Madiao Cards Guide - Where Winds Meet

Madiao fits naturally into Where Winds Meet’s open-world social activities, giving you a quick but strategic diversion during your travels. You’ll encounter it in many lively hubs, and once you learn its rhythm, you can win reliably even against tougher NPC opponents.

Location of Madiao Cards in WWM

Madiao tables appear across multiple settlements and travel points. You’ll most reliably find them in taverns and inns, especially:

Windtail Lounge in Kaifeng
Li Pieran in Qinghe near Blissful Retreat

What is the Madiao Cards mini game

Madiao is adapted from the real historical Chinese card game of the same name, designed around bluffing and risk-taking. In Where Winds Meet, it functions as a fast, competitive mini-game where you rely not only on the cards you hold but on how convincingly you can deceive opponents.

A match works like this:

Enter any tavern or inn featuring a card icon on your map and choose to sit at the Madiao table.

One player starts the round with the “One Coin” and chooses a number to declare, for example, “7.”

Every player must then declare that same number, but they may play any cards they want. Bluffing is always allowed. Other players can challenge a declaration if they believe it is a bluff.

The outcome of the challenge determines penalties:

If the challenged player lied, they are penalized (lose cards or get closer to elimination).
If they were truthful, the challenger is penalized instead.

Whoever wins a challenge gains control of the next declared number, which is a huge tactical advantage.

You win either by emptying your hand or eliminating all other players through successful challenges. The system rewards steady nerves and careful observation more than luck.

Expected rewards

Echo Jade
Kaifeng Exploration
EXP
Coins
Career Skill points (used to get attributes for Lucky Break skill)

Madiao Cards strategy

Bluffing early to set the tone

NPCs challenge less in the first round. This is your opportunity to build momentum by bluffing confidently.

Mixing honesty with deception

Wildcards (often called “Yellow Cards”) make it easy to fake strong plays. Use them to create doubt, then switch back to truth when opponents expect lies.

Gaining control of the declaration cycle

Declaring the next number lets you decide which card ranges become risky or safe. Maintain this advantage whenever possible.

Tracking played cards

The more cards that hit the table, the easier it is to judge whether someone is bluffing. Use probability to make informed challenges instead of emotional guesses.

Playing conservatively when ahead

If you are close to emptying your hand, avoid unnecessary challenges. Let opponents make mistakes while you close out quietly.

Once you balance probability with psychological play, matches become both faster and more rewarding. Use each venue as a learning ground, and soon you’ll treat Madiao less like a gamble and more like an art.