Elder Gongsun is one of the most challenging early-game opponents in Where Winds Meet. He may look calm and harmless at first, but the moment the fight starts, he becomes a fast, highly technical martial artist with long combos, heavy-hitting strikes, and tricky special abilities. Many players struggle with him because the duel demands patience, timing, and proper stamina management. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to beat Elder Gongsun, from understanding his moves to punishing his weak points, all written in clear and easy-to-read English.
You can find Elder Gongsun in the General’s Shrine, located in the northwest part of the Verdant Wilds. This duel triggers during the “More Than Meets the Eye” encounter. Once you speak to him and choose to challenge him, the fight begins immediately. There is no warm-up time, so prepare your skills and stamina beforehand.
Understand Elder Gongsun’s Attack Patterns
To win this duel, you must recognize the two main combo chains he relies on:
1. The Kick Combo
This starts with a sudden kick and flows into a long chain of strikes. The biggest mistake players make is trying to parry every hit. The better approach is to use your triple jump to avoid this combo entirely. Once he finishes the chain, he pauses briefly, which gives you time to land a clean punish.
2. The Palm Shove and Lotus Combo
This combo begins with a forward shove that knocks you off balance. Elder Gongsun then floats in a lotus pose before unleashing a sequence of palm strikes, a jumping axe kick, and finally a glowing red palm attack. The red-glow strike is your opening. It is slow, predictable, and easy to parry. If you parry it successfully, you get a large window to deal damage safely.
Recognizing which combo he is about to use makes the duel dramatically easier.
Use the Right Skills
Certain skills are especially effective against Elder Gongsun. Make sure you equip the following:
- Shadow Step
Use the wave slash at long range to break his stance, then follow up immediately with the close-range strike. For some reason, Elder Gongsun does not dodge the follow-up, making this one of the safest damage options. - Daunting Strike
Use this skill to interrupt him when he tries to recover his Qi (stamina). Letting him recover too much will make his attacks faster and harder to counter. - Triple Jump
This is your best defensive tool. It helps you avoid his long kick combo and allows you to reposition safely.
How to Approach the Fight
The Opening Phase
At the start of the duel, hit him once or twice to provoke him. Elder Gongsun usually does not attack aggressively until you strike first. After this, pay attention to his first combo. If he opens with a kick, jump away and wait it out. If he opens with the palm shove, prepare to parry the final glowing strike.
Punish Only When It’s Safe
The key to beating him is discipline. Do not try to attack after every block or dodge. Elder Gongsun recovers quickly, and greedy players often get caught in his counterattacks. A safe punish window usually appears after:
- His lotus-pose chain
- His red-glow palm strike
- His Qi recovery interruption
- His long kick combo ending
Stick to two or three hits, then retreat.
Interrupt His Qi Recovery
Every so often, Elder Gongsun stops fighting and enters a meditative stance to regain Qi. This is your moment to strike hard. Use Shadow Step or Daunting Strike to break his recovery. If you interrupt him consistently:
- His attack speed stays manageable
- He becomes easier to stagger
- The fight becomes significantly shorter
If you let him recover multiple times, the duel becomes extremely difficult.
