In the new Chinese release Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, you’ve likely met your end thanks to Despair and probably without even realizing what hit you. It’s not like Burn or Poison where the health slowly ticks down. Despair builds silently and quickly and once that meter fills, it means instant death.
This guide tells exactly what Despair is, how to spot it early, and how to remove it effectively so it doesn’t ruin your run, mainly in mid to late-game areas where it becomes a real threat.
What is Despair and What Causes this Malady?
Despair is a status ailment that works like a death timer. Once the red-purple ring fills around its symbol, you’re done. It doesn’t drain health or limit stamina; it just builds, and when it’s full, you instantly die. It affects Wuchang in many areas, including Snowy Passage tunnels, Avian Marsh caverns, and Zhenwu Temple pavilions
The scary part is how subtle it is. The UI gives you a small icon with a faint ring buildup, easy to miss mid-fight, and before you know it, you’re back at the last shrine.
There are many enemies and environmental hazards that trigger it, including:
- Crimson Veins (Crystal Ores): You’ll see glowing pink crystals lodged in cave walls. Just walking near them starts building Despair. They usually are in tight corridors, forcing you to either detour or speed through.
- Lantern-Wielding Monks: These monks carry lanterns that emit a pink glow. The longer you’re near them, the faster Despair builds. The problem is, they’re usually paired with other enemies. You might be in the middle of dodging a Decayed Dog, and suddenly Despair kills you.
- Other Corrupted Enemies: Skeleton summons and infected wildlife can also add to the buildup. Sometimes it’s not obvious which enemy is triggering it, so if you’re in a hot zone and see that icon, don’t ignore it.
How to Cure Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Despair
Mind Lotus Seed
It immediately removes Despair buildup and cures the status if it’s already active. You can carry five in your quick-use slots, and more get stored in your global inventory. When you visit a shrine, extras automatically move to your active supply.
Where to find them:
- Commonly found in Zhenwu Forest
- Rare drops in earlier zones
- Purchasable from Wu Gang for 160 Red Mercury
The price is high, but it’s better than dying instantly. Always have at least 2–3 on you before heading into zones with Despair triggers.
Cornucopia Elixir
When out of Mind Lotus Seeds, this all-in-one elixir works too. It cures most status effects, including Despair, but is harder to come by and more expensive to purchase.
Despair Resistance Armor
There’s a way to delay Despair buildup, and that’s through its resistance gear.
Palace Maid Armor Set
This is the best armor set for Despair resistance (238 points total). You can get it early by defeating the first boss at Tang Palace. Equip all four pieces to reduce how fast the Despair meter fills, giving you more time to react and heal. Other armors can offer limited resistance, but the Palace Maid set gives the most value for early to mid-game progression, especially before heading to locations like Avian Marsh or Zhenwu Temple.
Tip: Fixed Origin Pill is a consumable that increases resistance to all status effects temporarily. It doesn’t remove Despair, but it slows down the buildup. Equip it before visiting the Despair-heavy areas as an alternative to Mind Lotus Seeds.
How to Farm Red Mercury
Since Mind Lotus Seeds are expensive, you’ll want Red Mercury to buy them regularly. The easiest early-game method is to:
- Unlock Bandit Cave Shrine (post-Shu Sanctum)
- Kill the nearby Bandit (50 Mercury)
- Kill the Feathered Enemy (400 Mercury)
- Rest at the shrine to reset and repeat the same farming process
This gives you a reliable 450+ Mercury per loop, enough to buy a steady supply of anti-Despair items.
Despair is deadly, but manageable once you understand it. If you explore Despair-infested areas without prep, it will cost you progress. So keep Mind Lotus Seeds with you, equip high resistance armor, and regularly watch for the icon. If you catch it early and act fast, you’ll never have to worry about the surprise “Game Over” again.
