By Talanis

Here is a little guy I put up in Closed Beta. I know some will do it faster than this and kudos to them but I hope this guide can be usefull to some of you.

Wu-Tang Beginner's Guide

Character Creation

Even if you want to play a caster or a healer, don't bother with Essence or Wisdom because all your stats will be wipe out when you will chose your class. The best way to go is to put points in the stats that will help you get to Opening Chi 1 (level 25) which is the level you chose your class. You could go 3 different way: balance between str/dex/con, high str or high dex. Strenght will make you hit harder but if your dex is low, you will miss often. Defense is based on str but Dodge is based on dex. Chance to land a critical hit is dex-based too. Constitution will give you more hps and a faster life regen.

The levels in 9 Dragons are divided in sub-levels. There are 18 levels with 12 sub-levels each. The first 3 levels are named: Losing Self (LS), Gathering Chi (GC) and Opening Chi (OC). For the clarity of this guide, the levels will be abreviated with the sub-level. So Losing Self sub-level 3 will be named LS3. Once you finish gaining experience for LS12, you will see a sign on the screen that says Chi Breathing. That is basically your sub-level 13. Find a safe spot and click on the sign. Follow the instructions on screen and voilà: you are now GC1. Wu-Tang will admit you as an apprentice at GC8 and as a Student at OC1. Here is a list of the level names that I know of:

1- Losing Self (LS)
2- Gathering Chi (GC)
3- Opening Chi (OC)
4- Revolving Chakra (RC)
5- Raising Light (RL)
6- Five Dragons (FD or 5D)
7- Sun and Moon (SM or SnM)
8- Golden Blossom (GB)
9- Elemental Crown (EC)

Leveling Guide

From LS0 to LS4 (25 minutes)
When the game start, do the quest from Xu Sanzhao because it will give you the meditation skill. This skill will help you get your life and vital energy (power/mana) faster. After that, go kill foxes until you get to level 1 and until you get 20 gold. Go see the martial arts trainer and train in basic fists. With basic fists on, go back to foxes until you reach LS4. Don't bother with quests at this point.

From LS4 to LS6 (15 minutes)
Kill Scamps, Wolves or Rascals.

From LS6 to LS8 (35 minutes)
Once you reach LS6, Go see Xu Sanzhao and do all the quests from him (and him only). On the last quest, he will send you to kill Rascals: kill them until you reach LS8. The quests from Xu will give you your first Wu-Tang skill: Basic Wu-Tang Fists. Even if you want to go the sword way, you MUST get this skill to level 2.

From LS8 to LS10 (20-25 minutes)
Kill Rascals, Thieves and Wolves

From LS10 to GC1 (45-50 minutes)
Once you reach LS10, do Xu's quests again and it will give you the Basic Wu-Tang Sword skill. Once again, whatever the weapon you want to use, you MUST get this skill to level 2 or you won't be accepted as a student in Wu-Tang. Go kill Thievesand small vipers until you reach your rank 13 then do the Chi Breathing lesson to get GC1. At GC1, go back to Xu's and he will send you on a quest that will give you the Lightfoot skill. This skill is awesome since it's a way to move around much faster than the usual walking speed. As you get it to a higher skill level, you will run faster.

So far, you have spend 2h30 in the game in a very efficient way. You should have some money that you can invest in a weapon. Don't bother with clothing yet, keep your money and spend only on weapons.

From GC1 to GC4 (45 minutes)
Kill Vipers... all sizes.

From GC4 to GC6 (40 minutes)
Get the quests from Xu and the Inn keeper and go kill Bloodwolves until you reach GC6.

From GC6 to GC8 (45 minutes)
Get the quests from Xu and the Tavern keeper and travel to Zhengzhou. While you are there, buy a Revival Pill from the Clinic in the first town... it will be usefull later. Kill Bandits until you reach GC8. There are bandits right over the bridge but if you continue on the road, you will find more down the hill.

At GC8 (20 minutes)
Return to Wu-Tang Shan and do the quest to become an apprentice. Go see the trainers inside the Wu-Tang area and learn the Basic Wu-Tang Meditation skill. Return to the starting town and go see the tavern keeper. Buy these items: White Liquor, Bamboo Liquor, Baby Girl Liquor and Fried Pork. Go see the storyteller and do all his quests (5 quests). You should have everything you need on you. Hit C to display your character information then click on Epithet. Click on Wu-Tang Student and on Display to show it above your name and get the benefits of the title.

From GC8 to GC10 (45 minutes)
Go back to Zhengzhou and go kill bandits where you were before or near Baoyang village. Once you reach GC9, go in town and take the quests from the Smith and the Drapery NPCs then go kill bandits again until you reach GC10.

From GC10 to OC1 (1h30)
Guess what? Kill bandits again even if they are green. It should take you 25 minutes to get to GC11. Go to town and get the quest from the Tavern keeper then head over the bridge and hit a Suspicious Female Passerby. They will turn in Disciple of Black Shadow. Kill them until you reach your level 13 then do the Chi Breathing lesson that will get you to OC1. Go back to the starting area and do the quest to get invited as a Wu-Tang Student. After the quest (15 minutes max), you will be admited and you'll have to select your class. That is also the time when you will get striped of all your stats and masteries so you will be able to respec the way you want for the class you will chose. Congratulation, you are now admited in the Wu-Tang clan.

Total estimated time: 7h30 from start to Class training.


*Edit : Corrections to the name and order of the levels

[Source] Official Forum