Where Winds Meet Taiping Mausoleum: Floor 2 & Foundation Trials Guide

This guide explains how the Taiping Mausoleum’s second floor and Foundation Trials work in Where Winds Meet. You unlock Floor 2 after completing the first floor’s main challenge, and it introduces a new set of puzzles, enemies, and a boss fight, with the Foundation Trials serving as the floor’s final gauntlet. Read on for a full breakdown of the mechanics, step-by-step progression, and answers to common questions.

Formula

The Trial Score is calculated as: Score = (Damage ÷ Time) × 60 + (HP ÷ 100)

• Damage – total damage dealt during the trial (in points)
• Time – minutes spent in the trial (can be fractional)
• HP – your character’s maximum health at the start of the trial

This formula gives you a rough estimate of your performance. The first term rewards burst damage (damage per minute), while the second term rewards survivability. The actual in-game scoring may use additional factors, but this gives a close approximation.

Worked Example

Using the defaults: Time = 5 minutes, Damage = 100,000, HP = 20,000.

1. Damage ÷ Time = 100,000 ÷ 5 = 20,000
2. Multiply by 60: 20,000 × 60 = 1,200,000
3. HP ÷ 100 = 20,000 ÷ 100 = 200
4. Add: 1,200,000 + 200 = 1,200,200

So the Trial Score would be 1,200,200 (rounded to 0 decimals). The higher the score, the better your reward tier.

Background: The Taiping Mausoleum

The Taiping Mausoleum is a multi-floor dungeon in Where Winds Meet, accessible after reaching a certain point in the main story. It’s designed as a solo challenge that tests combat, puzzle-solving, and exploration. Each floor has a distinct theme and a final boss. Floor 1 introduces basic mechanics like pressure plates and simple traps. Floor 2, however, ramps up difficulty significantly, adding timed switches, environmental hazards, and a mini-boss before the main encounter.

How Floor 2 Progression Works

To access Floor 2, you must first clear Floor 1’s boss. After that, a new entrance opens at the mausoleum’s central hall. Floor 2 is divided into three main phases:

• Phase 1 – Corridor of Echoes: A linear path with rotating blades and collapsing platforms. You need to time your dashes carefully. There are also three hidden levers that unlock the next gate.
• Phase 2 – The Hollow Court: A large arena with two waves of elite enemies. After the second wave, a shielded mage appears. You must destroy the four crystal pylons in the corners to break the shield.
• Phase 3 – The Foundation Trial: The final gauntlet, described below.

Foundation Trials: Mechanics and Rules

The Foundation Trial is the final challenge of Floor 2. It’s a timed survival and DPS check that consists of three rounds:

1. Round 1 – Horde: Waves of weak enemies spawn for 60 seconds. Kill as many as possible to build a combo multiplier.
2. Round 2 – Elite Duo: Two elite warriors appear. They have high poise and deal heavy damage. Use parries or ranged attacks to whittle them down.
3. Round 3 – The Warden: A boss with a large health pool. He has a telegraphed three-hit combo and a ground slam that creates shockwaves. The trial ends when he is defeated or you die.

Your score is based on total damage dealt, time taken, and remaining health. A higher score yields better rewards, including crafting materials and exclusive gear blueprints.

How to Choose Your Loadout for the Foundation Trial

Because the trial mixes crowd control and single-target damage, you need a balanced build. Here are the key factors:

• Weapon Type: Spears and swords offer good mobility for dodging. Heavy weapons like greatswords deal more damage but leave you vulnerable.
• Martial Arts: Equip at least one AoE skill for Round 1 and one high-damage single-target skill for Round 3.
• Consumables: Bring healing pills and a resistance tonic that reduces physical damage. You can carry up to 10 of each.
• Armor: Prioritize pieces with bonus HP and damage reduction over pure attack stats, as survival is key to a high score.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Many players struggle with the Foundation Trial due to a few common mistakes:

• Ignoring the combo multiplier: In Round 1, if you don’t kill enemies fast enough, the multiplier resets, drastically lowering your final score. Focus on grouping enemies with a pull skill.
• Panic dodging the Warden’s slam: The shockwave has a wider hitbox than the visual suggests. Wait until the fist touches the ground, then dodge sideways, not backward.
• Running out of stamina: In Round 2, the elite duo can stun-lock you if you run out of stamina. Keep at least 30% stamina reserved for a dodge or parry.
• Not using the environment: In Phase 2, the crystal pylons can be destroyed with any attack, but using a ranged weapon lets you stay safe while breaking them.

Comparing Floor 2 to Other Floors

Floor 2 is noticeably harder than Floor 1, but easier than Floor 3 (which introduces a poison mechanic and a boss with a one-shot attack). The main difference is that Floor 2 emphasizes speed and aggression, while Floor 3 rewards patience and pattern memorization. Floor 2 also has more environmental puzzles than Floor 3, which is mostly a pure boss gauntlet.

Safety and Fairness Notes

There are no real-world safety concerns here, but in-game, be careful not to fall off platforms in the Corridor of Echoes – falling resets you to the last checkpoint and costs time. Also, the Foundation Trial’s timer is strict; if you take more than 10 minutes, the Warden enrages and deals double damage. There is no penalty for retrying, so feel free to experiment with different loadouts.

Alternatives and Rewards

If you find Floor 2 too difficult, you can skip it temporarily and return later after leveling up. The mausoleum is not required for the main story, but it offers unique rewards:

• Exclusive Weapon Skin: “Verdant Spear” – only from Floor 2’s trial chest.
• Mausoleum Coins: Used to buy rare materials from the vendor outside.
• Skill Tomes: Grant bonus skill points for your martial arts tree.

Alternatively, you can farm Floor 1 for coins and buy the same materials, though it takes longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I unlock Floor 2?

Defeat the boss on Floor 1. After the cutscene, return to the central hall and a new door will be open. Interact with it to descend to Floor 2.

What is the recommended level for Floor 2?

Most players complete it around level 45-50. If you’re below 40, enemies will hit very hard and the Warden may one-shot you. Level up a bit or upgrade your gear first.

Can I do the Foundation Trial with a friend?

No, the Taiping Mausoleum is solo-only. However, you can use NPC companions if you’ve unlocked them, but they won’t contribute to your score.

Why is my trial score so low even though I killed everything?

Your score depends on speed and remaining HP. If you take too long or lose too much health, the score drops. Try to finish Round 1 in under 60 seconds and avoid taking hits from the Warden.

Is there a secret reward for getting a perfect score?

There is no hidden reward beyond the regular chest. A higher score gives more coins and a slightly better chance at the rare drop, but the loot table is the same.

What happens if I die during the Foundation Trial?

You’ll respawn at the start of the trial with your consumables used. You can retry as many times as you want, but the trial’s timer resets each attempt.

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in t | Time spent (minutes) | min | 0 | 0 | 600
in d | Damage dealt | - | 1000 | 0 | 1000000
in h | Character HP | - | 10000 | 1 | 100000
out score | Trial Score | - | (d / t) * 60 + h / 100 | 0