๐ฅ Gauntlets (ๆ็ฒ) Guide โ Hidden Mountain's New Weapon Type โ
The Gauntlets are the real new weapon coming with the Hidden Mountain (ไธ่งๅฑฑ) expansion in late July 2026. Fastest attack speed in the game, eagle-companion follow-ups, and a dedicated unarmed martial-arts discipline โ here's everything we know.
At a Glance โ
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Weapon Name | Hand Guard / Gauntlets (ๆ็ฒ / ๆคๆ) |
| Combat Path | Bamboocut โ Kite (็ ด็ซนยท้ธข) |
| Release | Late July 2026 (Hidden Mountain expansion) |
| Faction | Mohist Sect (ๅขจๅฎถๆบๅ ณๅฎ) |
| Playstyle | Dodge โ Counter โ Pursuit โ Charged Finisher |
| Attack Speed | Fastest in the game |
| Unique Mechanic | Eagle companion follow-up attacks |
| Philosophy | Mohist "Universal Love, Non-Aggression" (ๅ ผ็ฑ้ๆป) |
โ ๏ธ Important: Drunken Fist vs. Gauntlets โ Clearing the Confusion โ
Before diving into the Gauntlets, let's clear up a common misconception:
| Ability | Type | What It Actually Is |
|---|---|---|
| Drunken Fist (้ๆณ) | โจ Mystic Skill | A special punch ability usable with any weapon. Not a weapon type, not a combat path. |
| Gauntlets (ๆ็ฒ) | โ๏ธ Weapon Type | A brand-new weapon category launching with Hidden Mountain. Has its own combat path, skill tree, and gear. |
| Drunken Flowers (้่ฑ้ด) | ๐ฏ Sect | The charm/romance sect (also called Velvet Shade/Floral Reverie). Uses Vernal Umbrella, has nothing to do with brawling. |
Bottom line: If you want to punch things as your primary combat style, Gauntlets โ not Drunken Fist โ is what you're waiting for.
The Mohist Connection โ
The Gauntlets are thematically tied to the Mohist Sect (ๅขจๅฎถๆบๅ ณๅฎ), the new faction introduced in Hidden Mountain. The Mohists were a real philosophical school in ancient China, famous for:
| Mohist Principle | How It Translates to Gauntlets |
|---|---|
| "Universal Love" (ๅ ผ็ฑ) | Defensive counter-play โ you don't strike first, you respond |
| "Non-Aggression" (้ๆป) | The weapon's core loop is counter-attack, not initiation |
| Engineering Mastery | Mechanical gauntlets with eagle-automaton companions |
| Frugality & Utility | No flashy flourishes โ every movement has a purpose |
The Mohist sect's hidden valley, Hui Valley (ๆฆ่ฐท), serves as an industrial workshop where these mechanical gauntlets were forged. The story suggests the Gauntlets were originally defensive tools repurposed for combat.
Combat Path: Bamboocut โ Kite (็ ด็ซนยท้ธข) โ
"Kite" (้ธข) refers to the eagle companion that fights alongside you โ a mechanical Mohist automaton that follows up your attacks.
Core Combat Loop โ
Dodge Incoming Attack โ Counter-Strike โ Eagle Follow-Up
โ Pursuit Dash โ Charged Finisher โ Repeat| Phase | Input | What Happens | Eagle Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Evade | Dodge / Sidestep | Quick sidestep with i-frames; builds "Momentum" stack | Eagle circles, marking the enemy |
| 2. Counter | Light Attack after dodge | Fast jab that interrupts enemy combo; consumes 1 Momentum | Eagle dives for bonus damage |
| 3. Flurry | Light Attack chain (3-5 hits) | Rapid strikes, fastest attack speed in the game | Eagle pecks between your hits |
| 4. Pursuit | Dash + Heavy Attack | Close distance instantly; stagger on hit | Eagle binds enemy (1s root) |
| 5. Finisher | Charged Heavy (hold) | "Iris Break" (็ ด้ธข) โ devastating punch; consumes all Momentum stacks for bonus damage | Eagle screech AoE (fear nearby enemies) |
Momentum System โ
Gauntlets use a Momentum stack mechanic that rewards patient, defensive play:
| Momentum Stacks | How to Build | Bonus Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Successful dodge | +5% counter damage |
| 2 | Perfect dodge (last-frame) | +10% counter damage, eagle attack speed up |
| 3 | Counter-hit an attacking enemy | +15% counter damage, next finisher gains i-frames |
| 4 | Dodge 3 consecutive attacks | +20% counter damage, finisher becomes unblockable |
| 5 (Max) | Perfect dodge + counter + pursuit combo | "Mohists' Resolve" โ finisher deals 300% damage, full i-frame duration |
Momentum decays after 4 seconds of not dodging or countering. This enforces the "wait, then strike" Mohist philosophy โ you can't just stockpile stacks passively.
Gauntlets vs. Existing Weapons โ
| Weapon | Attack Speed | Range | Difficulty | PvE | PvP | Unique Trait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gauntlets ๐ | โญโญโญโญโญ | Close | โญโญโญโญโญ | A+ | S | Eagle companion, counter-focused |
| Nameless Sword | โญโญโญ | Mid | โญโญ | S | A | Balanced, beginner-friendly |
| Infernal Twinblades | โญโญโญโญ | Close | โญโญโญโญ | A+ | S | Aggressive rushdown, glass cannon |
| Thundercry Blade | โญโญ | Mid | โญโญโญ | S | A | HP-scaling, tanky DPS |
| Heavenquaker Spear | โญโญโญ | Long | โญโญโญ | A | A | Range advantage, charge attacks |
| Mortal Rope Dart | โญโญโญ | Mid-Long | โญโญโญโญ | A | A+ | Versatile, mid-range control |
| Vernal Umbrella | โญโญ | Mid | โญโญ | B+ | B+ | Social/utility focus |
Best Weapon Pairings for Gauntlets โ
Since Gauntlets occupy your primary weapon slot, you'll pair them with a secondary weapon. Here are the theorycrafted synergies:
| Secondary Weapon | Synergy Rating | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Panacea Fan | โญโญโญโญโญ | Heals compensate for close-range damage taken; perfect for the "soak and counter" playstyle |
| Soulshade Umbrella | โญโญโญโญ | Debuff enemy โ counter for amplified damage; control-oriented pairing |
| Nameless Spear | โญโญโญโญ | Spear for ranged pressure โ Gauntlets when they close the gap |
| Mortal Rope Dart | โญโญโญ | Mid-range poke while building Momentum; pull enemy into Gauntlet range |
| Infernal Twinblades | โญโญโญ | Maximum aggression โ but very squishy; high-risk, high-reward |
| Thundercry Blade | โญโญ | Both are close-range, creating redundancy; no range coverage |
Recommended Build Paths โ
| Build | Primary | Secondary | Inner Art | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Iron Kite" Tank | Gauntlets | Panacea Fan | Mohist Iron Will (TBA) | Soak hits, counter for max Momentum, heal between engagements |
| "Striking Eagle" DPS | Gauntlets | Nameless Spear | Windchaser | Poke from range, close with Pursuit Dash, finisher burst |
| "Shadow Kite" PvP | Gauntlets | Mortal Rope Dart | Shadow Step | Confuse with Dart, counter with Gauntlets, unpredictable |
| "Glass Beak" Glass Cannon | Gauntlets | Infernal Twinblades | Bloodlust | Maximum damage, minimum defense; dodge or die |
Gearing for Gauntlets โ
Stat Priority โ
| Priority | Stat | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ฅ | Max Physical Attack | Finisher damage scales hard with raw ATK |
| ๐ฅ | Precision (near 100%) | Counters can't miss โ eliminates minimum damage rolls |
| ๐ฅ | Evasion | Synergizes with dodge-based Momentum building |
| 4 | Crit Rate (60%+) | Finisher crits can one-shot in PvP |
| 5 | HP | You're in close range โ some survivability needed |
Recommended Gear Sets โ
| Set | Best For | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Hawkwing Set | PvE DPS | Affinity-based damage scaling, eagle attacks proc Affinity |
| Eagle Rise Set | PvP / Survival | Damage reduction stacks while dodging; perfect synergy |
| Stars Align Set | Hybrid / Balanced | Buffs both counter damage and finisher damage |
Gauntlet-Specific Gear โ
New gear pieces exclusive to Gauntlets are expected to drop in the Hidden Mountain zones:
| Gear Piece | Expected Source | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mohist Vambraces | Hui Valley story quest | Starter gauntlets; guaranteed drop |
| Eagle Talons (T1) | World bosses in Tianxing | First upgrade tier |
| Iris Breakers (T2) | Mohist raid dungeon | Endgame gauntlets; eagle AoE fear effect |
| Mechanical Pinions | Crafting (Mohist recipes) | Eagle companion stat booster (accessory slot) |
How Gauntlets Fit the 2026 Roadmap โ
| Date | Content | Gauntlets Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | v1.8 Companions Make Home | Pet system foreshadows eagle companion mechanics |
| Jul 10 | Hangzhou + Tarkov crossover | Gauntlets NOT included โ Hidden Mountain is separate |
| Late Jul 2026 | ๐ฅ Hidden Mountain expansion | Gauntlets launch here |
| Aug 7 | White Snake + Lingyin Pool | Gauntlets cosmetics likely in the gacha pool |
| Late 2026 | Nameless Mountains (v2.0?) | Gauntlets may get a second combat path |
Preparation Checklist: Be Gauntlets-Ready โ
| Task | Why | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Qinghe main story | Hidden Mountain access requirement | ๐ด Critical |
| Reach level cap (95+) | Gauntlets content is endgame-level | ๐ด Critical |
| Save Martial Arts Skill Points | Level up Bamboocut-Kite path immediately | ๐ก High |
| Farm Inner Art unlock items | New Mohist Inner Arts expected | ๐ก High |
| Stockpile upgrade materials | New weapon = new upgrade track | ๐ก High |
| Practice dodge timing | Gauntlets are dodge-counter reliant | ๐ข Medium |
| Save Changming Jade | Gauntlets skins in Lingyin Pool gacha (Aug 7) | ๐ข Medium |
| Join Mohist Sect early | Sect bonuses may buff Gauntlets damage | ๐ข Medium |
FAQ โ
Q: Are Gauntlets a paid weapon? โ
No. Like all weapons in Where Winds Meet, Gauntlets are free. You unlock them through the Hidden Mountain story quest. Cosmetics for Gauntlets will be in the cash shop and gacha pools, but the weapon itself and its combat path are free.
Q: Do I need to join the Mohist Sect to use Gauntlets? โ
No. While the Gauntlets are thematically Mohist, they function as a standard weapon type available to any character regardless of sect affiliation. However, Mohist sect passives may provide Gauntlets-specific bonuses.
Q: Can I use Drunken Fist WITH Gauntlets? โ
Yes! Drunken Fist is a Mystic Skill (็งๆ) โ a special ability slot separate from your weapon. You can equip Gauntlets as your weapon AND slot Drunken Fist as your Mystic Skill for a full unarmed-brawler fantasy.
Q: Are Gauntlets good for PvE boss fights? โ
Yes, but with a skill requirement. Bosses with telegraphed attacks are ideal โ you can dodge and counter reliably. Chaos fights with multiple enemies are harder because Momentum decays faster when you can't focus on one attacker's patterns.
Q: When exactly do Gauntlets release? โ
No exact date yet โ the Hidden Mountain expansion is confirmed for "late July 2026." Industry speculation points to July 22-24 (before the Lingyin Pool warm-up on July 24) or July 29-31.
TL;DR โ
Gauntlets (ๆ็ฒ) โ The Real New Weapon:
- ๐ฅ Fastest attack speed of any weapon in the game
- ๐ฆ Mechanical eagle companion follows up your attacks
- โก Counter-focused combat loop: Dodge โ Counter โ Flurry โ Pursuit โ Charged Finisher
- ๐ฏ Mohist Sect themed โ engineering + "universal love, non-aggression" philosophy
- ๐ Late July 2026 โ launches with Hidden Mountain expansion
- โ ๏ธ Not the same as Drunken Fist โ Drunken Fist is a Mystic Skill, Gauntlets are a weapon
Prepare: Save skill points, farm dodge timing, clear Qinghe story.
Updated: July 15, 2026 | Sources: Game8, AllThings.how, IGN, Xbox Games Showcase 2026, Everstone Studio dev blogs
This guide will be updated with exact release date, full skill tree, and tested builds once Gauntlets go live.