- What to know
- How to plan your spending without slowing your current progress
- How to set your season shop priorities for weekly resets
- How to stockpile tuning fuel the smart way
- Locations involved
- How to pre-farm crafting materials for level 86 bows and thumb rings
- Be ready for level 86 costs, not just the crafts
What to know
- Do not blow all your coins perfecting level 81 gear rolls when level 86 is about a month away
- Buy weekly season shop essentials that will still matter at the next milestone
- Save all-tier tuning stones for level 86 and beyond, and avoid spending them on level 81
- Pre-farm the consistent bow and thumb ring materials now, and plan for one new region material later
In Where Winds Meet, Level 81 gear is still worth progressing, but level 86 is the next real checkpoint and it can catch you off guard if you overspend. If you keep a simple prep routine now, you will be able to craft and tune faster on day one, especially if you are aiming for legendary results on the new bow and thumb ring crafts.
| Prep area | What you do now | Why it matters at 86 |
|---|---|---|
| Coins | Keep a healthy stash, avoid draining it chasing perfect level 81 rolls | Crafting, tuning, upgrading, and repairs get more expensive |
| Season shop weekly reset | Stock up on key weekly items, and keep some currency ready for when the shop updates for 86 | Lets you enhance and progress immediately |
| Enhancing resource | Keep buying Howling Ore Falcon weekly | Still needed for the next milestone of enhancing |
| Tuning stones | Save all-tier tuning stones, spend tier-specific stones on current gear instead | All-tier stones work for level 86 and onward, tier stones become obsolete later |
| Bow crafting mats | Gather timber and beef tendon now | These stay consistent across bow tiers, so you can pre-stock |
| Thumb ring mats | Gather raw ore now | Raw ore stays consistent in thumb ring crafting |
| The unknown material | Leave space for a new region-based material | One ingredient changes and comes from the next region |
How to plan your spending without slowing your current progress
You can keep upgrading your level 81 set, but treat it like time-sensitive gear. The practical move is to keep progressing while avoiding expensive, coin-heavy perfection attempts on every slot, because those coins will be needed the moment level 86 tuning and upgrades open.
How to set your season shop priorities for weekly resets
Step 1: Buy Howling Ore Falcon every week
This is a key enhancement resource and will continue to matter at the next milestone, so you want a growing stockpile instead of scrambling later.
Step 2: Use stamina with coin prep in mind
Coins are needed across the board: enhancing, tuning level 86 gear, and all the usual upgrade costs. Make stamina choices that help you build and maintain coin reserves so you are not stuck waiting when level 86 lands.
Step 3: Pick up weekly jade fish when it fits your routine
Jade fish helps you complete guild quests, and if you do not enjoy open-world gathering you can also purchase them instead. If you are still actively gearing at 81, it is fine to spend some here, but try to keep a cushion so you can react when the shop rotates to level 86-oriented items.
Step 4: Spend tier-81-only resources freely
If a resource is specifically tied to tier 81 gear, you do not need to hoard it for level 86. Use it now to strengthen your current setup, since level 86 will come with its own new resource path for similar upgrades.
How to stockpile tuning fuel the smart way
Step 1: Identify the all-tier tuning stone and start saving it
There is a general tuning stone type that can be used as fuel when tuning gear for all tiers, including level 86 and beyond. These are the ones you want to accumulate over time.
Step 2: Check event menus and event shops for more sources
One source is the fireworks festival in online mode, but there can be other event-based opportunities too. Make it a habit to scan the events menu because some shops quietly include these stones.
Step 3: Do not spend all-tier stones on your level 81 set
For current tuning, use tier-specific tuning stones for level 81 instead. The all-tier stones are more valuable later, while tier-81 stones will eventually lose value when you move into the next tier.
Locations involved
Right now, your main farming happens in the open world for timber and raw ore, plus any activities you already do for beef tendon such as running forts; the one material you cannot pre-farm is a region-based ingredient that comes from the new region arriving next month.
How to pre-farm crafting materials for level 86 bows and thumb rings
Step 1: Stock timber for bow crafting
Timber shows up as a consistent ingredient across bow tiers, so chopping trees now is efficient preparation.
Step 2: Stock beef tendon for bow crafting
Beef tendon is another consistent bow ingredient that you can gather ahead of time. You do not need to overdo it, just keep a decent stack so you can immediately start crafting when level 86 opens.
Step 3: Do not stress about the changing middle bow ingredient
One ingredient slot changes as bow tiers go up, and for level 86 it is tied to a specific region-based material in the upcoming region. You cannot fully prepare that part today, so focus on what you can control.
Step 4: Stock raw ore for thumb rings
Raw ore is consistently used in thumb ring crafting. If you want a simple head start, gather it in the open world or pick up cheap raw ore so you are ready on unlock.
Step 5: Plan your day-one crafting goal
When level 86 arrives, you want enough coins and materials to immediately craft bows and thumb rings and try for legendary outcomes. Your preparation is basically about getting more attempts sooner, without pausing for farming or gold recovery.
Be ready for level 86 costs, not just the crafts
Higher level gear increases repair costs, upgrade costs, and the overall coin demand. The upcoming region should also bring more treasure chests and quests you can run for income, but you will still feel far better if you enter level 86 with a coin stash and you have not overspent chasing short-term perfection on level 81 gear.
If you keep your coins under control, buy the right weekly shop items, save all-tier tuning stones, and pre-farm timber, beef tendon, and raw ore, you will be positioned to craft and tune quickly when level 86 lands without sacrificing your current level 81 progress.
