Martial Arts
Martial arts is the broadest bucket for every operation that fights an opponent with strength drawn from inside the practitioner's own body. Where a mage works with mana from the world outside, a martial artist generates results from their own dantian, breath, and physical conditioning.
The defining feature of martial arts is that 'character and technique grow together.' A martial artist's skill mirrors their personality, decisions, and the years they have lived. The same sword form looks completely different in different hands — and that's why.
MoonWiki splits martial arts along three axes: the Sects grouping (Orthodox, Unorthodox, Demonic Cult, Neutral, and wandering martial artists), the Type Classification (fist & palm, weapon, qigong, special), and the Rank Classification (from beginner forms to forbidden arts). This page walks the big picture and points you at the right entry.
Core characteristics
The defining properties that set this category apart from others.
- Power from withinDrawn from one's own dantian and breath, not from external mana.
- Grows with characterMartial arts mirror the practitioner's personality and resolve.
- Slow growthA discipline measured in years of training.
- Many strandsClassified by sect, by type, and by rank — three axes.
How it differs from neighboring categories
Even within the same family, each category has a distinct character. Comparing side by side is the fastest way to grasp the differences.
Martial Arts
Power drawn from inside the body.
Magic
Operations that channel external power.
Aura
Inner power projected through body and weapon.
Sorcery
Ritual power built on conditions and costs.
Where to start in the martial hierarchy
The fastest route is 'sect → type → rank.'
- Start with sectsIf you're new, get the big picture of Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic Cult first.
- Move to typeUse fist & palm, weapon, qigong, and special-type classifications to compare the grain of different arts.
- Then rankPlace a martial artist on the ladder from beginner to forbidden using the rank classification.
- Or jump to a sectOpen a specific sect (Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan…) directly if you already know what you're after.
The three axes
MoonWiki organizes martial arts along three axes.
Sect
Orthodox, Unorthodox, Demonic Cult, Neutral, and wandering martial artists.
Type
Fist & palm, weapon-based, qigong, and special operations.
Rank
The hierarchy from beginner forms up through forbidden arts.
Limits of this top-level view
Because it's the biggest bucket, the limits are clear.
- Varies by workEven 'Shaolin fist' looks completely different from one work to another.
- Mixed lineagesCharacters trained across multiple sects are awkward to classify.
- AbstractConcrete technique writeups live on individual martial-art pages.
Subcategories
How martial artists grow
A career is the slow climb from foundational drills into a force that moves an era.
Beginner practitioners drill posture, breath, and dantian work. There are almost no powerful operations yet.
Mid-rank brings real combat techniques into play. The artist can carry their own weight in a fight.
High rank and the peak brings out signature arts strong enough to anchor a unit's worth of strength.
Secret arts and forbidden techniques turn the artist into a variable that can tilt an entire era.
Digging deeper into martial arts
Open each subcategory to see the full ladder.
Start with the Sect Classification to anchor the Orthodox/Unorthodox/Demonic structure.
Move to Type Classification to compare fist & palm, weapon, qigong, and special arts.
Finish with Rank Classification to place a martial artist on the ladder.