At some point in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, you’ll come across a glowing red door with a riddle and two choices: Winged Ascension or Feathered Transcendence. The game doesn’t explain much, but what you choose here impacts the rewards you get and even affects some characters and outcomes later on. To get the valuable loot, avoid missing rare materials, or if you simply want to know which path gives you the most long-term value, this Wuchang: Fallen Feathers guide explains what each option does and which one might be better for your build or goals.
- Read more: All Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Bosses in Order
Where to Find the First Riddle Door in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
The first major decision between Winged Ascension and Feathered Transcendence appears in Worship’s Rise, not far from the Corpse Pits shrine. After getting through the Tang Emperor Palace, slicing your way through feathered horrors and enemy fights, you’ll run right into a stone door with a red line split down the middle. There’s no missing; it pulses ominously and locks you into a prompt once you interact. While both options move you forward, the outcomes are very different.
What Happens If You Choose Winged Ascension
Once you interact with the red glowing door in Widow’s Rest, choosing Winged Ascension opens the door and rewards you with the Benediction Stone called Sheng – Lasting Alacrity. It’s a spellcasting boost that extends the Alacrity status effect, which helps minimize damage taken during spell casting.
But it’s not the most game-breaking reward in the Wuchang world. It’s decent for a heavy spellcaster build, especially if relying on long-cast incantations that leave you exposed. Though for melee or hybrid combat, this item collects dust in your inventory. Further, choosing Winged Ascension locks a specific side area and additional story context involving the mysterious Boatman character (we’ll get to him in a second).
So who should pick Winged Ascension?
- Pure magic builds to increase survivability mid-casting.
- For a guaranteed reward right away.
- Aim to do a “correct-answer” run across all riddle doors.
What Happens If You Choose Feathered Transcendence
If you select Feathered Transcendence in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, it won’t give you an immediate item drop like Ascension, but instead teleports you to a secret zone called the Lotus Pond. It’s an eerie, tranquil place inside the same Palace where you’ll face a red-eyed elite demon, and if you defeat it, you get Faint Red Feather and 1x Red Mercury Essence. There’s also a Full-Grown Red Mercury item to pick up near one of the beds in the room. These materials are used in powerful crafting recipes or given to certain NPCs to progress high-end questlines.
But the real kicker here is that you’ll find the Boatman, a major recurring NPC who only shows up if you choose the “wrong” answer at these doors. Speak with him, and he’ll give you a Crystalized Red Mercury, along with some cryptic dialogue that hints at deep lore and a boss encounter later on, depending on how many “wrong” choices you make in a playthrough.
Feathered Transcendence is the choice to pick if:
- You want rare materials and don’t mind fighting an optional mini-boss.
- Doing a “wrong-answer” run to unlock hidden content and lore.
- Interested to meet the Boatman and unlock potential NG+ content.
Should You Choose the Winged Ascension or Feathered Transcendence?
Neither option is universally better; what matters is your build, goals, and playthrough intent. You can choose Winged Ascension for raw loot efficiency or Mage, as it gets you a guaranteed, spell-boosting reward with no strings attached. Otherwise, if playing for story depth, rare crafting mats, or to build toward hidden NPCs and secret endgame encounters (like the Demon of Obsession, which is locked behind multiple “wrong” riddle answers), then Feathered Transcendence is worth the detour.
The best way to experience both outcomes without being forced into a second full playthrough is:
- On PC: Back up your save manually before entering the door. Check both options, then commit.
- On console: You’ll have to do a second NG+ run. That’s why I would recommend doing all “correct” answers in one run and all “incorrect” in the next to keep it consistent.
Not every door gives underwhelming loot like the first one. Some of the later riddle doors reward you with full armor sets, unique boss items, or exclusive interactions that impact the Wuchang: Fallen Feathers ending.
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