuable seasonal cosmetics may rotate mid-season. If you care about a particular outfit set, track the pass window, not just “the season.”

Battle Pass Tiers (Free vs Paid) and What You Really Get

Most players don’t need to spend money to enjoy Blade Out, and NetEase explicitly frames the game as free-to-play with “no pay-to-win mechanics.”

But if you’re trying to understand “what Blade Out means,” you should understand what the premium Battle Pass changes:

Game8 lists three Battle Pass states:

• Default (free track)
• Elite Pass (paid upgrade)
• Collection Pass (higher-tier paid option)

Game8 also notes quality-of-life perks tied to paid tiers, such as:

• Portable Merchant feature
• Extra equipment slot
• Extra relic slot

If you’re under 18, treat any purchase like this as a “family permission” decision—cosmetics and convenience are optional, and you can finish Blade Out content without them.

Battle Pass Tokens and the Battle Pass Shop (The Hidden Value Layer)

One easy-to-miss Blade Out detail: Battle Pass Tokens exist, and the free pass can still generate them.

Game8 explains that Battle Pass Tokens can be obtained from levels 51–80 on the default (free) Battle Pass and are used in the Battle Pass Shop.

Practical meaning:

• If you’re a free player, the “real” Battle Pass value spike often happens later in the track.
• If you’re not going to reach the token levels in time, you may want to prioritize missions early rather than “saving them for later.”

Season Events in Blade Out (The Ones You Should Start Immediately)

Blade Out’s event list is long, but several are structured as “core rails” you should start early because they naturally progress while you play.

Game8’s Season 1 featured events list includes (among others):

Path of the Strong, Know Your Jianghu, Lumina Guide (Kaifeng/Qinghe), Campaign (Kaifeng/Qinghe), Woven with Malice, and Dawn to Dusk.

Below is what each typically means for your priorities—without pretending every account has identical tasks.

Path of the Strong (Season-Long Progress Track)

This event is a classic “keep playing and you’ll complete it” track. Game8 describes it as an event that gives rewards for reaching certain Solo Levels, including a listed outfit set reward (Humble Hero set).

What to do:

• Progress your Solo Mode Level at a healthy pace (don’t stress daily caps—caps still rise even if you don’t hit them every day).
• Treat Path of the Strong as your baseline “account growth” barometer.

Why it matters in Blade Out:

• It’s one of the clearest examples of “season meaning”: you’re being rewarded for simply keeping pace with the season’s intended leveling cadence.

Know Your Jianghu (Onboarding Rewards for Doing Normal Things)

Game8 describes Know Your Jianghu as giving rewards for completing certain activities, and it explicitly mentions rewarding materials like Solacredit and pills.

What to do:

• Use this panel as your “What should I do today?” checklist when you feel overwhelmed.
• Try to stack tasks: one activity should progress Know Your Jianghu + pass missions + campaign/lumina steps whenever possible.

Lumina Guide (Qinghe / Kaifeng)

Game8 lists Lumina Guide as giving rewards for completing certain tasks within Kaifeng and Qinghe, including rewards like the Autumn Orchid set, Solacredits, and other goods.

What to do:

• Use Lumina Guide to keep your exploration purposeful: it’s a guide-rail that pays you for learning the region systems.
• If you’re torn between “story” and “exploration,” Lumina Guide is the compromise: do the guided exploration first, then story.

Campaign (Qinghe / Kaifeng)

Campaign events typically behave like mini-journeys: clear objectives in a region, claim milestone rewards. Game8 lists Campaign tracks for both Qinghe and Kaifeng, rewarding Solacredits and various supplies.

What to do:

• Don’t hoard campaigns until the end of the season. Campaign tasks often overlap with your “natural play,” so the sooner they’re active, the more “free progress” you’ll get.

Woven with Malice (Time-Limited Story/Task Panel)

Game8 lists Woven with Malice as a seasonal event with a defined window and rewards.

What to do:

• If Woven with Malice is active on your account right now, open it and scan the tasks. It’s usually better to do “weird specific tasks” early while you’re still roaming the right areas, rather than trying to force them later when you’re in a different region mindset.

Dawn to Dusk (27-Day Login, With Catch-Up Mechanics)

Game8 describes Dawn to Dusk as a 27-day login event, and mentions a catch-up mechanic: you can get one makeup sign-in attempt by completing Online Mode tasks such as co-op, dungeons, or other online activities.

What to do:

• Log in even on busy days: claim and leave.
• If you miss a day, don’t panic—use the makeup attempt route.

Why it matters:

• Dawn to Dusk is a perfect example of Blade Out’s philosophy: the season rewards consistency more than marathon sessions.

Limited-Time Blade Out Events (These Are the “Don’t Miss” Windows)

Some Blade Out events run for the whole season, but others are short. Game8’s event schedule highlights limited-time panels like Magpie Branch, Growth Benefits, The Great Faceologist, and Thaw of Eons with specific windows.

If you want the simplest priority rule:

• If an event has an end date within days/weeks, do it first.
• Season-long tracks can be filled in later.

Magpie Branch and Growth Benefits (Early-Season Boosters)

Game8 lists Magpie Branch (Nov 14–Dec 5) and Growth Benefits (Nov 14–Nov 28), both framed as “complete daily quests / certain quests to get gifts.”

What “it means” for Blade Out:

• These are season onboarding accelerators. Blade Out wants your account to ramp smoothly into the mid-season content. These are your “free push” events.

Practical tip:

• When an event says “daily quests,” it’s telling you to sync your playtime to the reset. Check your daily reset time and aim to do the easiest dailies before it hits.

The Great Faceologist (Dec 11–Jan 3)

Game8’s schedule lists The Great Faceologist as a limited-time event (Dec 11 to Jan 3).

Game8’s roadmap also describes it as a time-limited event that released globally on December 11, 2025.

What to do:

• Treat it like a “do it while it exists” panel. Even if you don’t love the activity, time-limited events often pay better than evergreen content.

Thaw of Eons (Dec 11–Jan 3)

Thaw of Eons is one of the most meaningful Blade Out event clusters because it includes sub-activities and a unique event currency path.

Game8 lists Thaw of Eons as a limited-time event (Dec 11–Jan 3).

Game8’s roadmap also confirms it released globally on December 11, 2025.

Even better: Game8 provides a detailed guide for the sub-event Fortune Beyond Parlor.

Fortune Beyond Parlor (Thaw of Eons Sub-Event) Explained Simply

According to Game8, Fortune Beyond Parlor is a time-limited multiplayer activity under Thaw of Eons. It features a card mini-game where you complete weekly/event quests to generate Lucky Money.

Game8’s “How to play” breakdown contains several practical mechanics worth knowing:

• You access it via Events → Thaw of Eons → Fortune Beyond Parlor.
• You can find a match, enable cross-server matchmaking, or choose solo play (as listed in their steps).
• Each round has a concept of a “safe card.” Game8 recommends tracking the safe card because opponents can challenge you after your turn; playing a non-safe card triggers a penalty (their guide describes “drinking Everjoy Brew as punishment”).
• You can challenge other players if you think they played a non-safe card; if you’re wrong, you take the punishment instead.
• Game8 warns to avoid accumulating too many “drink attempts,” implying you can be knocked out quickly by losing challenges.

What to do (strategy, no guessing):

• Play it safe early until you understand the table flow.
• Challenge only when you’re confident (especially after watching card counts and player behavior, as Game8 suggests).

What it means for Blade Out:

• Blade Out isn’t just combat and parries. The season includes social/mini-game content that still feeds progression via event currencies.

Fresh Wind, New Year (Lunar New Year Event Inside Blade Out)

Game8’s roadmap lists Fresh Wind, New Year as a special event celebrating Lunar New Year, running Dec 11, 2025 to Jan 3, 2026.

This matters because it shows the season is designed like a calendar:

• Major patch/event drops (Dec 11)
• Holiday-themed limited event window (Dec 11–Jan 3)
• Battle Pass volume rotation (Vol. 2 begins Dec 12)

Blade Out, in other words, is intentionally busy around mid-December.

Major Blade Out Update Example: Roaring Sands, New Bosses, and Velvet Shade

One of the easiest ways to understand “what Blade Out means” is to see how the season includes real content drops—not just chores.

NetEase’s December 12 announcement about the mobile launch also states:

• A new area in Kaifeng, Roaring Sands, is unlocked
• It introduces new storyline/challenges and bosses
• A new Sect, Velvet Shade, is added beginning Dec 14

Game8’s Update 1.1 patch notes similarly frame the update as a major content drop in Kaifeng with new activities and content (and it lists the update time as Dec 11, 2025 at 21:00 UTC).

What it means:

• Seasons in Where Winds Meet aren’t only “events and cosmetics.” Blade Out includes “real map and boss growth,” and your seasonal playtime can directly prepare you for those new fights and challenges.

Cross-Play and Cross-Progression (Why Blade Out Progress Isn’t “Platform-Locked”)

NetEase’s launch messaging specifically calls out full cross-play and cross-progression support for the global release.

Their mobile announcements reinforce cross-play/cross-progression as the mobile version arrives.

What it means for Blade Out:

• You can treat seasonal progression as “account progression,” not “PC progression” or “PS5 progression,” as long as your account linking is set up correctly.
• For time-limited events, this matters: you can keep your streaks alive even if you switch devices during travel or busy weeks.

The “Best Priorities” Checklist for Blade Out (Minimal Stress, Maximum Rewards)

If you want one clean plan that works for most players:

1. Unlock the Battle Pass (Chapter 1 → A Horse Neighs in the Forest).
2. Open the Season event page and pin the limited-time events (Thaw of Eons, Great Faceologist, Fresh Wind New Year, etc.).
3. Play around the reset timer so you don’t waste daily progress opportunities (Game8: 4 PM EST / 9 PM UTC).
4. Do at least one “progress rail” panel daily (Know Your Jianghu / Lumina Guide / Campaign).
5. Treat the login panel as sacred (Dawn to Dusk), then stop if you’re not in the mood.
6. When a Battle Pass volume is about to end, prioritize any remaining “big XP” missions so you don’t lose out on token levels and cosmetics.

If You Started Late: Can You Still “Finish” Blade Out?

Yes—because “finishing Blade Out” doesn’t mean a single thing.

There are three different “completion goals,” and you can pick the one that fits your schedule:

• Season completion: experience the season’s featured events while they’re live and grab the easy milestones.
• Battle Pass volume completion: finish the current volume’s track before it ends (Vol. 1 ended Dec 11; Vol. 2 ends Jan 6).
• Account readiness: reach comfortable Solo Mode Level progress while respecting daily caps (caps rise even if you miss days).

Late-start rule:

• Don’t chase everything. Chase limited windows first, then fill season-long panels later.

What Likely Changes When Blade Out Ends (And What Usually Doesn’t)

Every live-service season has two categories: “rotating” and “persistent.” Where Winds Meet is still early globally, so the safest approach is to rely on what’s explicitly stated and treat anything else as “expected live-service behavior.”

What we can say confidently from official/structured sources:

• Seasons are intended to rotate as a format (“themed seasons”), and Blade Out is the first.
• The next season timing is listed on the event schedule page as starting when Blade Out ends (Feb 6, 2026).
• Battle Pass content is volume-timed (Vol. 1 ends Dec 11; Vol. 2 ends Jan 6).

What you should assume (practical expectation, not a promise):

• Limited-time event panels will disappear or stop awarding after their end dates.
• Battle Pass volume cosmetics usually rotate out when the volume ends.
• Your character progress, gear, and story completion should remain (this would be extremely unusual to “reset” in this style of RPG).

Best practice:

• If you care about a reward, act like it’s leaving—because timed reward tracks usually do.

BoostRoom Tip: How to Catch Up in Blade Out Without Burning Out

If you want Blade Out rewards but your schedule is tight, the key is efficient stacking:

• Choose one region goal (Qinghe or Kaifeng) and let Lumina Guide + Campaign drive what you do there.
• Pair that with the Battle Pass daily/weekly quests, since those overlap with normal gameplay and reset with the server.
• Add one limited-time event session (like Fortune Beyond Parlor) if it’s active—because those windows close.

If you want a faster, more organized route, BoostRoom can help you plan a Blade Out catch-up path (story checkpoints, boss readiness, co-op progression, and Battle Pass pacing) so your playtime goes into rewards—not into menu confusion.

FAQ

Does “Blade Out” mean the game is pay-to-win now?

No. NetEase explicitly states the game is free-to-play and “promises no pay-to-win mechanics,” while still offering Battle Pass tiers for cosmetics and convenience features.

When does Season 1 Blade Out end?

The event schedule page lists Blade Out ending February 6, 2026, with the next season starting the same day.

Why did my Battle Pass end if the season is still going?

Because Battle Pass runs in volumes inside the season. Vol. 1 ran Nov 14–Dec 11, and Vol. 2 is listed as Dec 12–Jan 6.

What’s the daily reset time for Blade Out tasks?

Game8 documents daily reset at 4:00 PM EST / 9:00 PM UTC, and notes daily/weekly activities reset along with the server.

What is Fortune Beyond Parlor and why is everyone playing it?

It’s a time-limited mini-game under Thaw of Eons with matchmaking/solo options, where you play a “safe card” guessing/challenge card game and earn event progression like Lucky Money.

Do I have to reach the level cap every day?

No—Game8 notes the cap rises daily even if you don’t hit the max that day.