In the pixel-style RPG Wandering Sword, players step into the shoes of Yuwen Yi, a young swordsman who survives a deadly poison early in the story. Determined to grow stronger, Yuwen embarks on an epic journey, encountering a variety of characters along the way. Some of these characters may spar with you, rewarding you with rare items if you win. Others can even join your party or teach you powerful combat skills—but only if you build a strong bond with them. This bond, known as Affinity, is crucial for unlocking these benefits. Here's how to increase Affinity and make the most of your relationships in the game. For those who want to dive straight into the action with advanced characters and resources, an alternative is to buy a Wandering Sword account, which can speed up your progression.

How to Increase Affinity?
The most effective way to boost Affinity with any character is by giving them gifts. To do this, approach the NPC, select the Observe option, and then choose Gift from the bottom left corner of their character menu. Each NPC has unique preferences, which are listed in their profile. Items they like are marked with a heart icon in the gifting menu. Since the game features an infinite inventory, you can collect as many items as you want, making it easier to find gifts that suit their tastes.

However, gifting isn't as simple as handing over any item. As your Affinity with a character increases, their standards for gifts also rise. For example, once your Affinity with a character reaches 20, they will no longer accept low-rarity items. This means you should start by gifting them lower-rarity items that match their preferences, saving higher-rarity items for later stages when their Affinity threshold increases.

High-rarity items are particularly valuable for quickly raising Affinity. For instance, a high-rarity gift might increase Affinity by 16 points if the character's current Affinity is below 20. However, once their Affinity crosses 20, the same item will only grant 8 points. After 40 Affinity, the increase drops even further. This diminishing return means you should strategize when to use your best gifts.

Why Increase Affinity?
Building Affinity requires time and resources, so it's important to focus on characters who offer meaningful rewards. Here are the types of NPCs worth investing in:

●Recruitable Characters: Some NPCs can join your party, but only after meeting specific conditions. These characters are rare, so prioritize building Affinity with them. You can identify potential recruits by using the Observe option and looking for an Invite button or a small panther-like icon next to their name.

●Skill Trainers: Certain NPCs can teach you combat abilities or skills. For example, Wang Shitou, found in the Inn at Luo Village, is one such character. To check if an NPC can train you, use the Observe option and look for a Consult button in their menu.

●Sparring Partners with Valuable Items: Some characters have rare items in their inventory, which you can obtain by sparring with them. To unlock sparring, you'll need to raise their Affinity to at least 20. Once you've done this, you can repeatedly spar with them to claim their items.

If an NPC doesn't fall into one of these categories, it's best to avoid spending resources on them. Focus on characters who provide tangible benefits, such as party members, trainers, or those with valuable loot.

For those looking for a more budget-friendly approach to enjoying the game, finding cheap Wandering Sword accounts could be an appealing alternative. This can be especially useful when you're just starting out and want to explore more of what the game has to offer without spending too much time on initial progression. However, always ensure that any purchase is made from reputable sources to avoid potential issues.

Tips for Maximizing Affinity Gains
●Start Small: Begin by gifting low-rarity items to characters with low Affinity. This ensures you don't waste high-rarity items early on.

●Save High-Rarity Gifts: Use high-rarity items strategically when you need a significant Affinity boost, especially after crossing thresholds like 20 or 40.

●Observe and Plan: Always use the Observe option to check an NPC's preferences, inventory, and potential rewards before investing in their Affinity.

●Prioritize Key Characters: Focus on NPCs who can join your party, teach you skills, or offer rare items through sparring.

By carefully managing your gifts and focusing on the right characters, you can build strong relationships in Wandering Sword, unlocking powerful abilities, valuable items, and loyal companions to aid you on your journey.