How to beat Dalang in Where Winds Meet

To defeat Dalang, one of the first real difficulty spikes in Where Winds Meet, you’ll need to observe carefully, dodge at the right moment, and exploit every opening. This fight happens in Chapter 1 during “A Horse Neighs in the Forest”, and it pits you against a boss who doesn’t mess around, especially on Moon-Veil Mountain.

The fight unfolds in multiple phases. At the start, you’re not fighting Dalang alone: his Owner stays in the back and can poison the boss if you position Dalang between the two of you. The poison makes a huge difference, so always try to keep the boss aligned with the handler; you chip away at his HP effortlessly, making the phase much easier. Once this segment is over, Dalang switches to a pure 1v1, and that’s where the real challenge begins. He chains devastating hoof strikes, fast charges, and heavy attacks that require clean timing to parry. Your goal is to break his Qi bar to stagger him and deal massive burst damage.

Dalang has a pretty wide attack set. When he uses Heavenly Horse, he jumps into the air before slamming the ground multiple times: either you parry each impact at the right moment or you dodge everything to avoid getting crushed. With Dalang Stomp, he unleashes four stomps that create shockwaves on the ground. Again, you can parry or dodge depending on your preference: just don’t stand still. Dalang Charge is an extremely fast dash, so dodge sideways if you want to stay alive. Other moves like Double Mare, Headbutt, Baji Quan, Gold Ship, and Horse-nado are variations of combos you must anticipate by watching his animations carefully. Well-timed parries make all the difference.

To make your life easier, use the Nameless Sword or the Nameless Spear. Both offer great reach and speed that match the rhythm of the fight perfectly. The Cloud Steps technique is ideal for dodging Dalang’s charges and staying mobile at all times. Red attacks can be countered with a perfect counter: if your timing is precise, you’ll unleash huge punishment and often break his Qi bar instantly.

Only strike after his combos, when he’s vulnerable. When he enters his rage phase, switch to a more defensive approach: he becomes more unpredictable, and mistakes hurt a lot more. The terrain also matters. Stay in an open area, avoid corners where the camera betrays you, and keep an eye on the Owner during phase one to exploit the poison for as long as possible.

Before starting the fight, prepare properly. Upgrade your gear so you have at least one epic piece, set up your Internal Arts to maximize resistance and damage, and manage your Qi bar perfectly. If you break it at the right moment, you’ll stagger Dalang and freely unload everything you’ve got.