The Flute of the Tides is one of the most atmospheric Mystic Skills added to Where Winds Meet in the Version 1.4 Home Afar update, and earning it requires a short but memorable journey through the new Hexi region. You'll play music for a wandering monk, soothe the spirits of fallen soldiers, and walk away with a ranged area-of-effect skill that punishes grouped enemies with cascading melodic strikes.
How to Unlock the Flute of the Tides Quest
Prerequisites Before You Start
Before Monk Unknowing will speak to you in any meaningful way, you need to meet two conditions introduced in the Home Afar update:
- Reach Level 14
- Complete the main quest By Lamplight
Once those are done, travel to Peaceward Camp, located slightly northeast of Jade Gate Pass in the Hexi region. The camp is easy to spot on the map, and the monk himself stands on a raised wooden platform just ahead of the camp's Boundary Stone.
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The quest does not trigger automatically when you approach Monk Unknowing. You must actively participate in the flute rhythm mini-game first before the quest ping appears.
Flute of the Tides Full Walkthrough
Step 1: Play the Flute for Monk Unknowing
Approach Monk Unknowing and interact with him to begin playing the piece Kalavinka on the flute. This uses Where Winds Meet's rhythm mini-game: notes fall toward a scanline, and you press the corresponding button or key in time with the beat.
You do not need a perfect score to advance the quest. A passing attempt is enough to impress the monk and trigger the next stage of the conversation.
Step 2: Ask Monk Unknowing About the Flute of the Tides
After finishing the performance, speak with Monk Unknowing again. He expresses a willingness to teach you the Flute of the Tides skill, but first asks you to honor the souls of fallen Anxi soldiers at two specific locations:
- Whitecrown Fortress (also called Whitecrown City in some quest markers)
- Heroic Tomb (also referred to as Heroes' Graves)
Step 3: Play the Flute at Whitecrown Fortress
Travel southeast of Peaceward Camp to reach the gates of Whitecrown Fortress. Follow the quest marker inside the fortress to find the designated spot, marked by a small white beam of light on the ground. Stand in it and play a shorter rendition of Kalavinka. No rhythm mini-game scoring is required here, just the act of playing.
danger
The white beam marker can be easy to miss if you're moving quickly. Slow down near the quest marker and scan the ground for the glowing indicator before interacting.
Step 4: Play the Flute at Heroic Tomb
From Whitecrown Fortress, head further southwest into the Ayisu sub-region. The Heroic Tomb (Heroes' Graves) sits near a lake on the approach to the tombs. As before, locate the quest marker, find the designated spot, and play the flute to complete Monk Unknowing's request.
Step 5: Return to Monk Unknowing
Head back to Peaceward Camp and speak with Monk Unknowing one final time. He rewards you with the Flute of the Tides Mystic Skill as a token of his gratitude for honoring the fallen.
What Does the Flute of the Tides Mystic Skill Do?
Skill Details and Stats (Tier 4)
The skill fires off a starfall of notes that creates an initial area impact, then summons a spectral flute that follows your character for 12.5 seconds. During that window, it releases up to 5 sequences of sound ripples, each sequence delivering 5 strikes to nearby enemies in a small area around each target.
What makes this skill particularly strong in crowded fights is the multi-target spread. Each of the 5 strikes per sequence can hit 5 distinct targets, meaning in a dense group of enemies, the total damage output climbs sharply.
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The Flute of the Tides is classified as a ranged Mystic Skill in the Version 1.4 patch notes, and it also provides a boost to allies' ranged damage while active, making it useful in co-op scenarios.How to Upgrade the Flute of the Tides
Breakthrough Tier Bonuses
Upgrading Flute of the Tides through Breakthrough tiers unlocks additional passive effects that substantially improve the skill's performance:
The Tier 2 bonus is the most impactful early investment since it doubles the skill's damage against PvE targets. The Tier 3 bonus rewards positioning, encouraging you to stay at range while the flute does its work, which fits the skill's design naturally.
Upgrade Materials Required
Stormbone Bloom is the dedicated Breakthrough material for this skill. Stock up before pushing through the higher tiers, as the Tier 3 and Tier 4 promotions require 15 and 18 respectively.
warning
Do not confuse Ebon Iron levels. Each tier of the skill requires a higher level of Ebon Iron, and using a lower level will not substitute. Check your inventory before committing to a rank-up session.
Is the Flute of the Tides Worth Unlocking?
For players who spend time in the new Hexi region or run group content, absolutely. The quest itself is short (five steps, no combat required), and the reward is a skill that scales well across both solo and co-op play. The 25-second cooldown at Tier 4 is reasonable given the sustained damage window of 12.5 seconds, meaning the skill is active for half of every rotation.
The Tier 2 Breakthrough bonus (100% more damage vs. non-player units) is the key investment that makes this skill shine in PvE, and it is worth prioritizing Stormbone Bloom to reach that threshold as soon as possible after unlocking the skill.
What most players miss is that the skill's follow-up flute persists even while you move, so you can reposition, dodge, and continue dealing damage without interrupting the sound ripple sequences. That mobility makes it far more practical than stationary AoE skills in fast-paced encounters.