Recommended Free Tools
Madness is a risk-and-reward meter tied to Wuchang’s Feathering. It rises when you die or kill humans and falls when you defeat Feathered enemies. Higher Madness can boost damage and unlock build-dependent effects, but it also makes you take more damage and puts more Red Mercury at risk on death. At 90% or above, dying can leave an Inner Demon at your dropped Echo.
How to check your Madness
Open the Character screen to see the exact Madness value. The silhouette in the HUD gives a rough visual indication, but it is not a precise reading. A guide reports visible changes at 50% and 90%: red eyes at 50%, followed by a demonic mark on Wuchang’s neck at 90%. Use those visual changes as cues, not substitutes for the Character screen.
What Madness changes
Damage and survivability
As Madness rises, Wuchang deals more damage and also takes more damage. That makes high Madness a meaningful combat trade-off rather than a straightforward upgrade. The developer interview describes both sides of the effect: Stephen Takowsky of 505 Games said that as Madness increases, Wuchang takes and delivers more damage. Read the Official Xbox Podcast deep dive.
Threshold-linked skill effects
At 50% and 90%, Madness can affect which skill-tree perks are available or how some abilities work. Gamer Guides lists effects involving Swift Draw, Skyborn Might generation, Temperance effects, Echo spell costs, Feathering Attack Power for weapons that use it, and a light-combo health effect at 90% or higher. These benefits depend on having the relevant skill-tree nodes; they are not automatic bonuses for every build. See Gamer Guides’ Madness guide.
#1 Best Overall
- UK PSN account may be required for any online features
Red Mercury gains and death risk
Gamer Guides reports 20% more Red Mercury gained at 90% Madness or above. The same guide and GameSpot describe greater Red Mercury losses on death as Madness rises, with loss bands around the 50% and 90% thresholds; neither supports a dependable loss formula here. Treat the 20% gain as guide-reported information rather than a guaranteed current-patch figure. GameSpot’s guide to curing Madness.
What happens when you die at high Madness?
If you die at 90% Madness or above, an Inner Demon can appear where you left your Echo. Defeat it to retrieve the Red Mercury you dropped; if it defeats you, that currency is lost. The demon can also attack nearby enemies, so the recovery encounter may involve more than just Wuchang. According to the developer interview, it does not appear during boss encounters. Gamer Guides and GameSpot give the 90% threshold for this practical scenario, while the developer describes the demon as appearing once Madness reaches the top and Wuchang has died.
Rank #2
- Precision Combat Powered by Skyborn Might: Unleash destructive combinations by seamlessly combining hand bumps, spellcasting and weapon techniques. WUCHANG signature Skyborn Might system allows you to adapt to enemy threats in real time, turning every meeting into a test of time, positioning and harsh skills. Strengthening and tactical, this is a fight designed to make you feel unstoppable if you deserve it
- Boss fights that push you to the edge: every boss is a scary spectacle of myths and threats. Expect unique sets of movements, high-pressure mechanics and visual patterns that will stay with you long after the battle is over. A victory is never gived; it is won through a masterpiece. Join the few who beat massive chances and get a triumph worth remembering
- Your compilation. Your path. Your legend: Equip a variety of outfits, weapons, accessories, and spell equipment to customize your approach. With the Impetus repository, allocate skill points to strengthen attributes and unlock powerful skills, enabling a progress path that reflects your unique gaming style. Defeat powerful bosses and use their signature powers to expand your arsenal. This linked system allows you to transform into a warrior shaped by your strategy, choices, and championship
- Internal Demon System: Power for Price: The Inner Demon Sign grows with every murder and death, increasing attack power while making you more vulnerable. Push too far and the demon will take shape, the merciless mirror of your own strength. Beat it or lose what you gained. This is a voltage based system where each battle carries weight, and any error can return to swinging
- Rich Connected World to Discover: A journey through the stunning beautiful land inspired by the Chinese Ming dynasty, where forgotten temples, villages, and shaded ruins form a vast interconnected world. Each path hides mysteries and each abbreviation changes the way of exploration. Fully sounded characters, high-quality visual effects and an atmospheric sound landscape bring this dark kingdom to life. Your decisions are shaping history by unlocking multiple endings and revealing new layers every step
How to raise or lower Madness
Actions and items that raise it
- Die: Death raises Madness.
- Kill humans: Human kills raise it; Gamer Guides describes killing innocent or non-hostile humans as a stronger way to build the meter.
- Use Maddening Incense: Guides report that it raises current Madness and temporarily prevents the meter from falling.
- Use Plumed Branches or Shrine Invoke purchases: These are also reported to add Madness.
Ways to reduce or clear it
- Defeat Feathered enemies: This lowers Madness.
- Use Divine Gifts: Gamer Guides reports that a Divine Gift can clear Madness and a Fragment of the Divine Gift can reduce some of it at designated altars. GameSpot describes two altar locations, including one at Shu Sanctum and another beyond a pavilion. Check the Shrine or altar options as you progress; the available choices and inventory requirements matter.
- Defeat bosses or resolve an Inner Demon encounter: Gamer Guides also lists these as ways to reduce Madness.
Should you keep Madness high?
There is no universally best Madness level. A high-Madness approach may suit a build that benefits from extra damage and threshold-linked perks, provided you can manage the incoming damage and are willing to risk more Red Mercury on death. A lower-Madness approach favors survivability and reduces the danger attached to a failed run. Consider your weapon and skill-tree setup, the enemies you are facing, and whether you are prepared to fight an Inner Demon if you die at 90% or above. The developer’s framing is that players can choose a high-Madness damage style or keep the meter lower.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
![WUCHANG Fallen Feathers Standard - PC Steam [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61X75wWol+L._SL160_.jpg)
- A soulslike, action RPG set in the land of Shu during the dark and tumultuous late Ming Dynasty, plagued with warring factions and a mysterious illness spawning monstrous creatures.
- Battle against grotesque abominations, drawing on ancient lore to challenge the creeping darkness that threatens the humanity that remains.
Rank #3
![WUCHANG Fallen Feathers Deluxe - PC Steam [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61gNem7nh-L._SL160_.jpg)
- A soulslike, action RPG set in the land of Shu during the dark and tumultuous late Ming Dynasty, plagued with warring factions and a mysterious illness spawning monstrous creatures.
- WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers Base Game, 4 Costumes:- Tiger of Fortune Costume - Draconic Resurgence Costume - Soul Ritual Robe Costume - Overlord’s Regalia Costume, 4 Weapons: - Watcher’s Gaze (Sword) - Dragoncoil Lance (Spear) - Eternal Sovereignty (Dual Blades) - Moonlight Dragon (Sword), 2 Skill Upgrade Items
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
