Weapons
Weapons in The Bustling World based on the Eighteen Arms of Wushu, covering all weapon categories (swords, sabers, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, tridents, whips, maces, hammers, claws, shields, crossbows, projectiles), how to find weapons and learn techniques from masters, and weapon acquisition through exploration.
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The Eighteen Arms of Wushu
Combat in The Bustling World is built around the concept of the Eighteen Arms of Wushu (十八般兵器), a classification of Chinese martial arts weapons that dates back centuries in wuxia tradition. The game features eighteen weapon types drawn from this system, covering swords, sabers, spears, staffs, hooks, and more. Each weapon category has its own fighting style and animation set, all recorded through motion capture to give attacks a sense of weight and timing.
Players do not start with access to every weapon type. Weapons and martial arts techniques are found throughout the game world in temples, ancient ruins, faction headquarters, and secluded schools tucked away in remote mountain areas. Some of the most powerful martial arts secrets are guarded by specific organizations. The Beggar Gang has its own fighting traditions. The Sunflower Sect keeps unorthodox techniques under lock and key. Getting access to these restricted styles requires either earning trust through loyalty, trading for them, or taking them by force.
The game does not hand you a skill tree at character creation and ask you to pick a path. You collect fighting knowledge the way you collect anything else in the sandbox: by going out and looking for it. A player who spends time exploring ruins might learn a completely different set of techniques than one who joins a martial arts school, and both paths are valid.
All combat takes place from the game's isometric 2.5D perspective. The developers have not released detailed information about combo systems, skill trees, or stance-switching mechanics. What has been shown in trailers and at events like GDC 2025 is that different weapons produce visibly different attack patterns, ranges, and speeds, and that the motion-captured animations give each weapon its own character.
Finding weapons and techniques
Weapons and martial arts manuals are found throughout the game world during exploration. Players can discover hidden martial arts manuals containing secret techniques. Some of the most powerful fighting styles are taught exclusively by Underground Factions and secluded martial arts schools, giving players a reason to seek out these hidden organizations.
Equipment and weapons offer build variety, letting players tailor their fighting style to match their preferred approach, whether that is direct melee combat, ranged attacks, or a combination.